CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: SILAS IS REALLY GOOD TO ME, AND I TRULY LOVE HIM

"Ma’am, you’re back." Suddenly, Ms. Cheney came out to greet Clara.

Yvonne’s expression changed as she turned to Clara with confusion, "Ma’am?"

Initially, Clara hadn’t wanted to tell her mother about her marriage so soon.

But now that Ms. Cheney had let it slip, she couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.

After all, she had to tell her mother sooner or later. Clara sighed, "Mom, actually, there’s something I need to tell you. Let’s talk inside."

Clara led her mother into the villa.

Ms. Cheney brought up two cups of hot tea.

Yvonne sat on the sofa, looking somewhat uneasy, "Clara, what is going on? Just now, she called you ’ma’am’?"

Clara hesitated before speaking, "Mom, actually... actually, Silas and I have gotten our marriage license."

"What?" Yvonne’s reaction was just as Clara had anticipated, filled with shock.

"Mom, please, don’t get upset. Let me explain." Clara was worried that her mother’s emotions might become too intense, and she gently patted her back to calm her.

Clara softened her voice, "I didn’t mean to keep this from you, but I didn’t tell you earlier because your condition was unstable. I was afraid you’d get upset and your health would worsen."

Yvonne composed herself and after a while asked, "When did you get the license?"

"Well...," Clara felt a bit guilty, and her voice dropped, "earlier this year, just before my final exams."

Yvonne thought for a moment, her face tense, "Wasn’t that around the time you found out about my illness?"

"Clara, did you marry Silas because of me? Tell me honestly, did you marry him to gather money for my medical expenses?"

"Mom, actually I..."

Clara looked into Yvonne’s eyes with sincerity.

"Actually, Silas and I genuinely care for each other. I admit that at first, I married him to gather medical expenses, but I don’t regret it at all. We are doing well together now, and Silas treats me very well. I truly like him."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Silas Sheffield suddenly walked over.

Clara was startled for a moment.

Then a smile spread across her face, "Silas, when did you get back?"

Silas had a faint smile at the corner of his lips, and it was evident he had heard Clara’s words just now, "Just now."

He had heard everything Clara had said as he walked in; her words were as good as a confession.

Silas smiled warmly, "I truly like you too."

He felt more than just affection.

Looking at Yvonne, Silas naturally addressed her, "Mom."

Yvonne was stunned.

Silas continued, "Mom, I originally wanted to go to the hospital with Clara to pick you up when you were discharged, but there were matters at the Crestwood headquarters that needed handling, so I returned a day late."

Yvonne hadn’t fully processed Silas calling her "Mom," her expression dazed, "Oh, it’s alright, it’s alright."

Clara smiled and asked, "Didn’t you say you’d be busy until Friday before returning to Veridian?"

Silas chuckled, "I missed you, so I worked overtime for two days."

Hearing this, Clara’s cheeks flushed with a hint of red, "Mom is still here, you know."

Yvonne’s gaze moved back and forth between Clara and Silas, seriously observing their facial expressions and demeanor.

A mother knows her daughter best. From Clara’s demeanor and expression, Yvonne could tell that her daughter really liked Silas.

Likewise, Silas looked at Clara with affectionate eyes, genuinely fond of her.

Yvonne felt a bit relieved, though not entirely.

Given her current health, she didn’t know how much longer she’d have.

If her condition were to suddenly worsen and she were to pass, it would be so pitiful for Clara to be left all alone in the world.

If she had someone who loved and cared for Clara, even in the afterlife, Yvonne would be at peace.

Silas’s family background is good, he’s attractive, well-educated, and incredibly capable. He gives off a great impression overall, truly without any fault.

Honestly speaking, she’d be more than satisfied to have Silas as her son-in-law.

The only thing that pained her was that Clara had to marry hastily, before even graduating college, to cover the medical expenses, which made Yvonne feel very uneasy.

Looking at Yvonne, Silas spoke gently, "Mom, just stay here for now. We have a housemaid for meals, and I’ve hired a caregiver who will be here shortly. Additionally, a doctor will visit daily to check on your health."

Yvonne’s expression was complex.

After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Silas, there’s something I want to discuss with you alone."

Silas glanced at Clara and nodded, "Mom, let’s go to the tea room."

Yvonne told her daughter, "Clara, I want to have a chat with Silas."

Clara nodded, "Okay."

In the tea room.

Silas poured Yvonne a cup of fine Longjing tea.

Yvonne didn’t beat around the bush and spoke directly, "Silas, was it your idea to get the license, or Clara’s?"

"It was mine," Silas answered truthfully, "At that time, Clara was working three jobs on her own, and it broke my heart to see her like that. So I brought up marriage. Auntie, I’ve actually liked Clara for a long time."

Yvonne’s eyes widened in shock.

"For a long time?"

"Yes, I liked her from the first time I saw her. She was still in high school then, and I didn’t want to affect her studies, so I never confessed my feelings."

Yvonne could hardly believe her ears.

Silas had liked Clara for that long.

Silas continued in a calm tone, "When she was in college, I was studying abroad. Long-distance relationships can be tough, so I planned to express my feelings after returning from studying abroad. But I didn’t expect Isaac Sutton would get ahead of me."

"Isaac Sutton was the boyfriend Clara dated in college. He came from a wealthy family, a second-generation rich, but he always pretended to be poor in front of Clara. She endured a lot for him, thinking he genuinely liked her, but she didn’t know she was deceived."

Hearing this, Yvonne’s brows furrowed deeply, and anger welled up in her eyes as she clenched her fists tightly.

Her daughter had encountered a jerk in school and was deceived miserably.

Foolish child, how could she be so love-struck?

Suddenly, Yvonne recalled her younger self and unclenched her fists.

Clara’s tendency to be love-struck probably comes from her...

Silas continued explaining the backstory, "Clara accidentally found out the truth and was heartbroken. Around that time, you fell ill. She worked multiple part-time jobs, even holding three different jobs, and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer like that, so I proposed marriage."

After saying this, Silas’s gaze darkened, "You might say I took advantage of the situation, and I admit it, but I had no intentions of hurting Clara. I genuinely love her."

Yvonne frowned, "Earlier, when I was hospitalized in Crestwood, a woman came to the ward causing a scene. Was that woman connected to Clara’s ex-boyfriend?"

Silas nodded, "That was Clara’s ex-boyfriend’s affair partner. I’ve already made her pay for it."

He promised solemnly, "Rest assured, Mom, I’ll protect Clara and not let anyone bully her again."

"Silas, I know you’re serious about Clara. I’ve seen enough in my time to recognize it," Yvonne said, "but I still want to pay for my medical expenses myself. I don’t want Clara to owe you such a big favor."

"Silas, how much have you spent on my medical expenses? Tell me the amount, and I’ll settle it today."

Yvonne took out her phone, "I have money here. I didn’t tell Clara before because I hadn’t planned on getting treatment. This money, I was saving it for Clara."

Yvonne opened her mobile banking app and showed it to Silas.

Seeing the long string of digits on the account, Silas was taken aback, surprise and confusion flashing in his eyes.

Seventy-five million!

Why does Yvonne have so much money?