CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 141: SILAS SHEFFIELD ASSERTS HIS CLAIM

After greeting the guests who came to chat, Clara Sterling went to the restroom.

Finally, she could take a breather.

She was actually quite nervous just now.

It was the first time their relationship was made public, and she was worried that she wouldn’t perform well and embarrass Silas Sheffield.

Thankfully, she didn’t lose her composure today.

Clara touched up her makeup in front of the mirror.

The stall door opened, and a familiar face walked out.

Jolyn Lowell’s expression changed immediately upon seeing Clara, and she spoke timidly, trying to please her, "Mrs. CEO... I was forced to act that way towards you before, please don’t blame me."

Clara didn’t even give her a glance, calmly applying her lipstick in the mirror, "Oh? Who forced you?"

"Diana Dawson, she’s very domineering, the leader in our small group. If I don’t go along with her, I’d be isolated and bullied at work."

Clara showed no expression.

She didn’t know if Diana was telling the truth or just making excuses.

Nor did she care.

Clara replied with a perfunctory smile, "I see."

Jolyn was on the verge of tears.

"Mrs. CEO, please don’t blame me, I was really compelled by circumstances. I can’t afford to lose this job, please don’t fire me."

As she spoke, Jolyn’s voice began to quiver with emotion, her eyes starting to redden.

Clara smiled, "It’s okay, I won’t fire you."

Clara left the restroom, walking through the long corridor.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the emergency exit on the side of the corridor.

Clara instinctively gasped in surprise.

The familiar, clear, woody fragrance filled her senses, and Clara lifted her eyes to meet Silas Sheffield’s deep gaze, her heart finally settling.

"What’s wrong?" Clara asked.

"I missed you."

Silas’s voice was husky as he pressed her against the wall, nuzzling her cheek.

Clara chuckled, "Weren’t we together all night?"

The man’s warm lips gently grazed Clara’s earlobe. "I want to kiss you."

Although they were together all night, they were constantly being approached at the event, leaving them no time alone.

Tonight, Clara was breathtakingly beautiful.

He was irresistibly drawn to her, eager to kiss her, to claim her.

"Help me take off my glasses," Silas said, holding Clara, his voice laden with desire, deep and magnetic.

Clara reached out, her slender, fair fingers gently taking off the man’s gold-rimmed glasses.

Their eyes met, and Silas’s lips touched Clara’s, gently caressing and sucking.

Julian Hawthorne stood in the corridor, his brows slightly furrowed.

He had just seen Clara heading this way, so how could she vanish in the blink of an eye?

At the emergency exit door, Clara stood with her back to the exit, fervently kissing Silas.

Julian walked to the door, suddenly peering inside, unexpectedly meeting Silas’s gaze.

Julian’s steps halted abruptly.

Silas, dressed in a sharp black suit, looked all the more imposing against Clara, who appeared delicate and cozy in his embrace. One hand clasped around Clara’s slender waist, the other wrapped around her shoulder.

The man’s large hands, with clearly defined joints, rested on Clara’s bare shoulder, his veins slightly bulging, full of sensual allure.

Clara still held the man’s gold-rimmed glasses, trapped in his embrace, tilting her face up to kiss him.

With her back to the doorway, she didn’t see Julian’s pale face.

Meanwhile, Silas, kissing Clara, kept his gaze on Julian, a subtle smile on one side of his lips, pressing deeper into the kiss with desire.

Silas’s deep and dark eyes carried a hint of amusement, unwaveringly fixated on Julian, silently proclaiming his dominance.

The sight pierced Julian’s heart like a physical blow, as if a massive invisible hand gripped his heart tightly, leaving him nearly breathless with pain.

Without making a sound, he turned and silently walked away.

...

The next day, Julian Hawthorne voluntarily resigned.

Silas Sheffield didn’t even offer a word to retain him.

After all, this was the outcome he desired.

He had once stated, he would make Julian leave willingly.

Originally, Silas hadn’t planned to publicize his relationship with Clara so soon.

But Julian’s appearance heightened his sense of crisis.

And he understood Talia Tate’s intentions all too well, knowing she returned for him.

To shield Clara from admirers and ensure her sense of security, Silas, after careful consideration, decided to make it public on the anniversary celebration day.

The day after the anniversary, the branch office was bustling.

Everyone was talking about Clara being Mrs. CEO and Julian Hawthorne’s resignation.

Talia sat in her office, biting her teeth angrily.

She made a call to the family matriarch.

"Grandmother, have you had lunch yet?" Talia feigned politeness.

Susan Saxon replied cheerfully, "Just ate, what about you, Thea?"

"I just ate too. Are you keeping well lately, Grandmother? I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to return to Crestwood. I’ll come visit at your birthday celebration next time."

"I’m doing well, child. But make sure to look after yourself too, no matter how busy work gets."

Talia continued along, "Yes, work has been hectic lately, especially busy last night with the anniversary."

She avoided mentioning Silas’s public announcement, yet subtly introduced the anniversary topic.

The Sheffield anniversary naturally caught the matriarch’s attention.

Last night, when Silas publicly announced, it made headlines everywhere, as he even spent money to boost its visibility online.

Now, the news of the Sheffield President’s proclamation is trending, and the matriarch likely knows already.

Sure enough, as soon as Talia mentioned the anniversary, Susan’s tone turned cold.

"Talking about that anniversary makes me furious. Silas was so reckless, announcing it publicly at such an occasion without a word to me beforehand. He’s deliberately excluding me!"

The more Susan spoke, the angrier she became. "It must be that girl Clara convincing him not to tell me. I knew she was scheming!"

Talia soothingly said, "Please, don’t be upset, Grandmother, don’t let it affect your health."

With that, Talia sighed, "Ah—"

"Since Silas and Clara got together, he’s completely changed. There was a gifted graduate here at the branch, who didn’t get along with Clara. Silas sided with Clara, dismissing the graduate without reason."

Susan flared up at this news.

"What? Silas is siding with that woman so indiscriminately?"

Talia sighed mournfully.

"Yes, that’s right. I hadn’t joined the branch office yet, but I heard it from the staff. Silas always used to distinguish between personal and private affairs, but concerning Clara, he’s like a different person, only considering her feelings over the company’s interests."

Susan huffed furiously, "He’s completely lost his sense!"

"And do you remember Julian Hawthorne from the office? He was the one who dated Clara on Valentine’s Day."

"I remember. I was so angry about that last time. What happened now?"

"Silas got jealous over Clara with Julian, pushing Julian until he resigned. During my time at Sheffield, I came to understand Julian’s strong work capability. He’s a rare talent and a core employee of the branch. I never thought Silas would drive away such important talent for Clara."

Upon hearing this, Susan’s dislike for Clara intensified to the utmost.

"This is outrageous! I’m going to call and find out what’s really going on. If it’s truly like this, I’ll never accept her as my granddaughter-in-law!"