Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Spending His Money

Claire Kendall saw her own fierce reflection in his pupils, a somewhat pathetic attempt at being intimidating.

Miles Warren drifted back into a groggy sleep. Claire Kendall waited until his breathing steadied before slipping out of bed.

In the dim, yellow glow of the bedside lamp, she leaned over and stared at the man.

She raised her hand, her fingers tracing the bridge of his nose, his chin, and then his Adam’s apple.

"Miles Warren, can’t you just get her out of your heart? Can’t we just continue living our lives together?"

Jonathan Keller had said Miles treated her very well, and it was true. From lending her money for her mother’s medical bills to the current partnership with the Wallace Group, his consideration for her was meticulous.

But he would have offered this same kindness to anyone in the position of Mrs. Warren.

She could accept that before, but not anymore.

’Since I can’t win him over, then it’s really time to pack up and leave.’

「Aethel General Hospital.」

The next day, Claire Kendall went to visit Lindsay Joyce, who had been moved from the ICU to a regular ward.

Her head was wrapped in gauze and her complexion was a bit sallow, but her spirits were much better than before the surgery. She was leaning against the headboard, eating breakfast.

Lindsay Joyce’s sharp, incisive gaze swept over her. "What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

Claire Kendall sat down. "I just came to see how you’re recovering."

"I’m doing fine, but you don’t look so great."

Claire Kendall didn’t answer, looking down to peel an orange.

"Claire, have you noticed? You’ve changed a lot."

"Hm?"

"Back in college, at OCHH, you were so decisive and efficient. But when you were with Jacob Sinclair, you walked on eggshells, so careful with everything you said and did."

Lindsay Joyce’s tone softened.

"But you’ve changed so much recently. I mean, Miles Warren has really allowed you to thrive."

Claire Kendall’s fingers stilled on the orange she was peeling.

"But he has the one he never got over. She just came back from abroad. She’s beautiful, comes from a good family, went to the same school as him... He still keeps her love letters in his study."

"Has he asked for a divorce?"

"Not yet."

Lindsay Joyce cut straight to the heart of it. "So you can’t accept that he has this person he never got over. Claire, you’ve fallen in love with him."

Claire Kendall left quickly, practically fleeing the room.

The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the hallway. It took a while for her to calm down, for her racing heart to finally steady.

Lindsay Joyce’s final words were like a needle, piercing her most vulnerable spot.

’She didn’t dare to confront the answer. If she fell in, she’d never get out, especially knowing he loved someone else.’

After leaving the hospital, Claire Kendall headed to OCHH.

Wendy White was waiting for her at the entrance, holding a large manila envelope.

"Claire, a lawyer by the name of Blake dropped this off this morning. He said they were documents for you. I signed for them."

Claire Kendall took it, feeling a bit dazed. She’d almost forgotten she had even contacted a lawyer.

She sat in her office chair, broke the seal, and pulled out the documents inside.

The bolded title read: Divorce Agreement.

It was concise and straightforward, with no dispute over assets—just as she’d requested. She would leave the marriage with nothing; the Warren Group’s assets would have nothing to do with her. She hadn’t expected it to be drafted so quickly.

Claire Kendall placed the agreement on her desk and stared at the pages for a long time.

’She should just give it to Miles Warren.’

But when she thought of him, of Lindsay Joyce’s words, Claire Kendall closed her eyes. She hesitated, her pale fingers wrinkling the edge of the paper.

She pulled open the right-hand drawer, placed the divorce agreement inside at the very bottom, and covered it with an old design sketchbook.

’I’ll wait a little longer. Or maybe... I’ll wait for him to bring it up first.’

Wendy White poked her head in. "Claire, someone from the Wallace Group is here. They said they need to verify some figures in the contract."

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

Claire Kendall left, and a moment later, her office door was pushed open again.

Ian Rhodes leaned in. His gaze swept across the empty desk before landing on the drawer that had just been closed.

He walked over, pulled the drawer open, and lifted out the design sketchbook.

The words "Divorce Agreement" leaped out at him. ’Just as I thought,’ he mused. He’d recognized Attorney Blake this morning—one of Aethel’s most famous divorce lawyers.

’So, Claire’s finally taking this step.’

’But why wouldn’t she just give the papers to Miles Warren directly?’

He paused for a second, then took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the document. He closed the drawer and slipped out of the office as if he had never been there.

After verifying the order with the people from Wallace Apparel, Claire Kendall got a call from Sharon Carter.

"Hey girl, my mom’s birthday is next Saturday. You have to come with me to buy her a gift."

Claire Kendall went with Sharon Carter to the mall.

"It’s that shop right there. I saw it last week. A Van Cleef & Arpels four-leaf clover bracelet, the rose gold one."

Sharon Carter’s words had barely left her lips when a snide voice drifted over from nearby.

"Well, well, if it isn’t my dear aunt."

Claire Kendall stopped in her tracks and turned her head.

Yvonne Warren was approaching, dressed in a Chanel suit and stilettos, with a perfectly made-up woman on her arm.

The woman was an old acquaintance, too—Joanne Sutton. ’I can’t believe those two are friends now,’ Claire thought.

Joanne Sutton looked her up and down, a knowing smirk on her face.

"Claire Kendall, shopping all by yourself? Didn’t your husband come with you?"

"My uncle’s been busy with Stella lately. How would he have time for her?" Yvonne Warren chimed in, the two of them working in perfect, sneering harmony.

Sharon Carter frowned, ready to fire back a retort, but Claire Kendall’s expression remained neutral as she placed a hand on her friend’s wrist.

"My dear niece," she began slowly. "You’re right, your uncle has been very busy lately. Busy making my breakfast, busy helping me negotiate deals, busy washing my lingerie."

"Claire Kendall, what are you talking about?"

’Miles Warren, washing a woman’s lingerie? Impossible!’

"You’re not even wearing a ring. My uncle must be so sick of you."

"Stella has known him for years. You’re just a stand-in."

"So what if I’m a stand-in?" Claire Kendall cut her off. "I’m not divorced yet. As long as I’m Mrs. Warren for one more day, your uncle’s money is mine to spend."

She turned and pointed to a whole row of diamond rings in the display case. "These. Bring all of them out."

The sales associate blinked. "Ma’am, you mean..."

"Every single ring," Claire Kendall said, slapping a black card down on the glass counter. "I’m in a good mood today, so I’m buying them all. I want to wear a different one every day of the week."

Sharon Carter whispered, "Claire, are you insane?"

"Not at all," Claire Kendall said, her voice just loud enough for the two women at the entrance to hear. "Besides, it’s Miles Warren’s card I’m using."

The sales associate’s eyes lit up, and she deftly began pulling out tray after tray of rings.

Yvonne Warren stood frozen at the entrance to the shop, her face turning pale with rage.

"Claire Kendall! How dare you use my uncle’s card?"

"By right of being his legal wife," Claire Kendall replied, turning to flash the black card at her. "What, do you want to use it? Go ask Miles Warren to get you one."

Joanne Sutton tugged on Yvonne Warren’s sleeve, whispering, "Let it go, Yvonne. Don’t stoop to her level."

"Let what go!" Yvonne Warren stomped her foot in fury. "That’s the Warren family’s money!"

"The Warren family’s money?" Claire Kendall laughed. "Then go tell your uncle. The moment he divorces me, I won’t be able to use his card anymore."

Sharon Carter watched from the side, completely dumbfounded. In all the years she had known her, she had never seen Claire Kendall with so much fight in her.

"Claire, that was... intense."

"Intense?" Claire Kendall snorted. "We’re getting divorced anyway. Might as well spend his money while I still can."

Yvonne Warren’s face was livid. She whipped out her phone to tattle.

"Hello? Grandpa! You won’t believe what Claire Kendall just did!"

"She’s using Uncle’s card to buy out the entire stock of rings at a jewelry store! It’s more than six million! This is outrageous!"

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