Chapter 5 - Uninvited Guests
A week after the court victory, Lily moved into the beautiful guest cottage on the Hale estate. She was a bright, sweet seven-year-old with her mother's kind eyes, and she instantly became the darling of the mansion.
The quadruplets treated Lily like a little princess. Mason showed her how to build the tallest block towers, Cole shared his favorite toy cars, Ryder drew pictures with her, and Theo would sit quietly by her side, reading her stories.
For the first time in years, the Hale estate felt like a real home.
One evening, Victor hosted a private dinner party at the mansion to celebrate the launch of the new Hale Family Foundation. Many high-profile guests, board members, and local socialites were in attendance. Clara, looking stunning in a simple navy silk dress, stood by Victor’s side as they welcomed the guests.
Suddenly, the front doors opened, and a woman in an elegant, though overly dramatic, red gown walked in. She had dark hair, sharp features, and an aura of cold arrogance.
It was Evelyn’s sister, Beatrice.
Beatrice had always coveted Victor and the Hale fortune. After Evelyn’s death, she had tried multiple times to insert herself into Victor's life, but he had always kept his distance. Seeing Clara standing next to Victor, looking like the mistress of the house, made Beatrice’s blood boil.
"Victor, darling!" Beatrice exclaimed, gliding over and ignoring Clara entirely. "I came as soon as I heard about this... foundation. I must say, I am shocked to see you letting just anyone represent my sister's legacy."
Victor’s expression hardened. "Beatrice. You were not on the guest list."
"Oh, please. We are family," Beatrice laughed, her eyes finally landing on Clara with a cold, dismissive look. "And who is this? The nanny? I heard you hired some broke girl from the streets to watch the boys. Surely you aren't parading the domestic help around your business partners, Victor? It looks so... cheap."
A few nearby guests turned to whisper. Clara felt a sudden wave of humiliation, her old insecurities threatening to pull her down.
But before she could speak, a small voice spoke up from behind them.
"She’s not cheap! She’s our Clara!"
It was Theo. He was holding Lily's hand, standing at the bottom of the grand staircase. The other three boys quickly lined up beside them, glaring at Beatrice.
"She saved us," Mason said, his voice loud enough for the entire room to hear. "She didn't run away when we were bad. She stayed."
"And she makes the best carbonara in the world!" Cole added proudly.
Victor stepped forward, his hand gently but firmly finding the small of Clara’s back. "Beatrice, Clara is the Director of the Hale Foundation. She is also the woman who healed my children when no one else could. If you cannot treat her with the utmost respect, you are welcome to leave my home immediately."
Beatrice gasped, her face flushing with embarrassment as the wealthy guests began whispering and laughing at her expense. Realizing she had lost all leverage, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the mansion.
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Victor turned to Clara, his eyes filled with an intensity that made her heart race. "I don't care about society, Clara. I only care about you."
In front of his business partners, his friends, and his children, Victor took Clara’s hand and kissed it gently, cementing her place in his life forever.
