CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 152: RESPONSE

As Silas Sheffield was about to finish his meal, the manager suddenly knocked on the door, "President Sheffield, there’s a large group of journalists at the entrance."

Silas’s expression became sharp.

They must have come for him and Clara.

He had just returned to the country last night, and journalists were already on his trail. Someone must have tipped off the media.

Silas’s gaze turned cold.

Kevin Kensington frowned, "These journalists get their information too quickly. Silas just got back last night, and they already know?"

Ethan Fuller said, "Someone leaked Silas’s itinerary."

Silas’s face darkened slightly, "I didn’t tell anyone I was coming back early, only Zachary Lynch and you guys knew."

Clara Sterling slightly furrowed her brows in thought.

No, there was one more person who knew.

Silas’s grandmother.

But the journalists at the door certainly wouldn’t have been summoned by her.

Clara’s eyes darkened with suspicion, thinking it might have been Thea Tate.

Thea liked to gain favor with the elderly lady and must often call her.

Silas had just finished a call with his grandmother, accidentally mentioning his return last night.

If Thea coincidentally called the elderly lady, and she mentioned it, then Thea would know Silas was back.

From the time Silas hung up the phone to when the restaurant manager came knocking, about forty minutes had passed.

That time was more than enough to notify the media and get them there.

Seeing Clara’s eyes downcast and not speaking, Silas assumed she was upset. He reached out and took her hand, his long fingers entwining with hers, "Don’t worry, I’m here."

Silas stood up, "Wait here for me."

Saying this, he let go of her hand and was about to leave.

Clara suddenly grabbed his hand.

Silas turned back to look at her.

Clara stood and said, "I want to face it with you."

After all, this matter started because of her.

If she hadn’t absentmindedly gone to the appointment, no one would have taken photos to make a story out of it.

Silas was such a low-key person, usually not accepting interviews, yet because of her, he was trapped in rumors and hounded by journalists.

Clara looked at Silas with a hint of apology in her eyes.

The man held her hand back, his deep, dark eyes full of gentleness, "Alright, we’ll face it together."

Hand in hand, they left the room.

Kevin and Ethan also got up, preparing to leave.

Watching their backs as they held hands, Kevin remarked, "They really look like a couple sharing hardships now."

Ethan added, "Clara is gradually growing, and Silas is the kind of partner who guides."

"Why does the old lady want them to divorce? Clara is such a good granddaughter-in-law, why isn’t she satisfied?" Kevin was puzzled.

Ethan said leisurely, "Why else? She has someone else in mind."

"Someone else?" Kevin stroked his chin and asked, "Who?"

Ethan glanced at him, "Thea Tate."

Hearing this name, Kevin displayed an incredulous expression, "It’s been so many years, and she still hasn’t given up?"

"Yes, she hasn’t given up," Ethan replied seriously, "Didn’t you notice anything at the anniversary celebration?"

Kevin muttered, "Didn’t notice, why should I pay attention to her..."

Ethan paused contemplatively and said, "I suspect she’s involved in this trending topic."

"Silas is already married and she still won’t stop? This woman is something else, I’ve never seen someone so thick-skinned. Why clings to Silas when there are plenty of other men?"

"The unattainable always stirs desire," Ethan sneered, his eyes flashing with contempt, "That phrase likely describes her."

...

In the elevator.

Silas asked, "Have you thought about how to answer the journalists’ questions?"

Clara shook her head, "No, I’ll just answer whatever they ask, speaking honestly."

After all, she had a clear conscience.

Silas slightly nodded.

As they stepped out of the elevator and approached the restaurant entrance, Clara spotted the swarm of reporters waiting outside the glass doors.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

The man beside her sensed her unease, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Once they stepped outside, journalists swarmed forward, raising their cameras and snapping continuously.

Microphones were thrust impatiently in their direction.

"Mr. Sheffield, are you and your wife only in a contractual marriage?"

"Was your statement made under duress for Sheffield Group’s interests?"

"What do you think of your wife’s relationship with Fourth Young Master Hawthorne? It’s said he confessed to Mrs. Sheffield previously on May 20th, is that true?"

"Fourth Young Master Hawthorne used to be an employee of Sheffield, it’s rumored he has now left the company, did you force him out?"

...

Silas remained calm, his clear voice answering the journalists’ questions one by one, carefully and deliberately.

"We’re not in a contractual marriage, we’re genuinely in love and intend to be together for life."

"We issued the statement because the allegations were false and have already infringed upon my wife’s rights to a reputation."

"My wife and Mr. Hawthorne are just friends, nothing more, and the confession on May 20th was a misunderstanding, I was also there at the time."

"Mr. Hawthorne resigned voluntarily and it had nothing to do with me. I heard he’s going back to inherit his family business."

Seeing Silas handle it so smoothly, the reporters then turned their probing questions towards Clara.

Microphones and cameras were thrust in Clara’s direction.

Silas frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure in his eyes. He shielded her face from the cameras with one hand and pulled her protectively into his embrace with the other.

Clara met the reporters’ gaze fearlessly, her voice clear and strong as she spoke every word distinctly: "Yes, I did meet Mr. Hawthorne. I don’t understand how having coffee with a friend can be construed as infidelity. I have done nothing to betray my husband."

"Mrs. Sheffield, is it true that you interfered in the relationship between Sutton Family’s Young Master Isaac and his fiancée?"

Clara coldly curled her lips, "Who’s interfering with whom?"

She gently pushed Silas’s hand away from blocking the camera and looked directly into the lens.

Her eyes were clear and bright, but there was a chill in her gaze as she faced the camera.

"Since everyone is so concerned about this question, I’ll respond to it today."

"Isaac and I dated for over two years. Miss Hughes suddenly returned to the country and interfered in our relationship. I chose to break up and let her be with Isaac."

With a slight, cold smile, Clara continued, "It’s really laughable how clearly I was the victim, yet some have twisted the story, labeling me as the other woman."

The journalists posed a few more harsh and sarcastic questions, but Clara answered each one calmly and confidently, showing no sign of intimidation.

Silas watched her handle things so gracefully and refrained from blocking the cameras further, allowing the reporters to film.

Clara maintained a proper demeanor, always with a smile, appearing warm and harmless, but her words were not gentle.

Once the journalists had collected enough material, Clara looked directly into the camera, her eyes cold, as if speaking through the lens to someone in particular.

"I don’t know who leaked these stories, but their malicious intent is clear—trying to ruin my relationship with my husband."

She smiled slightly, pursing her lips, "Is there yet another person wanting to interfere in our relationship? They’ll be disappointed because my relationship with my husband is deep and won’t allow anyone to come between us."

Thea Tate was sitting at home watching the live broadcast, expecting to see Clara embarrass herself. Instead, she saw Clara exuding confidence and indifference.

Thea gritted her teeth in frustration, her eyes red with anger.

"Bang!" She threw her phone hard against the wall, shattering the glass screen.

Yet the live broadcast continued.

She heard Clara’s provocative voice.

"Someone really is like a rat hiding in the sewers, unseen in the light, darkly jealous of others’ happiness. You must be insanely jealous by now, and if that’s the case, all I can say is, I’m sorry."