CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: THIS IS HER FIRST TIME COMING TO A HOTEL WITH A MAN

Snow began to fall as they left the police station.

This was the first snow of the year in Crestwood.

The sky seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil, a muted gray.

Snowflakes drifted down lightly, like a fine dusting of sugar from the sky.

Clara followed behind Silas Sheffield, with a two- or three-step distance between them.

The girl sniffled, her mood dejected, and said, "Silas, thanks for your help today."

Silas replied indifferently, "You’re welcome."

The biting wind, carrying snow particles, slipped into Clara’s collar, making her shiver.

She pulled the zipper of her down jacket up to the top and tucked her chin into the collar, "I’ll find a way to pay you back for the bail money."

"Alright." The man strode towards the Maybach parked at the entrance.

Clara obediently followed behind him.

"I really didn’t mean to hurt anyone today, he was drunk and tried to take advantage of me," Clara explained.

"I understand." Silas opened the car door on the passenger side, "Get in."

The man wore a black overcoat, gold-rimmed glasses, his face expressionless and coolly aloof.

Clara sat in the car, feeling reserved, "Thanks, Silas."

Silas got in from the other side.

He had driven here himself today.

Clara felt bad for troubling him, speaking softly, "I’m really sorry for bothering you so late."

Silas’s voice remained cold, "It’s alright, I’ll take you back to school."

"Thank you, Silas."

On the way, Silas suddenly spoke up, "Don’t work part-time at that place anymore."

Clara lowered her head, softly replied with just a "mm."

Even if she didn’t work there, she would find another part-time job somewhere else.

If she didn’t work, she couldn’t pay for her mother’s medical bills.

But she didn’t tell Silas any of this.

Soon they arrived at the school.

Clara asked Silas to drive to the "dog hole" area.

"Stop here, thanks, Silas."

"Why not use the main entrance?" Silas glanced at her, puzzled.

"There’s a curfew; after eleven, you can’t get in or out," Clara said, a bit embarrassed, "There’s a hole here, and I usually sneak in after work."

Silas nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Clara got out of the car, waving to Silas, "Goodbye, Silas, thanks for getting me out today and driving me back."

The man sat in the car, looking at her, his gaze calm and untroubled, giving a simple "Hmm."

Clara turned and walked towards the railing.

As she approached, she couldn’t help but say, "Huh?"

The dog hole? Where is it?

Why is it gone?

She walked back and forth several times, confirming that the dog hole was indeed gone.

Under the dim streetlight, she could see that the section of the fence had been replaced—someone from the school had taken action.

How was she going to sleep tonight?

Clara stood there, lost and bewildered.

Silas sat in the car, watching the girl pace back and forth a few times, finally standing still in a daze.

He paused slightly, then opened the car door and got out.

"What’s wrong?" Silas approached her from behind, asking lightly.

"The dog hole is gone." Clara turned to him, pointing to where the hole used to be, "There used to be a hole here, you could squeeze through."

A cold gust of wind blew by, making Clara shiver.

The snow was falling heavier, and the temperature outside had already dropped below zero.

"Get in the car." Silas said simply, turning to walk back.

Clara hesitated for a few seconds.

Eventually, she turned around and followed Silas into the car.

She truly had nowhere else to go.

Silas stopped the car in front of a five-star hotel.

Clara followed him out.

The hotel valet came up to greet them, respectfully addressing him as "Mr. Sheffield."

Silas casually tossed the car keys to the valet and walked up the steps.

The valet took the keys to park the car.

Clara followed Silas like a silent shadow.

As they walked into the lobby, doormen on both sides bowed and called out, "Good morning, Mr. Sheffield!"

It was already almost six thirty.

It seemed strange to check into a hotel at this hour, but the doormen kept their heads down dutifully, eyes averted.

The receptionist greeted them warmly.

Silas bypassed the front desk and headed straight to the elevator.

Clara obediently followed him, puzzled as to why he didn’t stop at the front desk to check in.

But her curiosity stayed unspoken.

In the elevator, Silas pressed the top floor button.

Clara watched the red numbers flickering and felt her heartbeat quicken.

It was her first time coming to a hotel with a man.

Although she believed Silas to be honorable and that he wouldn’t do anything to her that night,

she couldn’t help but feel tense.

It was also her first time being so close to Silas alone.

In the confined space, Clara felt her breath become somewhat stifled.

Finally, with a "ding," the elevator doors opened.

Breathing in the fresh air again, Clara steadied herself, following Silas out of the elevator.

The entire floor had only one room.

Silas skillfully swiped the card and opened the door, "This is my suite, there are three rooms inside; apart from my bedroom, you can choose any of the other two."

Clara was still a bit dazed, stammering, "Oh, okay."

She actually came to the hotel with Silas.

It felt surreal.

Once inside, Silas took out a pair of brand-new slippers and gently placed them on the floor.

"Thank you." Clara bent over to change her shoes.

Even though she had known Silas for over five years, the number of times they had spoken could be counted on one hand, let alone being alone together.

Silas Sheffield and Sophie Sheffield are half-siblings.

"My brother is cold to everyone, sometimes he doesn’t even give face to my dad," Sophie once said of Silas.

"You wouldn’t believe how many girls at school like him. I’ve heard from his friends that he basically gets love letters every day, no exaggeration, it’s really every day."

"When I started middle school, my brother already had countless admirers in the neighboring high school; in those three years, I lost count of how many senior girls came to find me, asking me to deliver gifts and love letters."

"Clara, what do you think of my brother’s looks? Isn’t he even more handsome than a comic book hero?" Sophie asked this while Clara was solving a math problem.

She had always been smart, quick-witted, never ranking below the top three in her grade.

The math problem was easy for her; just a glance at the question had sparked an idea in her mind.

She had just written the word "Solution" when hearing Sophie mention Silas completely threw off her train of thought.

The image of her first encounter with Silas flashed in her mind.

Excessively perfect features, sharply defined abs.

It was the first time Clara viscerally understood the meaning of "sexual tension."

"Yeah, he’s quite handsome." Clara pretended to say calmly.

"Right." Sophie munched on some chips beside her, "I think seeing my brother’s perfect face every day has raised my standards; ordinary guys just don’t appeal to me."

"Mm." Clara’s tone was indifferent, her gaze on the math problem, yet she couldn’t recall her initial line of thought.

After a moment, she heard herself ask in a casual tone, "With so many girls liking your brother, has he ever dated anyone?"