\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton leaned lazily against the doorframe. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his lean, well-defined\u00a0<\/p>\n
forearms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna glanced back at him, cheeks puffed out as she chewed. She looked just like a hamster hoarding food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton strolled over and poked her puffy cheek with a fingertip. \u201cAre you starving to death? You\u2019re inhaling food like you haven\u2019t eaten in years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna ignored him. Her eyes drifted to a glass bottle in the cabinet. It contained amber liquid, and the bottle was marked with the date it had been sealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, this is Grandpa\u2019s treasured herbal-infused whiskey,\u201d she said curiously, lifting it to inspect. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me he saved this just for you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCareful. Grandpa treasures that thing more than his own grandson,\u201d Clayton warned kindly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna scoffed and twisted the cap open. A sharp, medicinal smell hit her nose, making her frown. \u201cThis smells strong.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton suddenly leaned in close and blew a breath near her ear. \u201cThe stronger the smell, the better the aphrodisiac effect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Startled, Sienna\u2019s hand jerked. The bottle slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor. Amber liquid mixed with glass shards was scattered across the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, Rupert yelled, \u201cWhat broke?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, clearly enjoying the show. Sienna stood frozen, with her mouth hanging open. She felt her brain completely shut down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEnna, are you in the kitchen? Are you hurt?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rupert hurried in with his walking stick, while Clifford and Irene followed closely behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s survival instincts kicked in, and she instantly pointed at Clayton.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cClayton, how can you be so careless? Even if you\u2019re desperate, you can\u2019t steal Grandpa\u2019s precious herbal-infused whiskey! I told you not to touch it, but you just wouldn\u2019t listen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She even put on a heartbroken expression. \u201cNow it\u2019s broken. Are you happy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton was dumbfounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rupert clutched his chest and jabbed his walking stick at Clayton\u2019s foot. \u201cYou wasteful brat! You just had to touch my things, did you? My precious herbal-infused whiskey had been aging for ten years, and now it\u2019s all gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you wanted to drink it, you could\u2019ve just asked. Do you think I\u2019m that stingy that you had to steal from me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as Clayton opened his mouth to explain, Sienna discreetly pinched the back of his hand and cut in smoothly. \u201cGrandpa, don\u2019t be mad at him. He\u2019s been a little weak lately. He wanted to replenish himself but was too embarrassed to tell you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kitchen fell into dead silence. Three pairs of eyes snapped toward Clayton-especially Rupert, whose gaze slowly slid downward. He bent two fingers in a drooping motion. \u201cAre you that useless? That\u2019s not a family trait. Your dad and I never had that problem. How did you end up like this\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a pause, he added, \u201cIt\u2019s fine. I\u2019ll have Dr. Yates write you a prescription. You\u2019ll bounce back in no time. I heard Miles\u2019 mom got him one too, and it worked wonders. You two really are birds of a feather.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton frowned. Sienna immediately chimed in, gesturing at his face. \u201cHe really does need to take something. Look at him. Short-tempered and dark circles-he\u2019s clearly overworked.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u053f \u0550 \u0548\u0550\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough.\u201d Irene signaled the maids to clean up. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of the kitchen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As everyone dispersed, Sienna shoved Clayton along, keeping a close eye on his mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I need to get my back checked,\u201d Clayton muttered suddenly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s that bad?\u201d Sienna\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cThere\u2019s even something wrong with your back?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton slapped her hand away and shot her a look. \u201cSeems like you know best what\u2019s wrong with me. I just took a massive blame for you. My back can\u2019t take the pressure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna refused to take responsibility. If he hadn\u2019t scared her, the bottle wouldn\u2019t have shattered. If it weren\u2019t his fault, who else could it have been?\u00a0<\/p>\n
By dinner time, the dining table was filled with fragrant dishes. Rupert kept piling food onto Sienna\u2019s plate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEat more, Enna. You\u2019re thinner than a stick. People would think Clayton\u2019s mistreating you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Staring at the mountain of grilled seabass, barbecue ribs, and crab cakes on her plate, Sienna laughed. \u201cGrandpa, that\u2019s enough. There\u2019s so much good food and not enough space on my plate. I don\u2019t know where to begin. Even if I had the stomach of a bodybuilder, I couldn\u2019t finish all this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rupert beamed, then suddenly said, \u201cWhen you two have kids, they\u2019d better be lively and smart like you. If they\u2019re like Clayton, that won\u2019t do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, as if remembering something, he sighed. \u201cIf that child were still here, they\u2019d be running around by now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s spoon paused. She lowered her head, saying nothing. Why did the conversation suddenly turn to children?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton stepped in. \u201cGrandpa, we\u2019re not ready for kids yet. We\u2019ll talk about it next time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clifford added, \u201cYeah. Clayton is still young. He just took over the company. There\u2019s no rush for children.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t know if these old bones of mine will live long enough to see a great-grandchild.\u201d Rupert sighed heavily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Irene comforted him, \u201cDad, your health is fine. Don\u2019t worry so much. Children will come in time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The atmosphere turned heavy. No matter how good Sienna was at lightening the mood, she couldn\u2019t promise something she and Clayton would never have. They were getting divorced, after all. But she didn\u2019t have the courage to bring that up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If she took the annoying Clayton out of the picture, the Hale family was genuinely a good family to marry into. They treated her well, better than her own family ever had. There were no punishments, no favoritism, no sharp words or hidden scheming-just simple kindness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She never had to worry about food, clothes, or daily expenses. Every so often, there was even a seven-figure allowance. When she went out, she carried herself with dignity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But all of this existed only because she was Clayton\u2019s wife. And with all dreams, it always had to end with waking up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lost in thought, she shoveled food absentmindedly into her mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spice from the fish got caught in Sienna\u2019s throat, causing it to itch uncomfortably. She coughed violently. Her face turned red, and tears pooled in her eyes as she jumped up for water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton grabbed her immediately. \u201cDid you choke on a bone? Open your mouth. Let me see.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna couldn\u2019t speak, trying to rush to the kitchen, but he pulled her back. \u201cStop running around! Are you trying to die?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After finally struggling free, Sienna downed a full glass of ice water. The burning in her throat finally eased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou choked on a fish bone?\u201d Clayton asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI choked on a chili pepper!\u201d Sienna snapped. \u201cI would\u2019ve been fine if you hadn\u2019t stopped me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
A housekeeper rushed over nervously. \u201cYou scared me! We clearly removed all the bones.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton smirked. \u201cRemoving the bones doesn\u2019t matter when someone is foolish enough to choke on spice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t paying attention! It\u2019s none of your business.\u201d Sienna shot him a glare and stormed off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After dinner, Clayton, Clifford, and Rupert talked in the study for hours, while Sienna wandered around the residence alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the yard stood an old locust tree-cool in summer and warm in winter- that was filled with her memories. Suddenly remembering something, Sienna crouched by its tangled roots and began digging into the soft earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst a hamster, now a mole?\u201d Clayton\u2019s voice sounded from behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Startled, Sienna\u2019s hand jerked, and dirt fell back into the hole she had just dug. She clapped her hands clean and stood up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw a worm earlier and wanted to squash it, but it escaped underground. So I wanted to destroy its home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton raised a brow, sensing she was implying something in her words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you done talking? Is Grandpa still in the study?\u201d Sienna asked as she headed inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just took his meds and fell asleep.\u201d Clayton grabbed her wrist. \u201cAre you going to wake him up to talk about divorce?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna shook him off, replying calmly, \u201cI know how to own up to my part.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what is your part? Tell me,\u201d Clayton asked, amused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna snapped back, raising her voice, \u201cAt least I\u2019m owning up, unlike you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you two arguing about?\u201d Irene heard their chatter and came out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton reacted instantly, interlacing his fingers with Sienna\u2019s. \u201cWe were just deciding who would shower first. We worked it out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he spoke, he half-dragged her upstairs. \u201cWe\u2019re heading up now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Irene watched their close figures and nodded. \u201cGet some rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna went along with Clayton, playing the part of a loving couple. The divorce still hadn\u2019t been discussed, and she didn\u2019t want to stir up more trouble. If Irene found out, she\u2019d never hear the end of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the bedroom, she yanked her hand free.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m showering first,\u201d she announced as she headed straight toward the walk-in closet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reached for her pajamas when an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. His chest pressed to her back, and his warm breath brushed her ear. \u201cLet\u2019s shower together?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn your dreams!\u201d She elbowed him, but he easily restrained her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton laughed, his chest vibrating. \u201cIt\u2019s not like we haven\u2019t done it before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She got the divorce and bolted 9 \u00a0 Chapter 9\u00a0 Clayton leaned lazily against the doorframe. His sleeves were rolled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-she-got-the-divorce-and-bolted-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20083\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}