Chapter 5 How Much Do You Love Me?

• The top-floor presidential suite was fully equipped, with an open-air restaurant right next to it, adorned with fresh warm tones that reflected the gentle morning sun, making people feel cheerful.
• However, if you ignore the repulsive voices...
• "Why hasn't he come to see me yet?"
• "What possessiveness? All this means nothing to my husband!"
• "Don't bring that up; it makes me angry! That rich second-generation playboy was so embarrassing yesterday! I paid a lot of money and he wouldn't even drive a decent car?"
• "Are you sure you're a love expert?"
• "..."
• The sharp and sarcastic voice left Peter incredulous.
• A love expert? A rich second-generation playboy paid for?
• Looking at his boss beside him, whose face was as dark as a burnt pot, perhaps due to his intense cold gaze, the person on the other side instinctively turned away.
• Claire was initially puzzled, but then her eyes lit up with joy. She quickly changed her tone, speaking in a sweet and cloying voice that could drive someone crazy, "Honey! Why did you come?"
• Ethan's eyes betrayed his growing anger.
• Claire acted as if she hadn't noticed, taking small steps as she ran over. "Are you here to find me? Do you still care about me, right?"
• Seeing her almost throw herself at him, Ethan barely managed to dodge by shifting to the side. His gaze towards her turned icy.
• But Claire, as if shocked, stopped in her tracks, and a smile quickly spread across her face. "Honey, I know you care about me. You're just too shy to say it! Don't worry, I won't make fun of you..."
• "Shut up!" Ethan's forehead vein bulged as he shouted sternly.
• He glared fiercely at Peter, then fell silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Who was the man who picked you up yesterday afternoon?"
• Claire's face momentarily revealed confusion, and then understanding flashed across it. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Are you jealous? We're getting a divorce, and if you really didn't care, you wouldn't have come to ask..."
• The girl blushed and lowered her head, laughing with an extra touch of shyness.
• Taking into account what he had just heard and her triumphant expression, it wasn't difficult to guess the ins and outs of the whole situation.
• Ethan despised being manipulated, especially by such a foolish woman. He didn't want to have anything to do with her for even a second. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Get your things, we're heading to the courthouse for a divorce!"
• All the way there, Claire stared at him with an extremely aggrieved look in her eyes.
• Ethan feigned ignorance and closed his eyes, seeking some peace.
• But the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became.
• Just moments ago, when he mentioned going to the courthouse for a divorce, this woman, although feeling down, quickly grabbed her documents as if she had already prepared them in advance.
• Moreover, she's capable of doing things like hiring someone to pretend to be her lover, so why didn't she use this opportunity to deceive him into entering the room? Creating a scandal, revealing her identity as his wife would be more advantageous for her, wouldn't it?
• They've been married for three years, and she's never caused trouble or put him in difficult situations. She knows when to step forward and when to step back. She's been as obedient as if she had no temper at all. So why did her personality suddenly change these past couple of days?
• He abruptly opened his eyes and looked at the woman beside him.
• Claire stared at him with the resentful gaze of a wronged woman for more than ten minutes. When she saw he was unaffected, she let her guard down. She turned her head to look out the car window, her eyes filled with joy. They were almost there. In no more than half a day, she would have her divorce certificate, and she would finally be free!
• Unable to hold back, a slight curve formed at the corner of her lips...
• Ethan squinted his eyes and looked at her, as if he had never known her before.
• Claire seemed to sense something and turned her head abruptly, only to meet his deep blue eyes, which held a sharp insight.
• Her heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile. "Honey, what are you looking at?"
• "Sir, Miss Claire, we've arrived," the driver said.
• The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the court.
• With a sad expression on her face, Claire looked out the window, her lips tightly pursed, and her beautiful eyes filled with unwillingness. "Honey, do we really have to get a divorce? I just love you, what's wrong with that?"
• Ethan gazed at her for a few seconds. "You love me?"
• Claire was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect him to suddenly reply to her. "Of course!"
• "How much do you love me?"
• "..." Claire's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
• Did he want an extravagant declaration of love?
• Why was this man so shameless?
• They were getting a divorce, and he still wanted to find a sense of presence with her, proving his boundless charm?
• "Honey, you are perfect from head to toe. Even with a poker face, you make my heart race. With just a blink of an eye, it's like I've experienced all four seasons with you! From the moment I first saw you, my heart has followed you. If I did something ridiculous yesterday, today, or even in the future, it must be because I was bewitched by your enchanting beauty! You are fully responsible for that!"
• Based on Claire's understanding of Ethan, he disliked trouble, slick talkers, and people who refused to admit their mistakes and put blame on others.
• She was almost convinced by her performance and her smile widened. "As long as you don't divorce me, I'm willing to do anything!"
• Ethan remained silent for a few seconds, looking at her radiant face. "Really?"
• Claire, "? ? ?" Why didn't he tell her to get out of the car?
• "Then give me the contact information of the man from yesterday."
• "..." Claire choked, her face flushed.
• Their gazes met.
• One was probing and profound, the other was surprised and flustered.
• Suddenly, a jarring ringtone disrupted the eerie silence in the car.
• It was a call from the Scott family.
• Ethan looked deeply at her before answering the call.
• The solemn voice on the other end couldn't hide the urgency. "Come back, Grandma Scott is in a critical condition."
• In the taxi.
• Claire leaned against the window, her expression somewhat serious as she watched the scenery zoom past on both sides.
• A message flashed on her phone.
• It was from Owen: [How did it go? You didn't show any flaws, did you?]
• The reason Claire put on that act at the hotel just now was to create an opportunity for Owen to slip away. After so many years of running away, he should be used to it by now.
• Claire took a deep breath: [With that cunning man, he probably suspects something.]
• Thanks to the phone call just now, he didn't have time to ask further questions.
• But Grandma Scott's condition...
• Owen replied: [If you can hide it, hide it. If you can't, you won't lose out! If it really gets exposed, you should confront him and ask for his help in reclaiming the Black family. You can help him save his grandmother too! Fake couples can be utilized to the fullest. And if sparks of love ignite during the collaboration, maybe it could even develop into a real marriage!]
• Claire responded firmly: [No, divorce is a must, and it has to be Ethan who initiates it!]
• Owen: [...]
• He never understood why Claire insisted on getting a divorce. If it was just because of that wicked mother-in-law and sister-in-law, a clever trick could easily make them obedient. Why go through all the trouble of getting a divorce and make Ethan bring it up first?
• Without pressing for answers, Owen said: [Alright, the medicinal herbs you need are in my room. Go get them yourself. I won't be coming back these next few days, and you better not be wandering around either. Once Grandma Scott's condition stabilizes, we'll leave."
• The sun slowly rose, bathing the city in golden light. A gentle breeze brushed through, causing the leaves to sway and dance in the sunlight.
• Claire entered a dessert shop and found a seat by the window all by herself.
• Two minutes later, a girl in her early twenties, wearing the uniform of the dessert shop, approached with two cups of beverages.
• "Miss, here's the juice that you ordered."
• Her words were gentle, but she placed the items on the table with a loud thud and then sat directly across from her, staring at her with resentful eyes.
• Claire glanced at her, lifted her eyelids, and then picked up a small spoon. "Don't give me that abused wife look, as if I'm taking advantage of you."
• "You haven't taken advantage of me yet? You're blocking my path to fortune and squeezing out my remaining value! You opportunist!"
• "..."