Clara Bennett is the daughter of the richest family who was thrown out by her family to gain experience.
Bennett family has an iron rule that before the heir officially takes over the family business, he must hide his identity and gain experience outside for five years , experience the taste of the bottom of society, and grind away his pride.
Today is the last week of her training period.
Coming out of the hospital, Clara clutched the thin medical report, unable to suppress her trembling and excitement.
She is two months pregnant.
She lowered her head and touched her still flat belly, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up , and her heart was filled with sweetness .
In seven days, once she had completely shed the identity of ” Clara “, an ordinary girl, she would confess to her lover of five years, Liam Foster , the truth that she was the heir to the Bennett family. She would also tell him the news of her pregnancy, that they had their own child, and that she would no longer have to work so hard on business and would not have to go on business trips abroad frequently to attract investment.
She could even imagine Liam being happy.
Will he pick her up and spin her around like he has done countless times in the past five years, will he call her baby affectionately in her ear, will he… propose to her?
Thinking of this, Clara couldn’t help laughing out loud, and her steps became a little lighter.
Suddenly, the harsh sound of brakes pierced the air!
Clara could react, a huge impact hit her from behind, and she flew out like a kite with a broken string. The blood-stained medical report fell beside the wheel, leaving a dark mark.
Severe pain instantly swept through her body, and her consciousness seemed to be submerged by the tide. She desperately protected her stomach. Her last thought before fainting was: Baby… My baby…
After an unknown amount of time, she heard a familiar voice in her hazy consciousness .
It’s Liam .
Liam didn’t know who he was talking to on the phone. His voice was not as gentle as usual, but with a hint of coldness that she had never heard before .
” Clara’s background is too poor. She’s not good enough to get married and have children. I have someone else I want. ”
“My family is under great pressure and needs an heir. Vanessa Cole … after all, she ‘s a family friend and a good match .”
Clara ‘s heart suddenly sank, and her remaining consciousness made her try her best to hear clearly.
” I love Clara, and that won’t change. She’s gentle and beautiful, but you know, marriage isn’t just a game. My true identity is the young master of the Foster family. What ‘s her background? Living in a rented house in a village in the city, how could someone with that kind of background even enter the Foster family ?”
No idea what was being said on the other end. Clara couldn’t hear clearly even with her breath held. She could only hear Liam’s cruel voice.
Liam paused. “My marriage to Vanessa was arranged by my grandfather. Vanessa just gave birth to my son two years ago . The heir of the Foster family cannot have any stain. How can we have a sibling outside to compete for the family business ?”
Clara ‘s fingertips trembled unconsciously, and her nails dug deep into the flesh of her palms, but she felt no pain . The pain in her heart had overwhelmed all her senses.
” Who knew she’d still get pregnant after five years of birth control pills? I was thinking about how to find a way to get rid of her baby and pretend it was a miscarriage. After all, it’s her and my child, and I couldn’t bear to do it myself for fear she’d hate me.”
Liam ‘s voice was filled with a hint of relief. “It’s good this way now. Vanessa hit her with her car and helped me deal with a big problem. It saved me a lot of trouble . Children from big families are usually more knowledgeable . What did the doctor say? Clara uterus is damaged. It will be difficult for you to get pregnant again.”
He was silent for a few seconds. Clara could hear him sighing softly, and that breath was like a needle tempered by ice, piercing her heart. “This is good. Clara can’t have children in the future, so she won’t threaten Vanessa and my son’s status. I will keep her by my side and spend my whole life making amends to her . She will be my Kept Woman in peace and stability . I will give her the best life, much better than her village in the city .”
Keep Woman?
Clara regained consciousness, but her body felt like it was filled with lead. She didn’t even have the strength to open her eyes. Tears silently slid down her eyes, hitting the white hospital bed and leaving a small wet mark.
It turned out that the sincerity she carefully treasured was just a toy in his eyes; the future she looked forward to was just the Kept Woman in his plan that should not be seen in the light ; her unborn child was just a stain that needed to be removed in his eyes; even losing her child and losing her qualification to be a mother became the best outcome in his eyes.
When she first left home and was working as a waitress at a hotel, she met Liam, who had been drinking so much that he had a stomach bleed. He took Liam to the hospital and even paid for his medical expenses. From then on, Liam frequently appeared by her side and launched a fierce pursuit of her. The daughter of a wealthy family had never seen such a young man’s passionate feelings, and soon they were together.
She remembered that last winter, when she had a cold and a fever, Liam stayed with her all night, changing the towel on her forehead every half hour; she remembered that on her birthday, he said he had saved three months’ salary and bought her a bracelet, saying “When I have money in the future, I will change it for you with jewels “; she remembered that she casually said she liked the magnolia flowers downstairs, and he went to the flower shop to buy a bunch the next day, clumsily inserted it in a mineral water bottle, and said ” As long as Clara likes it, it’s worth it no matter how expensive it is.”
Those details that once moved her heart to tears, when she thought about it now, were all poison wrapped in sugar , a game of playing house in which rich young masters pretended to be poor .
I don’t know how long it took, but the footsteps in the ward gradually faded away. Liam must have left.
Clara then slowly opened her eyes. The ceiling was the pale white color unique to hospitals, which hurt her eyes.
She raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen . It was empty, and the newly formed little life was no longer there.
She didn’t cry or get hysterical, but just looked at the ceiling calmly until the nurse came in to change the dressing and told her softly, “The baby was not saved, and the probability of getting pregnant in the future is very low.” She just said “hmm” softly, her voice so calm as if she was talking about someone else’s business.
After the nurse left, Clara fished out her phone from under her pillow. A corner of the screen was shattered, from the car accident. She struggled to unlock it, found the number marked “home,” and dialed it.
The call was quickly connected, and my father’s authoritative voice came: ” Clara ? You’ll be back in a week. How are you doing recently?”
Clara wiped away her tears vigorously and tried to make her voice sound calm: ” Dad , I’m fine. I’ll be back soon after I finish dealing with things here.”
My father paused, then added, “One more thing. After you inherit the family fortune, according to tradition, you need to decide on a marriage partner as soon as possible. You are the heir to our Su family, so a marriage partner is crucial. The other four major families have inquired about you many times. Have you met anyone suitable in the past few years?”
Clara’s heart ached, and Liam ‘s face flashed before her eyes. She shook her head vigorously, as if this could get rid of the painful memories.
“No. Dad , on the day I inherit the family fortune, let’s hold a husband-selection banquet. I will personally choose the most suitable marriage partner at the banquet!”
She turned her head to look out the window. The sycamore leaves were swaying gently in the wind. The sun was still as warm as ever, but the sweetness in her heart had been completely crushed, leaving only a cold desolate place.
The man she once wanted to devote her life to, the man she thought was sincere, turned out to be an elaborate scam from beginning to end.
That’s good, this way she can turn around without any regrets.
Bennett family never needs to rely on others to survive, let alone be anyone’s keep woman .
Liam , and his lifetime compensation, she, Clara, doesn’t care.
During the three days in the hospital, Liam hardly left her side.
Every morning, he would appear at the door of the ward on time with a thermos bucket filled with millet porridge that he had cooked himself, which was soft and dense .
He sat on the bedside, carefully scooped up the porridge with a spoon, blew it cool before handing it to Clara’s mouth, his voice so gentle that it could squeeze out water: ” Clara , eat it while it’s hot, I’ve been simmering it for two hours.”
Clara turned her head away, avoiding his hand, and said in a light voice: “I can do it myself.”
Liam noticed her distance and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, but he just thought she was still sad about the loss of her child.
During the day, he would sit by her bed and talk to her, telling her interesting stories in the company and how difficult a certain client was; at night, he would sleep beside her bed .
But she knew that it was just a show he put on for her. After all, this man was on the phone a few days ago, thanking everyone that she “would not be able to have children in the future.”
Once, Clara was staring at the sycamore tree outside the window in a daze. Liam came over, hugged her gently from behind, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said in a flattering tone: ” Clara , are you still blaming me? I shouldn’t have let you go to the hospital alone that day. I will never leave you again, okay?” His embrace was very warm, with the scent of cedar he often used. Clara always liked to nestle in his arms, thinking that was the safest place, but now, she just felt stiff all over, as if she was entangled by something and couldn’t breathe.
She gently pushed him away, her voice calm: “I’m tired and want to sleep for a while.”
On the day of discharge, Liam woke up at dawn, helped Clara pack her things , and even brought her a thick coat: “It’s windy in the morning, don’t catch a cold.” Clara sat by the bed, watching his busy figure in silence , feeling ridiculous. The man who pretended to love her so much had already had a child with another woman behind her back.
” Clara , wait here for a while. I’ll go drive and be back soon.” Liam handed the crutches to Clara and helped her tidy up the loose hair on her forehead .
Clara nodded but said nothing.
After he left, Clara sat on the bench at the door of the ward as the sun slowly climbed in . She waited for almost an hour but didn’t see Liam .
She pulled out her cell phone and called him—no one answered.
The sky darkened, dark clouds rolled in, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. The large raindrops pounded the ground, splashing muddy water and soaking Clara ‘s clothes. She couldn’t help but shiver. Her ankle hadn’t healed yet, and she stood at the hospital entrance on crutches. The slightest movement caused excruciating pain.
She called Liam again , and this time, the phone rang for a long time before it was connected.
A woman’s voice came from the other side .
” Liam , you really don’t like me anymore?”
There was a moment of silence over there, and then Liam’s restrained voice came:
” Vanessa , we agreed that we would just get married and not interfere with my feelings .”
“But you still came to pick me up, didn’t you? Then tell me, why did you leave your girlfriend in the hospital and come pick me up from dozens of kilometers away?”
Clara’s breath caught in her throat as she listened to their conversation .
She opened her mouth several times, but no sound came out. Although she should have known the answer, her throat was still choked and painful.
Liam ‘s voice was hoarse and weak. “Yes, I just can’t forget you. Are you satisfied? Five years ago, it was because you cruelly left me that I went out to drink and met Clara, who looked exactly like you. ”
Clara was completely stunned, as if she had been sentenced to death. She heard the sound of saliva mixing on the other end, and she quickly hung up.
It turns out that in the past five years, she just appeared at the right time, a substitute?
Even though she knew about Liam’s betrayal and had already decided to leave, she still couldn’t believe that the five years between them were nothing but lies and deception.
After a while, a friend request suddenly appeared on the phone. After it was approved, a message was sent.
“I’m Vanessa, Liam’s childhood sweetheart and his wife. I know you’ve heard everything, Miss Clara. Face the reality. You and he are from completely different worlds. Leave him as soon as possible. You might even get a breakup fee that will allow you to live a better life away from the village . That would be the greatest compensation for you. Stop wishful thinking. ”
” Liam told me a long time ago that you’re just a girl with no family background, and you can only stay outside as a Kept Woman . He also said…” The woman paused, her tone full of sarcasm, “He also said that you can’t even keep a child. It’s just right, so I don’t have to worry about it.”
” You don’t know yet, do you? He told you that when he went on business trips abroad, he was actually accompanying me. ”
Clara stood in the heavy rain, leaning on a cane, soaked all over.
She took a deep breath and wiped the rain off her face. There were still four days before the end of the training, and she had to go back to Liam’s house. There were some documents and a keepsake left in Liam’s house.
No one came to pick her up, it was raining heavily and she couldn’t get a taxi. It would take another four days for her to use the Bennett family’s connections. Now Clara had no choice but to limp back alone on crutches.
She returned to Liam’s house in a mess. As soon as she opened the door, she saw the house was in a mess.
Then I heard the female voice on the phone before –
” Liam , look how much our child Noah Cole looks like you.”
Clara paused for a moment .
But Liam ‘s voice still broke into her ears:
” Vanessa , I don’t want to hear that kind of talk anymore, especially when Clara ‘s around.”
Vanessa ‘s smile froze for a moment, she lifted her hair and said okay.
Clara froze completely at the door. She turned around and wanted to escape, but she bumped into the shoe cabinet in a panic.
Liam , holding someone in his arms, appeared in front of Clara .
Clara looked up and couldn’t help but agree with Vanessa , they really looked alike.
Liam saw Clara ‘s red eyes and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly put Liu Sheng down , squatted in front of Clara , and grabbed her hand.
” I’m sorry, Ranran . My car broke down suddenly , so I couldn’t pick you up . Where were you? Why are you back so late? ”
Clara laughed to herself as she watched the lies spill from his lips .
She thought she had accepted it all and would no longer feel sad, but unexpectedly, her heart still ached.
She turned her head and suppressed her emotions , “I’m going to find a friend.”
Liam finally breathed a sigh of relief: “Just looking for a friend, that’s all. When did you come in? I didn’t even hear anything.”
After hearing his words, Clara understood that his previous concern was just a prelude. He just wanted to ask her if she had heard anything she shouldn’t have heard.
Clara turned cold for a moment, pulled her hand away, and said calmly: “I just came in and didn’t hear anything.”
Liam ‘s smile froze for a moment, and he shook the empty hand without saying anything else.
Clara shifted her gaze behind him, and Liam also stood up and introduced:
” Clara , this is my neighbor’s sister Vanessa. Vanessa just returned to China and has no place to live, so I let her stay at my house temporarily. Don’t get me wrong.”
Seeing his protective attitude, Clara retracted her gaze and clenched her hands: “Okay, I get it. I’m tired and want to rest first.”
Liam was stunned by her calmness, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
But he didn’t investigate further, just thinking that she was really tired, so he helped her go to the master bedroom.
Clara interrupted: “I want to go back to my room.”
Hearing her words, Liam stopped where he was.
Clara was wondering why Liam stopped when Vanessa walked over with the child.
She pointed to a door and said, “Are you talking about that room? That was my old room. I was used to sleeping there, so Liam just let me move in.”
She said it kindly, but Clara could hear the provocation in her words.
She turned to look at Liam .
“It’s just one room. If Vanessa wants to stay, I’ll give it to her. But if you want, I’ll make you a guest room.”
Hearing his words, Clara closed her eyes, unable to suppress the surge of grievances.
Liam had decorated and furnished that room himself when they first started living together , and it was a gift specifically for her because in the identity she fabricated, she was an orphan with no mother’s home to return to.
He told her to treat that room as her safe haven, and if he made her angry and didn’t realize it, he would know it as soon as she moved in.
But now, he has forgotten the significance of that room, and even said that it is just a room.
She pressed her chest, suppressing the blocked pain, stiffened her neck and said stubbornly, “No, I just want that room.”
As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere became a little heavy.
Liam also frowned, wondering why Clara was throwing a tantrum just for a room.
He was about to speak when Noah ran towards them.
Clara , arms waving , and punched her in the stomach .
“Bad guy! Cheap woman , don’t bully my mother! That’s my mother’s room!”
Children’s strength is very limited. Clara had just had a miscarriage, and her lower abdomen was hurt by his beating. She was about to shake him off, but he grabbed her hair again. She grabbed his wrist in pain.
Unexpectedly, he screamed first, and his crying echoed throughout the huge villa.
“Mom! My hand hurts so much! The bad guys are bullying me, wuwuwuwuwu…”
Clara was still soothing the pain in her scalp, and her eyes were filled with natural tears.
She reflexively looked towards Liam , only to see him looking at Noah worriedly .
She followed her gaze and was shocked to find that Noah’s wrist was bleeding.
Vanessa also hugged Noah with tears in her eyes . Clara was confused and Liam ‘s scolding followed.
” Clara ! Noah is just a kid, why are you arguing with him? I already told you that Vanessa is only staying here temporarily, can you please stop dwelling on what happened before? It’s just a room, why do you have to go against Vanessa ?”
Clara was irritated by his blatant partiality and became even more silent. She controlled her emotions and said, ” Liam …”
Liam interrupted her before she finished her words : “Stop talking! It’s not your turn to decide on this house. I gave her that room. Even if you are angry, you shouldn’t make a fuss with a child. You disappoint me so much. You should reflect on yourself.”
Clara was still frozen in place, her knuckles white from clenching her fists so tightly. Noah’s cries still echoed in the living room. Vanessa held the child and wiped away her tears, but her eyes would occasionally glance at her, as if to confirm the outcome of this “victory.” Liam squatted beside Vanessa, carefully examining Noah’s wrist. The so-called “wound” was just a shallow scratch made by the child himself, oozing a little blood, but he treated it as a big deal, his tone full of heartache: “Don’t be afraid, Noah, Daddy will take you to disinfect it, it will be healed soon.”
Just then, there was a sudden, crisp, creaking sound nearby —a nearly two-meter-tall walnut shelf, upon which sat the ceramic ornaments Vanessa had brought when she moved in, and the vintage clock that Liam had promised to “fix” a few days ago but hadn’t gotten around to. Perhaps the child had bumped into the brackets while running around, or perhaps it was simply too full, but the entire shelf suddenly tipped forward, sending the ceramic vases and clock crashing down with a clatter.
“Be careful!” Clara’s instinct was faster than her thinking. She even forgot about her ankle injury and staggered to hold the shelf, but before she touched the wooden edge, a dark shadow suddenly pushed her away.
It’s Liam.
He acted as if he hadn’t noticed Clara standing next to him. He threw himself at Vanessa and her son, one hand protecting the back of Vanessa’s head, the other holding Noah tightly in his arms, using his back to block the falling ceramic shards. With a “bang”, the clock hit his back, shattering the dial. The glass shards splashed on the back of Clara’s hand, leaving a thin streak of blood.
Clara stumbled backwards, her back slamming against the cold wall. Her sprained ankle instantly sent a sharp pain through her, and she gasped in pain, barely able to stand, holding onto the wall. But she ignored her own injuries, her gaze fixed on Liam—he was bending down to check Vanessa’s hair, his voice filled with panic: “Vanessa, are you okay? Are you hurt? Did the debris touch you?”
Vanessa shook her head, her eyes red, but with a hint of hidden pride: “I’m fine, I just scared Noah. Liam, thank goodness I have you…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Liam breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Noah in his arms, and gently wiped the tears from his face. “Don’t be afraid, Noah, Daddy will protect you. Stay away from that guy from now on, okay?”
Noah nodded, but suddenly pointed at Clara and cried, “It’s all her fault! She just had an argument with Mom and that’s why the shelf fell! Dad, look at my hand, and Mom almost got hit!”
Liam followed the child’s finger to look at Clara, his eyes instantly cold. He didn’t notice the blood on the back of her hand, nor did he see her leaning against the wall, her face pale. He only saw her standing next to the pile of debris, like the “culprit.” “Clara,” his voice was full of disappointment, even with a hint of rebuke, “I told you not to lose your temper, why are you still holding it against Vanessa? Now you almost hit them and their child, are you satisfied?”
Clara looked at him, at his back as he protected Vanessa, at the disgust in his eyes for her, and suddenly found it ridiculous. She had clearly wanted to warn them, had nearly fallen down after being bumped by him, and her hand was bleeding, but in his eyes, she had become the one who was “deliberately causing trouble.”
She looked down at the blood on the back of her hand, then at the gleaming silver object beside the shattered ornamental stand—the Bennett family brooch she’d kept on the top shelf. It had been her mother’s coming-of-age gift, a token of her family’s heir status. A precious sapphire nestled in a platinum base, the Bennett crest engraved on the back . Not to mention its value, that sapphire alone could buy half the Foster family’s assets . When the stand toppled over, the brooch had also fallen to the ground, a crack forming on the edge of the sapphire, like her heart now, shattered beyond repair.
Clara slowly walked over, bent down, and picked up the brooch. When her fingertips touched the cold metal and the cracks, the last bit of her thought about Liam was finally extinguished. She didn’t cry or argue, but simply gently stroked the cracks on the brooch with her thumb, her voice as calm as a pool of stagnant water: “Liam, you never believed me, right?”
Liam was stunned for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by her question. He frowned, his tone tinged with impatience. “I don’t feel like talking to you about this right now. It’s just a broken glass brooch from a street vendor. It’s broken. Vanessa and Noah were frightened, so I need to take them to rest. Clean up this place yourself and reflect on your actions.”
After saying that, he didn’t look at Clara anymore. He carefully held Noah in his arms and helped Vanessa walk towards the bedroom. When Vanessa passed by Clara, she deliberately slowed down her pace and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Ms. Clara, face the reality. Liam has always had only me and the children in his heart. You are just a superfluous person.”
Clara ignored her, holding the broken brooch, standing amidst the debris. The blood on the back of her hand continued to flow, and the pain in her ankle became more and more severe, but she could not feel it – because the pain in her heart had overwhelmed all her senses.
She walked slowly to the entrance, picked up her canvas bag, and carefully placed the brooch in the inside pocket.
The cell phone suddenly dinged, and I received a text message: The crown of the mistress of the Ethan family is waiting for the return of its future queen.
When Clara checked in at the hotel, she deliberately chose the cheapest standard room. The remaining money she had, from her five years of savings, was enough to last her until the end of her training, but she couldn’t afford to splurge. She changed into a clean cotton and linen shirt and jeans, and just as she was about to order a simple meal, she ran into Liam and Vanessa.
Vanessa wore a champagne silk dress, a limited-edition crocodile bag, and her makeup was as refined as if she were attending a dinner party. Liam wore a tailored suit, his watch gleaming with a cold gleam. Walking side by side, they looked like a magazine-style “wealthy couple.” Upon seeing Clara, Vanessa paused, a flicker of sarcasm in her eyes. She deliberately tightened her grip on Liam’s arm, her voice rising a few notches: “Liam, who’s here? I thought Miss Clara had already returned to the village in the city. Why is she in a five-star hotel like this?”
Liam also frowned, his eyes sweeping over Clara’s washed-out shirt, his tone filled with undisguised doubt: “Clara, why are you here? You haven’t been home these few days, could it be…” He didn’t finish his words, but the speculation in his eyes – as if she had seduced other men to be able to step into this “high-end place” – pierced Clara’s heart like a needle.
Clara didn’t want to get entangled with them and quietly turned around to find another corner, but Vanessa quickly stepped forward to stop her: “Hey, Miss Clara, don’t leave! We haven’t asked you yet. This hotel costs several thousand a night. How can you afford it with your salary? Did you find a ‘rich man’? After all, for a girl like you with no family background, this is the only way to stay in a good hotel.”
“Get out of the way.” Clara’s voice was light, but with a barely perceptible chill.
Liam stepped forward and grabbed her wrist: “Clara, I know you’re still angry with me, but you can’t humiliate yourself! Come home with me and don’t embarrass yourself here.” His tone was full of “this is for your own good”, but the contempt in his eyes could not be hidden.
Clara shook his hand off with force, leaving a red mark on her wrist: “Where I go and who I’m with is none of your business.” After saying that, she stopped looking at them and walked straight to the private room area deep in the restaurant – she saw an empty private room when she passed by just now, at least she could avoid the entanglement of these two people.
But just as she pushed the door open and sat down, the door to the private room was pushed open again. Liam and Vanessa actually followed her in directly. Vanessa even deliberately sat across from her, waving the menu in her hand. “Ms. Clara really knows how to choose a place. The minimum bill for this private room is over ten thousand. But then again, someone else is paying, so you don’t have to worry about the money.” She paused, her eyes falling on the half-brooch chain exposed from Clara’s collar – the Bennett family brooch was hidden in her shirt, with only a little silver edge showing. “Speaking of which, what are you wearing around your neck? Could it be glass beads bought at the small commodity market? And you’re pretending they’re gems, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Liam also agreed with a smile: “Vanessa is right. If you like jewelry, I will buy you a sterling silver necklace after I have reached a cooperation agreement with the Bennett family’s subsidiary. It is better than you wearing these ‘fakes’.” When he mentioned the “Bennett family”, his tone was full of yearning – that was the top wealthy family he had tried so hard to get close to, but he didn’t know that the “fake” he was talking about was the token of the Bennett family’s heir.
Clara didn’t say anything, but just picked up the water on the table and took a sip, but her fingertips secretly clenched the cup – she didn’t want to reveal her identity before the end of the experience, but the ridicule of these two people came like a tide, almost drowning her calm.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the private room door, and the hotel owner himself walked in, carrying two bottles of red wine. He was dressed in a custom-made suit and had a respectful demeanor. His eyes immediately fell on Clara, a flicker of confirmation in his eyes. He had seen this young lady from a distance a few years ago when the Bennett family was inspecting one of their hotels. Although she was wearing sunglasses at the time, he had a vague memory of her demeanor and features.
“Miss,” the boss put the red wine on the table and said in a gentle tone, “This is the 1982 Lafite that our hotel has collected. We specially send it to you for tasting.” As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Clara, indicating that he would not reveal her identity.
Clara’s heart moved slightly, and she nodded gently: “Thank you.”
But before she could say anything more, Vanessa stood up suddenly, grabbed the boss’s hand, and said excitedly, “Boss, you’re sending this to us, right? My husband, Liam, is negotiating a partnership with a subsidiary of the Bennett family. You must have heard about it and came here to please us!” As she spoke, she glanced at Clara smugly, “Look, if it weren’t for us, you would never have the chance to see such expensive red wine in your life.”
Liam also echoed, his face full of pride: “Boss, you are thoughtful. We are still moving forward with the cooperation. Please take care of me in the future.”
The smile on the boss’s face froze for a moment, but he didn’t break it. He just nodded politely: “Thank you both for your kindness.” After that, he gave Clara a subtle look and turned to leave the box.
Vanessa picked up the bottle of red wine and shook it knowingly. “Ms. Clara, have you ever seen such fine wine? This bottle costs millions . You can’t even afford it with your entire lifetime salary.”
Clara watched her clumsy movements and finally couldn’t help but speak, her voice calm but clear. “This 1982 Lafite has fine tannins and aromas of black currant and cedar. It needs at least two hours to decant. Shaking it so violently will damage the wine’s structure, and even the best wine will become sour and astringent.” She paused, her eyes falling on the label on the bottle. “Also, this bottle of wine has subtle traces of gilding on the edge, a technique unique to the winery back then. Imitations are rare on the market.”
Vanessa’s face flushed instantly, and Liam frowned, his tone questioning, “How do you know all this? I’m afraid you just copied it down from a few wine tasting magazines and pretended to understand it?”
“That’s right!” Vanessa agreed immediately. “How could a girl from a village in the city possibly know anything about red wine? You must be making it up! Even if you’re right, so what? Can you afford it? You’ll just have to watch us drink it for the rest of your life!”
Clara looked at their frustrated expressions and suddenly felt bored. She stood up, picked up her canvas bag, and said calmly, “If you like, drink slowly. I have something else to do, so I’ll be leaving now.”
Today is the last day, and the car that will pick her up from the Bennett family will be arriving soon.
The moment Clara pushed open the door to the private room, Liam instinctively rushed forward and reached out to grab her wrist. When his fingertips touched her slightly cool skin, he felt a strange panic in his heart. Clara’s calmness these past few days was too abnormal, so abnormal that he felt like he was going to lose her completely.
“Clara, don’t go.” His voice was softer than expected, even carrying a hint of pleading that he himself didn’t realize. “I was wrong about what happened before. I shouldn’t have favored Vanessa and Noah, and I shouldn’t have misunderstood you. Give me another chance, and we can start over, okay?”
Clara’s wrist was gripped so hard it hurt, but she didn’t struggle like usual. She just slowly turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were calm, without hatred, without resentment, without even a trace of emotion. It was like she was looking at a stranger. “Liam, we’re over a long time ago.”
“What nonsense are you talking about!” Liam’s strength increased a little, and his tone became anxious. “How are you going to live without me? You have no family background, no background, and you don’t even have a place to live. Do you really have to rely on those shady people? Come home with me, and I can still treat you well like before and buy you what you want…”
“Liam!” Vanessa suddenly stepped forward and pulled his hand away, her tone deliberately “rational.” “Why are you wasting your time talking to her? She’s just mad at you! Have you forgotten how much she relied on you before? She needed you to stay with her when she had a cold, to give her money when she ran out, and even to call you to change a lightbulb. Without you, she can’t even make a living. Now she’s just pretending to be tough. When her money is gone and no one pays for her hotel room, she’ll naturally come back to you for help.”
She leaned close to Liam’s ear, lowering her voice a little, but deliberately letting Clara hear: “Think about it, if she was really independent, why would she be with you for five years? Don’t be fooled by her appearance, she just thinks you are soft-hearted. Let’s go back first and wait for her to come to you herself. Then you will have the final say.”
Vanessa’s words were like a reassurance, a precise piercing of Liam’s ego. He recalled Clara’s submissiveness over the past five years—how she would fidget when he came home late, how she would treasure the cheap bracelet he gave her, how she would make porridge and stay up all night when he was sick. Yes, how could a woman who “couldn’t live without him” truly leave? Her current determination was just a disguise for her anger.
He let go of her hand, his tone becoming arrogant again: “Clara, I’m giving you a way out, don’t be ungrateful. When you figure it out, come home. I can pretend nothing happened.”
Clara looked at the arrogance in his eyes and found it ridiculous. She said nothing more, just brushed her wrinkled sleeves lightly, turned and walked out of the box, her back straight, without a trace of nostalgia.
Over the next three days, Liam occasionally picked up his phone, wanting to call Clara, but Vanessa stopped him each time. “What’s the rush?” Vanessa said nonchalantly while trying on her newly ordered dress. “She’s definitely waiting for you to give in first. If you take the initiative, she’ll be even more aggressive. Besides, we’re going to the Bennett family banquet soon. If she sees you and me at such a high-end event together, she’ll only be more envious and come back faster.”
Liam thought about it and agreed. He was currently preoccupied with collaborating with Bennett’s subsidiary. If he could meet a few important figures at the banquet, perhaps a partnership would be possible. As for Clara, she would naturally come back when she was hungry.
On the evening of the third day, Liam’s brother Jake called out of the blue, his tone as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood: “Liam! Hurry and pack! The Bennett family’s daughter’s inheritance ceremony and husband selection banquet are tonight at the Shengshi Building in the city center! I used my connections to get two invitations, come with me!”
“The Bennett family?” Liam frowned, feeling a bit confused. That was the top-tier wealthy family he’d been trying so hard to get close to, but now he couldn’t even secure a partnership with a subsidiary. If he went, he’d just be a small-time, insignificant figure, and might even be looked down upon. “Forget it, I’m not interested.”
“Not interested?” Jake said anxiously, “That’s the Bennett family! They’re said to be as wealthy as a nation! This is the first time that the daughter of the family has made a public appearance. I heard they’re going to choose a marriage partner at the banquet. Maybe going there will broaden your horizons and allow you to meet some important people. It will also be beneficial for your cooperation with their subsidiary!”
Liam was still hesitant, but Vanessa came over and snatched the phone, her tone enthusiastic: “Brother Jake, let’s go! Liam is just being modest. In fact, I have always wanted to see the scene of the top wealthy families. We will pack up immediately, see you later!”
After hanging up the phone, Vanessa dragged Liam to pick out clothes. As she was tying his tie, she said, “Are you stupid? This is the Bennett family’s party! So many people can’t get in! Not only will going there broaden your horizons, but you might even be able to strike up a conversation with that rich girl. Even if you can’t, you’ll get to know a few of the executives! It’s better than having to keep Clara around all day. If she knew you could attend a party like this, she’d probably regret it!”
Vanessa’s words completely convinced Liam. He looked at himself in the mirror, wearing a tailored suit, and imagined being complimented at the banquet. Any hesitation he had felt instantly vanished. He even began to look forward to it—when Clara returned, he would tell her about the banquet, show her that he was capable of standing on a higher plane, and how much she would lose if she left him.
At 7 p.m., Liam and Vanessa took a taxi to the Golden Age Building. Vanessa was mesmerized by the towering structure, the red carpet at the entrance, and the fleet of luxury cars. She held Liam’s arm tightly, excitedly saying, “Look at this! It’s so much more sophisticated than the last business dinner we attended! When I see the Bennett daughter, I’m going to take a picture with her!”
Liam was also a little dazzled, but he pretended to be calm and adjusted the collar of his suit: “Don’t embarrass yourself, maintain some demeanor.” Although he said so, his heart was full of anticipation – he wanted to see what this legendary Bennett daughter looked like and what kind of person she would choose as her husband.
The two followed the crowd into the ballroom, where the opulence was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers shone brightly, the air was thick with the aroma of premium champagne, and the people passing through were all either wealthy or distinguished, each exuding an innate sense of nobility. Liam and Vanessa stood in a corner, looking somewhat out of place. Vanessa was still scanning the room, trying to spot the Bennett daughter.
At that moment, the lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight in the center of the stage. The emcee’s voice, trembling with excitement, echoed through the speakers, “Dear guests, welcome to the succession ceremony for the Bennett family heir! Now, with the warmest applause, let us welcome the sole heir of the Bennett family—Miss Clara Bennett!”
(Stuck point)
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