Claire awoke from her dream to the sound of her phone ringing, a stark reminder that reality was more menacing than any dream. She had to face a reality where she was caught between the innocence of Edward Cullen and the cunning of Christian Grey.
"Hello? Claire, how are you?" Her mothers voice was filled with anticipation. "Are the Cullens treating you well?"
The Grey family, now aligned with the Cullens, had risen from a small to a medium-sized enterprise, and her parents were over the moon. They were eager to hear, "Is Mrs. Cullen satisfied with you? Has she been critical?"
Claires throat tightened, and after a moment, she forced out a reassuring response, "Shes satisfied."
Her mother breathed a sigh of relief and continued to chatter, "Thats great. We were so worried they might still be fixated on your sister. If your sister were here, the Cullens would never let her do such things."
"Mom," Claire interrupted, her voice hoarse with emotion. She couldnt bear to hear any more comparisons or criticisms. "I have to take care of Edward."
At the mention of her sister, her mother let out a tsk, "Why should you take care of him? Youre the lady of the house."
For a moment, Claire felt a glimmer of warmth in her cold heart, but it was quickly followed by her mothers next words, "If you were more like your sister, our family wouldnt be in this situation. You cant even manage the company properly, and we have to worry about your marriage. Fortunately, the Cullens still want you. Well, a fool is a fool, but you should try to have a son, no, two..."
The conversation veered off into more uncomfortable territory, but Claire couldnt take it anymore. She ended the call, something she had never done before.
After hanging up, she stood by the door, lost in thought. The news of her marriage to the Cullens had come as a surprise just two days prior. A secretary had delivered the message, not a relative of the Cullen family. The offer was straightforward: two subsidiaries and tens of millions in orders as a dowry. It wasnt a marriage proposal; it was a business deal.
The Grey family hadnt consulted Claire at all. They had readily agreed, and the Cullens seemed to be in a hurry to avoid Christian. The Grey family, in their excitement, hadnt considered the implications. They had simply packaged their daughter and sent her off, without even asking Claires opinion.
Claire had tried to contact Christian when she first heard the news, but he was out of the country on business, and she couldnt reach him. Their relationship was transactional, with Christian visiting his seaside villa on the third of each month to vent his frustrations and then leaving without a word.
When the Cullens proposal arrived, Claire had thought Christian might have agreed to the marriage. But judging by his reaction today, he was unaware. She realized that this matter was beyond Christians control. The Cullens wanted a marriage, and the Greys were eager to oblige. It wasnt up to Christian to decide.
She wondered if Christian would be pleased. After all, he would relish the thought of Edward being cuckolded, even if Edward was unaware.
Lost in these thoughts, Claire was brought back to reality by a knock on the door. The nannys voice called out, "Mrs. Cullen, Mrs. Oliphant is calling for you."
Claire quickly got ready, helping Edward with his morning routine. As they descended the stairs, they encountered the ever-smiling nanny, Lucy Honeychurch, who greeted them warmly. Claire couldnt help but feel a sense of unease around her, recalling the previous nights events.
In the dining room, Eleanor Oliphants mood was tense. Edwards behavior was unpredictable, and the atmosphere was fraught with tension. However, when Claire gently restrained him, he calmed down, resuming his meal. It seemed that Claires presence had a soothing effect on him, a fact that both surprised and pleased her.
Eleanor, noticing this, decided to use Claire in a strategic move. Despite her reservations about Claires capabilities, she insisted that Claire should take over the management of Everdene Auto Inc., a company that had once been under Edwards care.
Christian, who had been observing the scene, couldnt help but interject, questioning the propriety of such a decision. But Eleanor was determined. She saw this as an opportunity to keep control out of Christians hands and to secure a future for her grandson.
Thus, Claire found herself thrust into a role she had never desired, caught in the middle of a power struggle between the Cullen familys warring factions. As she left the dining room with Christian, she felt the weight of the familys expectations and the uncertainty of her own future.