Chapter 3

"Mm," Clara responded softly.

The sound of the engine slowly faded into the rain as the door of the mansion closed. The smile on Clara's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a chilling coldness.

Then late at night. The rain hadn't stopped and Jerald hadn't returned.

Clara, however, felt completely relieved, as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

She opened the safe, which contained not only the deeds and shares but also a pile of jewelry and antiques that Jerald had given her over the years.

Clara took out her phone and dialed the number of an auction house manager she was acquainted with. She said calmly, "Douglas. List everything in the photos I sent you this morning at market price now, and sell them quickly. Then transfer the cash to the anonymous account I designated. Be quick and keep it quiet."

After hanging up, she pulled out another document, which was the proof of Jerald's shares in the Lucas Group that he had given her years ago, jokingly saying it was the allowance for his wife.

Clara moved her fingers on the document and paused on the words "Lucas Group" before she called the financial manager her brother had recommended. "As per the list I gave you earlier, on Mr. Lucas' birthday, sell all the shares of the Lucas Group. Also, the short-selling strategy I asked you to prepare, leverage it as much as possible."

The broker was shocked, " Are you really sure, Ms. Rernald? Once the Rernald Group makes a move, the Lucas family won't stand a chance."

"My mind is made up," Clara interrupted him, "I have no regrets."

After the call, she leaned against the safe, listening to the rain gradually ceased outside the window.

As dawn broke, messages from the auction house and the broker arrived one after another.

That all the jewelry and antiques had been sold, and the cash was in her account. Everyone was waiting for her order to short the Lucas Group's stock.

Looking at the numbers on her phone screen, Clara felt as if a warm glimmer of hope had finally pierced through her frozen heart.

Hadn't Jerald once said? "I don't care about our family's business. We could live a humble life."

She was truly curious to see if he could still smile when he tasted real poverty after falling from grace.

Just as she put away her phone, the door of the mansion was pushed open.

Jerald stood at the entrance, with Cecilia following behind him. Beside her was a young girl around fourteen or fifteen, who bore some resemblance to Cecilia.

Cecilia was wearing Jerald's coat. Her belly not yet showing and her face pale. Upon seeing Clara, she instinctively hid behind Jerald.

"Clara, I didn't come back last night because Cecilia... She's having severe early pregnancy symptoms and caught a bit of rain. I was worried something might happen, so I stayed with her all night. I was worried about her, thinking she's living alone. Her sister has no one to look after her either. So I brought them here to stay for a few days until we find a nanny... "

Before he could finish, the young girl next to Cecilia suddenly broke free from Cecilia's hand and rushed to Clara. She glared at Clara and yelled at her with a sharp voice, "Why are you taking my sister's house! This is supposed to be her home, you wicked woman!"

With that, she gave Clara a shove.

Clara didn't dodge, allowing the girl to push her arm.

She looked down at the girl, then grabbed her arm and tossed her back to Cecilia's side.

The girl couldn't keep her balance and fell to the ground, then burst into tears.

Cecilia hurriedly crouched down to help her sister up. She looked up at Clara with upset, "Mrs. Lucas, I'm truly sorry. She's still a kid..."

Clara's eyes swept over Cecilia, then landed on Jerald. "If you're staying at someone else's house with your pet, you should take good care of them. If you can't, just don't bring them with you."

Jerald's face darkened instantly, "Clara, don't go too far!"

Clara smiled, "I'm not the one who's going too far here, Jerald."

She paused, with her eyes settling on Cecilia, "Either get out with your sister now, or follow the rules here and don't annoy me."

Dinner tonight was even more tense than the previous days.

All the dishes were light and mild, following Jerald's instructions. Clearly they were all for Cecilia.

Clara took the seat at the head of the table.

Cecilia sat next to Jerald, her eyes lingering on the fish that was specifically made for Clara. Clara had an upset stomach. Thus the cooks of their would make digestible dishes like this for her.

Cecilia kept looking at Clara's fish, and mumbled, "It looks so good. May I try some?" She seemed childishly adorable.

Jerald, serving her soup, smiled at her, "If you want it, I'll have the cooks make some for you. Don't take Clara's." There was no hint of reproach in his words.

Clara didn't even lift her eyes.

She was curious to see what were they going to perform to her next.

But Cecilia suddenly clutched her stomach and slid off her chair with her face turning pale, "Jerald... My stomach hurts so much..."