How could he be so heartless?
Did he know how much determination it took for her to decide to return those things to him?
Countless nights, she looked at the things he had given her, silently weeping and missing him. Those items were not just things to her; they represented Ethan’s affection.
Now, those things were gone.
She couldn’t even look at them to remember him anymore.
Clara said, “Sis, don’t be sad.”
Clara awkwardly tried to comfort Iris.
She didn’t know how to console her.
Should she tell her sister to forget about Ethan? Her sister might think she was jealous.
But what was her sister doing now?
She had a new boyfriend but still missed Ethan. What if Alexander found out that she still thought about Ethan?
Alexander seemed like a great man. She hoped her sister would cherish him.
She wanted her sister to be happy.
“Clara, can you give those things back to me?” Iris asked, her eyes red.
Clara’s expression froze on her face as she awkwardly looked at Iris.
Iris sighed and said sadly, “Forget it. I shouldn’t keep the things Ethan gave me anymore.”
Taking a step back to move forward.
Clara said awkwardly, “Sis, it’s not that I don’t want to give them back… I sold them all.”
The items Ethan gave her sister were either classic or limited editions. She sold them at reasonable prices, so they were gone in a day or two.
There were plenty of wealthy people in Riverton.
Iris asked, “All sold?”
Clara nodded. “Yes.”
All sold, not a single piece left.
Iris thought about the things that once belonged to her, now owned by different women. It was hard for her to breathe.
Clara looked at Iris and said, “How about I give you half the money from the sales?”
Everyone gets a share.
It seemed fair to give her sister half.
Clara went home.
Iris didn’t take the money in the end.
Ethan also went home.
After dinner, they went back to their room.
Clara took a bath and half-lay on the bed playing with her phone.
Then she saw someone adding her as a friend.
She accepted.
Clara: Who is this?
Benjamin: Benjamin.
Why was it him?
Clara frowned.
How did Benjamin get her WhatsApp number?
Why did he add her?
Benjamin: I need to ask you something.
Clara: What is it?
Benjamin: How did an ordinary woman like you manage to get Ethan? Teach me a few tricks.
Clara was angry.
She wanted to scold Benjamin.
What did he mean by an ordinary woman like her?
Benjamin: What? Won’t teach me?
Clara took a deep breath, trying not to argue with Benjamin.
Getting angry would age her faster.
Benjamin wasn’t worth it.
Clara: Didn’t you say Ethan got tired of rich food and wanted something simple food?
Benjamin: I didn’t mean it.
Clara: What if you were right?
Benjamin: There are so many ordinary women. Why you?
Clara: Don’t you know how Ethan and I got married?
Benjamin: Of course, I know the truth behind your marriage. But why haven’t you been abandoned yet? I thought Ethan would discard you after using you as a cover.
Clara: So you’re disappointed that I haven’t been discarded?
Benjamin: Not disappointed. I’m actually happy. If you were abandoned, Nora would have a chance. Clara, you must hold onto Ethan tightly and not give other women any opportunities.
Benjamin: Come on, teach me some tricks.
Clara: To get Nora?
Benjamin: Yes.
Clara: It’s simple.
Benjamin: Simple?
Clara: Yes, very simple.
Benjamin: How simple?
Clara: If you like her, confess. If she doesn’t agree, force yourself on her. At worst, go to jail. If you can’t even go to jail for her, what right do you have to say you love her? Anyway, it’s only three years in jail. After three years, confess again. If she doesn’t agree, force yourself on her again…
Benjamin: Are you kidding me?
Clara: I’m giving you advice.
Benjamin: What kind of advice is that?
Clara: Isn’t it good advice? It gets you Nora quickly.
Benjamin: I suspect you’re trying to get me into jail.
Clara: Then don’t ask me for advice.
Benjamin: Don’t provoke me.
Clara: How am I provoking you? You added me first and asked for advice. I gave it, and now you’re saying I’m harming you.
Benjamin: Go ahead, provoke me. If I get mad enough, I won’t pursue Nora anymore. I’ll let Nora seduce your husband instead.
Clara: Ha…
Benjamin: What’s so funny?
Clara: Do you think I’m afraid? Let Nora seduce Ethan? Do you think… over the years, Nora hasn’t tried enough to seduce Ethan?
Indeed, she had tried many times.
After breaking up with Ethan, Nora regretted it and had been trying to win him back openly and secretly for years.
But she never succeeded.
Clara: All these years, Nora hasn’t succeeded. Do you think Ethan will give her a chance now?
Clara: If Ethan had any feelings for Nora, there wouldn’t be anything between the Everett family and us now.
Clara: Actually, I can give you some real advice.
Benjamin: What advice?
Clara: Think about it. You like Nora and have been pursuing her, but she ignores you. So stop liking her and pursuing her. Maybe then she’ll turn around and notice you. People often don’t cherish what they have until they lose it and regret it later.
Benjamin: Really?
Clara: Some people are like that. Whether Nora is one of them, I don’t know.
Ethan came out of the bathroom and saw Clara typing on her phone. She was chatting with someone and didn’t even look up at him. She even smiled secretly at the phone from time to time.
Who was she chatting with so happily?
“Give it here,” Ethan said as he approached the bed and stretched out his hand to Clara.
“Huh?” Clara looked up at him in confusion.
“Your phone,” Ethan said.
She obediently handed her phone to Ethan.
The screen still showed her chat with Benjamin.
Ethan scrolled through the chat history with an indescribable expression on his face as he looked at Clara.
They talked about this?
With her emotional intelligence, she was giving Benjamin advice?
One dared to say it, and the other dared to listen.
If Benjamin followed through, he would doubt Benjamin’s intelligence.
“Don’t give Benjamin random advice,” Ethan said as he handed the phone back to Clara.
Clara blushed.
“He came to me,” Clara said.
Ethan said indifferently, “Ignore him.”
She didn’t want to pay attention to Benjamin either.
But Benjamin always liked bothering her.
Did Benjamin really think they were on the same side?
Clearly, she had reached the shore while Benjamin was still struggling in the stormy sea on the boat.
Clara looked at Ethan and thought for a moment before saying, “Today, my sister came to see me.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow and looked at Clara.
Clara said, “She wanted me to return those things.”
“What things?” Ethan asked. He had genuinely forgotten.
“The gifts you gave her before. She asked me to return them a few days ago, but I sold them,” Clara said.
Ethan said, “Didn’t you sell them all?”
Clara nodded. “Yes, they’re all sold. So when she asked for them back today, I couldn’t return them… I thought of giving her half of the money from the sales.”
Ethan looked at Clara with an indescribable expression on his face.
What kind of move was that?
If he were Iris, he’d be furious.
“Did she take it?” Ethan asked.
Clara shook her head. “No.”
Because she didn’t take it, Clara felt uneasy.