She Used the Wrong Method

No wonder she had said those things. She really had nothing to fear!

"Hmph! I have plenty of ways to deal with her." After Paige Sterling said that, her eyes took on a thoughtful look, and she said, "I've found out that Claire Bennett isn't just with Julian. She's also stringing along other men at the same time."

Abby looked shocked. "Does the eldest young master know?"

"Maybe not yet. We need to think of a way to let him find out about it. When that happens, maybe we won't even need to do anything. They'll make a scene and split up on their own!"

Sean Shaw's dealings with Claire Bennett were out in the open. When investigating Claire Bennett, it was far too easy for that to come up.

On top of that, Claire Bennett's status as the Bennett family's daughter had been erased. On the surface, it really did look like Claire Bennett had an unclear relationship with Sean Shaw, and even Paige Sterling thought Claire Bennett was hooking up with Sean Shaw while being with Julian Sterling at the same time.

After all, keeping one guy while looking for a better one, scheming every step of the way to marry into a wealthy family—that was the nature of women like her!

Paige Sterling's detached-house neighborhood was out in the suburbs. After Claire Bennett left, she had to walk a long way just to get out, and there was no transportation to take within the neighborhood.

Claire Bennett walked for a full half hour and still hadn't seen the exit.

By the time Paige Sterling had abducted her, it had already been after work. After being delayed so long, the sky was now gradually growing dark.

All she could see ahead of her were rows of connected residences. Aside from a few with lights on, the rest were pitch-black, making the place look deserted.

Where the hell was the exit to this godforsaken place?

If she didn't get out soon, it would be dark, and then this place would be even creepier, right?

Claire Bennett was getting a little irritated from all the walking, and the image of Paige Sterling's superior, high-and-mighty manner from earlier surfaced in her mind. A surge of anger inexplicably rose in her chest.

Julian Sterling had lied to her, and on top of that, he'd gotten mad for no reason last night.

So what if she brought Sean Shaw home?

Couldn't she bring a relative home as a guest? If his sister came to their place in the future, was she supposed to shut the door in her face too?

Thinking again of that aunt, Paige Sterling, only made Claire Bennett angrier.

Julian Sterling was a big fat liar full of nothing but lies. He said he was an orphan, but first a sister had popped up, then parents he didn't get along with, and now some random aunt!

How many relatives did he actually have?

Just then, a car screeched to a stop beside Claire Bennett. The driver's-side door opened, and Julian Sterling got out. When he saw Claire Bennett, it was as if he finally let out a breath of relief.

"Claire."

Last night and while she was at work today, Claire Bennett had been looking for Julian Sterling, waiting for him to show up, but there had been no sign of him at all. Now he was finally willing to appear.

Julian Sterling strode quickly over to Claire Bennett and swept his gaze over her, checking her over. Only after confirming that she wasn't hurt at all did the worry in his eyes recede.

"Are you okay? Did she do anything to you?"

Seeing the deep concern in Julian Sterling's eyes, Claire Bennett still softened a little.

Originally, she hadn't planned to pay Julian Sterling any attention, but now she huffed and said, "No. She just had me kidnapped here and said a bunch of bizarre things."

Julian Sterling looked tense. "What did she say?"

Claire Bennett recalled the humiliating words and said coldly, "You should know what she said, shouldn't you? She said I'm not good enough for you, and she told me to leave you immediately."

After saying that, she let out a mocking laugh and said in a lightly sarcastic tone, "You probably don't know how much money she offered me, do you? Fifty million US dollars! To buy out the rest of my life."

She'd never imagined she was worth that much. But even more unimaginable was that Julian Sterling's aunt could actually come up with that kind of money.

Without waiting for Julian Sterling to speak, Claire Bennett continued, "If your aunt hadn't shown up, I still wouldn't have known that you have so many relatives. Just how many people are in your family? Is there anything else you've lied to me about?"

The more Claire Bennett thought about it, the angrier she got, feeling that Julian Sterling had deceived her.

Seeing her face full of fury, Julian Sterling felt a wave of guilt and didn't dare answer.

But from Claire Bennett's words, he also realized that Claire Bennett still didn't know his real identity, and in that instant he didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

Back then, he had been afraid that once she found out he really was Ruby Sterling's older brother, she would be angry over his deception, leave his side, and run even farther away.

Now, with nothing more than almost being exposed, Claire Bennett was already this angry.

If he told her the truth about his identity, she would probably leave without a backward glance even more decisively.