Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 102: Are You Reluctant to Part with Claire?

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Are You Reluctant to Part with Claire?
Claire believed what he said.
Everything Tristan Lockwood did was decisive and left no room for compromise.
He saw her staring intently at those letters, thinking she was still concerned. After all, a letter is a memory, and memories often leave one powerless.
Tristan casually picked up a letter from the pile, taking out a lighter with his other hand, and ignited it.
"No!"
The moment the flames appeared, Claire rushed over, anxiously snatching the letter and protecting it in her arms.
Tristan raised his eyebrows, looking at her: "Why are you so nervous?"
Claire stiffened all over, then gradually relaxed her guard a moment later, carefully putting the letter back into the pile, which had one corner already turned to ash. She then lifted her eyes, calmly saying to him, "Actually, even if you want to sever ties with Jade Sutton, there’s no need to go to this extent. After all, we’re about to divorce, aren’t we?"
When she mentioned divorce, his expression darkened slightly.
Claire lowered her eyes, her cool gaze landing on those letters: "These letters, after all, were written with intent, no matter what, they’re expressions for you. There’s no need to burn them."
Tristan looked into her eyes for a long moment, then returned all the letters to the safe. When he turned back to her, he said in a subtle tone, "Whatever you say."
Having said that, he walked over to embrace her, his hand resting on her waist, the gestures somewhat suggestive.
Claire knew he wanted her.
She didn’t resist him much, just struggled a couple of times, and let him proceed.
People often need an outlet during turbulent times, and being with Tristan Lockwood, Claire never worried about discomfort; he always had ways to make her relax.
Perhaps influenced by Valentine’s Day, although the time had passed, their passion hadn’t decreased but intensified. Even Claire herself cooperated well with Tristan.
However, her thoughts might not align with Tristan’s.
She felt that this was likely their last time before they separated.
No matter what, after they got married, nothing else was as harmonious as this. She wanted to leave a lasting impression on the most harmonious thing.
So, many things she previously didn’t want to cooperate with, this time she let Tristan lead, without resistance.
But at the end, when Tristan embraced her tightly, Claire still retained a touch of calm, saying, "Don’t cause trouble now."
Tristan clasped her chin without saying anything, just lowered his head to linger on her lips.
He listened to her this time, not insisting within her.
...
The next morning, upon waking, Claire felt a cold sensation between her collarbone, reaching up to touch it, finding a necklace.
She got out of bed and walked to the mirror, seeing two rings intertwined, standing frozen.
Tristan walked out from the bathroom then, seeing her in a camisole staring at the mirror, he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, saying, "A gift from yesterday."
Claire hesitated for a moment, with a bit of unspoken words.
Tristan noticed her hesitation, asking, "What do you want to say?"
She faintly smiled, saying with a complex mood, "I just didn’t expect, after all these years, our first exchange of gifts would be when we’re about to divorce."
That’s human nature, not knowing how to cherish during good times, only showing a bit of tenderness upon leaving.
Tristan’s gaze darkened slightly, suddenly turning her shoulders to face him, then cupping her chin and kissing her.
Claire responded to him.
He was already dressed in a suit, as Claire’s body pressed against him, feeling a slight coldness.
After Tristan left the villa, he went to the residence of the Elder Lockwood and The Matriarch.
Upon seeing him, Elder Lockwood snorted coldly, saying, "Getting married so hesitantly, divorcing hesitantly too. Were you born by a turtle?"
Tristan remained unfazed, "If I’m a turtle, then you must be the turtle ancestor."
Elder Lockwood raised his hand, wanting to hit him.
The Lockwood Matriarch stopped him, speaking to Tristan, "You’re always very decisive, yet this time, it’s been so many days, why haven’t you and Claire taken the divorce certificate?"
"I actually want to ask you all, why are you in such a hurry to set me up with someone new before I’ve even divorced her?" Tristan said coldly, "You should know, I detest having decisions made for me."
The Lockwood Matriarch glared at Byron Lockwood, blaming this old fool for being in such a hurry, having warned them not to act recklessly.
Byron Lockwood coughed awkwardly twice, stating seriously, "If you weren’t dragging your feet handling the divorce, I wouldn’t be so anxious. You’re always in the hospital, so you wouldn’t know that several billion-dollar projects have been lost since New Year!"
Tristan, indifferent, said, "If the company can’t handle projects, you should question my uncle, not me."
Byron Lockwood was so angry his beard flew up.
The Lockwood Matriarch gave him a look, signaling him to stay aside, to cool off, Byron Lockwood muttered in discontent, then went upstairs.
Only then did the Lockwood Matriarch speak to Tristan, "Be honest with Grandma, are you reluctant to leave Claire?"
Tristan said nothing.
But this reaction already spoke volumes.
The Lockwood Matriarch was filled with mixed emotions, but thinking about the current problems at the Lockwood Group, she ultimately said regretfully, "I advised you to treasure her earlier, you didn’t listen, now it’s at a point beyond remedy, you can’t have regrets."
"I just feel she wasn’t at fault in this matter. The ones in a rush to announce my marital relationship with her were you two elders, yet when things happened, she was made to bear the consequences."
Tristan’s tone was calm yet piercing.
The Lockwood Matriarch was aware of her own wrongdoing, thinking it over before saying, "We’ll certainly make it up to Claire, and over the years, the Lockwood Family hasn’t treated her poorly, she will understand us."
"Treat her well? Really?" Tristan asked with little emotion, "Then why doesn’t a single outsider know you’ve raised such a granddaughter?"
The Lockwood Matriarch’s face turned visibly unpleasant.
Tristan continued, "In the end, you care too much about appearances, always bothered by the fact she’s Evan Hale’s and the maid’s daughter. And back then, while forcing me to marry her, it wasn’t entirely because I slept with her, but rather you were more worried she would spread this matter around, isn’t that right?"
The Lockwood Matriarch looked at him steadily, and after a moment, laughed annoyingly, saying, "You cunning rascal, always so perceptive."
Tristan didn’t refute but maintained a cold demeanor.
The Lockwood Matriarch said helplessly, "People live for their dignity, trees live for their bark. When your father caused all those issues back then, it really embarrassed your grandfather, and he was always so prideful, it’s natural to do foolish things at an old age."
"Indeed," Tristan said indifferently, "Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had Sean Lockwood outside."
Bringing up Sean Lockwood, the Lockwood Matriarch became even less cheerful, and was disinclined to waste words with him: "Don’t tell me all this nonsense, just hurry up and get the divorce certificate, then you can set the wedding date! Since you don’t manage the company’s affairs at home, you must contribute to personal matters."