After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 59: As Expected, Deep and Cunning

Claire Mercer was in a daze.

She wasn’t even sure how it happened, how she’d somehow become Mrs. Rowan’s goddaughter.

’Today was supposed to be Mrs. Rowan’s birthday party, her show.’

’So why are more and more people crowding around me?’

They came with compliments and flattery, trying to curry favor, all with forced smiles on their faces...

People she didn’t even know were linking arms with her intimately, as if they were best friends who had known each other for years.

They had nothing to talk about, yet they insisted on forcing small talk with her.

Claire Mercer truly disliked these kinds of social events, filled with opportunism and lacking a single shred of sincerity.

When you were on top of the world, they would be your friend.

But the moment you fell from grace, they would show a completely different side.

You’d be lucky if they didn’t stab you in the back.

She was growing weary of the charade but had no choice but to maintain the smile on her face.

"Miss Mercer, I just saw the custom qipao you made for Mrs. Rowan. I was stunned the moment I saw it."

"As it happens, my mother’s birthday is next month. Would it be possible to ask you to create a custom-tailored qipao for her?"

The speaker was a young man.

He had waited until everyone else had dispersed before approaching Claire Mercer.

With someone appreciating her work and offering her business, Claire Mercer finally broke into a genuine smile.

"Of course, no problem."

"Is it convenient to add you on WeChat, then?" the man asked. "So we can stay in touch about it."

Claire Mercer quickly took out her phone, and the two exchanged contact information.

After adding her on WeChat, a glint flashed across the man’s eyes.

Then, he put on a gentle and refined smile again.

"Well, I’ll let you get back to it. I won’t disturb you any further."

Claire Mercer smiled and nodded at him.

When Adrian Sutton saw a man chatting with Claire Mercer, and the two of them even exchanging contact info on the spot, he felt a surge of alarm.

’After all, it took him ages to get Claire’s contact information.’

’How did that schemer manage it in less than two minutes?’

He was jealous.

’He was extremely unhappy about it.’

’But he couldn’t show it too obviously in front of Claire.’

’How pathetic.’

Even though he tried his best to keep his emotions in check, Claire Mercer still noticed his displeasure.

"What’s wrong? You look unhappy."

Claire Mercer walked over and asked with concern.

’Good.’

’Claire still cared about him.’

’And she was paying attention to him.’

’Otherwise, how would she have noticed he was unhappy right now?’

Claire Mercer’s question soothed some of his inner turmoil.

The gloom on his face finally began to recede.

"That man just now, did he add you on WeChat?"

Claire Mercer smiled and nodded. "Yes."

She was just about to say that the man wanted her to make a qipao for his mother.

But Adrian Sutton cut in anxiously.

"Miss Mercer, I don’t think the way he was looking at you was entirely innocent."

"Huh?" Claire Mercer paused. "Wasn’t it?"

Adrian Sutton reminded her, "Your status is different now. It’s inevitable that you’ll attract some predatory admirers with ulterior motives."

"But he just wants me to make a qipao for his mother," Claire Mercer murmured.

’Is that so?’

Adrian Sutton didn’t believe it.

The glint in that man’s eyes might have been fleeting.

But he had caught it nonetheless.

’He was constantly watching everyone who approached her today.’

’Anyone with impure intentions wouldn’t escape his notice.’

"Perhaps he’s just using the excuse of making a qipao for his mother to get close to you."

’And you know what?’

’The guy’s move was actually a good one.’

’He was clearly a deep thinker, a real schemer.’

Claire Mercer thought he actually had a point.

If this had been before, she might have thought Adrian Sutton’s warning was completely unnecessary.

But today, Mrs. Rowan had announced in front of so many guests that she was making her a goddaughter.

And she had given her plenty of face.

It was true that some people with less-than-pure intentions would now have their eyes on her.

After all, not many people knew she was married to Gavin Sinclair.

There wasn’t even a wedding.

Even the photo on their marriage certificate was photoshopped.

To anyone who didn’t know, she was still an unmarried woman.

And now, the newly-acknowledged goddaughter of the powerful Rowan Family of Rhonia...

"You’re right. I’ll be more careful."

"That’s good," Adrian Sutton said, then asked cautiously.

"Miss Mercer, do you think I’m being nosy?"

Claire Mercer smiled. "Of course not."

"I know you’re looking out for me."

"You’re worried I’ll be used and deceived."

After all, she had been burned so badly by Gavin Sinclair.

He was just afraid she would make the same mistake again.

Adrian Sutton asked cautiously again.

"Then aren’t you worried that I might also use you as a stepping stone?"

Claire Mercer laughed. "You and Silas Rowan already know each other. Why would you need to use me?"

"Besides, I don’t think you seem like that kind of person."

"My friend is calling me. I’m going to head over for a second."

Adrian Sutton nodded at her.

He watched her back, lost in thought.

’Claire is outstanding on her own.’

’That qipao she just gave to my aunt is the best proof of that.’

’Now, with my aunt as her godmother backing her up, there’s no telling how many men will start coveting his Claire.’

’No, I have to get Claire to divorce Gavin Sinclair as soon as possible.’

’And then I need to take his place immediately.’

’Otherwise, I’ll feel completely insecure.’

’But how can I make Claire want to marry me of her own free will?’

’Should I really use the method I came up with before?’

’It seems there isn’t a faster or better way right now.’

＊

「After Mrs. Rowan’s birthday party.」

Claire Mercer—Mrs. Rowan’s goddaughter, effectively half a daughter of the Rowan Family—instantly became the focus of Rhonia’s high society.

Many people remarked that she must have done something incredible in a past life.

An adopted daughter from a fallen family had not only caught Mrs. Rowan’s eye.

She had even leaped to the status of Mrs. Rowan’s goddaughter. It was simply unbelievable.

"I have no idea what Mrs. Rowan sees in her to give her so much face."

At the Sinclair family’s old residence, Rose Gable thought of Claire Mercer’s transformation into a golden phoenix, and her heart soured with envy.

"Exactly." Cynthia Sinclair was also going mad with jealousy.

"Mrs. Rowan didn’t even glance at the jadeite bracelet we gave her, which was worth over ten million."

"But then she publicly praised that tacky qipao she made to the high heavens..."

Mrs. Sinclair closed her eyes, rolling the Buddha Beads in her hand, and spoke in a seemingly calm voice.

"Her winning the Rowan Family’s favor, isn’t that a good thing for our Sinclair Family?"

"What are you two being so sour about?"

Rose Gable said, "But Mother, Mrs. Rowan publicly refused our gift. It’s obvious she’s not going to look after the Sinclair Family just because of Claire."

"In the Rowan family’s eyes, she is she, and the Sinclair Family is the Sinclair Family..."

How could Mrs. Sinclair not know this?

’She truly never expected that little wench Claire Mercer to have such incredible luck.’

’Now that this little wench has the Rowan Family backing her, will she have to put her plans for Claire on hold for now?’

"Mrs. Sinclair, now that the Young Madam has won the Rowan family’s favor, what about her divorce from the Young Master...?" the old nanny asked.