Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 34: The Way He Looks at You Is Anything but Friendly

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Way He Looks at You Is Anything but Friendly
Claire pursed her lips, turned her head away, not wanting to deal with him.
She felt Tristan Lockwood had too much of a double standard.
He’s simply the epitome of "only the officials can set fires, not the commoners."
Indeed, ancient wisdom can be useful even after thousands of years.
Nonetheless, her and Dean Dawson continued to keep in touch.
After all, most of what she said to Tristan in the car was intentionally to provoke him.
In reality, apart from business discussions, she seldom talked about other matters with Dean.
But Claire did not expect Dean to suddenly come to Riverbend.
"I have a case here that requires evidence collection, and knowing you’re in Riverbend, I thought of inviting you out for a meal." Dean said on the phone, "Back in the day, we were practically pen pals, wouldn’t you say?"
She smiled: "There’s a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try."
Dean laughed: "Send me the location, I’ll finish up early and wait for you there."
The restaurant Claire mentioned was on the fifty-second floor of a tall building by the river.
At night, you could see the stars and city lights through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Dean chose a seat near the window.
He hadn’t been seated long when Claire walked over in her high heels.
The restaurant was warmer than outside; after the waiter helped her remove her wool coat, the cashmere sweater she was wearing underneath highlighted her graceful figure.
Dean’s gaze flickered, noticing the scar on her face, and asked with concern: "What happened to your face? Did you get hurt?"
Claire: "A few days ago, I was unlucky enough to encounter a road rage driver when I was taking a cab, and I got a bump."
Dean understood, suddenly recalling seeing her crying in the hallway in Seacliff that day.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked: "Were you upset about something that day in Seacliff? If you don’t mind, you can tell me. Maybe I could help."
"It’s nothing."
Claire’s smile faded slightly.
"I just happened to think of something unhappy and couldn’t control myself. But still, I want to thank you."
Dean was quite gentlemanly towards her that day.
She felt embarrassed being seen crying out of sorts by someone.
But he cleverly didn’t question her reason at the time, instead, he nonchalantly escorted her to the airport, without mentioning anything about her crying.
The distance between people, Dean handled very well; seeing she didn’t want to mention that day, he didn’t pursue it.
The two naturally began to discuss some interesting cases again.
"Isn’t that Tristan Lockwood?"
Dean suddenly looked toward the restaurant door, surprised.
Claire’s seat was facing away from the door, she paused slightly and turned her head.
Simultaneously, Tristan looked in her direction.
His eyes were indifferent, pausing on her face for a second, and upon seeing Dean across from her, his gaze immediately turned icy and withdrew coldly.
Claire also quickly averted her eyes.
"This world is really small, you can run into acquaintances everywhere." Dean said casually, "Though Tristan really has such a cold demeanor; for those unfamiliar, he won’t even spare a glance. If he has a girlfriend, she must find it hard to endure him."
Claire smirked slightly: "Or perhaps, for the one he likes, he’ll be particularly warm and doting."
She couldn’t help but think of Tristan’s protection towards Jade Sutton.
Dean agreed with her, saying: "That sounds reasonable; perhaps Dr. Lockwood is cold outside but warm inside. Once he falls for someone, it’s just her for him."
He was suggesting it with his usual analytic vigor, not noticing Claire’s subtle change in expression.
"But I think that type of man isn’t suitable for Lawyer Hale."
Dean suddenly made such a comment out of nowhere.
Claire looked at him: "Why?"
"You’re also someone who is cold outside but warm inside, keeping your thoughts hidden. Encountering someone who doesn’t like to express emotion outwardly, and is exceedingly indifferent with a quirky character, you’d feel quite wronged."
Dean’s analysis was quite sensible.
With Tristan, she was not only wronged but had to wear a metaphorical hat - one that there were enough of for her to survive the winter.
When they were nearly finished eating, Claire put down her utensils and went to the restroom.
As she reached the restroom door, Tristan came out, and they met face to face.
She initially intended to feign unacquaintance and walk past him directly inside, but Tristan spoke coldly: "You’re still treating my words as wind passing by your ears."
What he said wasn’t questioning her, but already reproaching her.
Claire didn’t want to have an unpleasant scene with him here, so she explained: "Can’t you stop accusing me of everything? Lawyer Dawson came to Riverbend for a case, the meal was arranged spontaneously."
"Is there no other friend of his in Riverbend? Why did he only invite you? Why?"
Tristan was very confrontational.
Claire couldn’t continue the conversation with him, "I’m only friends with him, take it or leave it."
"His eyes when he looks at you don’t consider you just a friend."
Being a man himself, Tristan understood Dean’s intentions well; his gaze on Claire was like hunting prey, what serious thoughts could he have.
Claire didn’t respond, bowed her head, and entered the restroom.
When she came out, she saw Tristan and Dean standing face-to-face, both with subtle expressions, not knowing what they were discussing.
A sense of foreboding immediately rose in Claire’s heart.
As she walked over, Dean was first to notice her, smiled at her, then took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Tristan: "Here is my contact information, if you have any legal inquiries, you can call this number."
Tristan took it indifferently.
Dean looked at Claire and said: "Let’s go."
Claire nodded, and as she passed Tristan, she noticed his gaze was quite meaningful.
After leaving the restaurant, Dean proactively asked her: "Where do you live, I’ll take you back."
Claire thought for a moment, then politely declined, saying: "I drove today. Tell me which hotel you’re staying at and I’ll take you home."
Dean nodded, following her suggestion.
In the car, Claire couldn’t resist asking: "What were you discussing with Tristan Lockwood just now?"
Dean was slightly stunned, then smiled and said: "Tristan asked about consulting on divorce matters. He said his wife doesn’t agree to divorce, is there a way to make her agree and leave empty-handed."
Upon hearing this, Claire internally cursed Tristan a thousand times.
He clearly had an exclusive legal team in Riverbend, yet took the redundant step of asking Dean just so she’d hear the threat from Dean.
But, even if she was fuming, her personal composure made her act rather calmly in front of Dean, saying:
"He’s really heartless then. They say a day’s marriage is a hundred days of favor, yet he leaves no sentiment for his wife."