I Put a Price on My Don Husband Chapter 03
She wore the Heart of the Ocean Sapphire Necklace, a priceless piece she had once dreamed of owning.
She recalled pleading with Vincent to buy it at the auction years back.
“The family has tight funds right now. I’ll get you another necklace later, one just as beautiful as this.”
His fond affection had always belonged to someone else.
Claire moved to take a seat, but Vincent stepped forward instantly to stand between her and Natalie’s family, his posture defensive.
Her heart was already dead to emotion, but a sharp pang still cut through her.
She looked straight at Vincent.
“Why did you bring outsiders to our wedding anniversary dinner?”
Vincent’s tone turned heavy and irritable.
“Natalie and Leo are not outsiders. They’re here to atone for Lily too. Stop being unreasonable.”
Claire smiled lazily, and her eyes filled with icy sorrow.
“Fine. I’ll stay if you pay me.”
Vincent’s fists tightened, his knuckles turning pale. He held back his anger with Natalie and Leo present, shot her a cold look, then turned to settle Natalie into her seat.
Leo tugged at Vincent’s coat and acted cute the second they sat down.
“Dad, I’m hungry. I want something to eat.”
“I know exactly what you want,” Vincent cut in. His tone held a tenderness Claire had never seen before. He stroked Leo’s head gently, showing a doting love he had never even given to Lily.
“You want lobster, spicy lobster, right?”
Leo clapped his hands in delight. “You know me so well, Dad!”
“Of course I do,” Vincent said with a warm smile. “We’re family, after all.”
Leo reached out to press Vincent’s hand over Natalie’s and spoke in a childish voice.
“Yes! We’re a family!”
The sight of the three of them laughing together stung Claire’s eyes. She felt like an unwanted intruder.
The table was loaded with seafood – every single dish a favorite of Natalie and Leo. Vincent remembered their tastes perfectly, but he had completely forgotten that she was allergic to seafood.
The meal tasted like nothing to her, leaving her cold inside.
Vincent stepped outside halfway through the meal to take a phone call.
A server carried a bowl of Clam Chowder over just then. Following Natalie’s silent signal, Leo held it out to Claire.
She hesitated for a moment but decided to take it. The adults’ fights should not hurt an innocent child.
Leo’s innocent smile sent a chill down her spine the moment she reached for the bowl.
“Aunt Claire, Mom says you stole my dad. She says trash like you deserves to be scalded with boiling water.”
The bowl slipped from her hands the second the words left his mouth.
Scalding soup splashed across the back of her hand. Burning pain spread like wildfire, sharp and stinging, and her vision blurred for a second.
She reacted instinctively and pushed the bowl away. The leftover soup splashed back and hit Leo square on his chest.
The boy cried out in pain and burst into loud sobs.
Vincent walked back inside right at that moment. He flew into a rage at the scene, shoved Claire aside roughly and rushed to check on Leo.
Claire stumbled and fell to the floor. Her palm landed directly on broken pieces of the ceramic soup bowl, and blood welled up instantly.
Natalie broke into loud sobs the moment Vincent returned.
“Claire! Take all your anger out on me if you want! The child is innocent! Leo only made you soup because he felt bad for your loss. Why would you burn him?”
Claire struggled to stand and met Vincent’s furious gaze. She tried to defend herself.
“I didn’t do it… He burned himself.”
“Enough!” Vincent snapped. “I thought you were just petty, but I never knew you could be so cruel. How could you hurt a child?”
He grabbed her wrist hard, his grip crushing. His voice turned icy cold.
“Apologize.”
She pushed past the throbbing pain in her heart and the burning on her skin, then let out a bitter laugh.
“Sure. Pay me first.”