CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: SILAS SHEFFIELD GIVES HIS WIFE NEW YEAR’S MONEY

Clara played with Sophie Sheffield for a while and was about to head out to the hospital to spend New Year’s with her mom.

Just before she left, Silas Sheffield called out to her, "Wait."

"Yes?" Clara turned her head.

Silas handed her a red envelope, "Happy New Year, here’s some New Year’s money."

Clara quickly waved her hand, "Thank you, Silas, but I don’t need New Year’s money, I’m an adult now."

The man replied calmly, "Even adults can receive it."

"Sweetie, just take it." Sophie waved the red envelope in her hand with a mischievous smile, "I’ve been an adult for years, but every year my brother gives me New Year’s money. You’re the same age as me, and you’re my good friend. In his eyes, you’re like a sister to him. It’s perfectly normal for a brother to give his sister New Year’s money, so accept it for good luck."

Clara pursed her lips, wondering if Silas really saw her as a sister?

"Go ahead and accept it." Silas spoke again.

Sophie added, "Quickly, take it, it’s my brother’s goodwill."

In her hesitation, Sophie grabbed the red envelope and stuffed it into Clara’s coat pocket, smiling slyly, "Just take it, it’s not much money anyway."

Clara, unable to refuse any further, looked up at Silas and sincerely thanked him.

At the hospital.

Clara spent New Year’s Eve happily watching the Spring Festival Gala on the TV in the hospital room with her mom.

After her mom fell asleep, Clara stayed in the hospital room to keep watch.

On New Year’s Eve, some families were happy while others were filled with sorrow.

Quinn Hughes’ father was detained and even the thought of coming home for New Year’s was a luxury.

Quinn and her mother had no mood to celebrate, so they made do with a packet of frozen dumplings.

In the Hughes Family living room, Isabella Shaw was tearfully sobbing, "Your dad probably won’t get out this time, and the family business is done for. Quinn, let’s leave together."

"Mom, what do you mean?" Quinn looked at Isabella Shaw in disbelief, "Are you going to abandon Dad and leave?"

Isabella Shaw wiped her tears, crying, "Quinn, I have no choice. Your dad is more than likely going to prison. I don’t know how to manage the business. I’ve heard that someone intends to acquire our company. Soon, the company won’t even bear the Hughes name. Staying here won’t bring us a good life."

"Mom, please think of a way. Let’s ask for help. Doesn’t Dad have many friends?" Quinn’s eyes were red from crying, "Let’s ask them for help. Dad has helped them before; surely they won’t abandon us."

Isabella Shaw shook her head, "Quinn, it’s no use. I’ve already reached out to them. They’re all self-serving, and no one is willing to help us."

Quinn choked with emotion, "Think harder, there has to be a solution."

"Quinn, while your dad hasn’t been convicted yet and the company is still ours, I have some savings. Listen to me and leave with me."

"I’m not leaving. I can’t abandon my Dad and run away. Mom, he’s my Dad, I can’t just leave him."

Isabella Shaw tried to persuade Quinn for a long time but failed.

So Isabella Shaw wiped her tears and said no more.

The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

When Quinn woke up, she found herself alone at home.

In her parents’ bedroom, the gold bars and jewelry in the safe were gone, as were other valuables.

Isabella Shaw had abandoned her and fled overnight.

Quinn’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

Could it be that her father was indeed beyond saving?

What should she do now?

...

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, guests began to arrive to celebrate New Year’s one after another.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield were often not in the country, with Mr. Sheffield leaving the domestic company’s management entirely to Silas Sheffield.

Knowing that Silas was recently in Veridian, the executives of Sheffield Group came to Veridian to celebrate the New Year.

Some business partners of the Sheffield Group and relatives of the Sheffield Family also came to visit.

The downstairs hall was bustling.

Clara was now technically Mrs. Sheffield and should have been receiving guests, but they were secretly married, and her marriage to Silas was only a marriage of convenience, in name only. She dared not assume the role of Mrs. Sheffield.

In her eyes, she was merely a guest of the Sheffields.

Silas and Sophie were downstairs chatting and having tea with the guests while Clara was alone in the bedroom on the second floor.

Clara called Auntie Walsh, their neighbor in Crestwood, to wish her a happy New Year.

"Auntie Walsh, Happy New Year!"

"Oh, Clara, Happy New Year! How are you and Ms. Sterling these days?"

"We’re doing well. My mom’s condition has stabilized, and she’s undergoing chemotherapy. The doctor said they could perform surgery in another month after the New Year."

"That’s good to hear, I hope the surgery goes smoothly."

"Thank you. How have you been, Auntie Walsh?"

"I’ve been well." Auntie Walsh laughed, "That rascal of mine finally brought his girlfriend home for the New Year this year. She’s pretty and well-mannered, and both his dad and I are pleased."

Clara laughed, "Congratulations."

"Oh, by the way." Auntie Walsh suddenly changed the topic. "A few days ago, a man came looking for you at your house. He seemed in a hurry. He asked if I knew where you were, but I only told him you had gone out of town for treatment. I didn’t dare say you went to Veridian."

Clara suspected that it might be Isaac Sutton, so she asked, "What did this man look like? How tall was he?"

Auntie Walsh answered, "He seemed to be around your age, quite tall, over six feet, and quite handsome."

That indeed must be Isaac Sutton.

Clara said, "He’s a college classmate of mine. We fell out over something. Thank you, Auntie Walsh, for not revealing my whereabouts. If he comes again, you can just ignore him."

"Will do."

...

On the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Sophie and Clara squeezed into a bed, having a heart-to-heart.

Sophie, pouting, said softly, "Go ahead and scold me, sweetie. I’m spineless. I went and texted Preston Pierce a ’Happy New Year’ first."

Clara asked, "Did he reply?"

Upon this, Sophie’s eyes lit up with a smile, "He replied. He even asked if I had returned to the country."

"From the sound of things, it seems like there’s a chance for the two of you," Clara remarked. "I heard Preston didn’t date anyone throughout college. Maybe he was waiting for you."

"No way..." Sophie was doubtful, "He rejected my confession. How could he be waiting for me... Maybe he just hasn’t met someone he likes yet."

"Why don’t you ask him?" Clara suggested.

Sophie thought about it and shook her head, "No, I don’t have the courage to ask."

Clara offered, "I could ask him for you?"

Sophie shook her head again, "That’s too weird. You two don’t usually talk, and if you suddenly ask, he’d definitely know you’re asking for me."

"Alright," Clara said, "Then we won’t ask. If he really likes you, he’ll reach out since he knows you’re back."

Sophie pressed her lips together and said nothing.

After a while, something crossed Sophie’s mind, and she suddenly said, "Oh, did you see online about the vice president from Crestwood Central Hospital?"

Clara replied, "I saw it online. It’s good that such a villain, who committed all sorts of evil, was finally brought to justice."

Sophie lowered her voice, speaking softly, "I’ll tell you a secret; my brother was the one who had those criminal materials investigated and handed them over to the provincial authorities."

"What?" Clara was shocked, "It was Silas who did that?"

"Yeah, the day you went to the hospital, two guys came to see him at home. I overheard their conversation as I passed by the study. That’s when I found out my brother reported Harrison Shaw. I heard someone with the last name Hughes was also involved and was caught for bribery."

"Hughes?"

Clara suddenly recalled that the previous day when she went to the study to find Silas, she overheard him talking on the phone about "illegal activities" and "it won’t matter who pleads for them" and "not minding taking them all down," or something like that.

Hughes...

Clara’s eyes widened, her face full of shock, "What’s the first name of that person with the surname Hughes?"