CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: BECAUSE OF YOU

Sophie Sheffield told Clara that the man’s name is Benjamin Hughes, a real estate businessman who once bribed to disrupt the bidding process and illegally profited to obtain the rights to use construction land.

Clara thought of Quinn Hughes. She once worked part-time for Lynch Lynch, and on the day she wore the clown costume, she heard people from Isaac Sutton’s circle mention that Quinn Hughes’s family is also in the real estate business.

Could it be such a coincidence?

Clara opened X and searched for Benjamin Hughes.

Many articles about him popped up.

Clara opened the comment section and scrolled down one by one.

Sure enough, she found some clues.

[Benjamin Hughes’s daughter is named Quinn Hughes, and she’s no good either. Back in high school, she was involved in school bullying.]

[Yes, yes, I remember a girl had to transfer because she was bullied by Quinn Hughes.]

[I’m an insider, Quinn Hughes is in my circle, her dad was arrested for bribery, and her mom ran away with the money. Overnight, Quinn went from a rich young lady to the daughter of a criminal suspect, and Hughes Company is being acquired by a big shot.]

Clara frowned slightly when she saw this passage.

Her intuition told her that the big shot acquiring Hughes Company was very likely Silas Sheffield.

Clara couldn’t help but comment: [Do you know who’s acquiring Hughes Company?]

A netizen replied a few minutes later: [I don’t know about that, but there’s that big scandal going around about Harrison Shaw, the deputy dean of the city center hospital. Turns out he’s Quinn Hughes’s uncle-in-law, and the Hughes family got implicated because of him, which led to the bribery charges.]

Clara was shocked.

So Harrison has a connection to Quinn Hughes too?

Why would Silas suddenly go after Harrison Shaw and Benjamin Hughes?

Could it be because...

Clara connected these events together, forming a vague guess in her mind.

That night, with so much on her mind, Clara didn’t sleep well.

The next morning, Clara got up, washed, and had breakfast.

When she went downstairs, Silas was already dressed and sitting in the dining room drinking coffee.

Seeing her, Silas gave a slight nod as a greeting.

Clara felt a bit complicated, hesitating over how to start the conversation.

Silas looked up, noticing her strange expression, and asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Um..." Clara sat down opposite Silas, "Silas, I... I have something I want to ask you..."

The man looked calm as ever, "What is it?"

"You..." Clara carefully chose her words, "Why did you suddenly investigate Harrison Shaw and Benjamin Hughes, did they offend you?"

So it was this matter.

Silas took a sip of coffee without a hint of surprise, his voice still cold, "Yes."

Clara gathered her courage and asked, "Can I ask what it’s about?"

Silas’s gaze deepened slightly, giving Clara a meaningful look.

Clara’s heart skipped a beat under his gaze.

In the next second, she heard the man’s cool and deep voice say, "Because of you."

Such a brief three words.

Yet Clara felt as if she was suddenly frozen by an invisible force.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

At that moment, shock surged over her like a tidal wave, bombarding every defense of her thoughts.

Under the intense gaze of Silas’s deep and profound eyes, Clara’s heart raced.

After a while, Clara seemed to find her voice, and with a hint of confusion in her eyes, she asked, "Why?"

"Because you’re my wife." Across from her, the man’s eyes held a cold light, "I won’t allow anyone to bully you."

Everything around seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of heartbeats clearly audible.

In the clear morning, sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a light shadow on the polished marble table.

Clara’s eyelashes trembled softly, and it took her a while to regain her composure, murmuring a faint "Thank you" to Silas.

...

In the afternoon, Sophie Sheffield received a cross-ocean video call from Mrs. Sheffield.

"Sweetheart, did you have a happy New Year?"

Joanne Quincy was dressed in vacation style, wearing a sun hat and sunglasses, with a background of blue sky and sea.

Joanne Quincy laughed, "I’ve been on vacation here in Zarathos with your dad, completely forgot yesterday was New Year’s Day."

Sophie replied, "I’m happy, I spent it with Clara this year. Clara is a great cook; she even made New Year’s Eve dinner for me and my brother."

Sophie leaned over, turning the phone’s front camera toward Clara, "Clara, it’s my mom’s call."

"Hello Auntie, Happy New Year." Clara suddenly entered the frame, a bit awkwardly greeting Joanne Quincy in the video.

"Clara, welcome to visit our house, Happy New Year to you!"

Joanne Quincy smiled and greeted Clara, then gently chided her daughter.

"Xiaoyi, Clara is a guest, how can you have her cooking? Is that how I taught you to treat guests?"

Clara quickly explained, "Auntie, it wasn’t Sophie’s fault, I offered to do it. I’ve been staying at your house too long, and Sophie and Silas have helped me a lot, I wanted to cook a meal to thank them."

Sophie pouted and said, "Mom, this wasn’t my fault. I’m so close to Clara, I think of her as family, refusing her offer would feel too formal."

Clara agreed, "Yes Auntie, it’s not Sophie’s fault."

Joanne Quincy smiled warmly, "Clara is truly sweet and sensible, and even knows how to cook. What a darling child."

Clara pressed her lips together, a bit embarrassed, "Auntie, you’re flattering me."

Joanne Quincy chatted with her daughter for a bit and then asked, "By the way, Xiaoyi, where’s your brother? What’s he been busy with lately?"

Sophie replied, "My brother’s busy with work every day, didn’t even take a break for New Year."

"The child needs to rest even when busy," Joanne Quincy’s tone shifted, "Has he been dating anyone recently?"

"Nope, still single," Sophie said, "You know how he is, hasn’t dated anyone in years, doesn’t seem interested in girls. I’m starting to wonder if there’s something wrong with his orientation."

"Don’t talk about your brother like that. He’s just too busy to have time for romance," Joanne Quincy said, "A friend’s daughter is coming home in a few days. I really like her, she’s two years younger than him, and I want to introduce them."

Clara, hearing this, paused slightly.

Sophie’s tone became excited at the gossip about her brother, "Which friend’s daughter? Do I know her? Is she pretty?"

"You haven’t met her," Joanne Quincy said, "They’ve been in Aztera all this time, and your dad and I have been busy. Never had time to take you to meet her. She’s visiting us for the New Year, and your dad and I will be coming back soon to introduce them."

Clara’s fingers curled slightly, trying to hide the fleeting low spirits in her eyes.

Sophie asked, "Is she coming to Veridian or Crestwood?"

"Crestwood," Joanne Quincy said, "You’ve been in Veridian for quite a while now, it’s time to head back to Crestwood."