I Married the President-Chapter 93: Adopting a Goddaughter on the First Meeting

Adrian Quincy took her hands, lacing their fingers together. "If Mrs. Hale wants to bring you to the main hall later," he said gently, "just come along with her."

’The m-main hall?’

’But that’s where they broadcast live to the whole country! I don’t want to be on camera at all!’

Claire Sinclair was startled. "I don’t want to go to the main hall. Do I have to?"

"Why don’t you want to go?"

"I’m... I’m not mentally prepared to handle such a grand, large-scale event. Please don’t push me so hard. I want to take things at my own pace."

Hearing this, Adrian Quincy realized he had been pushing her too hard, trying to rush her growth.

"Alright." He nodded, tenderly stroking her hair. "There’s still time. I’ll wait for you to catch up."

After saying those cryptic words, the man turned and left.

Claire Sinclair was a bit stunned, as if she had just been dreaming. Her mind was in a haze.

Just then, Nancy Lockwood walked in. With a serious expression, she announced, "Mrs. Hale is downstairs."

"Uh... what do I do now?" Claire Sinclair instantly grew tense.

Nancy Lockwood replied, "Relax."

Claire Sinclair: "..."

’It seemed there was nothing she could do but try to relax.’

After a moment, footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Claire Sinclair took a deep breath, walked to the door, and opened it with both hands.

A dignified woman in a white cheongsam appeared at the door. She had a kind and amiable smile and spoke to her in accented Mandarin. "You must be Quinn Sinclair’s sister. You two look identical! What a beautiful girl!"

Claire Sinclair’s mind went blank for several seconds. Recalling what a certain someone had told her—’treat your guests with sincerity’—she forced herself to react.

"Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Hale. Please, come in."

"Yes, let’s sit and chat."

The two entered the reception room. A bodyguard discreetly closed the door, shutting out the rest of the world, leaving only two other bodyguards and Nancy Lockwood waiting on standby inside.

Mrs. Hale seemed to notice Claire Sinclair’s unease and warmly took her small hand. "The last time I met your sister, she sat before me just as beautiful and poised as you are now. I never imagined that not long after, I would hear the news of her tragic death.

"I deeply regret not insisting on making her my goddaughter back then. It’s become a weight on my heart ever since. During this visit to Aridia, I must fulfill this one small wish. Claire, would you be willing to be my goddaughter?"

’Seriously? She wants to make me her goddaughter on our very first meeting?!’

Claire Sinclair was a little shocked...

’But my sister was the one who saved her, not me. There’s no way I can accept this honor.’

Mindful of her principles and her current position, Claire Sinclair politely declined. "Mrs. Hale, let me first thank you for your kindness on my sister’s behalf. But she was the one who saved you, not me. Therefore, I cannot accept your kind offer. I’m very sorry."

The moment the words left her mouth, a thin film of tears welled up in Mrs. Hale’s eyes, her expression a mixture of regret and sorrow.

"I never had the chance to repay your sister’s kindness before she passed away. And now you’re unwilling to be my goddaughter... *Sigh*... Does this mean my wish will never be fulfilled in my lifetime?"

Mrs. Hale let out a long sigh and slowly looked up, trying to force back the tears that threatened to fall. But in the end, they streamed down her face.

Seeing this genuine display of emotion, Claire Sinclair felt a pang in her heart. It was rare to find someone who cared so much for her sister. But her position wouldn’t change. It was a matter of principle.

’If I let vanity drive me to claim a foreign noble as a relative, how would I be any different from Phoebe Lockwood or my own father?’