Even though she was already over fifty, she looked barely over thirty due to her excellent maintenance, exuding an aura of elegance in every gesture.
A fiery glint flashed in Claire North’s eyes. In years to come, she hoped to become a woman like Mrs. Hawthorne.
No, a woman even more esteemed than Mrs. Hawthorne.
Mrs. Hawthorne turned her head and saw Claire North standing at the door. She immediately showed a kindly smile: "Claire, you’re here. Please have a seat."
"Auntie." Claire North sat opposite Mrs. Hawthorne.
Mrs. Hawthorne brewed a cup of tea and pushed it in front of her: "Mount Varden Da Hong Pao, have a taste."
Claire North picked it up, sniffed it, then took a light sip, praising, "This Da Hong Pao indeed has an exquisite flavor. Only someone of your status would be willing to serve it to guests."
"How can you be considered a guest?" Mrs. Hawthorne refilled Claire North’s teacup: "You’ve given birth to Elias’s eldest son and are a great benefactor to The Hawthorne Family. As a mother and grandmother, I should treat you with respect. Moreover, if you have the fortune, you will be more than just Baby’s birth mother."
Claire North suddenly raised her head: "You mean..." She quickly shook her head: "That’s impossible. It was my sister who married into the Hawthorne Family in my place. She is the one..."
As she said this, Claire North’s eyes were filled with gloom and regret. If she had known, she never would have let Raina North marry in her place!
"Raina North? She’s nothing but an impostor. Since she’s not Baby’s birth mother, she has no right to marry Elias. Besides, even if she and Elias got their license, Elias has no intention of bringing her into the house. As long as you put in some effort, everything that was misplaced will soon be set right." Googlᴇ search novel-fire.net
Yes, everything was misplaced.
Even if Baby is Raina’s son... No, from now on, Baby will only be her son.
Since her son is the little prince of the Hawthorne Family, she should rightfully be the lady of the Hawthorne household.
At most, she would return Beau Shelby to Raina North.
Wasn’t Raina madly in love with Beau Shelby?
In this way, it could be considered a thank you to Raina for bearing her a son, and from then on, they would owe each other nothing.
"Thank you, Auntie, for your support. One day, when I become the lady of the Hawthorne Family, I will treat you like my own mother with filial respect."
An obscure glimmer flashed in Mrs. Hawthorne’s eyes, but the smile on her face was quite comforting: "Then I’ll be waiting for that daughter-in-law tea from you."
Claire North gave a slight smile, a faint hint of pride in her expression. She was but a stepwife, after all. Once she entered the gates of the Hawthorne household, wouldn’t she be the one to decide how things were done?
Claire North sat for a while longer before getting up to take her leave.
Just as she left, a slender figure stepped out from behind the screen: "Aunt, is this the tool you found? She seems a bit foolish."
Mrs. Hawthorne looked at her niece Rhoda Kensington with warmth in her eyes: "She’s a bit foolish, but enough to deal with Raina North. Otherwise, if she were too sharp, what would you do in the future?"
Rhoda Kensington snorted coldly: "If I were to make a move, even ten Claire Norths wouldn’t be my match."
"No." Mrs. Hawthorne grabbed her niece’s hand, looking at her seriously: "You mustn’t do anything, and you mustn’t act against Claire North. You just need to stand by and watch the sisters tear each other apart. Then, walk the path of glory Auntie has paved for you, cleanly marry into the Hawthorne Family, and become the most esteemed woman in Southgate."
"Mm." Rhoda Kensington nodded, and at the thought of that man’s handsome demeanor, her face involuntarily blushed.