Chapter 109
She Was Asking for Too Much
Now Claire Bennett's attitude toward Ethan Sterling had become one of complete indifference. Maybe she no longer had any feelings for Ethan Sterling at all.
Then what about the white moonlight in her heart?
Had that man surpassed Ethan Sterling?
Even though Sean Shaw had already been driven away by his power and had given up on Claire Bennett, that didn't mean Claire Bennett had forgotten him in her heart.
Julian Sterling said, "Mm. Since you've already broken up, you really shouldn't have any more entanglements."
Best if she and that white moonlight never had anything to do with each other for the rest of their lives, too.
Claire Bennett didn't know what Julian Sterling was thinking. She thought he was hinting at something, and when she imagined that after she and he separated, the two of them would never have any ties again, her face went a shade paler.
"What's wrong?" Julian Sterling noticed how bad her expression looked.
"N-nothing. I bit my tongue." Claire Bennett quickly made up an excuse to brush it off.
The two of them ate, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
After they finished eating, Julian Sterling was sitting on the couch. After Claire Bennett washed the dishes, she still went over to find him.
She sat down beside Julian Sterling, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Julian Sterling waited patiently for her to talk and didn't rush her.
After considering it for a moment, Claire Bennett said, "Julian Sterling, the mural I'm doing at Sterling International is almost finished. If I get other orders, I might have to travel for work."
At that, Julian Sterling's brows furrowed tightly.
He had forgotten that the nature of Claire Bennett's profession was to go wherever she was needed.
She wouldn't stay in one place for long.
Once Claire Bennett said it out loud, it was as if she had made up her mind, and she continued, "Anyway, the two of us only got together because of an agreement. It shouldn't be a big deal if we separate."
Actually, Claire Bennett was partly trying to avoid things.
She didn't want to keep living under the same roof as Julian Sterling. She was afraid she would sink deeper and deeper.
Hearing Claire Bennett's words, Julian Sterling's brows drew together tightly.
He could tell that Claire Bennett couldn't wait to leave him, so she still couldn't forget that white moonlight in her heart? Could it be that she wanted to use work as an excuse to go find that man?
Recently, he hadn't been paying attention to Claire Bennett's work situation.
If what Claire Bennett said was true, and her work at Sterling International was finished, then there really was no reason for her to stay any longer.
Claire Bennett also didn't want to turn into someone who pestered and clung irrationally, so she forced a relaxed smile and said, "I still have to thank you for this period of time. You've helped me a lot."
"You're welcome. It was only right."
Julian Sterling immediately caught the second layer of meaning in her words, and his heart sank heavily. Claire Bennett felt only gratitude toward him, without the slightest bit of any other feeling.
Distracted, he said, "Let's talk about it after your work is finished."
That night, the two of them lay in bed together.
Claire Bennett stared at the ceiling. She felt that this might be one of the few remaining chances they would have to share a bed.
She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She hadn't expected Julian Sterling to fall asleep instead, and with terrible sleeping posture at that, pressing his arms and legs onto her body.
Claire Bennett felt a little helpless and moved his arms and legs back into place.
A moment later, Julian Sterling draped them over her again.
After this happened several times, in the end Claire Bennett could only let him keep them on her body.
Before falling asleep, Claire Bennett thought: leaving Chicago with the next job should be the right choice.
The next day, Julian Sterling woke up first.
When he saw Claire Bennett in his arms, his brows knitted tightly, and the things she had said last night surfaced in his mind again.
Claire Bennett wanted to leave. How was he supposed to make her stay?
Just as he was lost in thought, Claire Bennett woke up too. At a glance she saw the handsome face right in front of her, and immediately realized that their current position was a little ambiguous.
She immediately scooted back.
The sudden withdrawal of the soft, sweet warmth in his arms made Julian Sterling frown.
He felt that Claire Bennett now had a kind of resistance toward him, eager to distance herself from him, while outwardly remaining very polite to him.
Claire Bennett didn't say anything. Silently, she got out of bed, washed up, and made breakfast. After the two finished breakfast, they went out together.
Julian Sterling dropped Claire Bennett off at Sterling International, then headed into the parking garage from the back entrance himself.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Marcus Reed came up to meet him. "President Sterling, over at the Bennett family..."
Julian Sterling cut him off directly, with no patience at all. "Didn't I say you're in charge? If you can't handle it, then have Wes Mercer or Victor Wells do it."
Marcus Reed said pitifully, "No problem, I can do it!"
He had just felt that this matter was pretty important and that it would be better to ask for instructions again. He hadn't expected Julian Sterling really not to care much about it, and even to start doubting his abilities.
In order to prove himself, of course he had to take full responsibility.
Julian Sterling's expression was steady, his brows lightly drawn, as though some difficult problem were troubling him.
All the way here today, he had been thinking of ways to make Claire Bennett stay, but he hadn't come up with any especially good ideas.
Sterling International didn't have any extra space for her to paint, and Claire Bennett seemed to be distancing herself from him. She might even reject any orders he deliberately arranged for her.
Julian Sterling stopped walking and said, "Organize the progress of Claire Bennett's mural and bring it into the office immediately."
What?
President Sterling wouldn't even spare a glance for such a huge Bennett Group order, yet he only cared about this tiny little mural?
Wes Mercer walked over and patted Marcus Reed on the shoulder. "Who told you Miss Bennett is the future president's wife? Hurry up and get it ready."
Marcus Reed, who had just been invisibly force-fed a display of affection: "..."
Fine. Marcus Reed resigned himself and went off to prepare it.