My Charm Drives Billionaire Ex Crazy

Chapter 7 No More Putting Up with It

Claudia stood at the front door with a gift in hand, hesitating like a child who knew they had erred and dreaded facing their parents.

But this was the path she had chosen, and if it led to her smashing her head against a wall, bloodied and bruised, she had no one to blame but herself. She accepted that.

Yet, the thought of her mother’s sorrowful, heartbroken eyes on the other side of the door was more than she could bear.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Claudia found herself staring into the very gaze she had dreaded, a reflection of her own shattered image. She stood whole, but everything around her was in fragments.

"Claudie..." Evelyn's voice was choked and hoarse from crying, unsure how many nights she had cried, yet she still maintained a smile.

Claudia's eyes instantly reddened. She stubbornly forced a smile, pretending to be calm. "Mom, you’ve lost weight. You are beautiful, you don’t need to diet."

She handed over the gift in her hand. "Look, I bought you some clothes. Although they're in your usual size, they may be a bit loose now. You should eat more today and make up for it."

Evelyn understood her daughter's stubbornness; after all, she had carefully nurtured this rose, vibrant and charming, with her own pride.

Since Claudia’s marriage, there hadn’t been a day of peace. Her son-in-law’s attitude, the endless gossip—Evelyn had seen it all but dared not interfere too much. Her only solace was to remind her daughter that she could always come home, that her parents were her strongest support.

But when her daughter truly needed that support, she was already covered in scars. The only consolation was that her daughter had returned. It's good that she's back.

Evelyn masked her sadness with a smile. "Having you back, I’m sure I’ll eat more, but don’t you think I look good a little thinner?"

Hearing this, Claudia breathed a sigh of relief. She went forward, hugging Evelyn's arm, playfully acting like a child. "Mom is the most beautiful, whether thin or chubby."

"You sweet-talker, okay, let's eat first. If we keep dawdling, Dad’s going to start complaining," Evelyn quipped.

"Let him complain. It’s not the first time, and you can just overrule him."

The two of them talked as they walked. Howard came out of the dining room with a face full of grievance, looking at Evelyn and then at Claudia, silently protesting.

Claudia stuck out her tongue and obediently walked into the dining room.

The table was covered with her favorite dishes. Indeed, only parents would always remember.

For the past three years, she had focused on Leo’s preferences. Whenever they dined together, she instinctively ordered his favorite dishes, ensuring he wouldn’t have the slightest cause for displeasure. Now, looking back, it seemed laughable, and Claudia felt the urge to slap herself.

Evelyn was eating while serving food onto Claudia's plate. Howard also quietly pushed the dishes his daughter liked towards her.

Claudia ate, unsure if it was the food that gave her strength or the love from her parents' actions that gave her courage.

She spoke up, "Mom, Dad, I will ensure the interests of both myself and the Thornhill family are protected and get a divorce as soon as possible. Don't worry, I won't let myself be wronged anymore."

Evelyn placed a piece of pork rib in Claudia's bowl. "Alright, if there's anything you can't handle, just call your dad."

Howard served a bowl of soup to Claudia and placed it in front of her. "The lawyers you've hired are quite good. Your divorce will inevitably involve many aspects, and I've already assembled a PR team ready for you."

They both knew and prepared well...

Claudia's eyes reddened uncontrollably as she chewed on the rib meat and tilted her head back to drink the soup, trying to hold back her tears.

In the end, a tear still fell, mixed with the soup, and went down her throat.

After setting down the bowl, she lowered her head and said with a choked voice, "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for insisting on marrying him and causing you to worry."

Howard said earnestly, "Three strikes and you're out. This is the last time. If you make another foolish mistake, I'll have to scold you."

After saying that, he took a tissue to wipe Claudia's tears and said to Evelyn beside him, "Our daughter is still so beautiful even when she cries."

"If you can't speak properly, just shut up and eat your food," Evelyn said with extreme disdain.

"How can I eat with my mouth shut?"

Hearing her parents bicker, Claudia smiled. It was a reminder that, after three years, she was still the same person. The most important thing now was to get divorced as soon as possible.

The meal was a joyful affair, with the family envisioning a brighter future together. After they had eaten, Evelyn tried to persuade Claudia to stay at home, concerned about her being alone on the outside.

After careful consideration, Claudia still declined. The divorce case would inevitably be a tough battle, and she didn't know how things would turn out between her and Leo.

She didn't want her parents to see such an ugly side.

Evelyn chose to respect her daughter's decision. After all, nothing could worry her more than her daughter marrying Leo.

Claudia stayed at home for a while and received a message from Vincent, asking her to discuss some details.

As she was about to leave, Howard and Evelyn saw her at the door.

"Make sure to take care of yourself. If you’re ever upset, just come home. If you run into any trouble, just call your dad. We’re not too old to help out. You don’t have to go through things alone," Evelyn was still worried.

"Mom, I'm all grown up now. Don't worry," Claudia said, clinging to Evelyn's arm and acting coy.

"No matter how old you are, you're still our daughter," Howard retorted. "Do you have enough money? If not, I can send you more."

"I have enough. I’ll ask you for more if I need it," Claudia said, feeling so content that she regretted not bringing up the divorce sooner.

That abyss, she now found it irritating even to look at.

"Alright, I'm leaving. Goodbye, Mom and Dad." Claudia leaned in to give each of them a kiss, waving cheerfully.

As she turned around, she saw Leo outside the yard.

Susan, standing beside him, was the first to notice Claudia and was momentarily taken aback, but the next second, she tugged provocatively on Leo's sleeve, signaling him to look over.

Only then did Leo shift his gaze to Claudia and her family. His expression was serene, his eyes showing a lack of interest, as if he were completely detached.

Claudia turned to gauge her parents' reactions. As expected, both of them looked livid, as if they wanted to confront Leo for an explanation.

She stood in front of her parents, hands behind her back, gently patting them, then smiled at Leo. "Here to pick me up? Perfect, my parents are here. Why don't you say hello?"

Susan, who had plans to settle in the country long-term, had asked Leo to accompany her house hunting. She hadn’t expected the Thornhill family to be present; the property management had even mistaken her for Mrs. Wilson earlier.

Claudia's greeting had completely exposed her as the mistress. How could she dare live in this house now? She glared at Claudia resentfully.

Leo didn't move, completely disregarding Howard. Susan immediately felt emboldened.

Claudia let out a cold laugh. "Have you lost your mind that you don't recognize your in-laws? Or did the Wilson family never teach you to respect your elders?"