Chapter 200
Go Get the Divorce Certificate
Claire Bennett had already gotten dressed under the covers. Her dark eyes looked at Julian Sterling as she said, "There's no reason."
So was it wrong even when she didn't resist?
Julian Sterling was silent for a moment and said nothing.
Claire Bennett tossed the blanket aside and stood up. She took out a bank card and handed it to Julian Sterling, then said, "This is the penalty for breaching our contract. There's five million in the card. Consider it the compensation I'm giving you for breaking the agreement."
Julian Sterling's gaze fell on her hand. He quietly looked at the card, but didn't take it.
For some reason, anger rose in his heart for no apparent cause.
Claire Bennett had still gone to borrow five million from Sean Shaw in the end. Was she really that desperate to leave his side and make a clean break with him?
Back then, the contract with her had included a breach penalty because he wasn't familiar with Claire Bennett and wanted something to keep her in check.
He had never cared about that little bit of money.
Seeing that Julian Sterling didn't take it, Claire Bennett set the card on the nearby table. She said, "I'm the one who asked for the divorce, so this penalty is only right. Take the money and start some small business or something. That way, life will be a little easier for you in the future."
Julian Sterling sneered inwardly: telling him to start some small business was just her way of wanting him to leave Sterling International so they would never see each other again and have nothing to do with each other for the rest of their lives.
After Claire Bennett finished speaking, she fell quiet.
All of a sudden, she didn't know what else to say. The atmosphere was a little awkward.
She thought about it, then finally asked, "When are we going to get the divorce certificate?"
Julian Sterling's eyes suddenly darkened. "When do you want to?"
Claire Bennett thought for a moment, then said, "I have important work at Maison Verne tomorrow, so I'm not free. How about the day after tomorrow?"
"Mm." Julian Sterling nodded in agreement.
He looked at the hand Claire Bennett was using to hold her suitcase. It was already nighttime. Was she moving her things out and leaving this place now?
Julian Sterling said, "Where are you going? I'll take you."
"No need. Sean's waiting for me downstairs."
The moment Claire Bennett said it, she almost wanted to bite her own tongue off!
Ugh... how had she spoken without using her brain just now? If she'd let Julian Sterling take her, then wouldn't she have been able to spend a little more time with him?
But the words were already out, and there was no way to take them back.
Faced with Julian Sterling's slightly cold gaze, Claire Bennett could only give an awkward smile.
Julian Sterling asked again, "Where are you staying?"
"Sean has an empty house, and he told me to move in there..." Claire Bennett didn't want to lie to Julian Sterling, so she forced herself to say it.
Unexpectedly, after she said that, the aura around Julian Sterling turned even colder, colder than ice, like the deep chill of late autumn and winter, cutting straight to the bone.
She truly couldn't understand what exactly Julian Sterling was thinking.
The atmosphere was too awkward, so Claire Bennett could only find something to say to ease it. She said, "Julian Sterling, thank you for everything during this time. Let's part on good terms and go our separate ways. I wish you a brilliant future, peace, and happiness."
As she said those words, Claire Bennett felt as though she really was leaving.
A wave of bitterness welled up in her heart, and her expression dimmed.
In the end, she hurriedly said, "I-I'll go first..."
After saying that, Claire Bennett pulled up the handle of her suitcase and dragged it out of the room.
As Claire Bennett passed by him, Julian Sterling could have reached out and grabbed her, but he didn't. He could only watch helplessly as Claire Bennett disappeared from before his eyes.
It wasn't until the door closed and everything around him fell quiet that he realized Claire Bennett had truly left.
After leaving Julian Sterling's presence, Claire Bennett's tense body finally relaxed. She turned back for one last look, then entered the elevator without looking back again.
Goodbye, Julian Sterling.
Downstairs, Sean Shaw was leaning against the car smoking. When he saw Claire Bennett appear, he immediately opened the trunk and put her luggage in for her.
Suddenly, Sean Shaw narrowed his eyes.
He stared fixedly at Claire Bennett's neck and, like a dog that had caught the scent of a bone, asked in a gossipy and suggestive tone, "Did you just sneak off for a hookup? Julian Sterling's upstairs? You two slept together?"
After saying that, Sean Shaw raised his hand to check the time, then clicked his tongue and said, "Only ten minutes? That's pretty damn weak."
Claire Bennett: "..."
He'd probably noticed the mark accidentally left on her neck just now. She hadn't expected Sean Shaw to see it. Even though the two of them were relatives, something like this was still awkward no matter what.
Claire Bennett hurriedly pulled up her collar and huffed, "No. Stop imagining things. There's no one upstairs. There was a mosquito just now, and while I was packing my things, it bit me. Stop thinking weird nonsense. Let's go already!"
After saying that, she opened the front passenger door and got in.
Sean Shaw muttered, "You think I'm blind? That huge hickey on your neck, and you're still stubbornly saying no. That mosquito sure had a big mouth."
If it really was Julian Sterling...
Why did he have a feeling this divorce might not happen after all?
...
Claire Bennett moved into Sean Shaw's detached house.
Sean Shaw had failed a business negotiation, so he could only head back to New York early to take his punishment.
Before leaving, he gave the key to Claire Bennett and told her to look after the house for him. In truth, he was secretly trying to get her to stay there a little longer.