Chapter 44 So Institute

Andrew's words plunged Matthew into deep thought.

Suddenly, he recalled everything Daniel had done for Clara, leaving him with a sense of imbalance.

"Grandpa, Clara and I are divorced. I have no right to interfere in her affairs," Matthew said to himself, attempting to dispel the ambiguous feelings within.

Before he could process further, Andrew flung a pillow at him.

"Just because you're divorced doesn't mean you can't pursue her again? Anything is possible." Andrew sighed in disappointment, turning away from Matthew, clearly disinterested in continuing the conversation.

Matthew seemed foolish to Andrew, who was at a loss for what more to say.

"You figure it out yourself. If you don't care for her anymore and are content seeing Clara in someone else's arms, then that's your choice." Andrew concluded, leaving Matthew shaken, suddenly nostalgic for the three years they had spent together.

Back then, Clara had eyes only for him, unlike now...

"Grandpa, rest well," Matthew finally spoke, instructing the caretaker to look after Andrew before leaving for home himself.

The once lively mansion now stood eerily empty, devoid of its former brightness.

Matthew surveyed the surroundings, taking in the cozy decorations one last time. Wearily, he collapsed onto the sofa.

David, who should have left, approached with urgency, holding out a file. "Mr. Garcia, this is the information on the chemical plant in the outskirts..."

"The chemical plant?"

Matthew frowned in confusion. His chemical plants were supposed to be located strictly outside Halcyon Bay, according to regulations.

The situation with this particular plant shouldn't have anything to do with him.

David's expression was grave. "Mr. Garcia, someone has set up a plant under your name in the area Ms. Edwards is about to investigate. There's a high chance it's leaking contaminants linked to us..."

Matthew was completely awake now, sitting up straight and attentively reviewing the documents in his hands.

Upon seeing the location where the chemical plant was established, he immediately pulled out another investigation file.

The two locations overlapped perfectly, confirming it was indeed the area Clara was about to investigate.

Anger flashed in Matthew's eyes, his grip on the documents tightening involuntarily.

"Who set this up?"

Matthew's tone was laced with hostility, causing David to shiver slightly.

Considering the information he had received, David hesitated, unsure whether to speak up.

"It's Mrs. Garcia..." he finally confessed.

Sharon?

Matthew closed his eyes, his chest heaving with anger.

"Let's go to the Garcia mansion," he commanded sharply.

David looked at Matthew's dark expression and sighed inwardly.

Sharon had really stepped into a hornet's nest this time.

...

Meanwhile, Clara sat in her study, unable to calm her mind, replaying Matthew's departure in her thoughts.

She picked up and put down her phone several times.

Just as she resolved to make a call, her phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, her expression turned serious.

"Hello, Mr. Ramirez."

"Get ready. I'll send a car to pick you up shortly. The situation is serious, and we need you there now."

Upon hearing this, Clara subconsciously glanced at her partially healed leg and then at another box nearby.

"Understood, Mr. Ramirez."

After Parker hung up, Clara opened the insulated box. Inside lay the healing serum, not yet tested on humans.

After a brief hesitation, she assembled the components and injected them into her body.

"Ah."

The intense adverse reaction made Clara gag involuntarily.

Clara didn't feel relief until she had expelled everything she had eaten.

Five minutes later, with a slightly pale face, she hurriedly packed her things and neatly bundled up the testing equipment.

Meanwhile, outside the riverside mansion, a nanny van pulled up slowly. The vehicle looked modest, worth only tens of thousands of dollars.

Four people disembarked. Julia Bell, with disheveled hair and wearing a pink miniskirt and delicate makeup, flashed a hint of envy at the luxurious mansion before them.

"Clara is so rich. She can afford to live in a mansion like this, which must cost several million dollars," Julia remarked loudly, making the others, who weren't as well-off, uncomfortable.

Tristan Reed, with a crew cut, glanced at the mansion and muttered unhappily, "We're all supposed to gather at Mr. Ramirez's place, but she needs us to come pick her up separately. She's gotten used to being a rich lady, huh?"

Christian Torres, a handsome man in a shirt and glasses, frowned at Tristan's comment. "Clara needs our help because she has mobility issues. Let's be considerate."

"Spare me, Christian. Are you feeling sorry for Clara because she's pretty?" said another girl named Sophia Ross.

Sophia obviously wasn't easy to get along with, her face displaying a sharp and sarcastic expression.

Sophia's disdainful gaze fell on the mansion before them.

"Having money isn't everything. It's all about relying on men."

Julia quickly intervened, sensing the tension and trying to smooth things over.

"Alright, let's knock on the door. Sophia, save those comments for private. Don't say such things in front of Clara."

Sophia sighed irritably but acquiesced to Julia's request.

Observing their dynamics, Christian couldn't decide whether this team-up would be beneficial or troublesome.

Just as he moved forward to ring the doorbell, the door swung open.

Clara emerged, carrying several packages, dressed smartly in a hiking outfit that accentuated her slender waist.

Her hair loosely tied back gave her a casual look, and her light makeup seemed intended to conceal signs of fatigue on her face.

Clara's appearance stunned the four at the door.

Julia recovered first, a flicker of envy crossing her eyes.

"Hello, Clara. I'm Julia Bell."

Julia's soft voice brought the others back to reality.

Clara nodded faintly but didn't shake the hand Julia extended, instead heading straight to the trunk to unload her things.

Julia stood awkwardly in place.

"Clara, what's all this?"

Christian frowned as he looked at the full trunk.

"Protective suits, isolation gear, and testing equipment. You didn't bring any of these."

Clara, not one for unnecessary niceties, replied matter-of-factly, "What you brought is all useless."

Her cold attitude didn't sit well with the others.

Sophia, outspoken as ever, couldn't hold back. "What we brought was provided by the school. Where did you get this equipment? If it's not up to standard, are we going to suffer because of you?"

Clara paused mid-step toward the car, turning to arch an eyebrow at the speaker.

"So Institute's gear isn't good enough for you?"

So Institute?

Sophia widened her eyes.

That was the research institute of the Sovereign's medical team.