Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 126: You Were Never a Threat

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: You Were Never a Threat
Claire was slightly startled, lowering her head and biting her bottom lip.
The affection she expressed that day, even though it came with the determination to completely let go of him, was genuine and real.
But to him, it turned into the so-called deceptive old trick. This man never truly took her heart seriously, and instead, always interpreted her intentions with the utmost malice.
Claire suddenly lost the drive to continue arguing with Tristan Lockwood.
She gathered her emotions and asked calmly, "So, what exactly do you want? Would you only be happy if I were dead?"
Hearing the word "dead," Tristan’s dark pupils contracted sharply.
He bent down, his face almost touching her nose, his cold breath hitting her face as he asked one word at a time:
"If I make you part ways with Dylan Skinner, you’d rather die, is that right?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I really want to see just how much you like him."
Tristan said this, then slammed the door as he left.
Claire collapsed wearily onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The pale walls suddenly appeared morbidly mottled, making her feel as if she couldn’t breathe.
For the first time, Claire wished she had never met Tristan Lockwood.
If he hadn’t appeared when she was eight, hadn’t saved her from darkness like a beacon, she wouldn’t have stubbornly persisted for all those years, crashing into dead ends just to stay by his side.
She never imagined that the person who once gave her hope to live would become a new abyss.
...
Dylan Skinner wasn’t too surprised to see Tristan Lockwood outside the company building.
When their eyes met, he knew the other was there to see him.
Tristan, tall and long-legged, stood by the car, a cigarette between his fingers. Even as a doctor, dressed in a suit, he radiated an air of social elite seamlessly.
Dylan walked over, nodding politely towards him, "Dr. Lockwood."
Tristan snuffed out the cigarette, nodding slightly, "Let’s talk."
Dylan didn’t refuse and followed him into the car.
Tristan personally drove today, and the car’s sleek body was flawless. Dylan knew that unless the price reached seven figures, this car wouldn’t be attainable.
He also knew that for Tristan, such a car was merely a drop in the bucket.
Yet for him, it seemed like an astronomical figure, unattainable.
Tristan parked the car outside a café, and once inside, they both ordered Americanos.
The Americano was bitter. After taking a sip, Dylan said, "Dr. Lockwood, did you come to tell me to stay away from Claire?"
Tristan gave him a sidelong glance but didn’t say anything.
Dylan frowned, "The way you spoke to Claire that night was truly disrespectful. If you’re trying to keep me away from her just so you can hurt her later, I won’t agree to it."
"I’m not here to ask for your opinion,"
Tristan finally spoke.
"Keeping you away from Claire is merely a notice. If you disagree, your job at Jennings Tech won’t be safe."
Anger sparked in Dylan’s eyes, "Doing this will only make Claire hate you more."
"I don’t care," Tristan said indifferently, "No matter how much she dislikes me, I have the means to ensure she succeeds in her career. Do you? All the emotional security you give is no match for a solid career and money. And right now, you’re nothing more than an ant that can be easily crushed."
Despite gritting his teeth, Dylan couldn’t find words to refute.
Standing before someone like Tristan, he nearly felt he had no chance of winning.
"If you can so easily squash me like an ant, then why bother saying all this to me?"
Dylan looked steadily at Tristan.
"Dr. Lockwood, clearly you have your concerns, which is why you came to see me yourself."
Tristan raised his eyebrows, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but quickly regained his composure and said, "Smart enough. Forcing you to leave is a last resort. Claire and I have been together for so many years. I don’t want you to create more rifts between us."
Dylan immediately replied, "The rift between the two of you is as wide as the East African Rift Valley. It’s wider than if a hundred of me stood in line."
Tristan: "..."
Dylan curled his lips, his long fox-like eyes glinting brightly, and continued, "Besides, when Claire is with me, she’s particularly happy and relaxed. She’s never been this joyful with you. Dr. Lockwood, I think you don’t really understand Claire. Have you ever thought that what she wants is actually very simple?"
"That’s because she hasn’t experienced the pain of having no money," Tristan said expressionlessly, raising an eyebrow, "You’ve been poor. You of all people should understand what it means when poverty strikes a household. Don’t forget, you’re able to work at Jennings because Claire recommended you."
The light in Dylan’s eyes dimmed suddenly.
Tristan straightened up, clearly no longer intending to spend any more time.
He pulled out an exquisitely made card, placing it on the table, saying, "This is an invitation from a large-model research team in Silicon Valley. I mentioned your name to them."
Dylan was taken aback, "Dr. Lockwood, you mean..."
"You studied algorithms yourself, so you should understand the value of this invitation. The world’s top-notch technology is gathered here. If you go, endless possibilities await. Accept this invitation to go abroad, or stay here and continue without gaining much by Claire’s side. It’s your choice."
Tristan stood up, looking at Dylan sitting motionlessly in his chair, and said lightly, "Of course, if you choose the former, it means you’re willingly giving her up, and you know in your heart how to explain it to her."
Dylan looked up, fixing his gaze on him, and asked, "Since joining such a team is a rare opportunity, why me?"
He knew in his heart that Tristan could easily cut off all his options as he said before. With nothing left, he certainly would have no face to pursue Claire again.
Tristan raised an eyebrow, "I’ve heard from Jenson that your ability, in a place like Jennings Tech filled with experts, stands out. Among young people, he particularly values you and Jude Jacobs."
Now at the Lockwood Group, what he lacked most were those who had core technology abilities and could be utilized by him.
Dylan: "Aren’t you worried that when I come back, I’ll take Claire away?"
Tristan chuckled lightly, "The moment you leave, it becomes impossible for you and her. She hates being abandoned more than anything. Of course, to me, you never were a threat."
There’s no way he would lose to such a young upstart.