“Wait for us there… don’t move… don’t run around…” Clara instructed Benjamin, hung up the phone, and got out of bed to change clothes.
Ethan watched Clara’s swift movements, frowning. Was she really that worried about Benjamin?
Ethan also got out of bed, changed his clothes, and drove out.
Benjamin mentioned Frenzy, a well-known bar in Riverton.
Ethan drove to the bar, got out of the car, and Clara looked around. She saw a man sitting on the flower bed by the road on the right side of the bar. The man had his head down.
Clara tugged Ethan’s hand and pointed at the man.
Ethan walked over, and Clara followed.
They approached the man.
The man had his head down, and Clara couldn’t recognize if it was Benjamin.
“Benjamin,” Ethan said coldly, “Get up.”
Benjamin heard someone calling him. He slowly lifted his head, looked at Ethan, and then smiled foolishly.
“Ethan… why are you here?”
He hiccupped from drinking.
Clara smelled the alcohol and frowned.
Looking at Benjamin now, he was a mess. His hair was disheveled, his face was red, and he was drunk. Smiling foolishly at Ethan, he looked nothing like his usual handsome self.
Indeed, no matter how much of a gentleman one usually is, when drunk, they all become fools.
Benjamin also saw Clara and suddenly stood up, staggering towards her.
Clara instinctively hid behind Ethan.
She was afraid Benjamin would fall on her.
“Clara… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Benjamin apologized repeatedly to Clara, trying to approach her, but Ethan blocked him.
Clara timidly peeked out from behind Ethan and asked, “What are you sorry for?”
She didn’t know when Benjamin had wronged her.
Could it be something he did secretly?
If so, Benjamin’s psychological resilience was too poor.
He did something wrong and then got drunk and confessed?
And even called to tell her about it.
He was not suited for doing bad things.
“I… I’m sorry for you… Nora… I’m sorry for you…” Benjamin said intermittently.
Drunk, he found it hard to control his speech.
Clara was stunned for a moment and then realized Benjamin was apologizing for Nora.
Apologizing for Nora wronging her.
But… what did Nora wronging her have to do with Benjamin?
Benjamin wasn’t anyone to Nora.
Benjamin might want to be someone to Nora, but the fact was, he wasn’t.
Many things aren’t up to him to decide.
“That’s Nora’s business, it has nothing to do with you,” Clara said.
She wasn’t unreasonable enough to blame Benjamin for Nora’s actions.
“I saw it all… I saw it all…” Benjamin said painfully.
“What did you see?” Clara asked.
“I saw… I saw everything… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Benjamin said.
He saw Nora and Clara talking, saw Nora grab Clara and then let go herself, falling into the pond. He saw everything.
Clara thought for a moment and understood.
Ethan also understood and didn’t want to hear any more of Benjamin’s nonsense. He grabbed Benjamin by the collar and dragged him away.
“Let go of me… let go…” Benjamin mumbled but didn’t struggle.
Clara followed them.
Ethan stuffed Benjamin into the back seat, then got in the car with Clara. He drove back to the Logan family home.
Back at the Logan family home, Ethan didn’t bother taking the drunk Benjamin inside. He called the butler to arrange for Benjamin and then took Clara back to their room.
Back in their room, Clara checked the time. It was already past one o’clock.
It was time to sleep.
But she couldn’t sleep.
She was thinking about Benjamin’s situation.
Benjamin saw Nora framing her, but he only confessed because he was drunk. Would he admit it when he sobered up tomorrow? Would he stand up for her?
Probably not.
If Benjamin really stood up for her, Nora would be disgraced and scorned by many. She would hate Benjamin for it. If that happened, there would be no chance for Nora and Benjamin anymore.
She thought Benjamin probably wouldn’t do it.
“Do you think… Benjamin will remember what he said tonight when he sobers up tomorrow?” Clara asked Ethan.
Ethan glanced at her and said indifferently, “What if he remembers? What if he doesn’t?”
He didn’t like discussing other men with his wife in bed.
“Do you think… he will testify for me?” Clara asked. She didn’t know herself and wanted to ask someone beside her for advice.
This was a normal reaction for people.
“What if he testifies for you? What if he doesn’t?” Ethan’s tone remained cold.
Clara looked at Ethan, feeling hurt. She felt that because this was her issue, Ethan seemed indifferent about it.
What if?
Of course, it mattered.
If she couldn’t clear her name, even though she knew she didn’t try to kill Nora, those who didn’t know the truth would think she was a malicious woman. They would shun and isolate her in social interactions. Why does everyone want a good reputation? Because reputation is important for people.
“If he testifies, it can help clear my name,” Clara said aggrievedly.
Ethan looked at Clara, pulled her into his arms, and said indifferently, “You are not guilty; you are not a criminal. No one has the right to clear your name.”
Clara leaned into Ethan’s arms, pouting. His words comforted her and moved her a little.
But she still cared about how others viewed her.
Maybe someone as strong as Ethan could ignore others’ opinions, but she wasn’t as strong as Ethan; she couldn’t do that.
Ethan gently kissed Clara’s head and said, “Don’t worry. Innocent people will always be innocent, and those dark secrets will eventually be exposed.”
Although she didn’t understand why Ethan said that, she believed him anyway.
Yes, those dark secrets would eventually be exposed to the world.
Leaning in Ethan’s arms, listening to his heartbeat and smelling his scent, Clara slowly fell asleep.
In the morning, Clara woke up.
As usual, Ethan wasn’t there.
Clara sat up, admiring Ethan’s stamina.
Really, she admired him from the bottom of her heart.
They slept together every night, but Ethan always woke up earlier than she did.
Clara got up and washed up. When she finished, Ethan returned, washed up, changed clothes, and went downstairs for breakfast.
She didn’t see Benjamin at the table.
Benjamin might still be asleep.
After breakfast, she found an opportunity to quietly ask the butler, “Has Benjamin woken up?”
The butler smiled and shook his head. “Mr. Stafford is still asleep.”
Clara nodded.
He drank so much last night; he should sleep for a long time.
Clara went to school.
She only had classes in the morning today; no classes in the afternoon.
After class, she checked the time. It was only eleven o’clock. If she went back to the Logan family home now, she could still make it for lunch.
She wanted to have lunch at the Logan family home.
Based on her observation, people at the Logan family home were usually busy. Except for breakfast, there were rarely people around during lunch or dinner. And school food couldn’t compare to the Logan family’s meals in terms of ingredients or cooking skills.
Although she wasn’t a foodie, who wouldn’t want to eat delicious food?
Clara took a car back to the Logan family home.
“Lady Clara, you’re back,” a servant greeted her with a smile.
Clara nodded.
The servant asked, “Have you had lunch?”
Clara shook her head. “No.”
The servant respectfully said, “Mr. Stafford is dining in the dining room. I’ll have the chef prepare some of your favorite dishes right away.”
Clara was surprised and asked, “Benjamin hasn’t left yet?”