Chapter 3 Nothing Nice to Say

• Being blind, Mason was even treated harshly by the butler.
• Feeling Clara's soft hand balled into a fist in his hand, Mason gave it a reassuring squeeze as he said to George, "Bring it in."
• George entered with a tray and set it down heavily on the table.
• "Congratulations on your wedding, Mr. Mason and Mrs. Smith!" he announced cheerfully.
• Clara glanced at the tray, seeing two dishes and a soup—scrambled eggs, greens, and a bowl of clear broth.
• If this is what they serve Mason every day, that would explain his thin frame.
• Clara opened her mouth slightly, and George, noting her hesitance, said with a fake grin, "Don't worry about the simple food, Mrs. Smith. They have all the necessary nutrients."
• Clara clenched her fist, wanting to hit his chubby face.
• Right then, Mason ordered, "Leave!"
• Despite being blind, Mason's authority was clear. George backed away, muttering as he left, "I'm so unlucky to be stuck here. Who'd want to serve a blind man like you?"
• With a slam, George shut the door.
• Before, Clara had imagined Mason's situation differently.
• She wished she could punish both George and the maid with her silver needles.
• Mason remained unaware of any movement from Clara for quite some time. The air in the room was filled with dust, and there was a odor of rotten eggs lingering.
• Even though they were given eggs and vegetables to eat, they never received fresh produce.
• Clara remained silent for a while, leading Mason to think she was disgusted.
• "It's not too late to go," he said plainly. "No one will stop you."
• Mason misunderstood; Clara was planning how to deal with those villains.
• She looked at Mason's pale face, then rushed over, embracing his waist tightly and burying her face in his chest.
• Feeling her warmth against his chest, Mason gently stroke her soft hair, being careful not to hurt her.
• "If you stay, you might face hardships for a while. But I promise not to let you suffer forever, Leslie. As someone who has faced hardships with me, I'll ensure you taste life's sweetness."
• In reality, any meal would be sweet as long as she was with Mason.
• Clara brought the tray closer, offering a piece of scrambled egg to Mason's lips.
• He took a bite.
• The egg was rough and tasteless, but he had grown used to it.
• He worried a woman used to luxury might not like it, but then he heard Clara pick up a piece and chew on it too.
• Clara's chewing was music to his ears.
• He reached out to Clara, and she placed her hand in his.
• Mason gently embraced Clara, holding her delicate face in his hands. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, then traced down her nose with his lips, finally meeting her own tender lips.
• His kisses gradually warmed up, spreading a comforting warmth throughout the room, dispelling the loneliness that lingered.
• Clara wasn't afraid of facing difficulties; as long as she was with Mason, she felt strong enough to tackle any challenge that came her way.
• Even though Clara shared the last name Davis and lived in the same mansion as her family, she was treated no better than a maid by the Davises, despite Henry being her biological father.
• Having spent so much time with the Davises' servants, Clara understood her father's intentions well enough to know why he kept her there.
• There were two reason she were willing to stay at the Davises: first, for her grandfather's clinic, and second, because Mason used to come to the Davises to look for Leslie, so she could secretly watch him from the sidelines.
• The person she yearned for was right in front of her, kissing her affectionately.
• Though Mason's heart belonged to Leslie, and he mistakenly thought he was kissing her, Clara didn't mind, as long as she could be with him in that moment.
• Mason lifted Clara and carried her to the bed.
• ...
• As night fell, Clara drifted off to sleep in Mason's comforting embrace.
• Holding her close, he ran his fingers through her silky hair, wondering when it had become straight, recalling its previous curls.
• He realized he was overthinking things. Who else but Leslie would choose to marry me?
• In the quiet of the night, Clara's breathing lulled him to sleep.
• Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed on the wooden floor. Someone dressed in a black coat rudely barged in and entered the room.
• His foorsteps had jolted Mason awake; they were all to familiar to him.
• Mason covered Clara protectively with the blanket and sat up in bed.
• The man's cold voice broke the silence. "You got married today, Mason. As your cousin, I felt obliged to congratulate you."
• Mason replied softly, "Thanks."
• "There's no need for formalities between us," Tyler Smith said, glancing at his bodyguard, who promptly draped his coat over a nearby chair. Tyler then removed his gloves and casually cleaned the dirt off his boots.
• "Do you know why I'm congratulating you so late?" Tyler asked casually while dusting off his boots.
• "It's not like you've got anything nice to say, Tyler." Mason chuckled. "Your affairs are none of my concern."
• Although his bodyguards were about to roll their sleeves upon hearing that, Tyler remained unfazed by Mason's response and waved his hand.
• "This time, it's not about me," Tyler whispered to Mason, bending close to his ear. "Your beloved grandfather passed away two hours ago from a heart attack."
• Mason was stunned by the news, feeling as if he had been struck in the head. "What did you say?"