Break Up with Julian

After speaking, her gaze settled on Claire Bennett.

She waited for this poor girl to be crushed by the gap in their statuses and forced to bow her head to her. Then she would have perfectly completed the old master's assignment.

Seeing the contempt in Paige Sterling's eyes, Claire Bennett's expression turned cold.

She let out a cold laugh. "Mrs. Sterling, I won't take your money."

After a pause, Claire Bennett said in an even more arrogant and haughty tone, "And whether I leave Julian Sterling or not is not something you can control. Oh, and I forgot to remind you—we're already legally married, so even if we separate, that wouldn't be called breaking up. It would be called divorce!"

After saying that, without looking to see what expression was on Paige Sterling's face, she stood up and walked straight out, clearly unwilling to say another word to her.

Paige Sterling looked stunned, as if Claire Bennett's words had shocked her.

She only knew that Claire Bennett was Ethan Sterling's ex-girlfriend, but she had never expected that she and Julian Sterling were already married.

Paige Sterling's face darkened.

If that was the case, dealing with this woman would not be so simple. Things were even trickier than she had imagined. No wonder the old master had sent her.

At that moment, the sound of someone outside trying to stop Claire Bennett rang out, and Claire Bennett's voice carried in as well...

"Are you trying to hold me here illegally? If you won't let me leave, then at worst we'll go down together. Go ahead and try me!"

Paige Sterling's assistant, Abby, stepped out from the back. Paige Sterling gave Abby a look and said, "Let her leave."

Abby nodded, then turned and walked outside.

At the doorway, Claire Bennett was being blocked by several bodyguards. Abby went out and said something to them, and they stepped back two paces.

Claire Bennett walked out, and the detached house fell quiet once more.

Abby returned to the detached house. Paige Sterling sat there with a dark expression, her face so gloomy it looked like water could drip from it.

Standing by Paige Sterling's side, she asked in a low voice, "Ma'am, she doesn't seem moved at all. Is she playing hard to get? Or is she greedy? Does she think the money you offered isn't enough?"

Abby was Paige Sterling's capable right-hand woman. In the past, she would often help break down her worries and offer some ideas of her own. Now, as before, she continued to show concern for Paige Sterling.

Thinking back to Claire Bennett's performance just now, Paige Sterling felt her chest start aching with anger again.

Everything had been different from what she had imagined.

Originally, she had thought that for a poor girl like Claire Bennett, all it would take was some persuasion, plus threats and inducements and an all-out money offensive, and Claire Bennett would definitely fall for it and obediently do as she was told.

If she told Claire Bennett to get lost, then she would have to obediently get lost.

Who would have thought Claire Bennett was a hard case.

"I don't know. Maybe. Looks like I'll have to keep thinking of other ways to deal with her." Paige Sterling pinched the bridge of her nose, as if she had no way to handle Claire Bennett.

Just as Abby was about to say something, there was suddenly a disturbance at the door, and a tall figure walked in with steady steps.

Julian Sterling had come!

The bodyguards stationed at the door recognized him and didn't dare stop him. Julian Sterling forced his way in, with his assistant Marcus Reed following behind him.

Paige Sterling had not expected him to find this place so quickly. This detached house had been specially arranged by her for talking to Claire Bennett.

A chilling aura surrounded Julian Sterling. After entering, his eyes swept around the room as though searching for Claire Bennett.

Paige Sterling suppressed all her thoughts.

She raised her eyes to Julian Sterling and curled her lips into a faint smile. "Julian, are you looking for Miss Bennett? She already went back just now."

Julian Sterling said nothing and stepped forward, stopping in front of Paige Sterling.

Paige Sterling did indeed have the presence of a strong businesswoman, but in front of Julian Sterling, she seemed a little weaker.

This younger member of the Sterling family looked even stronger than she was, and far less easy to underestimate.

Julian Sterling looked down at her from above. "Grandpa sent you?"

With almost no doubt at all, he quickly guessed why Paige Sterling had appeared in Chicago and sought out Claire Bennett.

Paige Sterling's expression did not change much. She merely smiled faintly and said, "Julian, Dad is rather concerned about your life. He knows you've been too busy lately, so he asked me to come help you out."

The implication was that the old master was very dissatisfied with Julian Sterling's recent behavior.

Julian Sterling gave her a cold look. "Sterling International is currently operating steadily. For the time being, Aunt, your extra help isn't needed. Go back to New York."

After saying that, Julian Sterling did not stay long and simply turned to leave the detached house.

Only after he left did Paige Sterling let out a breath of relief.

Just now, when facing this nephew, she had actually felt her scalp go numb under the pressure, and her imposing manner had weakened quite a bit.

He was warning her not to meddle in his affairs.

She had never expected that after only a few short years apart, this nephew would have grown to this point. If he were allowed to continue developing, she feared that in the future even she would not be his match, and she would have even less of a chance.