Chapter 113 Morning Conversations

Chapter 113 Morning Conversations

"Up so early?"Kate sat down with her coffee and heard a voice.

Turning around, she saw Clarence holding a cup of coffee himself. She paused for a moment, surprised.

"When did you wake up?" she asked.

She hadn't noticed him at all. How did he appear so suddenly?

"I've been awake for a while. It seems I don't have to wait until the afternoon to enjoy coffee with you," he said.

The comment sounded almost like a pickup line, but his tone was so matter-of-fact that it came across as slightly comical. Kate couldn't help but smile, feeling more at ease with Clarence than she had before.

"Indeed. Do you enjoy coffee?" she asked.

Clarence swirled his cup slightly. "Not particularly. I simply wanted a chance to speak with you privately."

He was certainly direct.

Kate smiled. "What did you want to discuss?"

"Just casual conversation. By the way, who is your father?"

Clarence set down his cup and looked at her with curiosity. Kate hesitated, somewhat surprised by the question.

He didn't know? That seemed odd.

She found it strange that he wouldn't know this, especially since he knew Sofia. Nevertheless, she answered, "Richard."

Clarence frowned, tapping his fingers on the table as if deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke again.

"I apologize. I've never paid much attention to domestic affairs, so I haven't heard of him. I should mention that I knew your mother. We were... friends, I suppose."

The word "friends" carried a subtle wave of emotion in his otherwise calm voice. Kate detected a hint of wistfulness.

Her curiosity about Clarence grew stronger.

"When did you meet my mother?" she asked.

She wanted to learn more about Elizabeth.

Additionally, she wanted to understand more about the people around her. Since her rebirth and the changes she'd made, people who had never appeared in her previous life were now entering her orbit one by one.

Kimberly, Clarence—each was someone she'd never encountered before. Learning more couldn't hurt.

"When she was twelve," he replied.

That early?

Kate was visibly surprised, and Clarence displayed his first genuine smile since she'd met him.

"Surprised?" he asked.

Kate nodded without hesitation.

Twelve years old—while not exactly childhood friends, it was still a connection from a young age. Why had Elizabeth never mentioned him?

Clarence seemed to read her thoughts. "Though your mother and I met early in life, we didn't see each other often. The day we met was my most humiliating day."

Clarence slipped into reminiscence. Kate was surprised that he spoke so openly about being an illegitimate child.

She listened quietly as he talked about the past, about Elizabeth in her younger days.

According to him, twelve-year-old Elizabeth was incredibly stubborn. They met on his birthday.

His father refused to claim him, and his mother merely saw him as a tool to climb the social ladder.

Unfortunately, she hadn't succeeded, and once he became useless to her, she took money from the Fisher family and left. Clarence was abandoned alone overseas.

He lived in a massive mansion with only the staff for company.

Their scorn and mistreatment eventually forced him to leave.

That day, Elizabeth brought him back to her hotel.

She was traveling, and her parents were away on business. She had snuck out on her own.

Elizabeth thought he was a street urchin because he was dirty from falling. She was kind-hearted, letting him use the bathroom to clean up and providing fresh clothes.

Later, when he revealed his identity, she didn't look down on him. Instead, she bought him a cake. They exchanged contact information that day.

"Your mother was like a ray of light," he said.

His eyes softened with tenderness. Kate felt something wasn't quite right.

It sounded like a story of unrequited love. Could Clarence have had feelings for Elizabeth?

Kate blinked, knowing better than to ask such a question directly.

"After your mother returned to her country, we kept in touch through letters. Since I couldn't return, we only met when she occasionally came to visit," he continued.

He paused briefly, looking at Kate with an expression so complex that it made her heart race.

A strange thought crossed her mind.

Could Clarence be her father?

No, impossible.

If that were true, why would Elizabeth marry Richard instead of a ready-made husband? Surely not because she preferred Richard's unpleasant character, his scheming ways, or his infidelity?

"Later, I lost contact with your mother. I wanted to find her, but I was restricted from doing so. We didn't see each other for decades. By the time my father died and I was finally allowed to return, I heard that your mother was doing well, so I didn't disturb her."

"Was it Sofia who told you that?" Kate asked.

Clarence raised an eyebrow. "You overheard?"

Kate felt awkward. "Yes."

She quickly explained, "But I wasn't eavesdropping intentionally. I was just passing by."

She felt embarrassed, but Clarence didn't seem bothered.

"It's fine. There's nothing to hide. She's my wife now."

A love triangle!

Kate inwardly marveled, then immediately corrected herself. She must have watched too many soap operas to jump to such conclusions.

"So you didn't know my mother had married?" she asked.

Clarence shook his head. "No. The last news I received was of her death, but I couldn't return due to certain special circumstances."

So Sofia came in his place?

Kate felt she was piecing together some puzzle, but couldn't quite see the complete picture.

"Kate."

Lost in thought, she turned to see Ethan looking at her with warm eyes.

Her pupils dilated with delight. "You're back! Finished your work?"

"Yes."

He was holding a paper bag and, seeing her sitting with Clarence, walked directly to her side, naturally ruffling her hair.

"I brought your favorite cake," he said.

Then he turned to Clarence. "Mr. Fisher, you haven't had breakfast either, have you? Please join us."

Clarence looked at the cake, his expression shifting subtly. He didn't reach for it, instead glancing at their joined hands before looking away.

"No need. Coffee is enough for me. Since you're back, I'll leave you two to talk," he said, standing up.

Ethan didn't try to stop him, merely nodding. "Very well."

Once Clarence disappeared from sight, Ethan leaned closer to Kate, his fingers gently pinching her slightly puffy cheek.

"What were you discussing?" he asked.

He noticed she had seemed quite engaged in the conversation.

Ethan sighed imperceptibly, and Kate burst into laughter.

"What? Are you jealous of Mr. Fisher too?" she teased.Ethan didn't feel jealous, just slightly uncomfortable. The way Clarence had looked at him earlier felt oddly strange.

To be honest, it almost resembled the way one would look at a "rival in love."

But that seemed ridiculous—Clarence was old enough to be Kate's father.