CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: ISAAC SUTTON WAS PROBABLY JUST ACTING BACK THEN TOO

After hanging up the phone, Silas Sheffield called his assistant, Zachary Lynch, "Look into what happened to Clara Sterling today."

She didn’t sound quite right when she called.

"Okay, President Sheffield."

Silas continued, "Tomorrow at ten in the morning, go to the South Gate of Crestwood U to pick up Clara Sterling, and use your car."

Zachary was puzzled for a moment, wondering why the president specifically instructed him to use his own car.

But it wasn’t his place to ask questions; he just needed to do his job and not ask unnecessary questions.

"Yes, President, I’ll be there on time."

After hanging up, Silas Sheffield stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his expression blank, as if still in a daze.

Just now, Clara called to say she was willing to marry him.

Even though he was the one who proposed marriage, he hadn’t imagined what it would be like if she actually agreed.

He didn’t dare to think about it.

She really agreed to marry him.

Is it a dream?

Silas opened the balcony door, and the biting northwest wind blew in with snowflakes, waking him up a little.

Fortunately, it’s not a dream.

...

The next day, Clara Sterling was woken up by a phone call.

Her phone was on vibrate, and she was a light sleeper, so she woke up after a few buzzes.

Not noticing who the caller was, she picked up the phone and answered groggily, "Hello? Who’s this?"

The person on the other end of the line urgently explained, "Baby, there was an unexpected emergency at home yesterday, so I had to go back. I wanted to tell you, but my phone died and turned off automatically. I left in a hurry and didn’t bring the charger, so my phone was dead all last night. I just got back to school and charged it."

Hearing Isaac Sutton’s voice, Clara’s sleepiness disappeared instantly, replaced by impatience and disgust.

Forgetting the charger, what a lousy excuse.

Clara responded with an ambiguous "Hmm."

Isaac was a bit taken aback, not expecting her to be so calm.

"Baby, you’re not angry?"

Clara looked at the time; it was nine-thirty.

Last night, Silas had messaged her saying he would pick her up from school at ten in the morning.

She had to get up quickly, or she’d be late and keep him waiting.

"Not angry." Clara sat up in bed, her tone indifferent, "I’m getting up now."

Isaac was also a bit confused. Before making the call, he had prepared himself for a scolding from Clara and even thought of ways to calm her down.

Who knew Clara wouldn’t be angry at all?

Previously, when he lied about going to a birthday party and returned home late, Clara had lost her temper at him.

What’s going on now?

Why isn’t she upset when he bailed on going to the hospital to visit her mom?

"Baby, are you really not angry?" Isaac was a bit intimidated, worried that Clara was secretly holding in her anger.

He cautiously asked, "Baby, can I go to the hospital to see your mom today? I promise I won’t let anything delay me this time; I’ll go right now."

"No need." Clara’s tone was very light, revealing no emotion, "I’m really not angry. I’m getting up to wash up now, so I’ll hang up."

She wasn’t angry.

Just disheartened.

Right now, she didn’t have the energy to have a spat with Isaac Sutton.

Finishing her wash and dressing up, Clara hesitated for a moment before putting on some light makeup.

After all, she was going to get a marriage certificate, so putting on makeup would show some respect for Silas Sheffield.

She wasn’t very good at makeup and rarely wore it.

After applying it, she only looked a bit fairer, with slightly redder lips.

There wasn’t much difference from her bare face.

Clara was naturally beautiful, with a pair of clear, almond-shaped eyes, long, delicate eyelashes, and flawless porcelain skin.

When she first entered university, she was already five foot six, with long slender legs, a tiny waist, and an excellent figure.

During her freshman military training, someone secretly took a photo of her in her training uniform and posted it on the school’s confession wall, making her a sensation on campus overnight.

Later, someone posted her photos and videos on short video platforms, garnering over two million likes within a week.

Students from her year even gave her the title of "Department Belle."

As Clara finished her makeup, Isaac sent another message.

"Baby, are you really not mad? I’m so scared you’ll be angry and ignore me."

Clara, looking at the message, felt a momentary longing, recalling how she first met Isaac.

When they first met, Isaac wore a slightly yellowed white shirt and faded jeans, his hand shaking nervously as he handed her a love letter.

At that time, thanks to her viral photo on the short video platform, Clara already had countless suitors at Crestwood U.

But she wasn’t in the mood for romance and naturally rejected Isaac’s advances.

Later, Isaac somehow got hold of her class schedule and waited for her under the dorm every day to go to class together, bringing her breakfast.

These were the common tactics university boys used to pursue girls, which didn’t sway Clara.

Clara accepted Isaac’s pursuit during the winter break of their sophomore year.

When the pandemic hit hard, Clara unfortunately tested positive.

Masks became rare commodities at the time.

All kinds of fever, pain relief, and even cold medicines were sold out.

After testing positive, Clara posted a screenshot of her test report in her circle with a little lamb emoji as the caption.

The next day, she received a local courier delivery.

It was a box of N95 masks and medicine.

The sender’s name wrote "XXX," making it impossible to tell who sent it.

The masks and medicines were well-packaged and included anti-counterfeiting codes.

Clara scanned and verified that they were authentic.

Who sent them?

Why did the sender deliberately hide their identity, doing a good deed without wanting her to know?

She immediately posted a photo in her circle to thank the mysterious benefactor.

Not long after she made that post, Isaac called to ask if she had taken the medicine and if she had enough masks.

Clara asked, "Were those masks and medicine from you?"

"Yes, I was heartbroken seeing your post about testing positive."

"Masks and these medicines are in short supply now, where did you buy them?"

Isaac paused, then said, "I have a relative in that industry; I asked him to buy them at a high price, using the money I earned from part-time jobs."

Hearing this, Clara felt something soften inside, and she asked gently, "You spent your money to buy these for me; do you still have enough for yourself?"

"I have enough, don’t worry about me. Just take your medicine and get better soon."

Clara was deeply touched.

When the pandemic hit, everyone was anxious, hoarding scarce supplies like masks. Some people couldn’t even buy them if they wanted to, yet Isaac spent a high price to send them to her.

He was always poor; even when eating, he chose the cheapest vegetarian dishes with free soup, yet he was willing to spend so much on her.

There were many boys pursuing Clara at school before, but few were persistent.

During the pandemic, even knowing she was positive, other suitors only sent messages of verbal comfort, like clockwork with morning and night greetings, but none truly worried about her or took practical actions.

Only Isaac did.

Listening to Isaac’s concerned words and looking at the courier package in front of her, Clara sniffed and seriously said, "Isaac, when the pandemic is over and we meet again, let’s be together."

Looking back now, Isaac back then was probably just acting too, right?

No wonder he could acquire so many masks and medicines during the pandemic; turns out he’s the wealthy young master of a rich family, which isn’t surprising now.

The phone vibrated a few times, pulling Clara back to the present.

She answered the call, "Hello."

"Miss Sterling, I’m President Sheffield’s assistant. I’m now at the South Gate of Crestwood U waiting for you."

"Okay, I’ll be out right away, please hold on." Clara stuffed her ID and household register into her bag and quickly walked out of the dormitory.

Her family had two household registers, one with her and one with her mom.

She had brought her household register to school when reporting in for freshman year and had kept it in the dormitory drawer ever since.

Clara never thought that the household register, which had been lying in the dorm drawer for almost four years, would be taken out to register for a marriage certificate with a man.