Chapter 007

Ethan said nothing.

Her constant kissing and confessions of love were something he really wasn't used to.

Ethan gently pushed her face away and said coolly, "You didn't bring anything with you when you came. If you need to buy something, have the servants take you to the mall, or have things delivered to the house."

After speaking, he handed her a card. "Use this when you need money."

Claire beamed. "Oh, I couldn't possibly."

Then she took it immediately.

The gold-embossed black card was like a status symbol.

She couldn't help asking, "How much is on here?"

"No limit."

Ethan's tone was casual.

Though he didn't particularly like Claire, since she'd married into the family, he should take responsibility for her. He couldn't treat her poorly.

Claire had no idea what he was thinking. She excitedly kissed the black card. Now she was someone kept by Ethan.

Still, she didn't really need to buy much.

She couldn't get the Skygrass in the short term, but Ethan's condition couldn't wait. She needed to get some medicinal ingredients and formulate some special medicine tailored to his condition. It would help ease his pain and slow the progression of his illness.

……

That evening, Claire went straight to Ghost Street.

Unity Alliance had an apothecary here. She was going to pick up medicine.

Claire passed an ice cream shop that looked delicious.

She pulled out her phone and messaged Ethan: [Honey, I'm using your card to buy something.]

Ethan replied quickly: [Okay.]

Claire sent back: [Thanks, Honey. Love you. Kiss.]

Then she put away her phone, bought an ice cream, and strolled toward the apothecary, eating leisurely.

But someone had to ruin that peace.

"Claire?"

A shrill voice rang out.

Claire's steps faltered. She didn't need to look to know who it was. That voice was too familiar—Amber Fairfax, Rachel's friend.

The moment Amber saw her, she stormed over angrily.

Seeing Claire's plain clothes, Amber laughed mockingly. "You're really going downhill, aren't you? I heard the Sullivan family doesn't want you anymore. They cut ties with you. Are you broke now? Did you come to Ghost Street to beg?"

Claire glanced at her coldly and said nothing.

The Fairfax family ran a hospital—a modest-sized one. The director was Amber's father, Ryder Fairfax.

Ryder and Victor were good friends. Whenever Rachel needed hospitalization and blood draws, she was sent to the Fairfax family's hospital.

Amber was three years older than Claire and Rachel. The Fairfax family wanted to groom Amber as their heir, so they had her work at the hospital while still in middle school.

Every time blood needed to be drawn, Amber did it.

Back then, Amber didn't know anything. She couldn't even find a vein. Drawing blood once meant stabbing Claire's arm dozens of times, leaving her small, delicate arm covered in needle marks, bruised and swollen.

Even when she occasionally got it right, Amber would deliberately pull the needle out just to stab her again.

Marilyn never got angry. She'd comfort Amber instead. "It's okay, Amber. You're still young. You need practice. Just practice on Claire. She doesn't mind the pain. But make sure you're skilled before you try on Rachel. Rachel's afraid of pain."

Looking back now, Claire found it laughable. That was the so-called family love she'd valued most.

How had she been so blind?

Even her medical skills had been developed for Rachel's sake.

Otherwise, would Rachel's illness have been cured?

But she'd already cut ties with the Sullivan family. There was nothing more to say about it.

She glanced at Amber coldly. "Good dogs don't block the way. Move."

Amber exploded. She pointed at Claire and cursed, "Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that? Do you know why I'm here? I'm not like you, here to scavenge for bargains. I'm going to the apothecary owned by Unity Alliance."

That last sentence almost made Claire laugh out loud.

She curved her lips in a mocking smile. "You think being able to shop at a Unity Alliance store makes you high-class?"

Claire's sarcastic tone made Amber uncomfortable.

The old Claire never fought back when hit or talked back when cursed at. She was the person Amber and Rachel used to feel superior.

Now Claire dared talk back? Dared mock her?

Amber lost it completely. She pointed at Claire and yelled, "Do you have any idea how prestigious and powerful Unity Alliance is? How dare you look down on Unity Alliance?"

As she shouted, she noticed the bruise on Claire's wrist.

It was from last night when Ethan had an episode and gripped her too hard.

Amber burst out laughing. "No wonder you dare look down on Unity Alliance. You ignorant fool probably don't even know what Unity Alliance represents, do you?"

"That bruise on your wrist—Ethan abused you, didn't he?"

"Rachel was right. You're only fit to marry that kind of twisted freak—"

Claire's hand flew up and slapped Amber hard across the face.

Amber was stunned. She stumbled back several steps, barely able to stand, staring at Claire in disbelief. "You dare hit me?"

Claire's lips curved coldly. "Say one more word about my honey, and I'll beat you to death."

With that, Claire walked away.

She had no interest in wasting more words on her.

Amber's eyes filled with disbelief as she watched Claire's retreating figure. Was this the same weak, incompetent Claire she knew?

She was actually defending that freak?

She had to be faking it.

Amber endured the pain and humiliation on her face and called Rachel.

Rachel answered quickly.

Amber hadn't planned to mention getting hit, but as soon as the call connected, she couldn't hold back. "Rachel, has Claire lost her mind? Do you know what she did? She hit me. She actually hit me. She slapped me."

On the other end, Rachel's mouth twitched. 'She didn't just hit you. She hit me too.'

But Rachel didn't say that.

She wouldn't give anyone a chance to look down on her.

Still, thinking about that slap yesterday made Rachel uncomfortable. She asked Amber coldly, "She's already cut ties with my family. Why are you calling me about this?"