Chapter 30 Where's the Ring?
Clara Bennett stood frozen, looking at her in confusion.
Anna sighed and whispered in her ear, "Let me be frank with you. The whole company is buzzing with rumors that you're married to a thug who's been in prison..."
"They're saying that the guy who beat up Jason Ford yesterday was your husband! Everyone's describing it vividly, saying your husband is always getting into fights and going to jail, served many years, and was just released recently."
Clara couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, speechless for a moment.
Seeing her silence, Anna was even more surprised. "Clara, are you really married? Is your husband really like that?"
"Yes, I'm married," Clara admitted honestly. "And my husband does have a less than stellar background."
Anna stepped back, looking at her in disbelief.
"But he's been very good to me," Clara said softly, each word falling like a pearl. "I didn't mention my marriage at first, not because I wanted to hide it, but because no one ever asked, and there's no company policy that says married people can't be employed, right?"
Anna frowned. "That's true, but..."
"In short, my husband is a good person," Clara said calmly. "He may have been in jail for fighting before, but since marrying me, he hasn't done any of those things. The past is the past, and we're moving forward together into the present and future."
Anna smiled at her, thinking that she might not have Clara's courage.
"Honestly, I admire you," Anna said, taking her hand and suddenly noticing her bare fingers. "But if you're married, why aren't you wearing a wedding ring? Without one, it's easy for people to misunderstand!"
Clara was taken aback and looked at her hand. When she married Mason Reed, it was rushed, and she didn't have the money to buy rings. There wasn't even a ring exchange ceremony; she just got married in a blur and didn't think much about rings.
However, there seemed to be a ring in the sandalwood box Mason had given her?
As she was thinking, a sharp voice interrupted her thoughts: "Her husband spent half his life in jail; how could he afford a ring?"
Clara turned around sharply to see Stacy Chen approaching with a few others, her eyes filled with hostility as if she wanted to devour Clara.
"You should all learn from Clara!" Stacy sneered. "Her husband has fought, been in jail, smoked, drank, and done everything bad, but he's still a good man! Ha ha..."
"Yeah," someone chimed in. "I heard her husband doesn't even have a proper job and lives off his wife's money!"
"No wonder Clara works so hard. To get contracts, she'll sleep with any man!"
Stacy gritted her teeth.
After hearing that Jason Ford was beaten by Clara's husband, she was first shocked, then furious. She knew Jason wouldn't have been beaten without doing something outrageous.
At the end of the day, that scumbag was just playing her! Pretending to be devoted to her while eyeing Clara!
But she had to swallow her anger. Publicly, she had to defend Jason, but privately, she was determined to destroy Clara!
"Clara," Stacy mocked, "working so hard lately, are you saving up for a diamond ring? Ha, if your husband can't afford one, you can always find another man to buy it for you! Men fall for your tricks easily; you just spread your legs and the orders come in!"
"Stacy!"
Clara's roar silenced the group that had been laughing.
They all looked at her, sensing the murderous intent in her eyes and the chilling aura around her.
It was the first time they'd seen the gentle and submissive Clara show such ferocity.
They exchanged glances, while Stacy smirked wickedly and challenged her, "What are you going to do?"
Clara trembled, her fists clenched tightly.
She kept telling herself to stay rational; they were at the company, under surveillance, and she couldn't cause a scene.
Stacy was trying to provoke her, and if she took the bait, she'd be falling into Stacy's trap!
Clara took several deep breaths, glared at her, and said firmly, "Stacy, as a manager, please watch your words and actions. As Jason's girlfriend, you should keep him in check! My husband said if he harasses me again, he'll beat him to a pulp!"
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not a threat," Clara smiled slightly. "I just realized how great it is to have a husband who's willing to do anything to protect me! Unlike some people who seem respectable but are only dating to get their hands on their uncle's shares in the company!"
"You..."
In fact, Stacy had some inkling of Jason's motives for dating her, but having it exposed by Clara in front of everyone hit a nerve.