No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 573

Rely on him?

Claudia could hardly believe her ears.

"Claudia," York said, "the monthly payments to your parents' account come from my private funds. No one knows. I've already replaced the company money I used to pay off the Watkins family's debt, so no one will ever find out about that either. You have no reason to feel burdened."

Claudia pouted. Her burden couldn't be heavier. In her last life, when York had settled accounts with her, he had nearly destroyed her. She couldn't afford to forget the pain just because of a few kind words.

Opening her purse, Claudia took out the bank card and a gift inventory, shoving them both into York's hands.

Her face was dark as she warned him, "York, I've made my feelings for you very clear. Even if no one knows what you did for the Watkins family now, it doesn't mean they won't find out later. And even if no one ever knows, my conscience won't let me rest."

"I did it all willingly!" York blurted out.

Claudia shook her head. "Even so, I don't want to be indebted to you for no reason!"

Everything he was giving her now would become leverage to control her and her family later. His 'willingness' came with strings attached.

They stared at each other.

York held up the gift list. "Then what about these? What's the meaning of this list?"

Claudia answered with complete frankness. "I've packed up every gift you've ever given me. If I'm still your childhood friend, I'll gladly keep them."

After a slight pause, she continued, "If not, I'll return every single one, untouched. We'll be all square."

On the late-night sidewalk, they stood in silence, looking at each other. It was as if the entire world had fallen quiet.

The fear in York's heart grew, and his gaze on Claudia became more and more complex.

Seeing that York was just staring at her without a word, she said, "I cherish our twenty-plus years of friendship. But if you'd rather we become strangers, I can accept that too."

With that, Claudia turned and walked away.

York, sitting at his desk, was visibly agitated. "Cancel all my appointments for today. And schedule a meeting for me."

—

At two in the afternoon, York arrived at the rental apartment where the Watkins family now lived.

Claudia's parents welcomed him into the living room.

York placed the briefcase he was carrying in front of them. "Uncle Felix, aunt Jessica, I've managed to buy back the jewelry set. It's back where it belongs."

Felix and Jessica exchanged a glance. Jessica opened the case to verify; it was indeed the Stone family's ancestral Green Jadeite set.

Jessica closed the case and pushed it back toward York. "York, we already sold this set. Since you bought it back, it's yours. We can't accept it."

York hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Uncle Felix, aunt Jessica, can you tell me why Claudia suddenly called off the wedding?"