She straightened herself up.
If she gave her sister a chance and even helped persuade Ethan, then her sister would be more deeply involved in this matter. In the end… she would be left with scars.
Sure enough, there was no one at home.
Clara put the documents in the study and left.
Just as she walked out the door, someone called her.
“Clara.” It was a voice that was both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar. The voice carried a hint of surprise.
Clara paused for a moment, turned her head, and saw a man walking towards her.
He walked towards her with the light behind him, and the sunset cast a faint orange glow on him, warm and gentle.
“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?” The man came to Clara’s side and asked with a smile.
Clara snapped out of her daze, blushing, and shook her head. “… No.”
Taking a few deep breaths quietly, Clara calmed herself down and looked at the man. “Daniel, why are you back?”
This man’s name was Daniel Novak. The Novak family and the Everett family lived in the same neighborhood, and their relationship had always been good, with frequent interactions between the two families.
Daniel was five years older than Clara and twenty-five years old this year.
“I have something to take care of,” Daniel said.
“… Oh,” Clara replied.
Then… Clara didn’t know what else to say.
“Shall we have dinner together?” Daniel asked with a smile.
“… Okay,” Clara said.
Daniel smiled gently.
Clara’s face turned even redder.
Daniel was so handsome.
Clara looked at Daniel’s gentle smile and always thought that he was both gentle and charming.
Actually… Clara had a vague fondness for Daniel.
Clara didn’t have a brother. When she was young, she really treated Daniel as her own brother, following him like a little tail. But when she reached puberty and realized the difference between boys and girls, she no longer followed Daniel like she did when she was a child. Her feelings for him also changed from sibling affection to romantic interest.
Unfortunately… just when she discovered her vague fondness for him, Daniel went abroad to study. Clara was only thirteen at that time. After he went abroad, their contact became rare, and Daniel only came back to the country for a few days each year… Gradually, Clara grew up and her vague fondness for him faded away with their long absence from each other.
Now… only a shadow remained. When she saw him, she would remember that she had once secretly admired him.
Daniel looked at the time and said, “Let’s go.”
Clara nodded.
They walked and chatted along the way.
When they reached the entrance of the neighborhood, they ran into Iris.
Iris saw Daniel and her eyes lit up with joy.
“Daniel, you’re back,” Iris said happily.
“Yeah,” Daniel nodded with a smile.
“Sis,” Clara called out to Iris.
Iris looked at Clara and smiled, “Clara, why are you back?”
“… I returned the documents,” Clara said.
A hint of unease flashed across Iris’ face as she said, “… Oh.” Then she asked again, “Have you and Ethan completed the marriage registration?”
“… Yeah,” Clara replied.
Daniel looked at Clara, his eyes filled with a hint of darkness.
It seemed that he had come too late after all.
Iris looked at Clara and Daniel and asked, “Daniel, where are you guys going?”
“We’re going to have dinner,” Daniel said.
“I’ll join you,” Iris said with a smile.
Daniel nodded, “Sure.”
Clara naturally wouldn’t refuse.
So… dinner for two became dinner for three.
During the meal, it was mostly Daniel who chatted with Iris. Clara spoke very little.
Actually… Iris knew.
Her sister also liked Daniel.
She didn’t know now, but at least she used to.
Daniel… was outstanding.
He had always been someone else’s child: good-looking, good at studying, polite, refined… he was that kind of perfect student in every aspect.
Among the eligible girls in the neighborhood, the majority had some level of fondness for Daniel. As for the girls who admired Daniel at school… there were even more of them.
After finishing their meal, the three of them walked out of the restaurant.
“Clara, how are you going back?” Iris asked.
Daniel paused for a moment, as if he had just remembered… Clara was married to Ethan now and should no longer be living with the Everett family but with the Logan family instead.
“Let Daniel take you back,” Iris said with a smile.
She genuinely wanted Daniel to take Clara back home.
During her teenage years, she did admire Daniel because he was truly outstanding. But now…
She had become Ethan’s fiancee first, and now Alexander loved her deeply as well.
Whether it was Ethan or Alexander, they were both far superior to Daniel.
In terms of appearance… Ethan stood out the most, while Daniel and Alexander were on par with each other.
But in terms of family background… Daniel fell far behind.
The Novak family only had slightly more money than the Everett family, perhaps.
The Logan family was a top-tier conglomerate.
Alexander’s family was also wealthy.
Compared to their family backgrounds, both of them left Daniel far behind.
After having them in her life, Daniel… no longer caught Iris’ eye.
Clara… also used to like Daniel.
If Ethan saw Daniel taking Clara home… she didn’t know what Ethan would think.
She was looking forward to it.
“Ah?” Clara looked at Iris and said to Daniel, “No need. I’ll just take a car back by myself. It’s very convenient.”
Daniel smiled and said, “Let me and Iris take you home first, then we’ll go back.”
“Daniel, really no need. I can just take a car directly home,” Clara said.
“Clara.”
Someone called Clara’s name.
Clara turned around and saw Ethan.
Ethan walked out of the restaurant with a group of people. There were both men and women in the group.
What a coincidence?
They ate at the same restaurant again?
Could it be… they were on the same wavelength?
Iris looked at Ethan. She tightly held onto her bag.
Ethan… she loved him so much, but he could take her or leave her. Now, his eyes only saw Clara and completely ignored her existence.
Daniel looked at Ethan.
This man… became Clara’s husband.
His mother told him about why Clara married Ethan like gossip. He thought… Ethan marrying Clara might have been just a compromise. Given the opportunity, they would separate from each other.
But now, seeing Ethan walking towards Clara with steady steps and determined eyes, he thought… maybe… their union wasn’t just a compromise after all.
Perhaps… they wouldn’t separate as he speculated they would when they found a suitable opportunity.
Daniel suddenly felt a pain in his heart.
Ethan naturally noticed Daniel and Iris too, but his gaze was focused solely on Clara.
Ethan came to Clara’s side.
Clara asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Having dinner with some business partners,” Ethan said.
Clara replied, “… Oh.”
Just that?
Nothing more?
“No need to introduce me?” Ethan asked.
“I had dinner with my sister and Daniel,” Clara said.
Daniel?
Ethan looked at Daniel.
Clara then remembered to introduce Daniel to Ethan properly.
“This is Daniel Novak, our neighbor who lives in the same neighborhood as us.”
“Daniel, this is… Ethan,” Clara said.
Originally, she wanted to say “my husband,” but she was too shy to say it out loud. Besides in bed… at other times, she hadn’t called Ethan her husband yet. It felt like… she couldn’t say it out loud.
Ethan was speechless.
Was he only worthy of being called by his name?
“Hello, I’m Daniel.” Daniel took the initiative to shake hands with Ethan.
“Ethan.” After shaking hands with Daniel, Ethan added, “I’m Clara’s husband.”
She blushed.
She glanced at Ethan.
Why did he have to add that last sentence?
It made her feel a little shy for no reason.
As the two men let go of each other’s hands, Ethan asked Clara, “Where are you guys going next?”
“We’re planning to go home,” Clara said.
Ethan nodded and said to Clara, “Wait for me. We’ll go home together.”