Chapter 57: White Rose

William Foster didn’t know all the thoughts stirring in Clara Bennett’s heart at that moment, but once again he captured some of her unique feelings. The act of showing vulnerability indeed has a magical effect; even when faced with the hardest barriers, whether emotional or otherwise, a gentle approach can instantly open someone’s heart and create a swift connection. He deeply grasped this principle of interpersonal relations. As they reached the restaurant, Clara, filled with intention to treat William well, was the first to get out of the car, walking around to him and saying, "Come on, let me help you out of the car." She wore a tender smile, her eyes full of care. William’s smile froze: "..." He twitched the corner of his mouth, clearly caught off guard by Clara’s sudden suggestion. This... He wasn’t that weak. William secretly muttered in his heart, feeling a bit helplessly amused. William lightly cleared his throat, "No need, I can do it myself." He tried to make his voice firm, attempting to dispel Clara’s overprotective idea. Clara replied, "Don’t push yourself, I’m quite strong." She reached out her hand, ready to assist, showing eagerness. William resolutely said, "No, if I can’t do it, Arthur Davis can help." He said this while looking at Arthur Davis, the driver and assistant standing by, hoping for some support. Clara questioned, "Really?" She turned to look at Arthur Davis, then back at William, still seeming hesitant about whether to insist on helping him. William felt a headache growing, secretly reflecting that even being vulnerable should have its limits. He couldn’t let her assume he was completely incapable of independence just because he wanted care. William tried to maintain a smile, "I forgot, I have been training, always exercising." He was attempting to show Clara through this statement that he wasn’t that fragile. Clara thought for a moment and agreed, then nodded, letting William transfer himself from the car to the wheelchair. She stepped back, giving him space. She looked up at the restaurant, surprised, "There’s actually a restaurant here? I never noticed it before." Clara’s gaze swept over the entire building, her expression full of disbelief. William replied, "Yes, this restaurant opens only once a year." He said it with a hint of pride in his voice. Clara asked in astonishment, "They only serve guests once a year?" William smiled and nodded, "Yes." His smile was filled with admiration for this special restaurant. "No wonder I hadn’t heard of it," Clara said, surprised, her curiosity already fully captured, "How delicious must the food be?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as if she couldn’t wait to savor the delicacies here. William explained, "It’s not just the taste; the ambiance inside is quite nice too, you’ll see once you enter." His words exuded confidence, seeming to have high expectations for the setting and cuisine. Arthur Davis opened the door for them, and Clara pushed William’s wheelchair inside. Upon entering, Clara was completely stunned. The interior decoration of the restaurant far exceeded her imagination. In the center of the restaurant was a spiral wooden staircase, full of design flair. The staircase didn’t lead to a second floor, merely standing alone as a display, looking more like a piece of art. At the end of the staircase, there was a suspended door, covered in white roses along with the staircase. Each flower stood out beautifully under the gentle lighting. The restaurant was playing soft music, the whole atmosphere was warm and romantic. The entire space filled with white roses seemed especially enchanting, as if telling a beautiful story. Clara felt that such decor was not something an ordinary owner would think to set up. This unique decoration and sense of design were clearly full of craftsmanship and ingenuity. She took a deep breath, her heartbeat quickening at the sight before her: "Is this what you meant by only preparing white roses?" Her words carried a hint of surprise and disbelief. William gently nodded, looking at her with warmth in his eyes. "I heard there was a specially designed staircase here leading to a place called the ’Gate of Truth.’ So I thought to decorate this special area with white roses, hoping you’d like it. Honestly, I’m a bit regretful that I didn’t confirm beforehand if you truly like it." His tone revealed a trace of apology. Clara hurriedly said, "No, no, I love it! It’s truly beautiful. From now on, white roses are my favorite." Her words were full of sincerity and gratitude. At that moment, Clara had already made up her mind. From now on, she would never feel awkward or resistant to this flower for any reason, because she knew the white roses William gave her were stunning beyond words. Under the soft light, the stairs leading to that special door were lined with white roses, their petals clear and translucent, exuding a pure yet mysterious aura. Clara took out her phone intending to capture this beautiful scene, yet regretfully noted that her outfit’s colors didn’t quite match. "It’s such a pity; my clothes don’t quite harmonize with the flowers here. Otherwise, I’d even want to pose for Arthur here." Her words carried a few hints of disappointment. Since she decided to step into the entertainment industry to develop her career, having some beautiful personal photos was, naturally, quite necessary. And intuition told her that photos taken here would surely stand out. So she turned her head, smiling at him, and said, "How about you wait here for a while, and I’ll go take a picture for you?" Hoping to capture more precious moments this way. It seemed, however, that William wasn’t particularly interested in this; he politely declined, "If you really want to take some good photos, we can have dinner first and later ask the staff to arrange a professional photographer to help us." Obviously, more than capturing photographic memories, he cared about spending a pleasant and unforgettable time together. After some thought, Clara suggested, "I’d feel awkward taking photos by myself, would you like to join me? This way, I’d enjoy it more." She slightly lowered her head, showing a hint of shyness, but then quickly lifted her head to look directly at him, her eyes full of expectation. Considering it, William agreed, nodding, "Alright then, let’s take a picture together first and you can handle the rest on your own." Although he usually didn’t enjoy appearing in photos, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse Clara’s rare request, especially after seeing the hope in her eyes. This made Clara very happy, so the two of them, hand in hand, walked to a table, softly chatting as they chose a relatively private spot to sit down, preparing to enjoy the coming romantic dinner.