Chapter 465 Thanksgiving with Ulterior Motives

The Thanksgiving dinner with the Robertsons was nothing short of a theatrical performance, and Claire knew her part well. She had entered their grand dining room, armed with her wits and a steely resolve, ready for whatever subtle jabs and sly comments the evening had in store. The smell of roasted turkey and freshly baked bread filled the air, but to Claire, the room reeked of ulterior motives. The star of the moment, of course, was her pudding—a culinary disaster she had deliberately over-salted. She had no intention of impressing the Robertsons with her cooking; this was just her little act of rebellion for having to endure their prying questions and veiled manipulations. When Robert Robertson took his first bite, his face twisted slightly. He masked it quickly, placing the pudding aside. Gretta, ever the perfectionist, merely sniffed it suspiciously and moved on to stirring her tea, but her ears were clearly tuned in to the conversation. “So, Claire,” Robert began, dabbing at