CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158 EQUAL TREATMENT

William Foster furrowed his brow and said firmly, "It’s not just fear; it’s a refusal to let others see."

He knew in his heart that he absolutely didn’t want anyone to see Clara Bennett in her current state.

Her damp black hair clung to her neck, her eyes clear as spring water shimmering with gentle light, and the tantalizing figure wrapped beneath the robe...

If anyone dared to gaze upon such temptation for even a second longer, William Foster would make sure they paid for it.

Seeing him so tense, Clara couldn’t help but laugh, "Don’t worry, I have no intention of opening the door. Don’t hang up, I’ll deal with it."

Her words instantly soothed the slightly uneasy William Foster, allowing him to relax a little.

He obediently replied, "Alright, I’ll listen to my little wife."

Clara gracefully picked up her phone and walked to the door, softly asking, "Who is it?"

A familiar voice came from outside, "Clara, it’s me, George Taylor."

Hearing this, Clara was momentarily speechless, while on the other end of the call, William Foster was taken aback, his expression suddenly becoming vigilant.

Clara frowned slightly, not understanding why George Taylor would be looking for her at this time.

But out of politeness, she still responded, "Taylor, what’s up? Didn’t we agree to start filming at four?"

There was still some time until four o’clock, at least an hour left.

George seemed prepared as he explained, "Yes, filming starts at four in the afternoon, but I just saw the dinner from the crew and it didn’t look appetizing. So I had an assistant buy some ingredients, knowing your taste preferences, I specially cooked a few dishes for you to try."

Clara was a bit surprised, not expecting George to be so attentive to her.

After all, they had just met recently, yet George was being so considerate, which left her a bit flattered.

On the video call, William Foster’s expression had already turned sour.

His brow was furrowed, his eyes revealing emotions of displeasure and jealousy.

Clearly, he was unhappy with George’s concern for Clara, and this change made the atmosphere between the two on screen become subtle, threatening to erupt into an argument at any moment.

Of course, Clara didn’t want to go out, so she politely declined, "No, no, I just showered and my hair isn’t dry yet, and I’m not feeling hungry. Thank you, Taylor."

Her words were simple, but her tone was firm and courteous, clearly expressing her unwillingness to go out while acknowledging and appreciating his kindness, trying to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

George was still very considerate, "I see, don’t worry then, I’ll have the assistant save you a portion and bring it to the set later. The food there tonight probably won’t be good, trust me on this."

His words were full of care, his voice gentle and firm, as if assuring Clara that he would look after her dietary needs, making her feel valued and cared for.

Seeing there was no way to refuse, Clara could only politely say, "Then I’ll trouble you."

Though inwardly she felt a bit helpless, she chose to accept his kindness to avoid making the situation awkward.

Hearing this, George’s voice sounded delighted, "No need for such formalities between us."

From his tone, one could sense he was very pleased with the arrangement and happy Clara ultimately accepted his goodwill.

He evidently felt he had done the right thing and was striving to create a harmonious relationship atmosphere.

After speaking, he hung up the call.

The screen was left with only William Foster’s figure, making the moment feel even more silent and heavy, as if an oppressive atmosphere hung in the air.

Noticing the person on the screen’s expression becoming serious, Clara was somewhat puzzled, blinking as she asked, "What’s going on?"

At this moment, her eyes were full of confusion and worry, not understanding why William Foster suddenly became so serious, as if something was troubling him.

William Foster questioned, "This is only the second time you two have met, right? Why is he acting so familiar, being so nice to you?"

His voice carried obvious displeasure and suspicion, as if probing what was happening between Clara and George, filled with questioning and discontent.

Clara raised an eyebrow, seemingly indifferent, "Oh, are you overthinking? Do you really believe I’m messing around outside, being ambiguous with George?"

She tried to alleviate the tension with playful banter, hoping to dispel William Foster’s doubts while also showing she didn’t care about the situation.

Hearing this, William Foster’s gaze became complex.

He seemed to be undergoing intense inner turmoil, a trace of struggle and hesitation flashing in his eyes, trying to interpret Clara’s true intentions, not knowing whether to trust her words or continue his suspicions.

Because Clara felt she couldn’t see her emotions change, she made no effort to conceal them.

At this moment, the emotions conveyed through the video were the most genuine, every subtle expression captured on camera, with no need for concealment.

Seeing the smile vanish from her face, William Foster understood perfectly.

He knew how much this strong independent girl resented being misunderstood and suspected by the world outside.

Her face no longer wore its usual ease and naturalness but was replaced by deep concern and unease.

At the same time, he realized continuing might cause a rift in their relationship.

William Foster understood continuing to entangle would only worsen the situation, potentially damaging the trust and understanding between them.

What she despised most was being suspected, and she didn’t want anyone trying to control or doubt her.

This was not only a warning to the outside world but also a reminder to William Foster: respect and trust are key to maintaining a stable relationship.

She hoped William Foster would give her enough trust, not harbor unnecessary doubts and suspicions about her.

This was the shadow left by her ex-boyfriend Samuel Grant, and if William Foster behaved similarly, an argument was inevitable.

The oppression and control made her very uncomfortable, and she had no desire to experience that again.

Every time she recalled that unpleasant experience, her heart filled with unease and resistance.

Though she usually was willing to spoil and love William Foster in every way, that didn’t mean she could be bullied without limits.

Her gentleness had its boundaries, and she hoped William Foster could respect and understand this point.

She was not a puppet to be manipulated, but an individual with independent thought.

No matter where or when, she hoped to be treated equally.

After being reborn, she considered self-interest and mood the most important.

Having experienced rebirth once, Clara understood better how to protect herself, how to lead a happy life.