After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 43: Married a Good-for-Nothing

「Two days later, it was time for the Sinclair family’s monthly dinner.」

Claire Mercer hadn’t actually planned on going.

But Mrs. Sinclair had personally given her a call.

’Considering the matriarch was the only one in the Sinclair family who was even remotely pleasant to her, she found it hard to refuse.’

Shortly before the dinner, she tidied herself up and took a taxi to the old Sinclair estate.

In the living room, most of the Sinclair family members had already arrived.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, creating a surface-level appearance of perfect harmony.

In truth, she had long known that Gavin Sinclair’s second uncle wanted to supplant the first branch of the family.

And Gavin’s second aunt had been constantly fawning over the old matriarch, hoping to gain control of the Sinclair family’s affairs after her passing.

But these power struggles were all conducted in secret, not something to be brought out into the open for outsiders to laugh at.

When Claire Mercer appeared, the cheerful chatter came to an abrupt halt.

A variety of gazes turned toward her.

"Is this... Gavin’s wife?"

The one who spoke was Gavin Sinclair’s aunt.

Her disdainful eyes scanned Claire Mercer up and down.

Mrs. Sinclair, however, looked at Claire Mercer with a kind expression and beckoned to her with a smile.

"Claire, you’re here. Come, come over."

Claire Mercer gave her a gentle smile and nodded obediently.

Seeing this, Cynthia Sinclair was displeased.

"Grandma, she’s just an outsider. Why are you so nice to her?"

’I’m her real granddaughter, after all.’

Hearing this, Mrs. Sinclair shot her a displeased look.

"Cynthia Sinclair, this is your own sister-in-law. What do you mean, ’outsider’? Watch yourself."

Rose Gable also quickly reminded her in a low voice.

"Say less. Do you want to make your grandmother unhappy?"

Cynthia Sinclair grumbled in dissatisfaction. "I’m just speaking the truth."

"She’s an outsider, plain and simple. Grandma is too biased toward her."

Not only is Grandma always so pleasant to her, but she even used her own money to give her a villa.

’Why should she get that?’

For her own eighteenth birthday, Grandma only gave her a bracelet.

Compared to a villa worth tens of millions, it was like a handout for a beggar.

Rose Gable quickly covered her daughter’s mouth and glanced furtively at the old matriarch.

Seeing that she didn’t seem to have heard her daughter’s complaints, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Keep your voice down. If you anger your grandmother, you’ll have hell to pay."

Recalling her grandmother’s methods of punishment, Cynthia Sinclair didn’t dare say another word.

Still, she couldn’t help but purse her lips disdainfully at Claire Mercer and roll her eyes.

Claire Mercer paid Cynthia Sinclair no mind, ignoring her words and actions completely.

She walked over to Mrs. Sinclair, sat down beside her, and said softly, "Grandma."

Mrs. Sinclair nodded in satisfaction, then said,

"I haven’t seen you in a few days. You look like you’ve filled out a bit."

"Of course she has," Rose Gable couldn’t help but complain.

"Gavin’s injured, and she, his wife, doesn’t even ask about him. Who knows what she does all day."

Mrs. Sinclair shot her a look, then turned to Claire Mercer and asked pleasantly,

"You know about Gavin’s injury, don’t you?"

Claire Mercer nodded. "I know."

’This old matriarch, she seems so pleasant to me on the surface.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

’But in reality, she’s quite dissatisfied. I know that much.’

’What seems like a casual remark is actually a veiled jab at me.’

’Filled out a bit?’

’Isn’t she just trying to say that I haven’t been diligently caring for Gavin Sinclair lately, that my life has been too comfortable?’

"Since you know, why haven’t you come back to see him?"

Claire Mercer said, "I’ve been busy looking for a job these past couple of days, so I couldn’t get away."

"Looking for what job?" Rose Gable snapped.

"You’ve been idle for two years. Do you think you can even find a job now?"

"Besides, if outsiders find out that Young Madam Sinclair is out looking for a job, showing her face in public, they’ll think our Sinclair Family can’t even afford to feed you."

Claire Mercer let out a nearly inaudible scoff, though a smile remained on her lips.

"Mom, there’s no rule that says you can’t work after you get married."

"If I stayed home all day doing nothing, people might think you married a useless good-for-nothing into the family."

Rose Gable said, "You just need to take good care of Gavin. Who cares what outsiders say?"

Claire Mercer retorted with a smile.

"But didn’t you just say you were afraid outsiders would think the Sinclair Family can’t feed me?"

"So why are you telling me not to care what people say now?"

"Besides, Cynthia Sinclair will get married someday too."

"After she’s married, is she also supposed to stay home all day, supporting her husband, raising children, and waiting on him hand and foot?"

Rose Gable was choked speechless by her words. "You..."

Seeing her daughter-in-law unable to win an argument against a mere slip of a girl, Mrs. Sinclair couldn’t help but shoot her another glare.

’Useless thing.’

She cursed Rose Gable in her heart.

The wife from the second branch saw this and was naturally pleased.

’As long as the old matriarch despises her, the Sinclair Family will belong to our second branch sooner or later.’

The first branch was making a fool of itself, and as a spectator, she was thoroughly enjoying the show.

Ignoring the looks from the other Sinclair family members, Claire Mercer continued.

"Besides, I know he’s recuperating at the old estate. With so many people to look after him, I’m not worried at all."

"But you’re his wife—"

Mrs. Sinclair’s thin, sagging lips twitched, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

’This Claire Mercer... on the surface, she still seems so obedient and gentle.’

’But in reality, she’s already starting to learn how to defy me.’

’Someone who can’t be controlled... it’s better to destroy them.’

"That’s enough," Mrs. Sinclair said, cutting off the argument between the mother- and daughter-in-law. "I was just casually asking Claire."

"Look at you... Do you even act like a mother-in-law?"

"Claire has been taking care of Gavin with all her heart for two years. She’s already exhausted."

"Gavin’s injury isn’t even that serious this time. Why must you insist on having Claire watch over him?"

"What’s wrong with her wanting to find a job now? I don’t know what you’re so worked up about."

’Wants to find a job?’

’Hah!’

’We’ll see if any company dares to hire you.’

The wife from the second branch silently watched as Mrs. Sinclair berated Rose Gable.

She could barely suppress the smile playing on her lips.

’No wonder the son and daughter she raised are so unpresentable.’

’With such a brainless mother, what kind of children could she possibly raise?’

Meanwhile, being reprimanded by the old matriarch in front of so many people, Rose Gable’s expression turned even fouler.

Her loathing for Claire Mercer deepened, and the more she looked at her, the more she found her an eyesore.

After scolding Rose Gable, Mrs. Sinclair turned back to Claire Mercer.

"Your mother-in-law is just overly protective of her son, and with Gavin injured right now, her heart aches for him."

"Her words may not be pleasant, but as her daughter-in-law, you should be more understanding."

"If outsiders were to hear about a daughter-in-law talking back to her mother-in-law, it wouldn’t be good for your reputation either."

Claire Mercer nodded in agreement. "You’re right, Grandma. I’ll be more careful in the future."

’She makes it seem like she’s concerned for my reputation.’

’But in reality, she’s indirectly implying that I’m being insolent.’

Mrs. Sinclair patted the back of her hand, seemingly satisfied, and praised, "Now this is my good granddaughter-in-law."

Then she looked at the crowd and announced:

"Claire has been married into the family for two years, and today is her first time attending our family dinner."

"You must all remember, she is the wife of the Sinclair family’s eldest grandson. You cannot treat her as an outsider."

"From now on, at these family dinners, don’t say anything that might spoil the mood."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Just then, Simon Sinclair and Felix Sinclair arrived, and the old matriarch led the way to the dining room.