The moment Clara pushed open the door to the private room, Liam instinctively rushed forward and reached out to grab her wrist. When his fingertips touched her slightly cool skin, he felt a strange panic in his heart. Clara's calmness these past few days was too abnormal, so abnormal that he felt like he was going to lose her completely.
"Clara, don't go." His voice was softer than expected, even carrying a hint of pleading that he himself didn't realize. "I was wrong about what happened before. I shouldn't have favored Vanessa and Noah, and I shouldn't have misunderstood you. Give me another chance, and we can start over, okay?"
Clara's wrist was gripped so hard it hurt, but she didn't struggle like usual. She just slowly turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were calm, without hatred, without resentment, without even a trace of emotion. It was like she was looking at a stranger. "Liam, we're over a long time ago."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Liam's strength increased a little, and his tone became anxious. "How are you going to live without me? You have no family background, no background, and you don't even have a place to live. Do you really have to rely on those shady people? Come home with me, and I can still treat you well like before and buy you what you want..."
"Liam!" Vanessa suddenly stepped forward and pulled his hand away, her tone deliberately "rational." "Why are you wasting your time talking to her? She's just mad at you! Have you forgotten how much she relied on you before? She needed you to stay with her when she had a cold, to give her money when she ran out, and even to call you to change a lightbulb. Without you, she can't even make a living. Now she's just pretending to be tough. When her money is gone and no one pays for her hotel room, she'll naturally come back to you for help."
She leaned close to Liam's ear, lowering her voice a little, but deliberately letting Clara hear: "Think about it, if she was really independent, why would she be with you for five years? Don't be fooled by her appearance, she just thinks you are soft-hearted. Let's go back first and wait for her to come to you herself. Then you will have the final say."
Vanessa's words were like a reassurance, a precise piercing of Liam's ego. He recalled Clara's submissiveness over the past five years—how she would fidget when he came home late, how she would treasure the cheap bracelet he gave her, how she would make porridge and stay up all night when he was sick. Yes, how could a woman who "couldn't live without him" truly leave? Her current determination was just a disguise for her anger.
He let go of her hand, his tone becoming arrogant again: "Clara, I'm giving you a way out, don't be ungrateful. When you figure it out, come home. I can pretend nothing happened."
Clara looked at the arrogance in his eyes and found it ridiculous. She said nothing more, just brushed her wrinkled sleeves lightly, turned and walked out of the box, her back straight, without a trace of nostalgia.
Over the next three days, Liam occasionally picked up his phone, wanting to call Clara, but Vanessa stopped him each time. "What's the rush?" Vanessa said nonchalantly while trying on her newly ordered dress. "She's definitely waiting for you to give in first. If you take the initiative, she'll be even more aggressive. Besides, we're going to the Bennett family banquet soon. If she sees you and me at such a high-end event together, she'll only be more envious and come back faster."
Liam thought about it and agreed. He was currently preoccupied with collaborating with Bennett's subsidiary. If he could meet a few important figures at the banquet, perhaps a partnership would be possible. As for Clara, she would naturally come back when she was hungry.
On the evening of the third day, Liam's brother Jake called out of the blue, his tone as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood: "Liam! Hurry and pack! The Bennett family's daughter's inheritance ceremony and husband selection banquet are tonight at the Shengshi Building in the city center! I used my connections to get two invitations, come with me!"
"The Bennett family?" Liam frowned, feeling a bit confused. That was the top-tier wealthy family he'd been trying so hard to get close to, but now he couldn't even secure a partnership with a subsidiary. If he went, he'd just be a small-time, insignificant figure, and might even be looked down upon. "Forget it, I'm not interested."
"Not interested?" Jake said anxiously, "That's the Bennett family! They're said to be as wealthy as a nation! This is the first time that the daughter of the family has made a public appearance. I heard they're going to choose a marriage partner at the banquet. Maybe going there will broaden your horizons and allow you to meet some important people. It will also be beneficial for your cooperation with their subsidiary!"
Liam was still hesitant, but Vanessa came over and snatched the phone, her tone enthusiastic: "Brother Jake, let's go! Liam is just being modest. In fact, I have always wanted to see the scene of the top wealthy families. We will pack up immediately, see you later!"
After hanging up the phone, Vanessa dragged Liam to pick out clothes. As she was tying his tie, she said, "Are you stupid? This is the Bennett family's party! So many people can't get in! Not only will going there broaden your horizons, but you might even be able to strike up a conversation with that rich girl. Even if you can't, you'll get to know a few of the executives! It's better than having to keep Clara around all day. If she knew you could attend a party like this, she'd probably regret it!"
Vanessa's words completely convinced Liam. He looked at himself in the mirror, wearing a tailored suit, and imagined being complimented at the banquet. Any hesitation he had felt instantly vanished. He even began to look forward to it—when Clara returned, he would tell her about the banquet, show her that he was capable of standing on a higher plane, and how much she would lose if she left him.
At 7 p.m., Liam and Vanessa took a taxi to the Golden Age Building. Vanessa was mesmerized by the towering structure, the red carpet at the entrance, and the fleet of luxury cars. She held Liam's arm tightly, excitedly saying, "Look at this! It's so much more sophisticated than the last business dinner we attended! When I see the Bennett daughter, I'm going to take a picture with her!"
Liam was also a little dazzled, but he pretended to be calm and adjusted the collar of his suit: "Don't embarrass yourself, maintain some demeanor." Although he said so, his heart was full of anticipation - he wanted to see what this legendary Bennett daughter looked like and what kind of person she would choose as her husband.
The two followed the crowd into the ballroom, where the opulence was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers shone brightly, the air was thick with the aroma of premium champagne, and the people passing through were all either wealthy or distinguished, each exuding an innate sense of nobility. Liam and Vanessa stood in a corner, looking somewhat out of place. Vanessa was still scanning the room, trying to spot the Bennett daughter.
At that moment, the lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight in the center of the stage. The emcee's voice, trembling with excitement, echoed through the speakers, "Dear guests, welcome to the succession ceremony for the Bennett family heir! Now, with the warmest applause, let us welcome the sole heir of the Bennett family—Miss Clara Bennett!"
(Stuck point)
