Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 36: After All This Time, Didn’t You Miss Me?

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: After All This Time, Didn’t You Miss Me?
Tristan’s eyes scanned downward; in the video, Claire and Dean were face to face, gazing into each other’s eyes.
A crowd surrounded them, egging them on, shouting for them to get together.
Tristan sneered.
"Just putting on a show."
With a look of sheer displeasure, Nathan couldn’t help but continue his cheeky comments, "After so many years, Claire finally seems to be moving on, ready to embrace a new Chapter. Tristan, you should celebrate, throw a big party just for this occasion!"
Tristan glanced at him sideways, "Celebrate what?"
"Naturally, celebrating the success of your divorce with Claire!" Nathan seemed eager to start the party, "Didn’t you say she was unwilling to divorce? Now that she’s found true love, she won’t cling onto an old tree that won’t blossom anymore!"
"She can decide to leave or stay on her whim? Am I just decoration here?"
Tristan’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes cold enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Nathan thought to himself, didn’t Claire admit before she was using you like a money dispenser, which is slightly more useful than mere decoration?
Tristan’s face looked as bad as a disaster, while Nathan, not fearing consequences for the sake of entertainment, provocatively asked:
"What’s going on with you, isn’t divorce what you wanted? Or are you reluctant now?"
"I don’t have a fetish for being cuckolded." Tristan stared at the paused video frame, "If she dares to cheat, she’ll have to face the consequences."
Claire received a message from Tristan while she was inviting Dean into her office, ready to roll up her sleeves and convince him to leave.
She glanced down at her phone; Tristan had sent six curt words: I’ll pick you up after work.
What kind of ominous wind was blowing this time?
Claire wasn’t in the mood to deal with Tristan at the moment, she said to Dean, "Dean, as a fellow lawyer, I admire you, and I’m very willing to be friends. But beyond that, I won’t consider."
"It’s okay, I can take it slow, Claire, I really like you; it was love at first sight at the Seacliff conference."
Dean was genuinely sincere.
Claire shook her head, "But now, this high-profile approach at my company has already caused me trouble. I don’t like putting personal matters out in the open."
"I’m sorry."
Dean’s gaze dimmed, "I truly hadn’t thought of that, I was too eager and lost my sense of boundaries. But from now on, I’ll be discreet in wooing you privately."
Claire: "..."
Is he getting braver with every setback?
Specializes in uphill battles?
The persuasion failed, Claire pinched the bridge of her nose helplessly, saying, "I still have work to handle; if you have nothing else, please leave."
Dean agreed breezily, turned, and quickly left.
Claire thought he had calmed down, only to see him waiting on the street across from the firm when she got off work.
Riverbend’s winter, its chill biting to the bone.
Dean’s nose was red from the cold; he waved at her, "Dinner together?"
Claire steadied herself, walked over, and said coldly, "Why are you still here?"
Dean: "I don’t get many chances to come to Riverbend. Since I’m here, I want to see more of you."
Dean’s attitude was genuinely sincere.
If she were an ordinary single woman, she might truly want to develop something with him.
But now, she can’t and won’t be with him.
"Dean."
Claire exhaled lightly, putting away the cold demeanor she had been using to reject him, and seriously said, "I’m already married."
Dean’s pupils dilated; he suddenly fell silent, staring at her fixedly.
Claire lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, and said, "Can you give up now?"
"I don’t believe it."
Dean frowned, "If you were really married, you could have told me the day I confessed, or earlier today, you had plenty of chances to say it. But you deliberately say it now, which means you’re lying to me."
Dean’s logic was actually quite sound.
It’s just that Claire’s marriage is peculiar, and naturally not to be judged by normal logic.
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But my marriage is a fact. With your reputation, if this scandalous rumor spreads, how will you continue in the legal profession?"
She spoke gently with persuasion.
Dean had already calmed down completely.
Claire’s expression truly didn’t seem like she was lying. Moreover, considering her character, she wouldn’t fabricate such a clumsy lie to make him leave.
Claire had nothing left to say to Dean, she bid farewell and walked away.
Didn’t notice the fleeting determination in Dean’s eyes.
She had just reached the parking lot when a sleek black sedan appeared from the corner, its window rolled down revealing Tristan’s handsome profile.
"Get in."
Claire climbed in and asked, "Is there something you need from me?"
Leisurely steering the wheel, Tristan glanced at Dean still standing by the street as they drove away from the firm, saying, "Told you before, he doesn’t just have innocent thoughts for you, yet you still rush headfirst into trouble."
"Trouble?"
Claire was speechless, looking at him, "I’m clean and innocent with Dean, yet you call it trouble. What you do, isn’t that crooked beyond salvation?"
"Did you reject him?" Tristan raised an eyebrow.
Claire: "None of your business."
"You want to make me wear a green hat; how is it not my business?" Tristan looked at her, "Posting on social media, not replying to my messages, are you trying to let everyone know, you’ve cuckolded me?"
Claire felt Tristan’s eloquence was truly impressive, turning black into white, false into real. One day, he might even speak the dead back to life.
"What did I post on social media?"
Tristan handed her the video footage, "Your assistant posted it. Without your directive, would she dare to post such a thing?"
Claire glanced at it, deciding to dock Tina’s bonus for the month by half.
"She posted it herself," she said nonchalantly, "Also, haven’t you been too idle lately? Coming here to pick a fight, why don’t you spend more time with your little Princess Pea?"
Tristan gave her a look, said nothing.
Arriving home, Claire had just put down her bag when Tristan embraced her from behind.
She knew too well what he was thinking; his heavy breathing was a sure sign of his intentions.
"Don’t touch me, I’m not doing it."
Claire pushed Tristan’s hand away.
As she touched his hand, he seized it, pulling her back into his embrace.
"All this time, you’ve never missed me?"
His voice was lazily drawn, clearly his interest had peaked.
Claire’s refusal was firm, resisting his hands to prevent any mischief.
Tristan realized her unwillingness was different from before; there was no "pretend push-pull," but sheer determination now.
Recalling their last time together, his face turned cold, gripping her chin he asked, "Have you truly developed feelings for Dean?"