lancholy washed over Joanna as she glanced at the flowers and sighed.
"I got them from an old friend." "Who’s the person who knows your favorite flower? Do I know them?" Clara picked out a sunflower and sniffed it.
"Yes, you know him." Downcast, Joanna nodded.
Justin narrowed his eyes at the bouquet and growled, "Do I know him?" "Maybe," Joanna answered honestly.
"Oh..." Nodding, Justin relaxed.
"So it’s not Ace.
It doesn’t matter then." "Why not?" Joanna looked puzzled.
"It’s because I have nothing to fear if it wasn’t from Ace, even if it’s flowers, gold, or cash," Justin said confidently.
Joanna was speechless.
Justin seed to be quite dumb even though he looked smart.
He would’ve gone mad if he knew that Ace brought food to Joanna every night and stayed in her ward for more than an hour.
"Regardless, I think he’s a kind man since his gift is just what Joan likes," Clara declared brightly, happy if the number of Joanna’s pursuers grew.
"Stop that. What’s going on with you?" Joanna, however, was more worried about Clara’s relationship and asked hesitantly, "Did you get back with that person? Don’t let us affect your relationship..." "I...I’m not in a relationship with him, so it’s fine." Clara was happy to talk about Joanna’s relationships, but beca nervous when it ca to hers.
She stamred, "I’ve ended things with that person, and now I’ve got a new target that I’m going to start sothing with...Just wait and see!" "Okay, I’ll wait for your good news." Joanna stopped asking questions; she knew that Clara would tell her imdiately if there was any progress.
If she didn’t, it ant that there was nothing substantial there yet.
After that, Clara walked out of Joanna’s ward, holding a sunflower and sniffing it happily.
She was so distracted that she walked straight into soone.
Surprised, she looked up to find the very person they had just been talking about — Ethan Stuart.
She wrapped her clothes tighter around her body and growled at him, "What are you doing here? Are you stalking , you pervert? Didn’t I tell you that it was over between us?" Ethan looked at her and smiled gently.
"It’s been a while, my ex- girlfriend." He had actually co to see Ace, but coincidentally bumped into Clara.
Although they had broken up with each other, they still felt sothing stir inside their hearts when they saw each other.
"Don’t say that, we’re not that close." Disappointnt overwheld Clara when she recalled the things that had happened in the mountains, and she imdiately felt irritated with Ethan.
"How cruel! We slept together, didn’t we? Of course that makes us close," Ethan said teasingly, finding Clara’s behaviour cute.
He slowly got closer to her and stared deeply into her eyes.
"I don’t mind reminding you if you forgot how close we were." "How...are you going to do that?" Shaken by his nearness, Clara subconsciously leaned backward.
"I rember that my ex likes it when I kiss her against the wall. I don’t mind helping you rember if you’ve forgotten..." Ethan murmured seductively as he backed her into a corner, leaning over her.
"Idiot!" Blushing, Clara tried to slap him but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, whispering softly into her ear, " Aren’t we close?" "I..." Clara’s heartbeat quickened and she bit her lip, looking away.
"I don’t know." "Don’t make assumptions then. We’re close." Ethan tapped her nose affectionately and let her go, smiling in satisfaction.
Speechless, Clara gasped and clenched her fists.
She was angry with Ethan, but she was angrier at herself for giving in.
He always knew how to break down her defenses, giving her no way to resist.
Maybe it was because of his confidence, but she always felt like she was at his rcy in this battle of love.
"What are you doing here? Don’t tell you’re here to say such boring things to ." After calming down, she put so distance between them and asked coldly.
"I ca to see my friend, but I think it’s more important to talk to you since I’ve found you here." After checking his watch, Ethan asked, "Are you free? Let’s have a drink in the cafe downstairs." "No, I’m busy," Clara said bluntly and wanted to leave, but Ethan grabbed her hand and pulled her to the elevator, saying, "No, you’re free, trust ." "Hey! Ethan, what are you doing? Let go of !" Furious, Clara tried to pull away, but was ultimately dragged into the elevator with him.
"Waiter, I would like one iced Aricano and one Cappuccino," Ethan called out to a waiter the instant they arrived at the cafe.
Although they had only dated briefly, he rembered all of Clara’s preferences.
Though he seed carefree and uncommitted, that wasn’t the case at all.
"What is it you want to talk about? Hurry up, I have things to do." After Clara sat down, she crossed her arms and urged him impatiently.
"What’s the rush? There’s nothing urgent we have to do. Isn’t it nice to relax, have so coffee, and get to know each other better?" Ethan crossed his legs, rested his chin on his hand and watched her, smirking lazily.
"Don’t you have anything better to do, Ethan?" Clara said through gritted teeth. Her patience was running out, and she wasn’t as shaless as the an seated opposite her.
"Nope, the most important thing for to do is to be with you," Ethan said flirtatiously as he sipped his coffee.
"You’re crazy!" Clara pretended to vomit at his cheesy line.
After a brief silence, Ethan asked casually, "I heard you’re going to join a love reality show that’s scripted to have you dating Santiago?"
"It’s a rumor!" Clara declared.
Ethan’s joy lasted less than a second as Clara added proudly, "I’m going to date Mr. Dalton; it’s not scripted at all!"
"Clara Blackwell!" Ethan called her by her full na for the first ti, his tone threatening.
"What’s the matter, Mr. Stuart?" Clara asked smugly, overjoyed at having pissed him off.
"Are you trying to make mad?" Ethan glared at her icily. "It’s normal for couples to fight, but if you insist on bringing in another person, the damage will be irreversible."
"A couple?" Clara raised her brows in amusent.
"You and I? Or do you an Mr. Dalton and I? If it’s the forr, I think you’d better go see a neurosurgeon about your mory. Didn’t we break up?"
"Couples only break up if they stop loving each other, but you and I care so much about each other. This is just a small argunt, we haven’t broken up yet," Ethan said confidently.
"Egomaniac!" Angry, Clara got to her feet. "I’m not in love with you anymore. You’re just a disloyal scumbag, and I have no respect for you at all. You’d better go back to your beloved Shirley. Bye!" She stopped herself from splashing her coffee on him, and stord out of the cafe.
But Ethan was right. Clara had gotten pretty close to Santiago, and she happened to be on her way to an entertainnt company to sign a contract with Santiago today. As the most lowkey top actor, Santiago never joined variety shows, especially if it was a show that wasn’t challenging. However, he had accepted a love reality show with only one condition: that he be Clara’s partner.
After leaving the cafe, Clara called Santiago. "Hi, Mr. Dalton. Where are you? I’ve just left the hospital."
"Turn around, Miss Blackwell," Santiago said gently.
Clara turned around and saw Santiago wave at her from under the lush shade of a tree. He was wearing a mask, but his gaze was passionate and gentle. Clara’s heartbeat quickened, and a blush tinted her cheeks.
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