Clarence was silent for a long while when he heard her words. He looked down at the ground, seeming
to be pondering something.
Stella said, “Didn’t you say you’re tired? Hurry up to sleep. Don’t think too much and then talk
nonsense.”
Clarence low voice sounded after a short while, “You said it.”
Stella was stunned for several seconds when she heard the words, doubting that she had said
something she was not supposed to say.
But she concluded later that what she had said was appropriate.
Was he angered by her criticism?
Clarence looked up at her and repeated, “You said it. So don’t try to find any excuse to leave me in the
future.”
Stella finally figured it out and retorted, “I think they’re two different things.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, as you like it. Go to bed now.”
Clarence stood up and took the tray from Stella, “I will wash it. Go to have a bath.”
“Nope…”
Before Stella could say something to refuse it, Clarence had walked out of the bedroom and walked to
the kitchen.
Looking at his back, Stella heaved a sigh emotionally and thought to herself: Well, it’s fine as long as
he’s happy with it.
As expected, two minutes later, there came some sounds of dishes breaking from the kitchen.
Oh, just take it as a way for him to vent his depression.
…
When Stella walked out of the bathroom, she found Clarence was holding a tablet computer and
focusing on his work on the bed. His brows were slightly knitted.
She asked, “Aren’t you tired?”
“When I heard that you can’t leave me, I thought I could hold on for longer.”
Stella was speechless.
She wanted to retort him.
He was so good at creating a dream.
Stella sat on the edge of the bed, turned on her phone and took a glance at the time, “Will you work
late?”
Clarence replied, “It’s not related to work.”
Stella suddenly felt curious, “Why are you so serious if it’s not about work?”
When she saw his expression just now, she thought he must have a tough nut to crack.
Clarence didn’t reply and simply titled his tablet computer towards Stella.
Stella put down her phone and looked over.
On the screen were photos of various kinds of wedding dresses.
Stella froze.
Clarence scrolled down and said blandly, “These are all famous wedding dress designers in the world
and there are many styles. I’ve selected several dresses that I think are beautiful. Have a look at them
later and pick the one you like best. I will let Nathan find the designer and you can tell him the details of
the wedding dress you want.”
Stella finally pulled herself together after a long while, “Tell me, how you can shift from the mood of
talking nonsense and not wanting me to bother you so quickly to this topic?”
Clarence corrected her, “I didn’t ask you not to bother me. I just said that I won’t bother you since I’m
sick.”
“Is there any difference?”
“To prevent you from cursing at me behind my back, I think it’s necessary to differentiate them.”
Stella suddenly felt a bit dizzy and thought she completely couldn’t understand what he was thinking.
Clarence continued, “Now that you’ve made it clear that you can’t leave me, it will be inappropriate if I
don’t show you my sincerity.”
Stella reached out to touch his forehead. It did feel hot. It seemed like Clarence was unconscious
because of the fever.
When Stella prepared to say something, Clarence gripped her hand and said word by word, “Let’s get
married.”
“Nope, I…”
Clarence said slowly, “I know what you’re worried about. But Stella, can’t you find that the problems
you worried about before have been solved?”
Stella moved her lips trying to say something. She was then lost in her thoughts.
It was true. She agreed to establish a new relationship with Clarence before, but she didn’t agree to
remarry him. It was because she knew deep down that marriage was a matter between two families
and she and Joanna bore grudges against each other. Including the baby, she would not forget his
sufferings.
But now, Joanna had died and the Conrad family had broken. And the baby was still alive.
Clarence continued, “I told you that I would make up for you and give you the gifts that I didn’t present
you during the three-year marriage. And that…”
Clarence realized something and changed the address, “Our child is the last gift for you.”
Stella frowned, “But…”
She hadn’t prepared herself for it.
Moreover, the baby was suffering from the illness now. How would she hold a happy wedding in that
case?
Clarence pulled her into his arms and comforted her in a low voice, “Rest assure. I won’t require you to
marry me right away. We’re just talking about holding a wedding ceremony and it needs many
preparations, including the wedding dress. It will take at least several months from designing a wedding
dress to finish it. You can consider it slowly, okay?”
Stella nodded her head after a long while, “Okay.”
Clarence let go of her, “Then let’s have a look at these wedding dresses first.”
Stella had a weird feeling when looking at the screen of the tablet computer in front of her, but she
couldn’t describe how it felt like.
At midnight, when she was lying on the bed sleepily, she finally figured it out.
Clarence had trapped her again. He was even selecting a wedding dress, would he give her room to
consider it?
What a wretched man!
How could he play such a trick on her?
The more Stella thought of it, the angrier she became. Stella couldn’t help but kick him.
Clarence moved slightly. He thought that Stella had a nightmare and subconsciously pulled her into his
arms and patted her back, which was a silent consolation.
Stella curled her lips into a light smile. Never mind. She didn’t want to stick to this problem now.
…
On the other side…
When Elaine came home, she found her father was sitting on the sofa with a gloomy expression.
She recalled the slap on her face and subconsciously shrank back, “Dad…”
Franklin looked towards her, “You’re supposed to kneel in the ancestral hall? Who allowed you to go
back?”
Elaine lowered her head and stammered for a long while, but she didn’t disclose Darnell in the end.
Franklin heaved a long sigh, “Elaine, I’ve told you several times, but why don’t you listen to my words?
How dare you contradict those doyens in the public? Have you shown any respect to your grand-
grandfather?”
Elaine frowned, “But I think marriage it’s my own business and it has nothing to do with them. Why do I
have to listen to their suggestions?”
“Darnell is the patriarch of the James family. Is there any disadvantage for you to marry him? Moreover,
I will back you up and he won’t dare to bully you.”
“But I still want to find a person that I like. More… Moreover, he’s my uncle and I think it’s very strange.”
Franklin chuckled angrily, “A person you like? Clarence? You only met him several times and you think
you like him?”
Elaine retorted stubbornly, “I fall in love with him at the first sight.”
“Okay. Then answer my question. Do you know who the lady kneeling in the ancestral hall is?”
Elaine was stunned, “I heard from Darnell that she was his aunt. It seems like she was willing to be
erased from the family tree just to leave Riverside. So I guess she was once a member of the James
family.”
“It was true that she was once a member of the James family, but at the same time, she’s Clarence’s
mother and she’s of the same seniority of your grandfather in our family. You should also call Clarence
uncle.”
Elaine was lost for words.
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