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chapter117 

chapter117 

Claudine’s voice was cold as she spoke. 

Before, Damian would have thought Claudine was being harsh and cold-blooded, mocking Audrey even w was hurt. 

But now, the image of Claudine curled up on the sofa, sobbing in the dark, suddenly flashed through his mind. 

He simply said, “I’ll take Audrey to the hospital first. I’ll explain to you 

later.” 

Claudine said nothing more, just turned her face away, unwilling to look at them again. 

The farce finally came to an end. 

Everyone had left the house, leaving Claudine alone. 

She looked at the mess on the floor, her eyes, once filled with resentment, now clear and calm. 

She cleaned up the shards of glass and sat back down on the sofa. 

How could she not have known Damian would come here? 

She had known as soon as he went to find the property manager. 

It was all just a matter of going along with the situation. 

Claudine had only wanted to cut ties with him and start over, but Damian refused to let her go so easily. 

He even went so far as to threaten her through the people around her! 

Since that was the case, she couldn’t keep hiding like a turtle. 

If Damian could hurt what she cherished, then so could she! 

If he refused to divorce, she would play along, let him think he had her under control, and then watch him fall from his high perch and taste the bitterness of losing everything. 

Claudine sat alone in the living room for a long time. 

Until there was a sound from the bedroom. 

Darlene suddenly started crying. 

Only then did Claudine remember that Damian had left Darlene with her. 

The child must have had a nightmare and was crying sadly. 

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Listening to the crying, Claudine felt her heart being tugged, her feet moving toward the bedroom almost against her 

will. 

She turned on the night light and saw Darlene, eyes closed, sobbing uncontrollably. 

The unfamiliar environment made Darlene even more uneasy. 

Claudine couldn’t possibly send the child away in the middle of the night. 

She walked over, picked Darlene up skillfully, and comforted her softly. 

Darlene was still not fully awake. 

She only felt herself in a familiar embrace, breathing in a scent that made her feel safe. 

Gradually, she stopped crying and fell asleep peacefully in Claudine’s arms. 

Looking at the little face, Claudine felt a mix of emotions. 

She had told herself a thousand times not to care about Darlene anymore. 

But seeing that little face, she still couldn’t harden her heart. 

She could be cold to the child, could ignore her, but seeing how much thinner Darlene’s little face had become, Clau- dine couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. 

Just two months ago, the child was plump and fair. How had she become so thin now? 

Well, maybe Darlene was happy in her heart. 

After all, what child doesn’t want to stay by their mother’s side! 

Claudine put Darlene back on the bed, but just as she was about to leave, Darlene, as if sensing something, clung tightly to Claudine’s arm. 

Her little mouth was still murmuring something, so Claudine leaned in to listen. 

“Claudine, it’s fragrant Claudine…” 

Tears still streaked Darlene’s face as she hugged Claudine’s arm tightly. 

Claudine’s heart softened once again, despite herself. 

Of course, she remembered how Darlene had broken her heart before. 

But now, how could she harden her heart against a child who depended on her even in her sleep… 

When Darlene woke up, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar room. 

She rubbed her eyes and looked around. 

“Mom?” 

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Darlene tried calling for her mom, thinking her mother had taken her somewhere to play again. 

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These days, her mom often took her out at night; the aunts and uncles would chat, drink, and dance together, and her mom would find a room for her to rest. 

But this room… 

Darlene sniffed hard. 

The scent was sweet, like… 

Like Claudine’s scent. 

The little one lowered her head. 

She hadn’t seen Claudine for a long time, so why was she thinking of her again? 

Last time, Claudine had even scratched her mom’s leg, and there was a lot of blood. 

Her mom said Claudine would steal her dad away, and that both she and her mom wouldn’t be able to see her dad 

anymore… 

Thinking of this, Darlene felt like crying. 

But her mom had said she didn’t like children who cried easily. 

She raised her small hand, rubbed her eyes hard, and walked out of the bedroom barefoot. 

“Mom, mom, where are you?” 

Darlene called for her mom in a low voice, afraid she might wake her if she was still sleeping. 

Claudine was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Hearing the noise, she came out and saw Darlene standing barefoot on the floor. 

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