Chapter 578

Claire felt a pang of agreement when she heard Zoey's words.

But Claire also knew that her current income was entirely thanks to Zoey. She was just riding Zoey's coattails to wealth.

If Claire hadn't met Zoey three years ago, she wouldn't be so well-off now.

"Zoe, honestly, I think it's better this way. Don't forget he has Jett, his precious baby. If he knew I had money, he'd just find ways to drain me dry for Jett."

Zoey nodded, agreeing with Claire's reasoning.

"Anyway, once we leave Marigoldia in a few days, we won't have to see them anymore."

Zoey tried to comfort Claire.

Claire sighed, "I wish it were that simple. But now that my dad knows I'm close to you guys, he won't give up so easily. But I'm ready for whatever comes. I'll handle it, I'm not afraid of them."

Zoey couldn't help but laugh, "You're exaggerating. Even though your dad is cold to you, he wouldn't do anything too extreme. Besides, don't forget you're married now. If anything happens, you have Joseph."

Mentioning Joseph, Claire's gaze fell on the man playing in the ocean with Gabriel and Travis, and a smile tugged at her lips.

"Zoe, six months ago, I thought coming back with you was just for a work project. Once it was done, we'd go back. Who could've guessed we'd stay here? And I never imagined I'd marry Joseph."

"Even though I like looking at handsome guys, I never thought I'd end my single life. Fate is such a mysterious thing, you can't predict it."

Listening to Claire's musings, Zoey felt the same way.

When Zoey returned to Maple City, it was partly for work and partly for revenge. Who could've guessed she'd end up with Henry, engaged to him, and discover her biological father was Franklin?

Fate really was mysterious.

In the presidential villa at Marigoldia's Azure Coast Resort, Finnegan dialed Claire's number for the fifth time, only to hear the monotonous rejection tone again.

His temple throbbed, and he gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"That ungrateful girl!" Finnegan slammed the phone onto the table with a dull thud. "She dares to ignore my calls!"

Mabel was applying sunscreen in front of the mirror and glanced at Finnegan. "Claire might be doing water activities and didn't hear it."

Her tone was indifferent as she gently patted her face.

Finnegan kicked over the beach chair beside him. "She's deliberately ignoring me! Yesterday she refused to help me connect with Henry, and today she won't even answer my calls!"

Mabel finally turned around, her meticulously drawn eyebrows slightly raised. "Claire's been stubborn since she was a child, just like her mother."

She put down the sunscreen and picked up a bottle of serum. "Why insist on going through her? Since you're all at the same resort, just go directly to Henry and Zoey."

Finnegan walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, his face dark. Outside, the serene lake with a few boats floating leisurely contrasted sharply with his mood.

"You think I don't want to?" Finnegan growled through gritted teeth. "Who knows what Claire might have said to them about me! Besides..." His voice dropped, "Yesterday, Jett snatched food from their kid as soon as he arrived. Zoey must still be holding a grudge."

Mentioning Jett, Mabel's expression finally softened.

She put down the skincare products and sighed. "Jett's spoiled by his grandparents. Twelve years old and still so unruly."

Finnegan sneered, "You spoiled him, too."

Mabel was about to retort when her phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Mabel's expression softened immediately. "It's Upton."

Finnegan rolled his eyes. "Your useless brother again."

Mabel glared at Finnegan and answered the call, "Upton?" Her voice turned gentle and doting, completely different from her usual tone.

Finnegan returned to the table, picked up his phone, and checked it again, still no response.

Listening to Mabel's conversation with Upton Chapman, his face grew darker.

"You're arriving this afternoon? Great, I'll book a room next to ours. Have fun."

After hanging up, Mabel still had a smile on her face. She turned to Finnegan's grim expression, and her smile faded slightly.

"Upton's arriving this afternoon. I booked him a water villa." She tried to sound casual.

Finnegan's temple throbbed again. "Mabel, we're here for business, not to entertain Upton!"

"Upton is my brother!" Mabel's voice rose. "Besides, he's lonely back home..."

"Thirty years old and still lazing around!" Finnegan interrupted. "Last time I arranged a job for him, what did he do? Lost me two million dollars in three months!"

Mabel pursed her lips. "He wasn't familiar with the business. This time, give him a different job when we get back. I promise he'll do better."

Finnegan scoffed, ready to argue, but Mabel cut him off. "It's settled. It's lunchtime, let's go eat. Jett must be hungry."

She headed to the bedroom. "I'll get Jett."

Finnegan watched Mabel's retreating figure, his fists clenching and unclenching.

Finally, he picked up his phone again and dialed Claire's number, listening to the busy tone, nearly crushing the phone in his grip.

Meanwhile, in the ocean suite at the other end of the resort, Claire's phone lay quietly on the nightstand, its screen lighting up and dimming, still on silent mode.

"Aren't you going to check who's calling?" Joseph emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying his wet hair.

Claire stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the stunning sea and sky, shaking her head. "I don't need to check to know who it is."

Her voice was eerily calm. "He's been called at least ten times since morning."

Joseph walked up behind her, gently wrapping his arms around her waist. "Maybe it's urgent?"

"Urgent?"

Claire let out a cold laugh. "His 'urgent' matter is figuring out how to use me to get close to Henry."

She turned to face Joseph. "You know, last night when he said he 'wouldn't mistreat his daughter,' I almost threw my wine in his face."

Joseph sighed and kissed her forehead. "Don't think about it. Zoey and the others invited us for lunch. Cheer up."