Clara's gaze instantly sank, and she turned back with an indifferent expression, her tone carrying a hint of flippancy, "Oh, it's the little sister. What a coincidence to meet you here. It's really like a lingering ghost won't go away."
Alexia's smile stiffened, anger sprouting in her eyes, and she taunted, "Thanks to big sister, the Sutton Family is now the target of all criticism, and even I got involved. But you're fine, still in the mood to drink and get drunk here. What? Isn't your brother-in-law treating you well? Oh, I forgot, he's still in a coma and didn't even attend the wedding yesterday."
"Then little sister better seize the opportunity, ride this wave to increase your exposure. You might even gain more fans and land a good role, entering the realm of third or fourth-tier. It's certainly better than your current status as an eighteenth-tier actress."
Clara's lips curved slightly, a mesmerizing smile blossoming on her cold, delicate features, mocking evident in her black and white eyes.
"Who cares about your pathetic fame." Alexia, exasperated, stepped forward, sneering coldly, "I truly pity you, marrying a man who could faint at any time and may not live past thirty. You don't know yet, do you? Nathan has already proposed to me."
Emily frowned, slammed her glass down heavily, got up, and snapped angrily, "Alexia, are you out of your mind?"
Clara reached out to stop her, smiling faintly, "Oh, if you like that kind of trash, just keep it, no need to announce it so loudly. After all, trash and trash are a perfect fit. I wish you two a long and happy marriage."
"Who are you calling trash..."
Alexia, infuriated, turned green and made a move to attack, but Emily stepped in between them, pushing her away mercilessly, "Who else? You and Nathan, you pair of filthy partners. Alexia, where do you get the nerve to be so loud here? Is stealing your sister's boyfriend your badge of honor? Need me to help you shout it out with a loudspeaker?"
Alexia staggered backward. If it weren't for her assistant catching her, she would have fallen to the ground.
"You dare to push me?"
"Hah, funny, not to mention pushing you, I could beat you up right now and see who dares to stop me."
Emily sneered, lifting her hand as if to hit her, making Alexia retreat in fright.
She'd known Emily for quite some time and knew she was the kind who did what she said, but she couldn't put aside her pride, snorted arrogantly, "Running into you two is truly unlucky, I won't stoop to your level."
Watching Alexia drag her assistant away in a hasty retreat, Emily rolled her eyes disdainfully at Clara, "Clara, your stepsister is just a coward, all bark and no bite, can't even handle playing the game. From tomorrow, anyone named Alexia is banned from coming into this bar, bad luck."
Clara lazily chuckled, "She's been flaunting borrowed authority for ages now, and it's not the first time she's taken a beating from you. People, no matter how stupid, don't just stand there waiting to be hit without running away."
Nearing eleven o'clock, Clara stood up to leave, and Emily accompanied her to the parking lot. Just as she was about to call for a driver, she caught sight out of the corner of her eye of the right front tire of Clara's car sunk flat. Before she could recover from the shock, she saw Clara walk over.
The fruit knife stuck in the tire sobered her up instantly, taking a deep breath as anger spread through her chest.
The only culprit she could think of flashed in her mind.
Alexia.
Her half-sister!
"Damn, which bastard did this?" Emily spat out an angry curse, glancing back at Clara's calm face, "Clara, this wouldn't be..."
"Who else could it be?" Clara brushed her hair to the back of her head, looked around, and focused on the camera directly facing the vehicle, nodding slightly, "It's going to trouble you a bit."
"I should have just pinned her down and punched her." Emily ground her teeth in anger.
Clara squinted at the fruit knife. Her stepsister was always like this, narrow-minded and vindictive.
Since Clara was brought back to the Sutton Family at the age of nine, Alexia had never been kind to her. No matter what, she would try to snatch it; even if she couldn't, she'd find a way to destroy it.
Including her ex-boyfriend Nathan, who was stolen by any means, and then Alexia would flaunt it to her with a victor's attitude.
These were Alexia's usual tactics.
The two walked out of the parking lot, light rain soaking the bustling Imperial Capital night, bringing a hint of chill.
The night breeze blew with the rain, causing Clara to shiver slightly.
Just as she was about to pull out her phone to call a car, a smoky gray Bentley pulled up near them, the window rolled down slowly to reveal a stranger's face nodding at Clara, "Ma'am."
Clara frowned, not recognizing him, her red lips moved slightly as she was about to speak when the rear window rolled down too.
Through the rain, a handsome, deep-set profile came into view of her slightly drunk eyes. The man in a dark blue tailored suit had shed the fatigue of last night, exuding his elegant and noble demeanor.
His eyes hid a helpless languor, tinged with coldness and indifference, silently landing on her face, which was tinged with a faint blush.
The refreshing night breeze brushed her hair into disarray, her charming eyes under the dim street light gained a tinge of unique allure and coquettishness.
"Been drinking?"
The man's brows furrowed, his voice cool and low.
"Mm, not much." Clara lightly nibbled on her red lips, asking puzzledly, "Why are you here?"
"A dinner engagement nearby. Didn't drive?"
Clara pursed her lips. She did drive, but the car was now in a sorry state.
Although seeing him for the first time, Emily immediately recognized the impeccable man by his appearance, grinning as she said, "What a coincidence. I was just about to call a car for Clara, and here you are, Mr. William Yong."
Mr. Yong's gaze swept over her, to which Clara casually introduced, "My friend, Emily Taylor."
Emily waved at him with a smile, "Clara's car had its tire slashed, can't leave. I'll trouble Mr. Yong to give her a lift home."
"Get in."
"Peachy, I'm heading off now."
Clara tucked her hair behind her ear, waved to Emily, walked through the rain, and pulled open the car door. The man shifted inside so she could bend down and sit in.
As they merged into the traffic, Clara absentmindedly played with the raindrops in her hair when a coat with a faint woody fragrance was tossed over, covering her head.
"What happened with the tire?"
In the quiet car, a low, sexy voice resonated.
Clara pulled down the coat, gazing at the dark blue tailored jacket, casting a sidelong glance at him. He was wearing a white shirt with the collar slightly open, combined with his chiseled profile and perfect jawline, giving him a somewhat ascetic appeal.
"Like what you see?"
Perhaps her gaze was too hard to ignore, the man turned, the darkness in his eyes amusedly diffused, a hint of a smile crept in.
Clara was momentarily blinded by his sudden smile, feeling dizzy from the lingering effects of alcohol, causing her head to ache. She withdrew her gaze, "The tire got stabbed with a fruit knife."