Chapter 29 Turns Out My Wife's a Genius
Mason Reed fixed his gaze on Clara Bennett, a gentle smile softening his rugged features.
Then he turned to Jason Ford, his expression shifting to something fierce and deadly, his eyes slicing through the air like a sharpened blade aimed straight at Jason's throat.
The security guards at the hotel entrance stepped forward, but a single icy glare from Mason sent them retreating in an instant.
Jason Ford, visibly shaken by Mason's commanding presence, trembled all over. "W-Who... who the hell are you?" he stammered, scrambling to his feet, his legs wobbling beneath him.
"What kind of man are you? In broad daylight, you dare hit me? I—"
Mason didn't bother with words. He strode forward, grabbed Jason by the collar like he was picking up a helpless puppy, and dragged him toward the hotel's back courtyard.
Clara, worried Mason might get himself into trouble, hurried after him. But before she could get close, the air filled with Jason's pitiful wails and pleas for mercy echoing from the courtyard.
Jason Ford was a mess—face bruised and swollen, clutching his cheeks as he knelt, banging his head on the ground in submission. Mason delivered a swift kick to his chest, and before Jason could recover, he slammed a fist into his head, pinning half his face under his boot.
Jason's cries grew desperate. "B-Big brother! Sir! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"Stay away from her," Mason said, his voice cold and unyielding. "If I catch you bothering my wife again, you won't walk away this easily."
Jason's eyes widened in shock, his body wriggling like a worm on the ground, his jaw nearly dislocated under Mason's weight.
Mason glanced down, noticing a dark wet patch spreading across Jason's pants. He snorted in disgust, lifting his foot abruptly.
"Get lost!"
Jason, ignoring his pain, scrambled away in a pathetic heap, nearly crashing into Clara as he fled.
Clara flinched at his disheveled state, half-expecting a brutal fight had taken place. She rushed to check on Mason, only to find him strolling out of the courtyard, brushing off his sleeves as if nothing had happened.
Her eyes welled up with relief, and she threw herself into his arms, a smile breaking through her tears.
"Will... will this cause trouble for you?" Mason asked softly. "I just beat up your boss."
Clara shook her head vigorously.
"My husband's only good at fighting," Mason teased, chuckling as he ran his fingers gently through her hair. "You'll have to get used to it."
Clara looked up at him, their eyes locking, and they burst into shared, carefree laughter.
He patted her head affectionately. "Why don't you quit this job? The pay's lousy, and it's exhausting. Now that I've made an enemy of your boss, he might make things even harder for you."
"No, he won't," Clara said with a sly grin.
Mason paused, intrigued, as she pulled a small recorder from her pocket and pressed play. Jason's voice came through loud and clear:
"You're way better than that tramp Stacy Chen!"
"Clara, stick with me, and I'll give you everything—except the title, of course!"
"Clara, I'll hook you up with more clients, just keep me happy..."
Mason's eyes narrowed, a newfound respect flickering in his gaze as he looked at Clara.
In the heat of that tense moment, this little woman had stayed calm, collected evidence of harassment, and outsmarted Jason without breaking a sweat!
With this recording, Jason wouldn't dare retaliate.
If it went public, he'd be ruined—his reputation trashed, Stacy Chen alienated, and his career in the industry finished.
"Well, well," Mason said with a grin, "turns out my wife's a genius."
Clara beamed with pride, tilting her chin up playfully. "You bet I am!"
"But who's Clara?" he asked, his tone shifting. "I thought your name was Evelyn?"
"..."
Clara's face paled, her legs nearly giving out. Mason caught her by the waist, his chiseled features now wearing a knowing, enigmatic smile.
The masculine aura radiating from him, laced with an undeniable pressure, made her heart race with guilt.
"Uh, well..." She racked her brain for an excuse. "I am Evelyn. Clara's just my nickname."
"How does that guy know your nickname?" Mason pressed.
Clara bit her lip, her ears turning red as cherries, heat creeping up her neck.
"I... I don't know where he heard it," she said, forcing the words out. "We went to the same college back in the day. Maybe he overheard my friends call me that and picked it up..."
"Anyway, that creep's a total psycho!" Clara added quickly, flashing a nervous smile. "Honey, you did great beating him up! How about I make you some BBQ ribs tonight, maybe some grilled fish too? A little reward for my hero!"
Mason chuckled, letting it slide. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as they strode out of the hotel together.
The next day, whispers buzzed through the office. People dodged Clara's path or huddled in small groups, murmuring behind her back.
From the moment she stepped through the company doors, Clara felt their strange stares. She figured word of Jason's beating had spread. She wasn't about to deny her involvement—it was tied to her, after all—but if it came down to a fight, she wouldn't back down either.
"Clara, over here!" her coworker Anna called softly.
Clara hesitated, then followed Anna to a quiet corner of the hallway.
Anna, a bubbly and kind-hearted girl, was Clara's closest friend at work. With trouble brewing, she was the first to check in.
"Clara," Anna said, her face uneasy, "have you heard what they're saying about you?"
"I can guess," Clara replied bluntly. "It's about Jason getting beat up, right? If the higher-ups want to dig into it, I'll—"
"It's not just that!" Anna whispered urgently. "Clara, are you hiding something from everyone?"