I Married the President

Rehearsals for *Star of Radiance* had finally begun.

Claire Sinclair and the other mentors stood below the stage, watching the contestants give their all. Sheryl Drake would occasionally offer some suggestions, while Mimi Fisher and Master would also point out anything they found unsatisfactory.

The three talent mentors were quite busy, which left the three ethics mentors, by contrast, with little to do.

Claire Sinclair stood between Adrian Quincy and Ethan Kingsley, her eyes fixed intently on the stage. She grew especially excited whenever she saw one of her favorite contestants perform.

Ethan Kingsley would sneak glances at her from time to time. During a break in filming, he quickly spoke up, "Professor Sinclair, did you buy the gift?"

Claire Sinclair turned to look at him. "I did, but Third Miss Tanner said she wants it to be a surprise, so she wouldn’t let me tell you what she got."

Ethan Kingsley feigned disappointment. "She bought one, but did you happen to get me a gift too?"

Claire Sinclair chuckled. "We’re not that close. Why would I buy you a gift?"

Adrian Quincy suddenly turned his head, his cold eyes narrowing slightly, but he remained silent.

Claire Sinclair immediately said, "Mr. Quincy, I just went shopping with Third Miss Tanner for half an hour. That’s all."

Adrian Quincy gave a slight nod. He accepted her explanation.

Ethan Kingsley sounded a little helpless. "I was going to invite you two to my birthday party, but it looks like *someone* isn’t going to approve. How heartbreaking."

’He’s inviting us to his birthday party?’

Claire Sinclair’s thoughts immediately drifted to that woman, Cecily Taylor.

’It’s the birthday of the richest man in the country, Ethan Kingsley. The party must be going to be huge, right?’

As if reading her mind, Ethan Kingsley calmly explained, "I’m not doing anything big. It’s just for close friends and family. I’m afraid people with ulterior motives might give me extravagant gifts, and then you’d write a scathing article about me in the paper."

Claire Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Kingsley, as long as you don’t do anything immoral, I won’t write fabricated stories about you."

"Yes, yes, of course. I stand corrected, Star Reporter Sinclair. I’ll be sure to remember that."

’...’ ’I wasn’t even lecturing him. Honestly.’

Claire Sinclair didn’t want to speak with him anymore. She turned to The Great Demon King Quincy, who was focused on the stage. "Mr. Quincy, Mr. Kingsley wants to invite you to his birthday party. Are you going?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Adrian Quincy answered directly, "No."

Claire Sinclair: "..."

’That was way too blunt!!!’

Ethan Kingsley laughed. "It seems I don’t have enough clout to get Eldest Young Master Quincy to attend."

Adrian Quincy said in a low voice, "I’m busy that day."

Ethan Kingsley: "..."

Claire Sinclair: "..."

’What else could I possibly say?’

Adrian Quincy suddenly looked into his wife’s eyes. "Claire, do you want to go?"

Claire Sinclair paused for a moment before shaking her head. "Not really."

Ethan Kingsley then said, "See? I really don’t have enough clout."

Claire Sinclair immediately changed her tune. "If Third Miss Tanner invites me, I might go. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll be too busy that day, Mr. Kingsley, and she might get picked on in the crowd."

’It was Ethan Kingsley’s birthday, so some members of the Tanner Family were sure to be there. She was going to see for herself just what kind of monsters were so shameless as to hurt Third Miss Tanner.’

Ethan Kingsley hadn’t expected her to suddenly change her mind and was pleasantly surprised. "You’re so good to her. To be honest, I’m a little jealous."

Claire Sinclair said coolly, "That’s only if Third Miss Tanner wants me there. Otherwise, there’s no point in me going. After all, I’m a married woman. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to attend Mr. Kingsley’s birthday by myself."

Ethan Kingsley then smiled. "My Little Idiot likes you a lot. She’ll definitely want you to come."