Chapter 22 A Nasty Disease
Ben said tonelessly as if they were talking about some routine, with a calm expression shining in his eyes. Scott also looked at him impassively and then said with a smile, "Mr. Crawford, what do you think?"
It was just a calm rhetorical question with obviously defiant implication.
Instead of getting angry, Ben smiled, but there was no delight in his eyes. His expression was terrifying.
Hearing the conversation of the two intelligent men, Claudia felt she was the cannon fodder in this silent battle. She was afraid of being injured accidentally, so she immediately get rid of Scott's arms, nodded politely, and obediently walked to Ben.
He looked at her with clear and bright eyes. She was docile like a little rabbit, and it was difficult to be annoyed.
"Just go in!" Ben only told her that coldly.
Claudia nodded and walked away quickly.
Just as she left, Scott's face immediately clouded, "Mr. Crawford. I think you have a fetish to pick up leftovers? This is an old habit for you, isn't it?"
On hearing that Ben's gloomy expression was covered with frost. He frowned, "That's your habit."
As everyone knew, Hanna dated Scott after she broke up with Ben.
It was always about the order.
Scott also realized what he was referring to and nodded slowly and impassively, "I'm the latter. So what? At least Hanna will always remember me, right?"
Ben looked at him coldly, like a cruel and violent beast waiting for prey.
Scott raised his mouth, "We are alike! However, Hanna is the past tense. As for Claudia..."
Ben interrupted him, "She's my wife. Don't you dareuch her!"
"Wow. Mr. Crawford, you remember she's your wife!"
Scott stopped smiling and became serious, "Watch out, or else she would become someone's wife one day!"
Ben looked furious and they stopped talking.
Scott came back to the hall and circulated among the guests at the party. Lit by the sparkling wine glass, his appearance seemed more gorgeous. A cold smile covered Scott's lips.
He noticed Winifred held her little grandson, standing with Ben for a photo.
Such a beautiful scene made his heart ache!
He was against Ben since their childhood. Although they were classmates and playmates, they could not get along well with each other. Then they took over their companies and became rivals in the business world. Undoubtedly, one forest cannot accommodate two tigers.
However, the surface could be deceptive. Actually, Scott had a secret.
Sitting at a corner, Claudia was trying to be ignored in the hustle and bustle of the crowd.
However, Amber still came here and talked to her.
Holding a cocktail, Amber walked to Claudia with her high heels clicking. She sat beside Claudia, raised her eyebrow, and said coldly, "Finally, you did not help me but realized the dream of another woman instead."
On hearing that, Claudia frowned slightly and looked at her with a deep expression.
Amber was drunk. She raised her head and finished her drink. Then she said, "Yes. I wanted to take your child. Ben doesn't like you. I'll be a good stepmother for him. Don't you think so?"
"Anyway, we are sisters. I will treat him like my own baby and will also be nicer to you for the sake of Ben!"
Amber patted Claudia's shoulder, and her eyes dimmed with disappointment. She added loudly as if to express her grievances, “But look at it! You gave birth to a child with another woman to be his mother. You are merely the nominal wife of Ben. What a good-for-nothing you are!"
Her every word shocked Claudia.
"You are so ungrateful. You always help others and never think about your family!" Amber got up shakily and indignantly glanced at Claudia.
"You'd rather benefit others. Claudia, you'll regret it and cry to death!"
Amber was indeed drunk, the secretary of the Evans Family came over to help her leave, and before they left, the secretary greeted Claudia respectfully. Claudia sat still at loss. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.
She noticed that Hanna sat at the podium, held Conrad, and talked with the surrounding people as if she were the child's birth mother and the mistress of the house! Claudia stared at them bitterly.
She burst with rage, and her blood was almost boiled. She wanted to rush over immediately and take back her son, but her remaining sense made her calm down.
She told herself to be calm.
Take a breath and another!
A little intolerance is a big mistake.
She could not speak now. Besides, if she rushed over to take her baby away, he might get hurt.
It was just a party. Conrad would be all hers later!
Claudia tried to gather herself. She did not want to stay here anymore, so she took her handbag, turned around, and left the hall.
Several drunks gathered in the corridor and kept talking loudly. Claudia was annoyed and walked pass them as soon as possible.
Claudia washed her fair hands in the washroom. She froze for several seconds and then turned off the tap.
She looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. Anyway, she had to persevere until the end. Only then could she bring Conrad home safely.
"So do you know why Hanna retired from the dance troupe?"
Claudia heard a girl asked someone inside the restroom.
She did not mean to eavesdrop, so she hurriedly wiped her hands with a piece of tissue and was about to leave. However, she heard they continued the conversation before her feet stepped out of the
restroom -
"Because she's ill! She has a nasty disease!"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't get it? It's contagious, so stay away from her!"
A woman shouted in surprise, "Oh my God!"
"Keep your voice down. We'll be heard!"
Claudia trembled violently and stood outside the bathroom at loss. She slowly gathered herself together when those two young ladies came out from the restroom.
They glanced at Claudia and ignored her. They left straight away.
Around the corner, the two women stopped and looked at each other meaningfully, with a bright and cold smile on their face.
Claudia could not stay calm. She clenched her fists, with her nails sinking deep into the flesh. She could no longer bear the uneasiness and walked quickly back to the banquet hall. Among the crowd over there, Hanna was still holding Conrad and talking and laughing with several people. Her behavior and remarks showed an extraordinary aura of a famous lady. Even her smile was so clear and elegant.
Claudia quickly crossed the crowd and came close to Hanna. She lowered her head and smiled at Hanna politely. Then she took her son from Hanna's arms.
Her movement made Hanna wondering, so Hanna asked her immediately, "Is everything OK, Mrs. Crawford?"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐