Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 169: A Mortifying Scene, Adrian Lancaster Is a Scoundrel
Wren Sutton put her phone away, stepped out of the restroom, and returned to the living room.
Claire Sterling was still complaining to the matriarch about how disobedient Lucia was, saying that being her mother had her worried sick.
"I’m afraid she’ll rebel and do something foolish that will only end up hurting her."
"Don’t let your imagination run wild all day. I know my granddaughter’s character. She won’t do anything rash."
Just then, Wren Sutton walked over and said in a calm voice, "I also believe Lucia wouldn’t do anything foolish."
Claire Sterling glanced up at her, but unable to find any fault, she closed her eyes in frustration, leaned back against the sofa, and sighed.
Lunch was a lavish spread, a feast for the eyes and palate, on par with what you’d find at a five-star hotel.
Halfway through the meal, Theodore Lancaster’s phone rang.
He put down his chopsticks and answered the phone.
"Chairman, this is Kevin Dawson. President Lancaster asked me to inform you that the situation here in Creston has mostly stabilized. He wanted to assure you."
Theodore Lancaster pulled rank as the head of the family. "Why isn’t he reporting to me himself?"
Even through the phone, Kevin Dawson could feel a chill run down his spine.
He braced himself and explained, "The press conference isn’t over yet. President Lancaster is still dealing with the media."
Theodore Lancaster’s silence carried an imposing authority.
"Have him call me back when it’s over."
"Of course, Chairman. I’ll be sure to relay the message."
The call ended.
Kevin Dawson hung up, let out a sigh of relief, and walked over to the desk.
"President Lancaster..."
Adrian Lancaster held up a hand. "I heard everything. No need to repeat it."
"Proceed as planned. This afternoon, we’ll visit the victims’ families to offer our condolences."
"Understood." Kevin Dawson nodded without objection.
"President Lancaster, I’ve ordered our meals. Do you want to eat at the restaurant, or should I have them delivered?"
Adrian Lancaster pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don’t have an appetite. You go eat on your own."
Kevin Dawson didn’t leave. "President Lancaster, I understand how you feel. But you still have to eat. If your wife knew you weren’t eating properly, she’d be heartbroken and upset."
A flicker of light crossed Adrian Lancaster’s eyes as an image of Wren Sutton appeared in his mind.
"Would she?"
"Of course," Kevin Dawson said without a hint of doubt. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Adrian Lancaster leaned back, fiddling with a pen. His curiosity was piqued.
"Call Wren Sutton right now."
"?"
"Tell her I’m not eating and see how she reacts."
Kevin Dawson: "..."
「Elsewhere.」
Wren Sutton was serving the matriarch some food when her phone, which was on the table, suddenly rang.
She caught sight of the screen out of the corner of her eye. It was Kevin Dawson.
She wasn’t the only one who saw it; the matriarch did too and gave her a smiling nod, encouraging her to take the call.
Wren Sutton put down the serving chopsticks and picked up her phone.
’Kevin Dawson already reported the situation to the family,’ she thought. ’Why is he calling me now?’
"Hello, Assistant Dawson."
"Ma’am, I’m sorry to bother you."
"What is it? Go ahead."
"President Lancaster refuses to eat. He didn’t eat breakfast, and he’s not eating lunch either."
The dining table fell silent. Everyone could hear the call.
Theodore Lancaster frowned and rolled his eyes.
’He’s a grown man in his late twenties, almost thirty, and he’s stubbornly refusing to eat? Let him skip a few meals; that’ll teach him.’
Wren Sutton was on pins and needles, her eyes darting around the table.
’I can’t just hang up now.’
"Is the food not to his liking?"
Kevin Dawson dodged the question. "Ma’am, I’m putting President Lancaster on. Could you try to persuade him?"
"..."
Kevin Dawson was so fast that before Wren Sutton could say a word, Adrian Lancaster’s voice was already on the line.
"Kevin Dawson is getting bolder and bolder. Now he’s learned to tattle on me to you."
’He actually sounds pretty angry.’
Wren Sutton came to his assistant’s defense. "Assistant Dawson is just looking out for you."
"Don’t defend him."
’If I weren’t worried about the matriarch’s feelings, I’d give him a piece of my mind,’ Wren thought, rolling her eyes inwardly.
"So why aren’t you eating?"
Adrian Lancaster let out a low chuckle. "Are you worried about me?"
Wren Sutton decided to save his pride and didn’t deny it outright.
"You need to eat to have the strength to work. There’s still so much to handle with the aftermath, and you can’t afford to let your health collapse."
Adrian Lancaster’s mood lifted instantly, and he let out a long, contented sigh.
"The food in Creston is awful. I want to eat your cooking. And I miss you even more."
Wren Sutton felt like she could die of embarrassment. Her face flushed, and she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
To everyone else at the table, however, it looked like sweet, bashful coyness.
A fond, doting smile appeared on the matriarch’s face.
Theodore Lancaster, his face tense, could no longer bear to listen. He sat ramrod straight in his chair with a stern expression.
Claire Sterling didn’t look too pleased either. When had her son become so sappy? She wasn’t used to it. Not at all.
"Why so quiet? Are you getting shy?"
Adrian Lancaster’s voice came through the phone again.
Wren Sutton’s palms began to sweat. She could feel at least two pairs of eyes fixed on her, making her feel even more like she was on pins and needles. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"Just eat properly, and don’t give Kevin Dawson a hard time. He’s only looking out for you."
"I’m starting to regret not bringing you to Creston with me last night. If you were here with me, I’d have an appetite."
He was getting more and more outrageous. Wren Sutton wished she could reach through the phone and clamp his mouth shut.
’Doesn’t he know I’m at the main house right now? The entire family can hear him!’
"When you come back, I’ll cook for you."
Adrian was delighted. "You have to keep your word."
"I will!" Wren Sutton said through gritted teeth.
"I love you, honey."
"!!!"
"As soon as I’m done here, I’ll come straight back. Be good and wait for me at home."
Wren Sutton couldn’t take it anymore. In front of her in-laws, she was both mortified and furious, terrified of what other, more explicit things Adrian Lancaster might say next.
"I’m hanging up. Go eat now."
She hung up the phone, her heart pounding. Mortified, she poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks, too embarrassed to look up.
’I could just die of cringe.’
’Damn you, Adrian Lancaster! What a jerk!’
