Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 43: Who Says I Don’t Love You at All?

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Who Says I Don’t Love You at All?
The first person Claire saw when she opened her eyes was Tina Hayes.
Tina’s eyes were red, and when she saw Claire awake, tears immediately fell. She quickly pressed the call button to summon the doctors and nurses.
Claire had a fractured right foot and got caught in the rain, both of which were causing her persistent high fever that required continued injections.
After Clarence Finch finished explaining the precautions, he started to chatter incessantly: "What’s up with Tristan Lockwood? Can’t even take care of his own wife? How many times has she been hospitalized now?"
Tina thought of Tristan’s frantic state at the scenic spot, recklessly rushing into the mountains. She opened her mouth to say something but, seeing Claire’s calm expression, instinctively closed it again.
Perhaps it was a misconception, but she felt that there was a newfound resolve in Claire’s eyes, a determination to leave everything behind.
"Speaking of which, where is he?" Clarence looked around, "I haven’t seen him all day. Has he been to the ward?"
Tina showed difficulty on her face: "After Dr. Lockwood brought President Hale to the hospital, I haven’t seen him either. Maybe he’s dealing with the follow-up issues with Attorney Dawson."
As she said this, she looked at Claire.
Claire said nothing, her expression indifferent. At first glance, it seemed no different from usual. Yet, when Tina thought about what Claire had gone through, she couldn’t help but blame herself: "President Hale, it’s my fault. You can never truly know someone’s nature. I really didn’t expect Dean Dawson to be such a beast in disguise. If I had known, I would never have let him go down the mountain with you alone."
If she had insisted on waiting for Claire, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened.
Claire only spoke after Clarence left: "Did someone say something to Dean Dawson?"
Tina was taken aback: "Say what?"
"That I’m promiscuous and like having affairs with men."
She felt that while Dean’s intentions were not pure, during the hike, it was clear he was still testing her. Yesterday’s attack didn’t seem planned, but rather a rash decision sparked by something.
"Who would dare to spread such rumors?" Tina said in shock, "Our colleagues at the firm all respect you greatly. How could anyone dare say such a thing? If anything, they’d say you’re as unworldly as a nun, which is the opposite of promiscuous!"
"..."
Claire gave her a sidelong glance.
Tina closed her mouth, thought for a while, and suddenly said: "However, President Hale, I noticed that the mistress Tristan keeps isn’t as clean as she appears. Yesterday, when Tristan was looking for you, she stopped him several times, openly and subtly."
She paused, then added: "But Tristan surprised me this time. If it weren’t for him arranging a helicopter and beating up Dean Dawson, you might not have been found so quickly."
Claire lowered her gaze dispassionately and said, "Something happened to me, and he couldn’t explain it to the Lockwood Family. Doing these things was only to be expected."
As soon as she finished speaking, heavy footsteps sounded at the door.
Tristan Lockwood, in a neatly tailored suit and expressionless, walked slowly toward her.
His gaze lightly fell on Tina, who immediately felt frightened and mumbled that she was going to the bathroom. She then slipped out of the ward, gently closing the door for them.
In the room, only Tristan and Claire were left.
Tristan glanced at her broken leg and said calmly: "I warned you long ago that Dean Dawson had ulterior motives and to stay away from him. You didn’t listen and now you’re suffering for it."
Claire’s eyes dimmed, and she spoke after a long silence: "Jade Sutton must have said something to Dean to make him think I’m someone who sleeps around easily."
Tristan paused, his face darkening: "You fail to keep distance from Dean and now blame Jade for sowing discord? She doesn’t even know him, and it’s impossible for her to speak ill of you to a stranger."
"How long have you known her? Are you so sure she’s innocent?"
Claire suddenly looked directly at him, her gaze sharp and aggressive.
Tristan’s demeanor grew colder: "I always thought you were just indifferent, someone who doesn’t know how to be grateful. But now you’ve become hateful, even willing to smear those who have been good to you."
Each word from Tristan carried weight.
Each word was like an ice shard, striking Claire’s heart.
Her expression didn’t change; she continued to ask: "Did you notice anything unusual about Jade when you were looking for me?"
Tristan didn’t respond, his eyes steadfastly fixed on her.
Claire: "I won’t let this matter go easily. You just said it yourself, I’m an indifferent person, ungrateful. So, I certainly won’t be merciful to those who wronged me."
"The one who harmed you is Dean, and he’s already been arrested. If you want to deal with him, that’s your business."
Tristan looked at her coldly.
"But if you go after Jade, you’re setting yourself directly against me, Claire. Think through the consequences."
"What consequences?"
Claire suddenly smirked.
Her eyes, though empty of mirth, said: "Make me leave with nothing, or ruin my firm? Besides those things, what else can threaten me?"
Tristan gazed intensely.
Claire laughed indifferently: "As you know, I have no parents and have long been estranged from the Hale Family. The only ones I care about are Grandpa and Grandma Lockwood. Are you going to harm them?"
"So, you think you can act with impunity?"
Tristan glared coldly at her.
Claire suddenly lifted her gaze, giving him a helpless smile, then said regretfully: "There’s nothing I can do. I don’t love you at all. Losing you is the least distressing thing for me."
Her words were another wake-up call for Tristan.
They reminded him of the time he was almost deceived by her.
Back then, she manipulated him into bed and wanted him to marry her. He thought she did everything because she liked him.
She simply didn’t know how to love someone, given her lack of parental guidance, so she used extreme methods to force them together.
At first, he didn’t oppose the marriage.
Until she admitted she never liked him and married him only for the Lockwood Family as a backing.
From then on, Tristan was thoroughly disillusioned with Claire.
"By the way, if you’re bent on making life difficult for me, you might as well guess when I’ll tell Sean Lockwood that Jade Sutton is right beside you."
Claire suddenly threw out this remark, and Tristan almost instantly grabbed her slim neck.