Chapter 575

They arrived at the resort's private helipad. The Windsor family's plane was ready, and the crew was doing final checks.

Franklin stood with the Windsor and Green family parents, arms open wide as the kids ran up.

"Gabriel! Travis!" Hazel knelt to hug the two kids. "Are you sure you don't want to come home with Grandma? I've got your favorite chocolate cake waiting!"

Gabriel thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, we want to stay with Mom and Dad!"

"And Claire and Joseph!" Travis added. "We want to go with them on their honeymoon!"

The adults chuckled.

Zoey pinched Travis's cheek. "Who told you this was a honeymoon?"

"Dad did!" Travis pointed confidently at Henry. "He said a newlywed trip is called a honeymoon, and it's supposed to be sweet and happy!"

Everyone laughed even harder.

Claire's tense mood melted away in the warmth of the scene. She leaned against Joseph's shoulder, watching the elders take turns hugging Gabriel and Travis.

It was time to board.

Franklin was the last to come over, patting Zoey's shoulder. "I've got things covered at the company. You all have fun."

He turned to Claire, his tone gentle. "Claire, if you need anything, just ask Zoey and Henry. Don't hesitate."

Claire's eyes felt warm. "Thank you, Mr. Hughes."

As the plane taxied towards the runway, Claire suddenly felt a wave of relief.

Joseph took her hand. "Tired? Do you want to rest a bit? We've got a big night ahead."

Claire shook her head. "I'm okay."

On the way back to the villa, Claire remained silent.

Joseph didn't disturb her, just held her hand tightly, silently offering his support.

"You know," Claire suddenly spoke, "when I was a kid, I had a really bad fever once. Mom was on a business trip, so I called Dad. He said he was in a meeting and told me to take a cab to the hospital myself."

Claire gave a bitter smile. "I was twelve that year."

Joseph pulled her into his arms, feeling her pain.

"I waited in the hospital hallway for two hours. The nurse thought I was an orphan because I was alone." Claire's voice was calm, but Joseph could feel her trembling. "Now he suddenly wants to be a good father. How ironic."

Joseph kissed the top of her head. "No matter his intentions, after tonight, you can finally let go of this burden."

Claire looked up at Joseph's determined profile and felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

Yes, she was no longer that helpless little girl.

She had a loving husband, true friends, and the courage to finally face her past.

The setting sun stretched its shadows long, intertwining them as if they could never be separated.

"Nervous?" Joseph asked softly, his gaze on the distant outline of the lakeside restaurant.

Claire shook her head, but her lips were tightly pressed.

"Just treat it like any other social event," she said, though her nails were digging into her palms.

The lakeside restaurant was built over a clear lake, with glass floors where colorful tropical fish swam beneath.

Finnegan had chosen the most seaside private room. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the last rays of the sun were sinking into the horizon.

"Claire's here!" Mabel's voice arrived before she did.

She wore a floral dress, a pearl necklace around her neck, gleaming unnaturally under the lights.

As she stood, her chair made a harsh scraping sound.

Jett was slouched in his chair, playing a game on his phone, not even looking up. Mabel pinched him hard under the table, making him yelp and reluctantly stand to greet them.

He muttered, his eyes quickly returning to his screen.

"Jett! How rude!" Finnegan scolded, but his tone was indulgent.

He wore a light-colored casual suit, his expensive watch gleaming under the lights.

Claire sat in the chair Joseph pulled out for her, her gaze sweeping over the already opened champagne.

The bubbles burst one by one, like her ridiculous expectations of fatherly love.

"The seafood here is very fresh. I ordered sea fish."

Finnegan pushed the menu towards Claire. "See if there's anything else you want."

"I'm fine with anything," Claire said softly, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the napkin.

Joseph suddenly spoke up. "Dad, Claire is allergic to sea fish."

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the waves hitting the restaurant's pillars.

Finnegan's hand froze mid-air, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face.

"Is that so?" He forced a laugh. "I forgot."

Claire looked down at the fish swimming beneath the glass floor.

Twenty-one years old, and Finnegan didn't even know her allergies.

Yet Joseph, whom she'd known for less than six months, remembered all her dietary restrictions.

"Finnegan's just been too busy," Mabel quickly tried to smooth things over, calling the waiter to change the menu. "Dr. Green is so attentive. No wonder he's the youngest medical professor in the country! Claire is truly lucky."

Joseph smiled faintly. "Marrying Claire is my greatest fortune."

Finnegan seemed eager to change the subject, leaning forward with a familiar gleam in his eye—the look he had when discussing business.

"Claire, I heard you're good friends with Zoey?"

Claire's fingers paused on the napkin.

Here it came.

Even in Marigoldia, she couldn't escape.

"We met abroad three years ago," Claire answered briefly, her gaze on a distant sailboat.

"Are you still Mr. Spencer's assistant?" Finnegan pressed, unable to hide his urgency.

"Yes."

Finnegan's eyes lit up. "The Spencer Group's overseas renewable energy project must be worth at least a billion dollars, right? And Zoey's fiancé is Henry from the Windsor Group. This is..."

He rubbed his hands together. "Claire, can you arrange a meeting between me and Mr. Windsor? My company may be small, but in the building materials field..."

"Dad." Claire interrupted, her voice soft but silencing the room. "Is this why you invited me to dinner tonight?"

Finnegan's smile froze.

Mabel coughed awkwardly, and Jett finally put down his phone, curious about the sudden tension.

"Claire, what are you saying?" Finnegan frowned. "I invited you on this vacation because..."

"Because you want to use my connection to Henry?"

Claire sneered. "You even calculate the return on the plane ticket?"

"Claire!" Finnegan slammed the table, making the champagne glasses shake violently. "How can you talk to your father like this? I raised you, and this is how you repay me?"