Volume One, Chapter 10: His Ex-Wife Astonished Him

After lunch, at half past one, Leo left the old manor villa with Cheryl.

Once they were gone, Clara handed the little one to Miranda. “Mom, I have something to take care of this afternoon. Could you watch him for me?”

Miranda held her chubby grandson, beaming with delight. “Of course. Go on, don’t worry about anything.”

Only then did Clara drive away in peace.

Medical University.

The students were already on winter break, and the guests invited today were all distinguished experts and academic luminaries in medicine. Ordinary people rarely had the chance to step into such a solemn and exacting conference.

After parking her car, Clara headed toward the main building.

Just after turning a corner, she saw a large crowd gathered beneath a tree by the entrance, deep in conversation.

Lifting her eyes, she saw several highly respected scholars standing around a father and daughter.

Among them, the most striking figure was none other than the man at the helm of the Hart family, Leo Hart.

In a business suit, tall and handsome, his bearing noble and imposing, he stood beside Cheryl like a guardian deity, shielding her from all harm.

Cheryl spoke with confidence and grace, her words carrying both elegance and charm.

The sight made Clara feel a tightness in her chest. She took a detour around them and entered the main venue.

There was already a crowd around Julian as well. When he saw Clara approaching, he quickly called her over.

He then made a point of introducing her to everyone there.

“So this is Dr. Clara and Dr. Elena’s daughter. A pleasure to meet you.”

“With parents this outstanding, the daughter is surely destined to surpass them.”

“I heard Ms. Clara’s laboratory received major sponsorship from Hart Group. Truly remarkable at such a young age.”

Clara responded with a faint smile, composed and unhurried, with the elegance of a secluded orchid blooming alone in a valley, refined and poised.

The conference was about to begin, and Clara had been seated beside Julian in the front row.

When Leo and the Prentice father and daughter entered the hall, they spotted Clara at first glance.

Both father and daughter froze, unable to believe it. What was Clara doing here?

Cheryl secretly glanced at Leo’s expression. Sure enough, he had noticed her too.

She assumed the front-row seat had been arranged for Clara because of the achievements of her parents, which explained the special treatment.

Cheryl curled her lip with quiet disdain and, following her father with graceful composure, took a seat in the front row as well.

The person seated beside Clara was Leo.

And on Leo’s other side sat Cheryl.

After sitting down, Leo turned slightly toward Clara and asked in a low voice, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Clara treated him like air and ignored the question entirely.

Julian answered a call at that moment, and before long, Ethan’s handsome figure appeared at the entrance.

Julian waved, and Ethan strode over.

As one of the representatives of the investing companies, Ethan had also been assigned a seat in the front row.

As he approached, he nodded to Leo in greeting, and Cheryl smiled and winked at him.

Ethan was just about to sit when Julian unexpectedly stood and gave up his seat. “Sit with Clara. You two will be representing the company on stage later.”

Ethan would deliver remarks on behalf of the investors, while Clara would speak on behalf of the research institute.

Leo glanced sideways at Ethan, his thin lips pressing into a firm line.

A trace of surprise flashed through Cheryl’s beautiful eyes as well.

Ethan was a foreign company brought in for investment attraction, and he had returned to the country less than a month ago.

How could he know Clara?

Cheryl immediately looked at the middle-aged man beside Ethan. At that moment, Thomas Prentice said to her, “That is Julian, the top research doctor from my elder brother’s laboratory back then.”

Cheryl was greatly shocked. She had long wanted to pay a visit to Dr. Julian while abroad, never imagining that he had returned to the country, and that he was actually a core member of Clara’s parents’ team.

She sneered inwardly. That explained why Clara had been given the chance to sit in the front row.

And since Ethan and Julian shared the same surname, they were very likely father and son.

Julian introducing his son to Clara also explained why Ethan would be sitting beside her.

This exchange conference was hosted by the government. Those attending were representatives from medical research institutions and major hospitals, as well as leaders of large enterprises interested in investing in research. Domestic medicine was at a standstill, and in order to invigorate research and bring new hope to humanity, several major topics would be addressed at this conference.

Among them, several leading domestic research institutions, headed by Prentice Biotech, would take the stage one by one to deliver academic speeches.

Cheryl, representing Prentice Biotech, stood on stage in a light-colored, dignified skirt suit that perfectly outlined her figure. With her long hair swept up at the back of her head, her noble bearing and professional academic manner made her radiant onstage, earning thunderous applause.

Cheryl bowed slightly, thanking everyone profusely, her gaze soft as it rested on Leo in the front row. Her heart pounded wildly. When his eyes had been fixed on her onstage moments ago, it had felt as though she were being embraced by love; she had felt as if she were being welcomed by her entire world.

Then Cheryl looked at Clara, who remained expressionless, and laughed coldly to herself.

So what if one had outstanding parents? In academic matters, wasn’t she still inferior?

The research lab supported by Hart Group with three hundred million had achieved nothing in her hands. Clara ought to reflect on herself.

With confident, elegant steps, Cheryl returned to her seat. Next came Thomas Prentice, speaking on behalf of the company. Full of ambition, he spoke freely and boldly onstage, sketching out a grand vision that inspired everyone present and won another round of applause.

The second to be invited onto the stage was the Lester Group, brought back to the country through investment attraction. As the company’s chief executive officer, Ethan walked up the elevated platform with steady strides.

Clara watched from below. Ethan truly was Julian’s son; he carried the easy authority of a seasoned leader. In speech and bearing, he was composed and unflappable, his words landing with force. Returning to develop the country with nearly fifty billion in capital had caused quite a stir.

Julian turned and asked Clara softly, “Clara, you’re up next. Don’t be nervous.”

Clara smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry, Uncle Julian. I won’t be nervous.”

“Just give roughly the content in the materials I prepared for you, and you’ll be fine.” Julian was still worried that Clara was too young to hold her ground and might become flustered before so many experts and scholars.

Clara smiled and nodded. “All right, Uncle Julian. I’ve carefully read your draft.”

Ethan finished speaking and stepped down from the stage. His gaze fell on Clara.

Soon, this young woman would be representing her father’s laboratory onstage. He was genuinely worried that she might not command the room and end up becoming a laughingstock.

It was not that Ethan looked down on Clara. It was only that her face seemed far too young, and her features were bright and striking. A beauty this dazzling could easily overshadow all her other strengths, leaving people to focus only on her appearance.

The host had already begun the introduction, mentioning Clara’s name and the research institute she represented.

“Ethan, give Clara a copy of the speech notes,” Julian said urgently, seeing Clara about to rise.

Ethan immediately reached for the briefcase he had brought, only to realize that in his haste getting out of the car, he had left it behind.

His handsome face darkened. Enduring the risk of being scolded, he looked at his father. “Dad, I forgot to bring it.”

Hearing this, Clara smiled calmly. “It’s all right, Uncle Julian. I have my own prepared copy.”

With that, Clara rose and stepped onto the stage. She inserted a USB drive into the computer, located the file in record time, and opened it.

Then she turned to face the audience. A gentle smile on her face, the microphone clipped to her collar carried her clear and pleasant voice to every corner of the hall.

“Today’s topic is: confronting medical challenges and exploring the path forward in scientific research.”

“As a vital field devoted to safeguarding human health, we have always advanced while battling every kind of disease. Countless medical problems stand in our way like fierce obstacles, impeding the progress of human health...”

Dressed in a khaki trench coat, her hair tied high in a ponytail, Clara wore flat shoes and stood with a back straight as a pine. Her enunciation was crisp and penetrating, and with calm assurance she built an unshakable picture of her understanding of the field, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

Her laser pointer paused now on clearly organized data, now on key arguments for emphasis.

The audience below sat in complete silence.

In a little over ten minutes, Clara conveyed the allure and challenge of medical research to everyone present, and her confident bearing also showed them the resolve and wisdom women could bring to scientific work.

The Prentice father and daughter below both changed expression in shock. They exchanged a look.

They had not expected that the data Clara presented today would actually be related to cancer, and that the structure of her argument would be backed by solid evidence.

Cheryl’s face turned extremely ugly, but then a thought occurred to her and she sneered silently.

This penetrating theory of Clara’s surely had not been verified by her personally. Over the past four years, Cheryl knew perfectly well exactly what her research institute had accomplished.

To take the fruits of her parents’ labor, leap onto the stage, and present them as a treasure of her own—did that not count as coasting on family success?

Thunderous applause erupted below the stage. Julian’s eyes reddened with emotion. Just now, it had felt as though he had seen again the bearing his senior brother and senior sister had possessed all those years ago. He was truly overwhelmed.

Ethan had been worried all along since forgetting the speech notes, right up until Clara’s speech ended and she earned everyone’s recognition. Only then did he finally relax.

It seemed his worry had been unnecessary.

Leo’s thin lips remained tightly pressed together. He had never participated in the investment in Clara’s research lab over these past four years, so he had no idea she could be so composed and confident onstage. Today’s performance, however, had indeed made her stand out in his eyes.

Cheryl withdrew her gaze, and in the next instant, she inadvertently caught the man beside her staring fixedly at the stage. Her heart gave a sudden jolt.