Chapter 5

Eustace’s voice was not loud, but its familiar coldness silenced everyone in the room.

All Claire could hear were those contemptuous words.

The words sounded impossibly distant, like an echo from another life, but the humiliation was all too real.

Martin had spent years in the business world and could easily hear the mockery in Eustace’s words.

However, he had not yet figured out what was happening.

His mind raced as he stammered, “Mr. Sterling… Claire…”

Eustace did not give him a chance to explain.

He cast him a cold, dismissive glance. “You seem to enjoy watching people perform. Why not dance yourself, Mr. Parker? Don’t force someone like her into my line of sight.”

“Mr. Sterling, you’re joking. I’d make a fool of myself if I danced in my condition.”

Martin chuckled.

He had no idea what he had done to offend Eustace. If Eustace’s earlier remark had been mocking, his current tone was unmistakably hostile.

Could it have something to do with Claire?

Martin narrowed his eyes and looked over the woman beside him once again.

Her eyes were slightly red, and she was struggling to remain standing in the middle of the crowd. The sight stirred a trace of pity in him.

“I drank too much and acted without thinking. I’ll punish myself with a drink.”

Martin immediately downed the alcohol in his glass. He was thick-skinned and had always known how to let things go.

“Why don’t you thank Mr. Sterling?”

Gordon reminded Claire from the side after witnessing everything.

Eustace’s words had been harsh, but they had also rescued Claire from the situation.

Gordon suddenly remembered that Eustace seemed to have defended Claire that day as well.

Claire had completely lost the ability to think.

In a situation like this, she should have greeted Eustace with composure or quietly left this place before things became even more troublesome.

No matter what she chose to do, she should not have stood there like a fool.

Yet her legs felt as heavy as lead, and her hand trembled uncontrollably.

She nearly spilled the wine in her glass.

A suffocating silence followed.

The shrewd and experienced Martin quickly caught the hint of something unusual.

He immediately tried to smooth things over with a smile. “Mr. Sterling, this young lady is usually very composed, but she’s looked at you several times tonight. Do you two know each other?”

Eustace remained completely composed.

After a brief silence, he finally answered in a cold, indifferent voice, “We don’t.”

Claire’s fingers tightened around her wineglass.

Her other hand had already clenched into a fist.

All she could hear was those two icy words, which made her feel as though she had suddenly plunged into an abyss and could no longer breathe.

Martin deliberately tried to introduce them.

He walked over, pulled Claire up, and put an arm around her waist.

“Why don’t you get to know each other now? Claire Jones is Zenith Global Language Solutions’ best translator and Gordon’s most capable employee.

“Dyer Group has been aggressively expanding its overseas operations in recent years. If you work together in the future, you’ll have to look after Claire.”

Putting an arm around a woman’s waist or touching her thigh was nothing unusual for Martin in business circles.

Besides, he had coveted Claire’s beauty for a long time.

With the alcohol emboldening him, he grew even bolder and let his hand roam over her waist.

The air around them grew increasingly suffocating. Claire only wanted to escape.

Of all moments, Eustace had to see her trying to please everyone.

Claire felt like a plaything, available for everyone to choose and toy with.

The last shred of dignity she wanted to preserve in front of him vanished completely.

“Claire, go sit with Mr. Sterling and keep him company for a while.”

Gordon seized the opportunity and gave Claire a push.

Eustace’s words at the company had been impossible to interpret, and now that they had run into him again at this dinner, Gordon could not let the opportunity pass.

Eustace’s gaze drifted over the hand resting on Claire’s waist before settling on her face.

He seemed to let out a contemptuous laugh. “Wasn’t I clear enough earlier? She’s not my type.”

His voice remained cold and completely devoid of emotion. His merciless words crushed the last remnants of Claire’s dignity and self-respect in front of him.

Claire drew several deep breaths and desperately tried to maintain the last of her composure.

Yet Eustace’s simple remark still made everyone’s eyes linger on her.

Beautiful women were easily judged by vulgar assumptions in places like this.

Before long, whispers began rising all around them.

“She really isn’t Eustace’s type.”

Marcus Cole studied the beautiful woman before him thoughtfully, and another face instinctively came to mind.

Back then, Eustace’s fiancée had possessed a striking, almost aggressive beauty.

Every frown and smile carried the flamboyant charm unique to a wealthy heiress.

She was nothing like Claire, whose beauty was cool and delicate.

Marcus was the one who brought Eustace to the gathering. He assumed Eustace would never come to a crowded place like this, but Eustace had surprisingly agreed.

Only then did Marcus understand what Caleb meant when he said that his uncle was in a bad mood.

Eustace really was refusing to give this beautiful woman even the slightest bit of dignity.

Still, Marcus had organized the gathering, so he could not let the atmosphere become too unpleasant.

“Miss Jones, sit here.”

Marcus shifted to the side, making room between himself and Eustace.

He waved cheerfully for Claire to come over, then muttered reproachfully to Eustace, “Be a little gentler with the ladies.”

Martin was secretly delighted.

He gave Claire a light push toward Marcus. “It’s rare for Mr. Cole to be interested in someone. Claire, keep him company tonight.”

Claire’s limbs had already gone numb.

The push made her legs give way, and she nearly fell onto the sofa. A few drops of wine spilled from her glass and landed on Eustace’s fingertips.

“I’m sorry.”

Claire became even more embarrassed when she saw the vivid red wine staining his pale fingers. Her face flushed as she lowered her voice and apologized.

Eustace simply pulled out a few napkins and wiped his fingers at an unhurried pace. His expression did not change, and he did not acknowledge Claire in the slightest.

Even without saying a word, his calm, measured movements revealed the powerful, distinguished presence he carried.

“Relax, Miss Jones.”

Marcus clearly sensed how uncomfortable she felt and clinked his glass against hers with a smile.

The man seated on Marcus’ other side said little, but he also gave Claire a polite smile.

“Have you always lived in Westhaven?” Marcus was naturally talkative, and he chatted with Claire as though no one else were around.

Claire’s heart trembled, but she maintained her composure.

After a moment of hesitation, she nodded lightly. “Yes.”

“How come I’ve never seen you before?” Marcus looked thoughtful.

He suddenly became more interested and continued, “What languages do you translate?”

“English and two other foreign languages,” Claire answered slowly.

Surprise flashed across Marcus’ eyes. “You know that many languages? No wonder Mr. Parker said you were highly capable. You really are impressive.”

Caleb also looked at Claire with admiration, but he did not dare say much with his stone-faced uncle sitting beside him.

Eustace remained silent beside them, but he suddenly let out a cold laugh.

She really had not changed at all.

She was married with a child now, yet she was still flirting with other men.

“What makes you so good at your job, Miss Jones? Your translation skills, or your ability to keep men entertained?”

His voice was as cold and indifferent as ever, but the blatant mockery in it was impossible to miss.