Chapter 354 Encountering Someone I Dislike
As Ethan's figure grew smaller and eventually disappeared, Scarlett's panic turned into tears.
A doctor passing by noticed and asked, "Ms. Lewis, are you okay?"
Scarlett, desperate for answers, quickly asked, "That woman just now, is she hurt? She must be faking it, right?"
Even though she saw the bruises on Clara's leg, Scarlett was convinced Clara was pretending because of Clara's smug look before leaving.
The doctor replied, "The fall wasn't severe, but that lady bruises easily."
Hearing this, Scarlett immediately ran after them, only to see Ethan's car speeding away.
In the car, Clara insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat, and Ethan let her.
"Ethan, do you believe what Scarlett said just now?" Clara asked, testing the waters.
Ethan, gripping the steering wheel, replied calmly, "Seeing is believing."
Clara breathed a slight sigh of relief and then asked, "If I came to Starhaven just to avoid trouble, would you still want to get engaged to me?"
Clara's tone was distant, and she even straightened her posture, looking directly at Ethan.
At a red light, Ethan braked and looked at her, puzzled. "The main reason for our engagement is responsibility, and the secondary reason is that I have a good impression of you. So, do you think it would matter?"
Clara exhaled sharply.
She was immensely grateful for following Johnson's advice that night to get close to Ethan.
Over the past few days, she realized Ethan was a man of principle.
Hearing Ethan's response, Clara felt that even if Ethan knew she and Desmond had caught him and Katniss at the café, he wouldn't hold it against her.
He believed something significant had happened that night, so he would honor his commitment.
Just as Clara suspected, Ethan had heard from Katniss about Clara being at the café, but his attitude towards Clara hadn't changed much.
They didn't speak further, and the car ride was peaceful.
Ethan dropped Clara off at the villa that Johnson had arranged for her and left without staying.
As soon as Ethan left, Johnson arrived with his assistant.
"Clara, how did it go today?" Johnson knew Clara was invited by Tyler to meet Ethan and waited until Ethan left to ask.
Clara was suspicious of Johnson's perfect timing, wondering if the villa was under surveillance.
But she remained calm and replied, "Ethan called me his fiancée in front of Tyler and the others."
This was good news for both her and Johnson.
Johnson, delighted, patted her head. "Clara, you're amazing! Things are progressing so quickly!"
Clara dodged his hand and asked, "Mr. Thompson, how's the transfer process going?"
Johnson quickly replied, "It's in progress, just a few more days."
Clara nodded. "I need your help with something else."
Johnson said, "Clara, just tell me what you need, I'll do my best to help."
While they were planning, Katniss was on her way home.
In the back seat of a black sedan, Maximilian held Katniss gently, stroking her hair.
"What's wrong? Something bothering you?"
Though Katniss had composed herself somewhat, she still looked troubled, almost wearing her heart on her sleeve.
Leaning against Maximilian, listening to his comforting heartbeat, Katniss whispered, "Nothing much, just ran into someone I don't like. It was annoying."
Clara becoming Ethan's fiancée was unexpected.
"Do you need my help?" Maximilian asked.
Katniss laughed suddenly. "What could you do? Deport the person I don't like? I can handle this myself, don't worry."
Maximilian, seeing her smile, affectionately touched her face. "If you can't handle it, come to me."
Katniss blushed and agreed with a smile.
Their tender moment was interrupted by a call from Scarlett, who cried about how Clara had humiliated her.
Katniss comforted her briefly until she calmed down.
After hanging up, Maximilian, understanding why Katniss was upset, asked softly, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
Katniss sighed. "I can handle it, Maximilian."
A few uneventful days passed without Katniss seeing Clara.
She thought she was done worrying, but Clara surprised her.
Just as Katniss and Ethan left the training center, Clara approached, clinging to Ethan's arm.
"Ethan, you're finally done with training," Clara said, leaning into him, looking pitiful.
Katniss glanced at them and said, "Ethan, I'll head out. You two talk."
She was just walking with Ethan out of the school, so parting ways early was fine.
Ethan nodded in agreement.
But Clara, seeing Katniss leaving, spoke up, "Katniss, do you not like me? Why do you leave as soon as I arrive?"
Her voice was soft, and she clung to Ethan's arm, looking at Katniss with teary eyes.
Katniss stopped, turned, and looked at her coldly. "Do you need something?"
"I just hope you don't hate me," Clara said, her eyes welling up.
Katniss, exasperated, said, "I don't have time for this. If you don't need anything, I'm leaving."
With that, she walked away, not giving Clara another chance.
Clara, looking heartbroken, clung to Ethan's arm and asked, "Ethan, why is Katniss like this? Didn't you say you'd explain things to her for me?"
Ethan remembered Clara's request to explain to Katniss and said, "I forgot, sorry."
He and Katniss mostly discussed training and projects, so he had forgotten Clara's request.
Clara's expression darkened but quickly recovered. "If you don't want to, it's fine. When will I meet your parents?"
Ethan hadn't hidden their engagement plans, even giving her a ring, but he hadn't mentioned meeting his family.
Clara wasn't in a hurry, but Johnson was, and his urgency made her anxious, too.
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