Mr. Warner, Your Wife is Running Away Again!-Chapter 456: She’s Really on the Verge of a Breakdown
The early autumn rain was overcast and continuous, with a hint of chill.
After completing the ancestral worship ceremony, the group moved to the banquet hall at home, chatting while waiting for lunch.
Vanessa Sterling stayed by Miles Sterling’s side all the time, leading more than one person to mistakenly think she was his girlfriend. Later, after Miles explained she was his "sister," everyone’s reaction was slightly stunned.
There seemed to be two types of people: one was those who had no idea Miles had a sister; the other was those who had heard about some things in the past and were surprised by Vanessa’s appearance.
Faced with these people, Vanessa wasn’t sure whether she should respond with a polite smile or not react at all. She just wanted to go back quickly, as if she was used to solitude and didn’t like this noisy setting.
Or perhaps it was not that she disliked the bustle, just that she disliked this particular place.
Vanessa sat reservedly beside Miles, when suddenly someone patted her shoulder from behind. She then heard Clarissa Morgan’s voice softly say in her ear, "Vanessa, why don’t you come sit next to me?"
Vanessa was taken aback, looked at Clarissa in confusion, and subconsciously glanced at Miles.
Clarissa smiled and explained, "I’m not too familiar with everyone, and your uncle is busy dealing with the elders, so he can’t attend to me. Since I know you a bit better here, I thought I’d chat with you so it wouldn’t be too awkward."
Vanessa pursed her lips, obviously hesitant. Firstly, whether she could go depended on Miles; secondly, she knew Clarissa wasn’t straightforward, unsure if she really wanted to ease awkwardness or had another agenda, thus she was reluctant to go.
Before Vanessa could think of what to say, Miles stood up and said to Clarissa, "In that case, Vanessa and I will accompany Uncle and Aunt together."
Clarissa: "That’s certainly fine, though it may trouble you both."
Miles looked at Clarissa thoughtfully and smiled faintly, "It’s no trouble; wherever we eat is the same."
Saying that, he stood up, glanced at Vanessa, who promptly got up too, and together they switched to another table.
Being former schoolmates, Miles and Clarissa had some topics to discuss.
But unlike Miles’s initial casual attitude toward Clarissa, it now felt like he was speaking in a way that hid meanings.
"Vanessa doesn’t seem to go out much; this is the first time I’ve seen her at a family gathering. I remember she didn’t come to my wedding with Quentin."
Miles responded with a faint smile, "She doesn’t like crowds and prefers staying at home."
Vanessa didn’t offer any explanation, thinking she didn’t really enjoy staying home, wishing she could see the expansive sky outside.
Clarissa: "Girls should go out more and experience things, so they can better recognize the ways of the world, and when finding a partner in the future, they can avoid many detours."
Miles: "Human nature is unpredictable. It’s not something that can be accurately judged just by seeing more of the world. Even clever people can still mistake someone, like my uncle."
Though Miles didn’t directly point out who this "mistake" referred to, Clarissa knew well who he was hinting at.
Clarissa’s smile froze slightly, and she explained, "I think Vanessa is quite mature and can distinguish right from wrong, should let her go out more."
Miles: "If she wants to go out, she just goes. Aunt’s words almost feel like you’re blaming me for not letting her out."
Clarissa laughed: "No, no such meaning. You siblings are close, and taking care and supervising each other is as it should be."
As soon as she finished speaking, Clarissa’s phone chimed from her bag.
The ringtone was brief, likely a text message alert.
Seeing Clarissa’s body tense up noticeably upon hearing the sound, she seemed very apprehensive of it.
Meanwhile, dishes were being served. Miles gestured with his chin towards the cutlery beside Vanessa to indicate she could start eating, and only then did Vanessa pick up her chopsticks. She held off until others at the table began, then started picking dishes.
She had left without breakfast in the morning, and her stomach was already hungry.
Miles glanced at Vanessa for a few seconds, a slight smile on his lips, before picking up his chopsticks.
Within a minute, Clarissa suddenly stood up, rushing toward Quentin Sterling: "Quentin, there’s an issue with a student at the dance studio that needs addressing. I have to go handle it, I’ll be back soon."
Quentin stared at her for two seconds, thoughtfully suggesting, "We just started eating, go after the meal."
Clarissa: "You eat first; I’ll be back soon."
There was a hint of doubt in Quentin’s gaze, but he simply said, "Then let me take you."
Clarissa: "No need, I’ll have the driver take me. There are so many elders here that need your attention, I wouldn’t want to trouble you."
Quentin nodded, "Alright, be careful on the way."
Clarissa: "Mm, I’ll be back soon."
Watching Clarissa hurriedly turn away, Quentin’s eyes lingered on her back, reluctant to retract his gaze.
The nearby butler approached to inquire, "Master, what’s the lady going for without eating?"
Quentin paused, saying, "Follow her for me."
The butler froze, seemingly thinking he heard wrong.
Before he could ask again, Quentin changed his mind, "Forget it, I’ll go myself."
Butler: "Master... this... there’s the toast later."
Quentin seemed not to hear, grabbed the coat from the chair back, put it on, and left.
Clarissa couldn’t tolerate Nolan Hawke’s capriciousness any longer. In her text, she’d already mentioned today’s situation was special, not convenient to meet, also stating that Quentin Sterling was beginning to suspect.
Yet Nolan insisted it was her own issue, telling her to handle it, threatening to send the video to the press if she didn’t show up in twenty minutes.
Nolan was like a madman, and Clarissa knew he was capable of executing his threat.
If the video was sent out, he would lose the last leverage over her, and the outcome would just be switching his interest to another toy.
For Clarissa, it meant the abyss.
No progress could be made with Audrey Sutton, Nolan kept pressing, and Quentin had started to sense something. She was about to be pushed to her limits.
Clarissa had the driver take her to the dance studio.
The meeting place Nolan chose was indeed the dance studio.
Today, there were students having classes at the dance studio, taught by substitute teachers here.
Clarissa held up her umbrella and pushed open the glass door of the studio. The girl at the front desk greeted her with a smile, "Boss lady, you’re right on time. A Mr. Hawke upstairs asked for you, said he’s a friend."
Clarissa nodded, "Mm, I know."
She went straight upstairs after saying that.
