“What's the meaning of this?"

On the phone, the Nixons were all polite and humble. But now, with both Claudia and Jace present, Anthony was missing in action.

The color drained from Henry's face. As he was about to utter an apology, the door swung open

It was Anthony himself.

Catching a glimpse of Claudia first, he perceived the tension engulfing the room. He hastily offered an explanation, "My apologies, Mr. Marshall. I got entangled in a traffic mess. Thus, I am Late."

After a prolonged stay at the harbor and later encountering Delilah at the hotel, he was apprehensive about Delilah stirring trouble with Claudia. Hence, he had conversed with her for a while, making him even later.

Claudia seated Jace and shot Anthony a frosty stare.

Jace merely snorted, refusing to acknowledge Anthony's words.

Biting his lip, Anthony took a seat.

Henry's features relaxed slightly as he initiated a conversation. “Our families haven't dined together in quite a while. The previous occasion was..."

His words trailed off as he realized something was amiss.

The last time both families had congregated was to discuss the impending nuptials of Claudia and Anthony. But now, the circumstances were vastly different.

Rachel interjected hurriedly, “Absolutely! Cece, you seem to have slimmed down. Make sure you eat a lot today

With a smile, Claudia responded, "Your concern is appreciated, Mrs Nixon."

Claudia's formal address to Rachel hinted at her current stance towards the Nixon family. She intended to sever all ties.

Anthony's grip on his glass tightened as he implored Claudia with his eyes. “Cece "

Before Anthony could complete his sentence, Jace interjected, "Let's have dinner first."

Jace was wary that if they delayed any further, the tense atmosphere might spoil their appetites.

Rachel nudged Everly, who reluctantly took the hint and extended an offer. “Cece, are you hungry? Try this cookie before the dishes are served. A friend gifted it to me and it's truly delicious!"

Rachel hoped that Everly could endear herself to Claudia. However, the two of them was far from friendly.

Previously, Claudia had put up with Everly's rudeness solely for Anthony's sake. But now, since her relationship with Anthony had dissolved, Claudia had no desire to engage with Everly.

Nonchalantly, Claudia replied, "I'm not hungry.”