CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: JUST NEIGHBORS

Passing by a dessert shop, Silas Sheffield asked the driver to pull over, and personally got off to buy a small strawberry cake.

Back at The Ripplewood Estate, it wasn’t even nine yet.

Clara had just finished her shower and was sitting cross-legged on the sofa playing a game.

She was so engrossed in the game that she didn’t notice Silas had returned.

The man walked over to Clara and gently shook the small cake in his hand.

"Clara, I brought you a strawberry cake."

Without lifting her eyes, Clara swiftly tapped the screen to play her game, "Oh, put it in the fridge, I don’t feel like eating it now."

"Okay."

Silas stored the cake and then went to take a shower.

When he came out after showering, Clara was still on the sofa playing her game.

Silas went over and sat down beside her.

Ever since Silas invited her to duo queue last time, Clara had returned to gaming.

The next day she downloaded the game on her phone too and played it occasionally for fun.

"Wanna play together?" Silas opened the game, waiting for Clara to finish her current match.

Clara didn’t answer, ignored Silas’ game invite after her match, and directly started a new game.

Silas paused, then realized, "Clara, are you upset?"

"No."

"You are upset," Silas affirmed, "Tell me, what’s wrong?"

Clara stubbornly said, "Really, I’m not."

The game displayed that teammates had been found, and Silas hit "decline."

He took the phone from Clara’s hand, placed one hand on her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

"If something’s bothering you, just say it. Don’t sulk," Silas said, seriously looking into Clara’s eyes.

Clara met the man’s gaze and saw her reflection in his deep, dark pupils.

Being so close, their breaths intertwined.

The man’s overwhelming presence made Clara quickly give in.

She averted her gaze, her long lashes casting a small shadow on her eyelids.

"You went to see Thea Tate just now, didn’t you?"

Clara’s voice was soft, almost imperceptibly tinged with sadness.

Silas paused.

So that’s why she was upset.

Then, a slight smile played on the man’s thin lips.

She was jealous.

"How did you know?" Silas asked with a teasing smile, intent on amusing Clara.

"I just knew." Clara’s heart felt a sour, bitter sting, as if soaked in lemon juice.

Her words were equally as bitter, "Your ’white moonlight’ is back from overseas; surely you had to see her. Was I in the way this afternoon?"

Hearing this, the amusement in Silas’ eyes deepened, "Jealous, are you?"

The girl puffed her cheeks and turned her face away, "No, I’m not."

Silas looked down, smiling gently, not teasing her anymore, "After dinner, I got a call from my grandma. She said she wasn’t feeling well and asked me to visit her."

Surprised, Clara lifted her gaze, "It was your grandma who called?"

Silas raised an eyebrow, "Who else did you think it was?"

"I thought it was Thea Tate."

Silas: "If it had been her call, I wouldn’t have gone."

The girl huffed, "Then why did you say you went to see Thea Tate earlier?"

"I didn’t expect that she just returned today and went to the old house to see my grandma."

Clara’s eyes dimmed, "She knows your grandma too?"

Silas said flatly, "Yes, her family used to be our neighbors."

"Oh, I almost forgot, you two are childhood sweethearts." The girl pursed her lips, feeling uneasy.

"What childhood sweethearts, you’re imagining things." Silas chuckled softly, flicking the girl’s forehead. "We were just neighbors, that’s all."

Clara recalled that summer at Sophie’s birthday party, seeing Silas standing with Thea.

Handsome and beautiful, they seemed perfectly matched, like a prince and princess from a fairy tale.

Feeling stifled, she didn’t want to mention Thea again, so she changed the subject.

"Why did you return so quickly? Don’t you need to spend more time with your grandma?"

"No need," Silas said warmly, "She’s in good health."

Clara nodded, "Oh."

"Clara, when you’re free, I’ll take you to formally meet the Sheffield Family at the old house."

Silas began introducing his family to Clara.

"My grandpa passed away a few years ago. At home, there’s my grandma. My dad is the eldest son. I have two uncles and an aunt. The second uncle has two sons, the third uncle has a son and a daughter, and my aunt is unmarried. She’s overseas managing business with my dad and Auntie Quincy."

"My mom passed away when I was very young. On her side of the family, there’s a grandma and uncle. They live in Valeria. I’ll take you there when you have time."

Clara nodded, "Sure, maybe I can go after I graduate and resign."

"Yes."

Clara said, "My family is just me and my mom. My dad died when I was very young too. I don’t have any grandparents either."

Silas’s expression softened, "Now you have me."

Clara paused, then smiled, "Right."

...

The following morning.

Silas went to the group headquarters for a meeting.

The class reunion was in the evening.

Clara had arranged to go shopping with Sophie Sheffield that morning.

At ten in the morning, the mall had just opened.

Sophie, linking arms with Clara, entered a women’s clothing store.

A sales assistant approached, "Welcome!"

Sophie: "We’re just looking around."

"Okay."

The sales assistant stepped back to attend to other tasks.

The two strolled through the clothing store.

With a smile, Sophie asked, "How are you and my brother doing lately?"

"Pretty good."

Sophie teased, "Really? When do you plan on giving me a little nephew or niece?"

Clara’s cheeks flushed.

"Stop teasing me. I’m not planning to have kids just yet."

Sophie laughed, "Haha, I was only joking."

Clara: "I’m thinking of applying for graduate school this year."

Sophie: "That’s great! Which school are you aiming for?"

"Veridian University, I think," Clara said, "Its communications program is top-notch in the country. I wanted to apply there during college applications, but it was too far from home, and I didn’t want to be too far from my mom, so I chose Crestwood U instead."

Clara: "But Crestwood U is also quite good. Though its communications program isn’t as renowned as Veridian’s, it’s a flagship program here."

As Sophie picked out clothes, she responded to Clara, "That’s great. I support you. How’s your mom doing now?"

"The surgery was a success, so we can breathe easy for now. Once I go back to Crestwood, I’ll handle her discharge from the hospital."

"That’s really wonderful."

"And how about you and Preston?" Clara asked.

"We..." A blush spread across Sophie’s face.

Clara immediately sensed something was up.

She smiled and asked, "Are you two together now?"

Sophie shook her head, "Not yet."

"Then why are you blushing?"

Sophie leaned over and whispered something in Clara’s ear.

"What? You guys actually..."

"Shh—" Sophie raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.