The Cullen familys eldest son, Edward Cullen, was known for his warm and approachable demeanor, with a smile that exuded kindness. Even in sleep, his features were gentle, whereas his brother Christian Grey had a perpetually cold and dark expression that sent chills down ones spine. They were siblings, yet they were as different as night and day.
As Claire Randall was about to pull her hand away, Edward suddenly grabbed her arm, his eyes bright with anticipation and excitement. "Wife, youre the wife mom found for me, right?" In the dimly lit room, Edwards eyes sparkled as he clutched her arm, not waiting for Claires response, his eyes curved like crescent moons, holding her arm tightly and calling out, "Wife, lets sleep."
Claire, still in disarray from her encounter with Christian, was pulled to the bedside by Edward, who held her firmly. The mans gentle breath washed over her, and she became as rigid as a stone, sitting uneasily with Edwards embrace. No one had held her like this except for Christian, and even then...
Edward was her husband now. The word husband carried such warmth.
Claire couldnt help but look up at Edward. He was truly handsome, and even in his innocent state, his smile was undeniably charming. She sighed softly and coaxed Edward to sleep like one would a child.
She had been prepared for this, grateful that Edward, despite his condition, was more childlike than aggressive. Otherwise, she didnt dare to imagine what might have happened.
Suddenly, the door creaked.
Claire, who had just settled Edward down, immediately tensed up, fearing that Christian had returned. A shiver ran down her spine as a wave of dread washed over her. Was he really going to do something to her here?
No!
A cold sweat broke out on her back, and she turned her head sharply, pleading in a low voice, "Christian, I beg you not to—"
"Christian?"
The light snapped on, and Eleanor Oliphant, a fifty-year-old woman, stood at the door, her eyes sharp and accusatory as she stared at Claire. "Claire Randall, what did you just say? What are you begging Christian for?"
"Mother-in-law!"
Claire stood frozen, her hands and feet sweating, her mind racing as she stammered, "I... I was saying that Christian just now... he wanted to come in and bully Edward, and I... I stopped him a couple of times before he left. I... mother-in-law, what are you doing here?"
Eleanors expression shifted as she took in the state of Claires clothes and the bruises on her neck. "What happened to you?"
Claire remembered her torn attire and the marks on her skin.
"I... I—"
Eleanor quickly glanced at Edward, who was now fast asleep, holding Claires hand tightly. A strange mix of emotions flashed across Eleanors face, followed by a softening of her features. She then turned to Claire, her voice stern. "Come with me."
The night was filled with noise, and the villas hall, after the wedding banquet, was in disarray. The nanny worked efficiently to clean up the mess, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke.
Eleanor led Claire to a corner of the corridor, her expression somewhat softer, but still distant as she questioned, "Are these... did Edward do this to you?"
Claire bit her lip, lowering her head in silence.
Taking her silence for shyness, Eleanors mood improved. Her son might be simple-minded, but he hadnt lost all functions. It seemed her sons wife would be useful in continuing the Cullen lineage. Although Claire was a Grey, as long as she could bear a child for Edward, that child would be the Cullen familys rightful heir. And then, everything in the Cullen family would belong to her grandson, with nothing left for that beast.
With these thoughts, a smile graced Eleanors face. She scrutinized Claire, finally landing on her face, and with a sigh, she turned away.
"Claire Randall, you should understand that if it werent for my son becoming simple-minded and only recognizing your sister, and you bearing a resemblance to her, you wouldnt have been able to enter our family, do you understand?"
Claires face paled, and she nodded, pressing her lips together.
Eleanor, having vented her frustration from being the subject of ridicule all day, snorted coldly and said, "Go back now," before turning and leaving herself.
Once Eleanor was gone, Claire turned and walked back to her bedroom as if in a daze, her steps heavy.
She had heard two nannies whispering as she made her way back.
"Really? Is the young mistress the sister of that woman? Oh my, Mrs. Cullen hates that woman so much, how could she let the young mistress into the family?"
"What can we do? The young master only recognizes that woman. If it werent for the young mistresss resemblance to her, she wouldnt have been able to enter either."
"Right, what was that womans name? Scarlett OHara, right? I heard that Scarlett and the young master were love at first sight, but Mr. Grey had to interfere—"
The nannies gossip came to an abrupt halt as they turned the corner and saw Claire. They were so startled that they couldnt even speak, only staring at her in horror.
Claire forced a smile and waved them off, speaking softly, "Its okay, you can go."
The nannies, filled with guilt and embarrassment, didnt dare to look at her any longer and hurried away with their heads down.
In the quiet corridor, Claire stood in front of her bedroom door, staring for a moment at the two bedrooms. She let out a self-mocking laugh before opening the door and stepping inside.
Scarlett OHara was her sister, her own flesh and blood.
At the same time, she was also Scarletts replacement, both for Christian and for the simple-minded Edward. From the time she was young, Scarlett had always outshined her.
From academics to capabilities, Scarlett surpassed her. In terms of connections and tactics, Scarlett was unrivaled. Even in beauty, Scarlett was a cut above.
The Grey family had relied on Scarletts reputation to grow from a small company to a mid-sized enterprise. However, beautiful women always attracted attention, and Scarletts beauty and abilities had drawn the interest of two men.
One was Edward Cullen, the legitimate eldest son of the Cullen family. The other was Christian Grey, the illegitimate son raised outside the Cullen home.