Chapter 21 What Haven't I Done for You?
Jasper White stood there, dumbfounded.
Sure, the White family had some pull in Harrington, but sniffing out every tiny, no-name company?
That was pushing it. And with his profile, poking around could draw unwanted eyes.
If it backfired like that mess with Miles Bennett last time, and someone started whispering he was tangled up with Mason's wife. ..
Jasper coughed awkwardly, forcing a grin. "Third Master, I can dig, no problem. But fair warning—if some rumor pops off about me and your little lady, you're not buying it, right? I mean—ow!"
Before he could finish, Chase Ye landed a solid whack on his head.
Meanwhile, Clara Bennett was hitting her stride in her second month at Rainbow Trade Co.
. She'd picked up the unwritten rules of the corporate jungle—how to dodge Stacy Chen's petty jabs with a smile, how to sidestep Jason Ford's creeping advances without burning bridges.
She kept her distance from him at work, focusing on her tasks.
But it took a toll. By the time she got home, she was wiped.
Kicking off her heels, she'd collapse onto the couch, sometimes dozing off until the dead of night.
One time, she woke to find a thin blanket draped over her and Mason Reed sprawled on the floor beside her, his arm tucked under his head like a pillow.
She'd hogged his couch, but he hadn't taken her bed in the bedroom.
Clara smiled faintly, a mix of guilt and warmth curling in her chest.
Mason had told her once, "If that job's such a grind, why not quit?"
"No way," she'd shot back, glancing at him. "If I don't work, how do we eat? Pay rent?"
"You're sweating pennies like that?" he'd said, smirking.
"Pennies?" Clara laughed, incredulous. "You're such a prince, huh? Never had to budget a day in your life. My paycheck barely keeps us afloat. Without some big sales and a bonus, we're in for lean times ahead!"
She hadn't even noticed how naturally "us" slipped out.
Mason chuckled softly. It was a strange feeling—new, even. His old life never had room for this kind of domestic banter.
He decided to poke her a little. "Before you married me, weren't you the Bennett family princess? Why're you so stingy? Out there busting your ass now—don't tell me your folks just sit back and watch you struggle?"
Clara froze mid-chop, nearly nicking her finger with the knife. Her heart thudded. "W-what're you talking about?" she said, pasting on a shaky smile. "Even if I was some heiress, I'm married now. Got my own life to run. We're not tied to my family's wallet anymore—I've got to plan, not splurge."
"Oh, really?" Mason's grin widened as he leaned closer, his eyes glinting.
"You know what they say—a broke trust fund kid's still richer than most. Even if you're not the Bennett darling anymore, you've got to have some savings stashed away, right?
And didn't fancy brides get fancy dowries? Where's yours? I haven't seen a dime."
Clara's face flushed crimson. She spun around, her big, luminous eyes flashing with embarrassment and defiance.
"W-why are you grilling me like this? Since we got married, have I ever let you go hungry?
Left you shivering? I've handled everything around here—inside and out!
What haven't I done for you? You think I'm hoarding some secret cash or something? You're ridiculous!"
Her rant started fierce but fizzled fast, her voice softening, lashes trembling as she looked down. She was adorable when she was flustered—too cute to resist.
What haven't I done? Mason thought, biting back a laugh. One of us on the bed, the other on the couch—that's your idea of "taking care" of me?
He coughed to cover his amusement. "Just making conversation. Why're you so worked up?"
Clara sucked in a breath, squaring her shoulders. "Worked up? Ha! I'm not worked up. Just... saying stuff. Totally calm!"
She turned back to the stove, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught Mason lingering in the kitchen doorway, his stare boring into her back like a spotlight.
She tried to focus on dinner—simple shredded potatoes with a kick—but her usual knack for cooking deserted her. The pan nearly scorched.
Clara sighed, defeated. To keep her substitute bride secret under wraps, she'd have to play the Bennett heiress card harder from now on.