Chapter 95: Showing Weakness

In other words, this marriage has never been infused with much emotion from the beginning, so there is no such thing as betrayal or disappointment. As long as they can calmly acknowledge this point, they won’t be bound by any irrelevant emotions. Their relationship was inherently about mutual use, and not at all about affection. Strictly speaking, the union between Clara Bennett and William Foster was essentially a mutually beneficial cooperative agreement. They both had clear goals and distinct interests, which is why they chose to stand together temporarily to journey through a particular phase. Since the original intention never included emotional exchange, and even minimal trust needed to be gradually cultivated, discussions of "genuine emotional expression" are even more baseless. In other words, no matter what twists and turns may emerge in the future, they will function within the preset framework, never easily breaking the default principles of both parties. Therefore, this practical arrangement was doomed from the start to lack emotional elements. Even if William Foster does let his mind wander, what does it have to do with her? If one day William really harbors unnecessary doubts because of this conversation or other reasons, Clara wouldn’t regard it as a significant issue. It’s just that, before taking their photos, William was still applying ice to his face. With one hand, he pinched a corner of the ice pack, lightly pressing it against his cheek, the cold touch slightly alleviating some of the pain. The room was quiet, with only slight rustling from his gentle actions. The staff stood by, observing his actions, their eyes filled with confusion and concern. One staff member observed and asked with a puzzled look, "Sir, is your face injured? Are you sure you want to complete the photoshoot today?" Her voice held a hint of hesitation and doubt, with furrowed brows, clearly very puzzled by the situation. From past experience, is his state really suited for taking official photos? Clara Bennett stood not far away, a faint smile on her lips as she spoke slowly, "He’s just too excited about getting the marriage certificate, his toothache was quite severe, but it’s nothing serious, let’s proceed today." Her tone was light and assured, as if she had long anticipated such a situation, showing no hint of unrest or worry. As she spoke, she pointed at William, with an air that seemed to say "this is the truth." The staff listened, bewildered: can getting a marriage certificate really excite someone to a toothache? This seemed a bit too exaggerated! More importantly, the bizarre notion of a "tooth nerve excitement" seemed like the first time hearing it from someone else’s mouth? The staff found it increasingly unbelievable, but facing this composed woman, they could only sigh silently and refrained from asking further questions. After exiting the civil office, sunlight filled the street, and the two walked side by side towards a luxury car parked not far away. Afterwards, they drove to a quiet place. The secretary had already prepared the prenuptial agreement in advance, neatly arranged on the table, adding a sense of formality. The atmosphere was filled with a solemn air, as if a serious negotiation was about to commence. Clara took the documents, quickly skimmed through them, then decisively picked up a pen to sign her name on the paper. Her movements were clean and efficient, without any hesitation, much like signing a mundane business contract. Every stroke reflected her calm and decisiveness, with no hint of doubt or conflict. William Foster sat across from her, watching her every move, his demeanor similarly unwavering. He extended his right hand, pressing his forefinger gently into an ink pad, then decisively imprinted his fingerprint onto the designated area of the paper. Though outwardly he seemed carefree and unrestrained, his heart was far from tranquil. Whether this slim agreement could truly end everything in three years, he was unsure. On the contrary, somewhere deep within, a hint of expectation surged within him. In his understanding, this marriage didn’t necessarily need to be limited to just three years. If he was willing to strive for it, extending it to thirty years or even longer wasn’t impossible. After all, who can say for certain what the future holds? Clara set the pen down, raised her head to look at William, her expression remaining calm and composed. She said calmly, "Now that we have the certificate, I should go back and explain the situation to my brother." Her tone was steady and natural, devoid of joy or anxiety, as if merely completing a simple task. William raised his brows, looking at her with a half-smile, and asked, "Not staying to celebrate a bit?" He said this in a lazy and casual tone, as if just making a casual invitation. However, his eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of probing. Upon hearing this, Clara was momentarily stunned, then curved her lips in a slight smile, somewhat teasingly retorting, "Celebrate? Like at lunchtime?" This seemingly ordinary sentence carried a subtle undertone of mockery, making the already complex atmosphere even more intriguing. William’s gaze flickered slightly, for a moment, his eyes seemed to be stirred by certain complex emotions. Even though he tried to appear indifferent, as if none of this mattered, he knew well that showing a bit of vulnerability might soften Clara a bit. He took a deep breath and murmured, "I just hope to leave some special memories." His voice sounded somewhat deep, even carrying a faint hint of wistfulness, "This is my first marriage. From now on, there will be someone to call my wife..." As he spoke, his tone paused slightly, as if savoring the weight of this sentence. "And she... might just be the last one too." William lifted his head, looking at Clara, a restrained emotion flowing in his eyes. "You understand as well," he continued, with a touch more bitterness in his voice, "Aside from you, probably no one else would be willing to marry me." At this point, he managed a self-deprecating smile, his tone reflecting some helplessness, "Besides, you’re about to enter a film set and start shooting, and just as our marriage begins, I’ll be left alone in an empty house—" Though he didn’t finish his sentence, it was enough to convey the loneliness and helplessness he felt. "Stop." Clara rubbed her temples, her expression turning visibly impatient. Her movement was straightforward, directly interrupting William’s incomplete words, "Is there anything worthy of commemorating today?" She asked casually, as if it was merely a routine question. Hearing this, a wave of heaviness washed over William’s heart. Even though this marriage was founded on an agreement with no profound emotional basis, Clara’s attitude still left William with a tinge of dissatisfaction.