Chapter 9 The Encounter

Daniel's eyes flickered with surprise, his lips curling. "I didn't expect you to agree. It slightly caught me off guard. But hey, it works out. It will save you from folks constantly bothering you." Clara nodded, her thoughts diverging from his. Lillian's reason for seeking her out was simply resentment, wanting to see her embarrassed. However, her plan would definitely fail. After sending the message to Pegasus Racing Club, Daniel remembered there was a gathering tonight. He turned to Clara with excitement. "Nightfall's hosting a party for you tonight. Do you wanna go?" It had been three years since Clara experienced nightlife. She felt a twinge of nostalgia. "Sure, let's head over now." At the VIP section in Nightfall Bar, Matthew's fingers delicately held the glass, the liquor inside creating ripples against the glass as he moved. The orange liquid glowed against his chest under the lights, adding a hint of allure to his otherwise restrained suit. "Matthew, don't worry about Mr. Andrew. I've already contacted Sovereign. The offer we made is too good for Sovereign to refuse." Lucas chimed in with a grin, breaking the somber atmosphere. Matthew remained silent, finishing his drink in one gulp. His gaze flickered, catching sight of a familiar figure. His eyes instinctively followed. Could it be Clara? Her figure flashed before him, leaving only a trail of fiery red skirt. Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling an inexplicable annoyance. Deep down, he knew he must be mistaken. After all, in the past three years, every time he tried to bring Clara to a place like this for business, she always refused to come. Therefore, he believed that no matter how much Clara had changed, she would never come to Nightfall, especially dressed so flamboyantly. Though he didn't speak, Lucas noticed Matthew's reaction. Knowing he had just gone through a divorce, Lucas felt for him. He quickly stood up from his seat. "Matthew, wait for me. I'll be right back!" Matthew frowned. "Stop with those little schemes of yours. I don't like it." Lucas was a playboy at heart but always professional at work. Matthew had known him for so many years that he never interfered in his personal affairs. "Don't worry, Matthew. I'll handle it." Lucas assured as he hurried toward the vibrant figure. Matthew remained seated, exuding a cold aura that kept others at bay. Yet, it didn't stop curious glances from darting his way. However, he paid them no mind, his fingers lingering on a number in his phone contacts for a few seconds before he impatiently tossed the phone aside. All he could think about was Clara's drastic transformation. On the other side, Lucas smoothly found the fiery red figure. Seeing a mix of men and women surrounding the woman, he subconsciously assumed she was from a wealthy family. So, he immediately called over a waiter to deliver a bottle of whiskey worth tens of thousands of dollars. Clara was in the middle of a conversation with an old friend when a waiter approached her. "Ms. Edwards, this is the drink that gentleman over there sent to you." Following the waiter's gesture, Clara raised an eyebrow at the stunned Lucas, then casually raised her glass with a dazzling smile. The next moment, Lucas hurriedly left in a panic. She turned back to the waiter. "Help me send a bottle of Romanée-Conti to the gentleman just now." The waiter looked shocked but quickly regained his composure and took the card to swipe. Suddenly, a broadcast echoed throughout the bar. "Ms. Edwards presents a bottle of Romanée-Conti to Mr. Garcia." The bustling bar fell silent for a moment. Then, a wave of astonishment swept through the crowd! "That's Romanée-Conti! Who is Ms. Edwards?" "It must be that playboy trying to make a move and got burned!" "But... Mr. Garcia? Could it be who I'm thinking of?" "Come to think of it... Ms. Edwards does sound familiar..." Clara paid no attention to the gossip around her, laughing carefree like a red rose blooming in the darkness, tempting people to come closer. "Clara, you haven't even offered us a drink yet, and you're giving it to that scumbag." Daniel pouted, making Clara burst out laughing. She snapped her fingers. "You guys have plenty. Back when we were at the vineyards in Ventoria, you raided my cellar plenty of times." The group stuck out their tongues and handed over the drinks. Daniel glanced in the direction the man had left, chuckling meaningfully. "Clara, your ex-husband might be on his way over." Clara shrugged nonchalantly, swaying her glass. "I'm not afraid of him." Her words naturally fell into the ears of the approaching Matthew, whose expression grew darker. He stood by the table, his gaze sweeping around the room, his frown deepening. He didn't know any of them! However, they all seemed to be her friends. Their looks toward him were anything but friendly, filling with disdain and scorn. An unfamiliar feeling made Matthew uneasy. He focused his gaze on Clara, seated at the center. "What are you doing here?" His words sounded like an accusation. Clara smirked with a nonchalant attitude. "I'm just here to have some fun. Is this your territory, Mr. Garcia? Am I not allowed in?" Matthew frowned. "No." "Mr. Garcia, do you have something special to discuss with Clara?" Daniel, who didn't mind stirring the pot a bit more, chimed in, adding a hint of ambiguity to his tone. This prompted the others present to exchange suggestive glances, enjoying the air of intrigue. Clara understood their intentions and naturally didn't stop them. She smiled at Daniel. These actions, when seen by Matthew, only fueled his irritation, turning it into anger. He stepped forward, yanked the glass from her hand, and tossed it onto the table. "Mr. Lewis, don't you know she can't drink?" Matthew's icy words seemed like a warning to Daniel. Daniel was taken aback, giving Clara a surprised look before chuckling. "It seems like in Matthew's eyes, you've been like a sweet, innocent girl for these past three years." Clara arched an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, picking up the glass from the table. "Mr. Garcia, we no longer have any legal ties. You should really stay out of my business..." Before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly pulled from her seat. The red wine splashed, staining Matthew's suit with dark splotches. A flash of annoyance crossed Clara's eyes as she was about to push him away. Matthew's warm breath brushed against her neck, and his cold words echoed in her ear. "Ms. Edwards, since you’ve stained my shirt, you should come upstairs and help me replace it."