Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 27: There’s Nothing Wrong With My Body
The moment Claire Sterling finished speaking, the atmosphere at the dinner table fell silent, and every person wore a different expression.
Wren Sutton’s hand, holding her chopsticks, froze. Her face flushed with humiliation, and a dull ache spread through her heart.
The mention of children inevitably made her think of the baby in Maya Marshall’s womb—Adrian Lancaster’s child, the greatest shame of her marriage.
And of course, Claire excelled at rubbing salt in her wounds. The more Wren suffered, the happier Claire became.
The matriarch frowned in displeasure, set down her chopsticks, and sharply rebuked Claire.
"This is something you should discuss with Wren in private. Why bring it up in front of the whole family? You have no sense of propriety at all."
Claire was unfazed, completely dismissing the matriarch’s warning.
"Mom, I’m only thinking of the Lancaster family. A woman’s duty after marriage is to carry on the family line and produce heirs. This is a very real issue, so why avoid it? Don’t you want to hold a great-grandchild?"
"However real it is, it’s a private matter between a husband and wife. Adrian and Wren are still young, and this is the time for them to build their relationship. What does it matter if they have a child a few years later?" the matriarch said, her thinking progressive and reasonable.
Claire remained unconvinced. "It’s not a matter of sooner or later. If there’s nothing wrong with her body, how could she not be pregnant after four years? Mom, that’s not normal. It’s not like I’m nitpicking just to target her. Besides, just because you’re not in a hurry to be a great-grandmother doesn’t mean Adrian doesn’t want to be a father."
After her self-righteous speech, she deliberately turned to her son. "Adrian, am I wrong?"
Adrian’s expression was dark, his jaw tight. He said nothing.
In Wren’s eyes, silence was tacit agreement. Not denying it was the same as admitting it.
’Adrian clearly doesn’t care about my predicament.’
’Then again, I hadn’t expected him to protect me anyway.’
Wren put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and lifted her head to look directly at Claire.
"There is nothing wrong with my body. I don’t need to see some gynecology expert."
Claire’s surprise was overshadowed by her displeasure.
Her gaze was sharp as she stared coldly at Wren, as if looking at an enemy.
’I can’t believe this pushover actually has the nerve to talk back, and so assertively at that. Not only did she defy me, but she also shifted the blame.’
"What’s that supposed to mean? Having a baby is a matter for two people. If there’s nothing wrong with you, are you implying there’s something wrong with Adrian?"
Wren replied, "I never said there was anything wrong with Adrian Lancaster."
Claire, unaccustomed to this composed attitude, pulled rank as an elder and demanded sternly, "Wren Sutton, are you talking back to me?"
"No, I’m just stating the facts to clear up your doubts." Wren remained perfectly calm, showing no signs of agitation.
Claire let out a haughty, contemptuous snort. "So what if there’s nothing wrong with your body? It’s still your fault for not having a child after four years of marriage."
"If you don’t want to have a child, or you can’t, then you should step aside sooner rather than later. There are plenty of women willing to have a baby for Adrian. Don’t think so highly of yourself."
"If it weren’t for you four years ago..."
The matriarch couldn’t listen anymore. SLAM! She slammed her hand on the table.
"Shut up. Say one more word you shouldn’t, and get out of here right now." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Claire froze in disbelief, a tide of indignation washing over her.
"Mom, how could you say that to me? I’m Theodore’s wife and the mother of three children."
The matriarch sat enthroned at the head of the table. Her eyes were sharp, her presence commanding without any hint of anger, and her aura completely dominated the room, like an Empress Dowager from a historical drama.
"You’re a mother-in-law, and so am I. If you can lecture your daughter-in-law, can’t I do the same to mine?"
"..." Claire was rendered speechless by the retort, utterly humiliated.
The matriarch hadn’t wanted to expose her daughter-in-law’s shortcomings, but Claire had gone too far. If she didn’t teach her a lesson now, there was no telling what trouble she would cause in the future.
"If I recall correctly, you were married to Theodore for six years before you gave birth to Adrian. Wren has only been married into the Lancaster family for four years. What right do you have to criticize her for not having a child?"
Claire’s face went from pale to red. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, wishing she could simply disappear on the spot.
"A moment ago, you were about to say that if Wren hadn’t saved my life four years ago, she would have never been qualified to marry into the Lancaster family."
"But don’t you forget, decades ago, if I hadn’t fully supported you and driven away the woman Theodore loved most, would you have married into the Lancaster family so smoothly?"
Those words struck Claire like a bolt of lightning. She couldn’t catch her breath and nearly fainted.
Adrian stood up, went to support his mother, and pleaded with the matriarch.
"Grandma, please stop. My mom has a weak heart; she can’t handle this kind of stress."
The matriarch looked at him with disappointment. "They’re both women. You know how to feel sorry for your mother, but not for your own wife."
"Ever since Wren married you, for these past four years, your mother has never once treated her with kindness. Why don’t you ask your mother how I treated her back then?"
A bitter feeling welled up in Adrian’s heart, and he had no rebuttal.
It wasn’t that he didn’t feel for Wren, it was just that...
Just then, a flash of lightning split the night sky, followed by a deep RUMBLE of thunder.
The forecast had predicted a heavy storm for tonight.
Theodore Lancaster arrived home right on cue to find the atmosphere in the house was off.
Before he could even speak, Claire threw herself into his arms and began to wail.
Theodore was completely baffled. "What’s all this?"
The matriarch remained seated, stern and upright.
"If you’re going to cry, go to your room, shut the door, and do it where I can’t hear you."
"..."
Theodore didn’t know what had happened, so he put his arm around Claire and led her upstairs.
Lucia Lancaster, who had been silent the entire time, was also sent to her room.
Now, only the matriarch, Adrian, and Wren were left in the dining room. All the servants had discreetly withdrawn.
Adrian knew this wasn’t over. ’Now it’s Grandma’s turn to interrogate me,’ he thought.
"Grandma, whatever you want to say, please say it. Your grandson is all ears."
The matriarch did not look at him kindly.
’A man who doesn’t protect or care for his wife is not a proper husband.’
"I’ll ask you just one question. Are you, or are you not, willing to spend the rest of your life with Wren?"
"I am," Adrian blurted out.
’I’ve never once considered divorce.’
The matriarch then turned to Wren, her gaze softening, her eyes filled with pity.
"Wren, what about you? Tell Grandma the truth. Do you still want to be Adrian Lancaster’s wife?"
