Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 30: Dr. Lockwood Looks Too Distant, I’m Afraid to Approach

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Dr. Lockwood Looks Too Distant, I’m Afraid to Approach
After hanging up, Tristan Lockwood finally put down the phone, turned around, and met Claire Hale’s gaze.
"Out for less than a day, and already holding on dearly?"
She walked to the door with her bag, as if chatting casually.
Tristan glanced at her: "Be mindful in front of Sean Lockwood."
She looked up: "What, afraid I’ll tell your uncle that you’re hiding a princess in the pea outside?"
"Do Sean Lockwood need to know about the domestic affairs between us?" He glanced over her long eyelashes, his eyes becoming complex, "But you can also try, see what consequences there might be if you speak recklessly in front of him."
Claire Hale indeed listened to Tristan’s words.
She hadn’t interacted much with Sean Lockwood, just a few brief encounters.
However, the pressure and arrogance radiating from Sean Lockwood made people feel a kind of compromise that was irresistible even knowing he’s coercing you.
The place for dining with Sean Lockwood was at a high-end Jiangnan banquet restaurant in Seacliff.
In an upscale private room.
Sean Lockwood sat at the head seat, while Tristan was by his side.
When pulling out the chair, Tristan took Claire Hale’s hand, letting her sit beside him.
Sean Lockwood glanced at their linked hands and casually said: "Your relationship is better than I’ve heard."
Claire Hale opened her mouth but hadn’t had time to speak before Tristan said: "Uncle, what rumors have you heard that made you think Claire and I aren’t getting along?"
Sean Lockwood casually glanced at Claire Hale.
Just a faint glance, yet the feeling of unyielding pressure came again, as if he could see through her in an instant.
Claire Hale felt a chill down her spine.
She had found out about Jade Sutton and Tristan Lockwood having an affair but was still hiding it from Sean Lockwood, leaving her with a guilty conscience.
After all, she received the money properly but hadn’t confessed truthfully.
Instinctively, Claire Hale leaned towards Tristan Lockwood’s side.
Feeling her lean against his shoulder, Tristan paused slightly, and his other hand under the table suddenly grasped hers, scratching her palm.
Sean Lockwood: "Just irrelevant talk. Since your feelings are good, some rumors might just be baseless."
Tristan pursued a question: "What rumors?"
"In the two years since you got married, you’ve been living in excess, changing many women." Sean looked at him, "Is that true?"
Tristan turned his head, glancing subtly at Claire Hale.
Claire Hale knew Tristan too well, understanding that look implied suspicion of her leaking secrets, which made her a bit unhappy, directly withdrawing her hand from his palm.
Tristan withdrew his gaze and said dignifiedly: "Of course not."
Claire Hale despised him inwardly, daring to act but not daring to admit.
Sean Lockwood nodded casually, showing no emotion.
Though only eight years apart in age with Tristan, Sean had an aura of imposing authority.
Claire Hale originally wanted to subtly probe into Jade Sutton’s affairs but, faced with Sean Lockwood’s eyes, didn’t dare to speak.
However, Tristan suddenly asked: "Why did your wife suddenly hide from you and return home?"
Claire Hale paused her hand holding the chopsticks, Tristan didn’t place Jade Sutton on the same level as Sean Lockwood, not calling her aunt.
While Sean Lockwood merely raised his eyes, his gaze roaming over Tristan’s face, seemingly probing for something.
After a moment, he said leisurely: "She enjoys playing cat and mouse, and I’m merely keeping her company."
Tristan smirked: "Your relationship is quite good too."
The two appeared to have a harmonious exchange, yet Claire felt a bit startled.
When Sean Lockwood mentioned the cat and mouse game, she wondered whether it was her illusion, as a murderous intent seemingly flashed in his eyes like a predator seeking prey, bloodthirsty and cruel.
She had a gut feeling that once found, Sean Lockwood wouldn’t let Jade Sutton off easily.
The summit took place the next day, and when Claire Hale arrived at the venue, many industry insiders had already gathered in groups, talking and laughing.
A tall and lean man’s gaze landed on her, his eyes flickering, and he proactively approached her, offering a business card: "Dean Dawson."
Claire Hale glanced over the law firm on the card, surprised: "You’re Attorney Dean?"
Dean Dawson had significant prestige in the entire legal world, known as the undefeated champion in lawsuits with immense fame.
Claire Hale quickly introduced herself.
"Miss Hale is so young, yet she owns her own firm single-handedly, very impressive."
Dean Dawson generously praised.
Receiving praise from a top industry figure, Claire Hale smiled graciously, thanking him with her eyes full of delight.
Dean Dawson was very tall, with long legs, and Claire Hale’s height of 1.65 meters only reached his chest.
When he looked down, he saw her lightly laughing, eyelashes quivering slightly, and lips curving with a cherry pink tint.
His narrow eyes brightened instantly.
While Claire Hale chatted intently with Dean Dawson, she was suddenly bumped by someone passing by, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward.
Dean Dawson quickly supported her waist.
She wore a simple business outfit today, the pencil skirt beautifully outlining the curves of her waist and hips, and the feel of holding her waist was so good, he couldn’t help but feel a bit tempted.
Just entering the venue, Tristan Lockwood saw Claire Hale held almost in an embrace by a tall, mature man, with her usually cool face now slightly flushed, evidently shy.
His gaze lingered on her, watching her retreat from the man’s embrace, then look up with shy eyes, saying something to him.
Dean Dawson was saying to Claire Hale not to thank him when he glanced up and saw Tristan Lockwood.
Lockwood Family was one of the investors for the summit, even taking the lead, so Tristan Lockwood’s face was naturally remembered by these people.
Dean Dawson walked over to Tristan Lockwood to introduce himself, and after exchanging a few words, realized Tristan was very indifferent.
He was accustomed to being praised normally, encountering someone so unyielding didn’t sit well with him, and after exchanging a few more polite words, he ceased further conversation with Tristan.
Turning back, he saw Claire Hale standing alone at the dessert area, leisurely eating a tiny cake.
Then elegantly approached her and said: "You seem relaxed, even when the investor’s here, not going over to converse a bit."
In such scenarios, Claire Hale always stayed as far away from Tristan as possible, wishing not to utter a single word.
However, she shouldn’t be too obvious about it, merely saying: "Dr. Lockwood seems too aloof, I don’t dare to approach."
Dean Dawson nodded: "He is quite haughty, even when I spoke to him, he barely responded."
"That’s so rude of him."
These past few days, Claire Hale had been holding back internally, finding Tristan Lockwood troublesome in every aspect.
Especially thinking about his distancing himself from Jade Sutton publicly, while privately acting affectionately, made her more irritated.
Thus, she added the remark.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished, Tristan’s cold voice sounded: "Am I rude?"