“Ethan!” Grace shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you talking about? Is this how you speak to your mother?”
Ethan remained silent.
“You…” Grace wanted to say more but was interrupted by Julian, “It’s late… everyone go back to your rooms and rest. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”
With Julian’s authoritative command, everyone held their thoughts and returned to their rooms.
Ethan and Clara also went back to their room.
Clara thought about the look Grace gave her earlier… it was filled with extreme hatred.
She could understand.
Whether it was her or her sister, Grace never approved of them. She thought they were not good enough for Ethan, who deserved better. Grace already disliked her, and now, because of Nora, Ethan sided with Clara and confronted Grace…
No wonder Grace hated her.
The already strained relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was now even worse.
Clara suddenly asked Ethan, “Grandpa said we would discuss things tomorrow. What else is there to discuss tomorrow?”
Ethan looked at her and said calmly, “Maybe something.”
Clara asked, “What kind of thing?”
Ethan replied, “For example… the Poole family coming to apologize.”
What?
The Poole family coming to apologize?
She looked at Ethan, was he sure?
Wasn’t it supposed to be the Poole family bringing the pitiful Nora to seek justice for her?
The next day, Clara got up, washed up, and Ethan returned from his morning exercise.
Clara waited for Ethan to shower and change clothes, then they went downstairs together for breakfast.
As soon as they got downstairs, Clara saw two unfamiliar middle-aged people sitting on the large sofa in the living room, chatting harmoniously with Grace and Samuel.
“This must be Clara…” Audrina said with a smile as she looked at Clara.
Clara nodded, “Hello… and you are?”
“Clara, I am Nora’s mother,” Audrina said with a smile.
Clara was momentarily stunned and instinctively glanced at Ethan.
Last night Ethan mentioned that the Poole family might come to apologize.
But she thought the Poole family would come to seek justice for Nora…
Now seeing Audrina smiling at her… it seemed like Ethan was right; they were here to apologize.
“Auntie, hello,” Clara said.
Audrina nodded with a smile and said, “Clara, we only heard about what happened last night later on… don’t take Nora’s words to heart.”
Clara nodded and said, “Auntie… I didn’t take it to heart.”
This reaction… was a bit confusing.
“Clara…” Audrina wanted to say more, but Ethan interrupted her and told Clara, “Go have breakfast.”
Clara glanced at Audrina and smiled, “Auntie, I’m going to have breakfast. If you haven’t eaten yet, would you like to join us?”
Audrina shook her head with a smile, “No need…” then sighed, “I don’t have much appetite right now… Nora is still in the hospital.”
Nora is in the hospital?
Could it be because she fell into the water last night?
But it’s summer now; even if she fell into the water, it wouldn’t be cold. Besides, she was rescued within a minute. How could she be sick?
“Oh,” Clara responded and said, “Then I’ll go have breakfast.”
Clara and Ethan left.
Just like that?
They didn’t even ask why Nora was in the hospital?
Didn’t she feel any guilt?
If it weren’t for her, Nora wouldn’t have fallen into the water and ended up in the hospital.
Audrina watched Clara.
She felt… she couldn’t understand this young girl. Mainly because this girl’s behavior… she had never encountered someone like her before.
After so many years in the business world, she had met all kinds of people but never someone like this young girl.
In the dining room, Ethan and Clara were having breakfast.
After breakfast, Audrina and her husband were already gone.
Grace was still sitting on the sofa. She looked at Clara and said, “Clara, stop right there.”
Clara stopped and looked at Grace, “Mom, is there something you need?”
“Nora is in the hospital. You didn’t even ask why she’s in the hospital or offer to visit her. Do you have any manners?” Grace scolded Clara with a frown.
See?
The terrible mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship had begun.
“Mom… I wanted to visit her, but I’m worried that if I visit Nora, her condition might worsen,” Clara said.
Clara continued, “Patients need rest and peace of mind. I think if Nora sees me, she won’t feel happy at all.”
Grace was actually rendered speechless by this young girl.
She frowned and glared at Clara but didn’t know how to scold her further.
“Mom, I’m going to school,” Clara grabbed her bag and ran off.
Grace looked at Ethan and said, “Look at this wife you chose.”
“Yes,” Ethan nodded coldly, “I chose her, and I’m very satisfied.”
“You…” Grace looked at Ethan, wanting to scold him but didn’t dare to.
She didn’t want to anger Ethan.
“Ethan…” Grace softened her tone and said, “Mom is doing this for your own good. Look at Clara… in what way is she worthy of you? In the future, you will inherit the entire Logan family. She will also have to manage the Logan family’s social circle. With her behavior… how can she earn respect?”
Ethan looked at Grace calmly and said, “Clara can’t earn respect? Does that mean someone who deliberately falls into water to frame others like Nora can earn respect?”
Grace frowned, “Ethan, why don’t you believe in Nora? Don’t you know what kind of person Nora is? You’ve known each other for so many years. How could she be that kind of person?”
Ethan replied calmly, “Precisely because I’ve known her for so many years that I understand she is exactly that kind of person.”
“Mom…” Ethan suddenly looked at Grace and said, “If you had chosen another woman back then, maybe… I would have fulfilled your wishes by now.”
After saying that, Ethan left.
Grace stared blankly at Ethan’s back.
What did Ethan mean by that?
What did he mean by choosing another woman?
Did he mean… Nora wasn’t good enough?
Nora had everything-family background, talent, looks-she lacked nothing.
Among all the girls in their circle, she believed Nora was the most suitable match for Ethan.
Why did Ethan not like her?
—
In the morning, Clara attended classes at school. After class and lunch, she returned to Sycamore Apartments for a nap.
As soon as she entered the community, she saw Belle, Ella, and Jason. They were really persistent.
“Clara…” Ella greeted warmly when she saw Clara.
Now she couldn’t pretend not to see them.
She walked over and greeted Belle and the others.
“Clara, do you have classes this afternoon?” Ella asked with a smile. “If not, let’s hang out together?”
Clara shook her head with a smile, “I have classes this afternoon.”
Ella sighed in disappointment.
“I heard… you pushed Nora into the pond last night?” Belle suddenly asked.
Clara looked at her, “Weren’t you there last night?”
Belle said, “I had something to do last night and didn’t go.”
Clara: “… Oh.”
“Did you really push her into the water?” Belle asked.
Clara shook her head, “I said she fell into the water herself… do you believe me?”
Belle nodded, “Yes.”
She looked at Belle in surprise; she actually believed her?
Why did she believe what she said?
“Because… that’s exactly the kind of person she is,” Belle said disdainfully.
She felt that Belle’s disdain was directed at Nora.
“From what you’re saying… did you suffer losses at her hands?” Clara asked curiously.
Then she immediately understood.
Both Belle and Nora admired Ethan.
One stayed close to Ethan under the guise of being a good friend.
The other flaunted herself as Ethan’s first love.
When they met… conflicts were inevitable.
Maybe they had already fought many rounds before Clara married Ethan.