Chapter 469 No Longer Likes Her That Much
Desmond felt a lump in his throat when he heard Gabriel's gentle inquiry.
He'd always heard people say his dad favored him, but he never really felt it deeply.
Now, because of him, the Boleyn family was in such a mess, yet his dad still cared so much about him.
It warmed his heart immensely.
Gabriel knew Desmond well.
The moment he saw Desmond frown and purse his lips, he guessed something was wrong and pressed, "Is there a problem?"
Clara wasn't the Manners family's biological daughter, but the Manners family treated her genuinely well.
Even though the Manners family company had some issues, their marriage alliance was more beneficial than not.
Moreover, to ensure the marriage between the Manners family and the Boleyn family went smoothly, Gabriel even went to see Oliver.
Although Lucas was currently in charge of the Manners family, Oliver was still alive, and Clara's marriage needed Oliver's approval.
This way, it would be much easier to seek mutual benefits with the Manners family in the future.
However, Gabriel felt quite uneasy when he went to see Oliver.
Gabriel had never thought highly of Clara or the Manners family, let alone Oliver, the ineffective head of the Manners family.
After all, Oliver not only neglected his duties but also made quite a few jokes in Luminous City.
His affair with Laura was still a topic of conversation and a cautionary tale for some people.
But after the Elise family incident, Gabriel couldn't find a more suitable marriage candidate than Clara, so he had to set aside his disdain for the Manners family and Oliver.
Both he and his company urgently needed an opportunity, and he and Emily also wanted a grandchild soon.
The best outcome was for Desmond to get married as soon as possible.
Fortunately, Clara was someone Desmond liked, so it worked out for him, too.
As for his low opinion of Clara, at worst, she could have a child quickly and then move out.
Then, they could focus on raising their grandchild.
Desmond didn't know Gabriel had thought so far ahead.
Hearing his concerned question, he quickly shook his head, "No problem. I brought up marriage with her, and she agreed."
He hadn't told Gabriel that he had contacted Clara and that she had agreed to marry him.
There was a hurdle in his heart.
But now, he had crossed that hurdle.
Gabriel's eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly asked, "When is she coming back to Luminous City? Let's get the paperwork done and have the wedding soon."
Desmond was taken aback but didn't argue.
"I'll discuss the timing with her and go to Starhaven to pick her up," Desmond said, though he had no intention of discussing it with Clara.
He could see Clara's attitude.
She seemed eager for him to go to Starhaven to pick her up.
However, he felt he shouldn't go to Starhaven.
Suddenly, a figure flashed in Desmond's mind.
Thinking of that person made him feel a bit of pain.
"Alright, just do it as soon as possible," Gabriel urged, worried that delays might cause problems.
They hadn't talked for long when Emily came in, looking like she had something to discuss with Gabriel.
Desmond didn't stay in the study. He went to send Clara a message.
Clara seemed to be glued to her phone.
As soon as she received his message, she called him back.
"Desmond," Clara asked as soon as the call connected, "Did you hear something?"
Clara felt uneasy asking this.
Desmond's message had asked why she insisted he come to Starhaven to pick her up and if someone had told her to do so.
She suspected Desmond had guessed that Emma had contacted her.
"Yeah, I heard," Desmond's voice came through, tinged with indifference. "If you want to marry me, come back to Luminous City yourself, within three days."
Clara's heart tightened.
She felt a bit panicked and quickly said, "But, Desmond, if you don't come to Starhaven, I can't even get to the airport."
Even if she left home and headed straight for the airport, Emma's people would stop her. She might even get beaten up.
Emma's people were good at hitting in ways that hurt a lot but didn't leave marks.
"Really? You're being watched? Then how can you talk to me?" Desmond's voice grew colder.
Clara panicked even more and quickly explained.
"Desmond, I'm at home now. The people following me are outside. You agreed to come pick me up, so they gave me my phone back."
Emma had temporarily given her some freedom, but she was still being watched.
When she was out, her phone was taken away.
It was only because Desmond had agreed to come to Starhaven that she got her phone back.
Even so, she had little privacy outside.
Only at home did she have a bit of privacy.
Now, she was in her room, talking to Desmond, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard.
Desmond listened to Clara's explanation and asked, "Emma wants to lure me to Starhaven to threaten Maximilian?"
Clara was confused.
She knew Emma wanted to lure Desmond to Starhaven, but she didn't know the purpose. Emma wouldn't tell her.
"I don't know. She just told me to get you to Starhaven as soon as possible. But Desmond, I didn't mean to hide it from you.
If I didn't do what she said, her people would keep beating me."
She was worried Desmond would resent her or refuse to marry her.
She still wanted to return to Luminous City soon.
After returning, she needed more than just the declining Manners family to live well.
Marrying into the Boleyn family was the best option.
Especially since Desmond at least liked her.
Desmond didn't know what Clara was thinking. He only heard himself respond, "I understand."
He knew Emma's methods well, having been beaten by her people before.
"So what do we do now, Desmond?"
Clara was at a loss.
Thinking of the two people following her, she felt it was impossible to leave Starhaven.
"Put on a show for Emma. Set a time, pretend I'm coming to Starhaven to pick you up, and head straight to the airport. I'll call Emma to distract her people, and you can board the plane."
Desmond casually laid out the plan.
Clara felt uneasy about the plan that only put her at risk.
She felt Desmond had changed and didn't like her as much as before.
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