At this moment, Iris played the good person, comforting Clara, making Clara rely on and trust her.
However, these were all trivial matters, so over the years, he never exposed Iris. Clara cared deeply about Iris as her sister, and he didn’t want to reveal Iris’s true nature and hurt Clara.
In Clara’s heart, within the entire Everett family, only Iris genuinely cared for her and liked her. If she knew that Iris also played mind games with her and schemed against her, she would be deeply hurt and saddened.
He didn’t want to see Clara sad.
Iris told him these things today not by accident or casual conversation.
She deliberately told him these things.
She told him that Clara liked him.
She told him that Ethan had an outstanding first love.
She told him that Clara was not doing well in the Logan family.
Daniel sneered.
Let Iris have her way then.
Whatever Iris wanted him to do, he would do it.
After all, he and Iris had the same goal: they both wanted Clara and Ethan to divorce!
—
That evening, Clara was going to attend a banquet with Ethan.
Clara wasn’t nervous.
Because she had already attended a banquet invited by Nora last time.
In the afternoon, Ethan’s styling team came to do Clara’s makeup and styling.
Ethan’s team had a good sense of aesthetics.
They made Clara look very beautiful, but not in an ostentatious way. It was a kind of beauty that stood out in a crowd without being too flashy, a beauty that was public yet had its own unique charm.
This was exactly what Clara wanted.
She knew that the ladies in their social circle were not convinced that she could marry Ethan. She didn’t want to attract attention with her attire; if she dressed too flamboyantly, they would say she was showing off. If she dressed too plainly, they would say she was unsophisticated and unfit for the occasion.
This moderate approach was just right.
It didn’t attract undue attention, but upon closer inspection, everything she wore was the latest season’s fashion, well-coordinated, and suitable for any occasion without losing face.
Clara wore a pink dress today.
Pink was tender.
She was at an age like a blooming flower, and wearing this dress made her look even more delicate and charming.
The styling team left.
Ethan looked at Clara.
She blushed under his gaze. Why was Ethan looking at her?
Did he think she looked good like this?
“Let’s go,” Ethan said.
“Okay,” Clara nodded and followed him.
—
When they arrived at the banquet venue, Clara finally understood why Ethan had mentioned it to her several days ago.
Because this banquet was grand.
The staff had decorated the venue beautifully. The venue was divided into indoor and outdoor areas, both large. They arrived relatively early, but many people were already there. More people arrived continuously after them.
The venue, both inside and outside, was bustling with people coming and going.
This was truly a top-tier banquet. Clara thought that everyone who should be here probably came.
Compared to this banquet, the last one she attended seemed like child’s play.
Soon after entering the venue, Clara and Ethan separated. Ethan was pulled away by a group of elders to discuss business matters. Those matters were beyond her understanding, and besides, it was a group of men. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to join them as a young woman.
In high society banquets, men had their social interactions and women had theirs.
Clara saw a few familiar faces.
Nora, Belle, Jason, Benjamin…
It seemed everyone who should be here was here.
June knew Clara might still be unfamiliar with this circle, so she thoughtfully kept Clara by her side, introducing her to her friends.
Clara felt very grateful to June.
She knew few people in this circle. If June hadn’t stayed with her, she would have been standing alone awkwardly.
“Clara is so beautiful,” June’s friends praised her.
“Isn’t this the latest Ditin dress? It’s so hard to get… I’ve been waiting for ages but couldn’t buy it.”
June’s friends were about the same age as Clara. They had common topics to talk about. Plus, June’s friends subtly flattered Clara, so their conversation was very pleasant. The atmosphere was great.
Although Clara was still quite new to this circle… she knew what she needed to know. Everyone knew she was Ethan’s wife.
Seeing Ethan willing to bring her to such formal occasions made them understand Ethan’s attitude towards Clara. So many people actively approached her to make acquaintances.
After an hour or two, Clara felt her face stiff from smiling so much.
Clara found a moment alone and went outside… The night breeze carried the scent of champagne into her nostrils… It was slightly intoxicating but very comfortable.
Clara found a secluded spot to sit down and rubbed her legs. Indeed… being a socialite wasn’t easy. Wearing high heels and standing for hours while maintaining a smile and posture was quite exhausting.
But she was Ethan’s wife. This was part of her duties. She would persevere and learn well.
Clara sat in a pavilion playing with her phone.
Next to the pavilion was a lush tree that perfectly concealed her from certain angles.
Clara played for about ten minutes and felt rested enough to return to the banquet hall.
As she stepped out of the pavilion, she saw Belle.
Belle and Jason were standing at the edge of the crowd, chatting.
To return to the banquet hall, she had to pass by them.
It felt like an inevitable encounter.
Clara braced herself and walked over.
As she approached, Jason and Belle naturally saw her.
“Clara…” Jason greeted with a smile.
Clara smiled back and nodded, “Hello.”
Belle also nodded at Clara.
Clara smiled and nodded in return. Just as she was about to leave, Belle spoke up.
“I heard… Nora confessed to Ethan?” Belle said.
“Huh?” Clara was taken aback and looked at Belle in surprise.
Belle thought Clara really seemed foolish. Not only did she look naive, but she actually was naive. Look at her bewildered expression…
Belle thought if there was anything she couldn’t compare with Clara, it was that she wasn’t as naive as Clara. Could it be… Ethan liked Clara’s naivety?
It was said that men didn’t like women who were too smart because smart women could see through all their actions. Smart women put a lot of pressure on men. So most men preferred women who weren’t too smart, who were slightly naive.
Could Ethan be one of those men?
“You don’t know?” Belle asked. “Ethan didn’t tell you?”
Clara: “No.”
A normal woman would be very nervous or angry upon hearing that another woman confessed to her husband. Some might pretend to be calm while feeling angry inside. But look at Clara…
She was just curious and puzzled.
What was she curious about?
Curious about how Nora confessed to Ethan?
“But… I heard you were there,” Belle said.
Clara: “I was there?”
She looked at Belle in surprise.
Frowning…
No way?
Was Nora so bold as to confess to Ethan in front of her?
Even if Nora didn’t fear her or didn’t take her seriously…
Wouldn’t Nora care about her own reputation?
Confessing to a man in front of his wife… That was clearly the behavior of a homewrecker.
Nora… Was she so desperate for Ethan?
It seemed Nora really loved Ethan deeply.
Belle had lost hope in Clara’s intelligence…
This naive reaction…
It made one feel that trying to provoke or stir up trouble between their marriage would be futile effort…
“Could it be that night?” Clara asked.
She remembered now…
If there was an occasion where she, Ethan, and Nora were all present, it must have been that night… The night they drank together and later played truth or dare.