Chapter 32: Are You Testing Me?

If it’s destined for Arthur Davis to meet Nell Sue, then even if we avoid it now, they will eventually cross paths again. With this thought, her resolve grew stronger. She decided to meet Nell Sue herself to prepare in advance. This way, no matter what happens in the future, she can at least be prepared. After the discussion, Clara Bennett handed the check to her eldest brother. James Bennett took it and said, "I’ll have finance transfer it to your account." His eyes were warm and sincere, giving people a sense of reliability. Clara quickly said, "I don’t need so much money, fifty million will be enough. The rest should be for you, big brother." She didn’t want her brother to work too hard, and she hoped to save some expenses. James said earnestly, "This money is yours, we don’t want it. Keep it for yourself—whether for financial management or investment, it will be useful." His words were firm, as if not allowing Clara to say anything more. Charles Bennett also smiled and agreed, "Clara, just keep the money. The expenses in the entertainment industry are hefty. In the future, if I have a good project, I’ll definitely bring you along to make big money." Hearing her brothers say this, Clara gladly accepted the goodwill: "Alright, I’ll accept it for now." In fact, Clara already had many plans. As long as the funds were in place, she could make significant moves. Clara had a clear understanding of life: if people aren’t driven by money, birds aren’t driven by food. She knew that many misfortunes in her past life were mostly related to money. Making money should be done openly and honestly, Clara believed in this principle. She wanted to prove with her actions that accumulating wealth didn’t require underhanded means. Truly successful people would never resort to deceit. Thinking about her family, pride welled up in Clara’s heart. Her father started from scratch and built everything step by step to what it is now. Her eldest brother, with his outstanding talent, had secured a place for the family in the jewelry industry. Her second brother had a keen eye and managed the entertainment company excellently. Although he seemed like a playful gamer externally, her third brother excelled in his self-established gaming company. Every member of the Bennett family earned their income with genuine skill; only because of their overly upright conduct, they suffered many betrayals in their past lives. But now, everything was different. With her involvement, no one would ever harm her family again. After taking a bath, lying on the warm and soft big bed, Clara couldn’t help contemplating the path of becoming a celebrity. It seemed like an invisible force had been guiding her down this path since childhood. Many had suggested she enter this circle, even her former rival Daisy Stone yearned to be an artist, and her former friend Samuel Grant jokingly called her a "drama queen," except for one man named William Foster who held her in high regard. Every time she thought about William Foster, an excitement surged within her, prompting her to sit up suddenly. "If I really become an artist, then the marriage must be kept secret, right? It seems I must learn how to live discreetly with William Foster from now on." Thinking about this, her eyes darted around quickly, her smile gradually deepening. She had always heard about company presidents hiding their marriages for their careers, but it was rare to hide a marriage for acting, like her. This wasn’t a scheming decision but a forced choice due to various real-world constraints. Just as her thoughts wandered, her phone vibrated. When she picked it up, it was a voice message from William Foster. The message seemed to come rather unexpectedly, causing her to halt her thoughts. William Foster: [Did the little gift I gave you come in handy?] Initially, Clara intended to reply via text, but then she thought that a voice message might be more direct and intimate, so she replied with a voice message. Clara: [It was quite useful, made dealing with Samuel Grant much easier. Your gift was a timely rain, I really liked it.] Although the actual help was limited, Clara aimed to prevent any feelings of regret or unacknowledgment on his part. Since he put effort into preparing this gift, it was only right to express gratitude. William Foster: [As long as you find it useful. If you like daggers, I can ask Arthur Davis to pick a few more for you, including concealed ones.] Upon hearing this, Clara quickly replied: [No need, I don’t carry such things around.] Her tone carried a hint of helplessness and refusal. William Foster: [Don’t you practice with knives usually? Arthur Davis mentioned that your knife technique is particularly beautiful.] Facing this question, Clara couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh after hearing the two clips. Her voice turned much colder than before: [Are you probing me?] Being reborn into this life was extremely private for her, something she didn’t wish to mention to anyone. Even though few might believe such a story, she was very concerned about anyone inadvertently or deliberately prying into her deepest secrets. After all, it could easily provoke curiosity and speculation about her true motives. Almost immediately, Clara received a call invitation from William Foster. During the call, she tried to maintain a calm demeanor without showing too much emotion. "Are you upset?" The first sentence from the other end of the call carried a hint of light laughter. For this greeting, Clara simply responded lightly: "Not exactly." She didn’t want others to see any minor changes in her heart over such a small matter. William Foster’s voice remained warm and pleasant, "I wasn’t trying to probe. When we first met, I noticed you’ve trained. I’ve practiced a bit myself. I just thought it’d be nice to see you perform." He spoke with a gentle sincerity, without any hint of teasing or ill will. Clara replied, "See what? You can’t see it anyway." She said it bluntly, but immediately felt it might have been too sharp. William Foster chuckled, his laughter carried a hint of sadness: "Yeah, that’s why it’s a pity. Even Arthur Davis says your moves are beautiful; it must be really impressive. I’d really like to see it." His words were tinged with a gentle resignation and an undeniable yearning, as if trying to grasp the light of the world through an invisible darkness. Instantly, a soft spot arose in Clara’s heart, filled with a sense of guilt. She quietly rebuked herself, how could she treat him this way? He had already endured such a significant loss, and she had sprinkled salt on his wounds!