You're a Diamond in the Rough

How could Ethan Sterling leave such a huge loophole for her to exploit? Even if there really was footage of them, he had probably already taken care of it.

Julian's eyes flickered slightly. "I can help you get the footage."

Claire looked up at him and hesitated. "You... how are you going to get it? Don't tell me you're going to ask President Sterling for help again?"

President Sterling had already helped get her out. If they asked him to do all this now too, wouldn't that be a little too much?

Julian Sterling had originally wanted Claire Bennett to stay, but he hadn't had the chance to say it yet.

Now he could use this opportunity.

With that in mind, Julian Sterling said with complete seriousness, "President Sterling agreed to help, but he has one condition."

Claire's mouth twitched.

She had no idea what President Sterling's condition might be, but presumably he was an honorable man and wouldn't make any outrageous demands.

"What condition?" she asked.

After a brief pause for thought, Julian Sterling answered, "Sterling International is starting a new jewelry brand soon and needs to hire designers..."

He lifted his eyes to Claire Bennett. "He knows you're an outstanding graduate of St. Royal Academy and hopes you'll join Sterling International."

St. Royal Academy was the number one elite educational institution in the world.

Its jewelry design program in particular had several hundred years of expertise in gold, silver, gemstone setting, and engraving, and was currently the most prestigious school in the industry.

Claire was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out.

She looked at Julian Sterling suspiciously and asked, "How does he know I graduated from St. Royal Academy?"

"..."

When Julian Sterling had investigated Claire Bennett's background before, he had already known about it. Only now did he realize Claire Bennett had never told him.

At this point, he could only drag Ruby Sterling out to take the fall.

Without changing expression, he said, "Maybe Ruby mentioned it."

Claire looked even more puzzled. "But I never told Ruby that."

She had hidden everything related to the Bennett family, not wanting any further entanglement with them.

"..." Julian Sterling felt like he'd just shot himself in the foot.

He immediately changed the subject and said, "President Sterling probably learned about you through some other channel. Anyway, he wants you to join Sterling International."

Claire was instantly pulled back to the matter at hand by those words.

She secretly glanced at Julian Sterling.

Actually, the reason she wanted to leave Chicago was to get farther away from him. If she joined Sterling International, wouldn't that mean she would have to keep being with him?

In an instant, Claire fell into an intense inner struggle.

Proving her innocence was urgent, but she really couldn't stay in Chicago any longer. Especially tonight—her feelings for Julian Sterling had reached an unprecedented intensity.

She was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself and would end up doing something she couldn't help.

Julian Sterling knew Claire Bennett was struggling.

But he thought the reason for her struggle was that she couldn't be with the white moonlight in her heart, and the fact that he came up short compared to Sean Shaw everywhere drove him crazy.

Still, Julian Sterling was a smart man. He knew he couldn't rush things.

The first step was to keep Claire Bennett by his side.

He looked at Claire heavily and said in an offhand manner, "This is your only chance. Without the surveillance footage, you won't be able to prove your innocence."

Julian Sterling was pressuring Claire Bennett. He was forcing her to make a decision, forcing her to choose his side.

Very quickly, Claire made up her mind.

"Okay, I agree!"

She sighed and said, "Actually, after graduation I never worked in that field again. President Sterling thinks too highly of me."

The reason things had turned out this way was all because of one person...

If not for Victor Bennett's attitude, how could she possibly have given up the field she had studied for so many years and become a muralist, something worlds apart from jewelry design?

Sigh, there was no point bringing up the past.

Claire quickly suppressed the strange emotions in her heart and said helplessly, "Anyway, I don't have any experience at all."

Without changing expression, Julian Sterling said, "Since President Sterling thinks highly of you, that proves you're a diamond in the rough. If you don't have experience, you can learn slowly. You don't need to sell yourself short."

Claire realized Julian Sterling was very good at encouraging people.

Hearing him say that made her instantly feel like she could become a famous designer tomorrow.

Julian Sterling looked at Claire Bennett and said, "You have such an excellent resume, yet you didn't go into a related field. Maybe there was some reason you had no choice. Don't you have any regrets at all?"

Regrets? Of course she did!

Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen that profession to study in the first place.

Julian Sterling glanced at Claire and asked, "Claire, can I ask why you didn't go into design after graduation?"

There was some information he could investigate, but he always felt there was a lot he hadn't found, and that his understanding of Claire Bennett wasn't deep enough.

He wanted to understand Claire Bennett better.