Divorce? Not So Fast, Wife!

Chapter 6 You Asked for It

With a plan to destroy Claire firmly in place, Sophia's gaze turned icy, like a venomous snake sizing up its prey.

Claire felt a sudden chill crawl down her spine, as if she were being watched. She glanced around but found Sophia's expression had returned to normal, her lips curved into a friendly smile.

Claire quietly looked away, uneasy. 'Why does Sophia seem so strange to me?'

Although Claire hated jumping to conclusions, Sophia had confronted her the very first time they met. It was impossible to ignore Sophia's lingering hostility and disdain. Someone harboring such deep resentment wouldn't abandon their dark thoughts so easily, no matter what Helen said.

This realization made Claire more cautious.

Still, the family dinner passed without incident. Sophia even ladled soup into Claire's bowl, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry, Claire. I was in a bad mood earlier and took it out on you. It wasn't intentional. I hope you can forgive me."

Sophia sounded sincere, and Claire didn't want to make things awkward. She nodded and quietly drank the soup.

After dinner, the Hawkins family split into smaller groups. Some gathered to chat, others watched TV. Helen was engrossed in conversation and didn't notice Claire. As for Richard, he acted as if Claire were invisible.

Claire didn't mind. In fact, she found the situation ideal—she'd eaten her fill and didn't have to mingle with strangers. She leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Noticing Claire alone and overlooked, a triumphant smile tugged at Sophia's lips. 'So what if Helen favors you? The rest of the family doesn't care about you.'

Putting on a warm smile, Sophia walked over and sat beside Claire. "Claire, I ate too much at dinner. Want to take a walk with me? It'll help with digestion." She reached out as if to take Claire's arm.

Claire instinctively pulled back, her tone distant. "I'm fine here, Sophia. You can go ahead."

Sophia chuckled at her guarded reaction. "Do you really think I'd hurt you? I know I was wrong before, but I want to make amends. Let's talk, get to know each other better. We're family now, after all."

Claire hesitated and glanced at Helen, who nodded approvingly. "Sophia's right," Helen said. Though Helen wasn't particularly fond of Sophia, she hoped they could maintain a semblance of harmony for the family's sake.

Seeing no way out, Claire sighed and stood. "All right, let's go."

Sophia beamed and linked arms with Claire. "That's the spirit!"

Claire stiffened at the unexpected contact. She wasn't used to such familiarity, especially from Sophia.

Sophia led Claire outside, chatting brightly. "Claire, have you ever seen such a luxurious neighborhood? The Hawkins estate is the pinnacle of refinement. There's even a mountain right in the middle! Ordinary people can't even dream of living in a place like this."

Claire forced a polite smile. "I haven't been here before."

Sophia continued boasting as they walked, her tone brimming with pride. But Claire grew uneasy as she noticed the path becoming increasingly secluded. The estate was massive—too large to have surveillance everywhere.

'What is she planning?' Claire's thoughts raced, but she masked her suspicion, deciding to follow along for now. She sensed that whatever Sophia was up to might provide the leverage she needed to escape the Hawkins family for good.

After leading Claire to a secluded spot on the mountain, Sophia finally stopped and let go of her arm. Her cheerful smile faded, replaced by a cold sneer.

"Do you know how I married Nathan?" Sophia began, her tone dripping with bitterness. "I was just his secretary back then. He had a girlfriend, someone from a family as prestigious as his. It took everything I had to make him fall for me. Even then, the Hawkins family didn't accept me. They said I wasn't good enough."

Sophia's voice grew harsher. "I came from nothing. It took years of effort to prove my worth. And yet, here you are, waltzing into this family like it's nothing. Why should someone like you, with no background, be so easily accepted?"

Claire's eyes narrowed, her unease deepening.

Sophia's expression twisted with malice as she screamed, "Claire, go to hell!"

She lunged at Claire, attempting to shove her off the rocky edge.

But Claire was prepared. She stepped back swiftly, dodging Sophia's attack, her gaze sharp. "Are you insane? You think you can murder someone and get away with it?"

Sophia's smile turned dark. "Oh, I'm not trying to kill you. I want you to suffer a fate worse than death!"

At that moment, a figure darted out from the shadows, slamming into Claire and pinning her to the ground.

Startled, Claire realized it was a man dressed as a Hawkins family servant. He grinned wickedly, ripping at her clothes.

Sophia laughed coldly. "Enjoy your 'good fortune,' Claire. Soon, everyone will know your disgrace—especially Richard!"

The man leered, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll make this quick."

But Claire's panic vanished, replaced by icy resolve. "You?" she said, smirking. "Even a kitten has more fight than you."

With that, she drove her knee into his groin.

The man howled in pain, doubling over. Claire stood and stomped on his chest, pinning him to the ground.

The servant's eyes widened in terror. "You—you were faking it?!"

"Of course," Claire said coldly. "Trash like you wouldn't even touch me if I wasn't letting you."

The man snarled and lunged at her again, but Claire delivered a sharp kick to his head, knocking him unconscious. She grabbed a sturdy branch and beat him until he was half-dead, then dragged him toward the villa.

'If Sophia wants to play dirty, she'll pay the price.'

Meanwhile, Sophia had rushed back to the villa, feigning panic. "Something's wrong!" she cried. "Claire's gone missing! I'm so worried—please help me find her!"

Helen frowned. "What happened?"

Sophia wrung her hands. "I took her up the mountain for a walk, but she said she needed a moment alone. I waited, but when I came back, she was gone!"

Nathan scoffed. "She's an adult. What could happen on a mountain?"

But Sophia added slyly, "I heard her talking to someone on the phone. It sounded like she was meeting a man."

The implication hit like a bombshell.

Before anyone could respond, the doors burst open. Claire strode in, dragging the bloodied servant behind her.

The room fell silent.

Claire fixed her icy gaze on Sophia. "Sophia, why did you leave me behind? I had to deal with this all by myself."

Sophia's face drained of color as Claire stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face.