Chapter 167
Ethan Sterling's Kindness
Ethan Sterling showed not the slightest anger at Claire Bennett's attitude. He still wore that easygoing expression and said softly, "You don't have to talk. You can just listen to me. I really have something very important to discuss with you."
If he kept tugging at her like this, Maison Verne would probably have new rumors spreading by tomorrow. Claire lowered her eyes to his hand gripping her wrist. "Let go first."
Ethan Sterling released Claire Bennett.
She had no intention of running. She just stood by the doorway to avoid suspicion, then looked at Ethan Sterling from a distance and asked, "You can talk now."
A trace of apology appeared on Ethan Sterling's refined face, and he said in a vexed tone, "Claire, what happened before was my fault. I really didn't mean to hurt you. Every day I've been regretting it and blaming myself. I've actually wanted to apologize to you for a long time..."
Claire Bennett listened to Ethan Sterling's words expressionlessly.
If, back when she had first found out about Ethan Sterling and Naomi Pierce, he had spoken to her this sincerely instead of mockingly throwing her a check, she thought maybe she wouldn't have hated him so much.
Now, hearing these words again, her heart did not stir in the slightest.
Without realizing it, someone else had already taken his place in her heart.
The feeling at this very moment only made Claire Bennett more determined to make Julian Sterling fall for her. She wanted him!
What Ethan Sterling had just said was only half true.
He was acting like this entirely because he had discovered that there were too many men behind Claire Bennett. Cameron Quinn alone was already impressive enough.
He was thinking that if he coaxed Claire Bennett a little, he might be able to gain some benefits later on.
If possible, he wanted to rekindle Claire Bennett's former feelings for him and use her to do things for him.
Although Maison Verne would have the Bennett family come for the new product launch.
Ethan Sterling felt that still wasn't enough. After thinking it over later, he decided that the Bennett family would still help Naomi Pierce, so he had to find a way to secure some kind of backup plan for himself.
So when he discovered that the relationship between Claire Bennett and Cameron Quinn was not simple, he started getting ideas and wanted to sweet-talk Claire Bennett.
That trick had worked very well before.
But now, why did things seem a little different? Claire Bennett was acting too calm. She was completely different from before.
Ethan Sterling was not discouraged and continued, "Claire, can you forgive me? I really do know I was wrong. If you don't forgive me, I won't be able to sleep every night."
At that, Ethan Sterling reached out and took Claire Bennett's hand, saying earnestly, "Claire, if I can, I'm willing to use every possible method to make up for the wrongs I've committed."
Claire Bennett's eyes narrowed slightly.
She still had not figured out Ethan Sterling's purpose, but she knew there was no way he had come to apologize for no reason at all.
There had to be a reason!
Better to test him and find out what exactly he was trying to do!
Claire Bennett lightly lifted her eyes to look at him and asked, "Ethan Sterling, do you think that just by offering a breezy little apology now, all the harm you caused before can be treated as if it never existed? You just said you'd use every possible method to earn my forgiveness..."
"If I want you to resign from Maison Verne, would you do it?"
"Claire!" Ethan Sterling's expression changed slightly, and his tone sank.
Ethan Sterling had thought Claire Bennett would say something else. He had never expected this. How could he possibly resign from Maison Verne?
After finally getting an opportunity like this, if he didn't seize the chance to climb higher and instead did something that would cut off his own future, wouldn't that mean he had shit for brains?
Claire Bennett had only said it casually. Of course she knew Ethan Sterling could never give it up, just like the last time she had tested him by asking him to give up Naomi Pierce.
She looked at Ethan Sterling with mocking eyes and sneered, "You're not sincerely apologizing to me at all, so you don't need to put on this little show of pretending you know you were wrong in front of me."
After saying that, Claire Bennett turned and left.
A flash of gloom passed through Ethan Sterling's eyes. He had actually failed.
...
At this moment, Yoyo returned to Naomi Pierce's office.
She had just been put down by Ethan Sterling, so she had to hurry over and complain about it, otherwise she really wouldn't be able to swallow that resentment.
Yoyo said, "Manager Pierce, everything I said is true. After we left, Manager Sterling stayed behind by himself and kept talking with Claire Bennett."
When Naomi Pierce heard this, she was so angry she nearly charged out.
But then she thought of something and sat back down.
Naomi Pierce said, "I know. Keep watching Claire Bennett. If anything happens, report back immediately!"
Although Yoyo felt a little unwilling, she did not dare argue with her. She still obediently went out to keep watching Claire Bennett.
After Yoyo left, Naomi Pierce clenched her fists tightly, and a dark, twisted look appeared on her face.
So what if she went out and exposed Claire Bennett for seducing Ethan Sterling?
Ethan Sterling was no longer as infatuated with her as he had been before.
What she most needed to do now was firmly establish herself at Maison Verne.
The Bennett family was coming to visit for the new product launch, and when that happened, her identity was very likely to be exposed. Before that, she had to find a way to solve this problem!