Chapter 181: She Had Always Disdained Such Clingy Behavior

She had always disdained such clingy behavior, believing only desperate people would stoop so low.

Yet now, she was no different.

Clearly, rage had clouded her judgment.

"Sharp-tongued and arrogant—birds of a feather, all ill-mannered trash!"

Sloane Bennett sneered at the insult. She could tolerate attacks on herself, but dragging Clara Whitmore into it? Absolutely not.

"Shut your foul mouth, you old witch!"

"Did I lie? Six years with my son and not a single pregnancy—clearly a barren hen. Why so defensive? Are you defective too?"

Sloane scoffed. "Six years without results, and you never considered your son might be the problem? Constantly hospitalized, drowning in alcohol and cigarettes—maybe get him checked. Just in case..."

Her gaze slid meaningfully to Paige Lawson's stomach.

Paige paled, hastily defending, "I've only ever been with Grant. I'd never betray him—"

The moment her son Grant Holloway was implicated, Catherine exploded. "Keep slandering him, and I'll rip your mouth apart—"

Unfazed, Sloane rolled up her sleeves. "Try it. Let's see who tears who first!"

Clara quickly pulled Sloane back.

Paige gaped, stunned by the sudden escalation.

Seizing the moment as Clara stepped closer, she suddenly gasped—

And collapsed onto the floor.

"My stomach! It hurts!"

Catherine immediately panicked, abandoning the argument to fuss over Paige.

"Paige! Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?"

Paige sniffled dramatically. "I'll be fine... I just don’t understand why Clara pushed me..."

Catherine glared at Clara. "Jealous because you can't conceive? How vile!"

Clara: "?" These two were clearly unhinged.

She'd seen Paige's fake fall perfectly—one hand cradling her stomach, the other bracing her landing.

The acting was laughably bad. Even the pained expression was unconvincing.

Clara looked down at her coolly. "Since you accused me of pushing you, wouldn’t it be unfair if I didn’t actually do it?"

She raised a hand as if to shove—

Paige scrambled backward. Seeing Clara wasn’t bluffing, she instantly caved.

"It was my fault... Clara didn’t do anything..."

Catherine still fretted. "Are you sure? We should get you checked."

That was the Holloway family's heir!

Paige shook her head. "Really, I'm fine. Let’s just go home, Aunt Catherine."

She wouldn’t risk her precious bargaining chip.

This was just to mess with Clara.

Catherine huffed. "Only for my grandson’s sake. Let’s go, Paige."

Sloane rolled her eyes. "Pathetic performance. Reeks of desperation."

"You shouldn’t have stopped me," she muttered, cracking her knuckles. She hadn’t even gotten started.

Watching Paige’s hasty retreat, Clara chuckled. "Relax. They’re not worth it."