CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: CLARA, TELL ME HONESTLY, ARE YOU BEING KEPT?

After hanging up the phone, Graham Sutton slumped on the sofa and let out a deep sigh.

Although the Sheffield Group established its roots in Crestwood, in recent years it has been aggressively expanding in Veridian, acquiring over twenty companies. Their operations span various industries and they even have projects with the Veridian Government.

Whether in Crestwood or Veridian, they are not a force to be reckoned with.

Graham Sutton couldn’t understand it; over the years, he had always kept his distance from Sheffield Group and never offended anyone from Sheffield. Why would Sheffield suddenly seize his business?

A few days later.

Problems arose one after another with Graham Sutton’s company projects.

He realized that the competition from Zephyr Corp was just the beginning.

The Sheffield Group was intentionally going head-to-head with the Sutton Group.

What exactly went wrong?

Graham Sutton returned home with a gloomy face.

Judy Bishop approached him and, noticing his expression, asked in confusion, "Why the long face? Did something happen at the company?"

Graham Sutton casually tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa and slumped down, "Recently, the Sheffield Group has been opposing the Sutton Group. I don’t know their motive."

"The Sheffield Group?" Judy Bishop quickly sat beside Graham Sutton, "You mean the Sheffield’s, the richest in Crestwood?"

"Yes." Graham Sutton rubbed his temples, "What’s Isaac been doing lately? Why hasn’t he come to the company to help me?"

Judy Bishop paused, her eyes quickly darting around as she came up with an excuse for Isaac Sutton.

"Uh... he’s about to graduate soon, isn’t he? He’s working on his thesis."

In fact, Isaac Sutton hadn’t been working on his thesis recently at all.

Every day he was indulging in dissipation, and he was still looking for Clara Sterling.

Graham Sutton asked, "Is he not home?"

Judy Bishop continued to cover for her son.

"He just finished a thesis and went out to get some fresh air."

"Tell him to report to the company tomorrow," Graham Sutton said tiredly, "he should learn to handle company matters. When I step down, he’ll have to take over."

...

After a busy week, the weekend arrived.

In another week, it would be time for the class reunion.

Clara took the card Silas Sheffield gave her and went to the mall to buy clothes.

She planned to buy a few outfits for herself and Silas Sheffield, ones that matched in color and looked like couple outfits, so they would look like a pair at the class reunion.

She didn’t have many friends here, only slightly familiar with Lisa Holloway.

But since Lisa Holloway was an employee of Sheffield’s, it wasn’t appropriate to ask her out while buying clothes for Silas Sheffield.

So today, Clara came alone.

Isaac Sutton was at the mall accompanying Judy Bishop on a shopping trip.

"Isaac, how are you adjusting to the company?" Judy Bishop asked while picking out clothes.

Isaac Sutton absentmindedly replied while looking at his phone, "It’s okay."

Judy Bishop said, "If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask and learn more. The company will be yours in the future, and you’re working for yourself, not lounging around like before. Recently, the company has had a few issues, and your father is exhausted. Try to share some of the pressure."

Isaac Sutton replied with a cold expression, "I know."

Judy Bishop glanced at Isaac Sutton, "Next Monday, have Quinn Hughes come to the company, she can be your secretary."

Isaac Sutton became impatient, "No, I don’t want her to be my secretary. If she comes to the company, only another department can be arranged for her."

Judy Bishop sighed, "After all, you two are engaged, you will be getting married soon, and you..."

Before Judy Bishop could finish, Isaac Sutton interrupted, "Mom! Can you stop bringing her up? I was never willing to be engaged in the first place, I also mentioned wanting to call off the engagement, but you never allowed it. I’ve already compromised, what more do you want from me? Please stop pressuring me, okay?"

Judy Bishop’s expression also turned somber, "Are you still thinking about Clara Sterling? Recently, there’s been a buzz about her online. Didn’t she get married? I heard she’s being kept by some sugar daddy, yet you still can’t forget about such a fickle woman?"

"Those are all rumors! Clara isn’t that kind of person! She..." Isaac Sutton stopped abruptly.

He saw Clara Sterling.

Clara Sterling was shopping alone, carrying several shopping bags.

She was currently in a men’s clothing store, carefully selecting clothes, with a gentle and focused expression.

A men’s clothing store?

Was she picking clothes for her husband?

Isaac Sutton’s expression froze.

"What’s wrong?" Judy Bishop also looked over and suddenly froze, "Why is Clara Sterling here?"

Isaac Sutton stepped toward Clara Sterling.

Judy Bishop called after him, "Isaac, Isaac, come back!"

Isaac Sutton turned a deaf ear and walked straight toward Clara Sterling.

Clara Sterling heard Judy Bishop calling out "Isaac" and frowned, looking up.

Isaac Sutton had already walked up to her.

"Clara, it really is you!" Isaac Sutton said excitedly.

He reached out to take Clara Sterling’s hand.

Clara Sterling stepped back and avoided him, "Isaac Sutton, I’m married. Now that you know, why are you still pestering me?"

Isaac Sutton’s face turned pale, his hand frozen in mid-air.

"Are you buying clothes for your husband?"

Clara Sterling replied coldly, "Yes."

Isaac Sutton withdrew his hand, curling his lips into a mocking smile, "Can your poor husband even afford such expensive clothes?"

This men’s clothing store was a renowned brand boutique. A single men’s shirt cost tens of thousands.

Clara Sterling’s husband could not possibly afford such clothes.

Clara Sterling’s eyes were icy, "And what does it matter to you if he can afford them or not?"

Isaac Sutton then noticed Clara Sterling’s clothes were a Chanel suit.

He also recognized her bag with the familiar double-C logo, Chanel’s limited edition.

Isaac Sutton’s expression changed as he thought of the recent rumors online. He looked at Clara Sterling in disbelief, "Clara, you... are you really being kept by someone?"

The nearby shop assistant discreetly stepped away, leaving them to talk privately.

Clara Sterling sneered, "Isaac Sutton, you’re not only unfaithful and scummy, but also brainless."

Isaac Sutton’s eyes reddened as he stubbornly looked at Clara Sterling, "Clara, be clear, are you being kept by someone?"

Clara Sterling smiled, but it was a cold smile, "You’ve already decided for yourself that I’m being kept, so would you believe me if I said no?"

She didn’t want to entangle with Isaac Sutton any further, so she took two men’s shirts and said to the shop assistant, "Please wrap these up for me."

"Of course, ma’am." The shop assistant smiled as she packed the clothes, "That will be eighty-three thousand five hundred yuan in total."

Clara Sterling pulled out the black card, "Charge it."

Seeing the card, Isaac Sutton’s face turned white, "Clara, you really are being kept, how could you become like this?"

The shop assistant pretended not to hear anything, maintaining her composure as she processed the payment and handed the card back with both hands, "Please visit us again!"

Clara Sterling took the bag and walked out of the men’s store.

Isaac Sutton followed her, "Clara, if you need money, just tell me. I have money, I’ll give you as much as you want. Why would you go this far and sell your body?"

"Does your mom know about this? She was already ill to begin with, if she knew, how heartbroken would she be?"

"Smack—" Clara Sterling, unable to bear it any longer, turned and slapped Isaac Sutton hard.