Chapter 207
It Won't Take That Much Time
When Claire Bennett saw that he was completely unmoved, she quietly shifted closer to him. After inching up beside Julian Sterling, she lowered her voice and said, "Hey, Julian Sterling, what exactly is going on? Why are your parents here?"
Julian Sterling kept his eyes lowered and said evenly, "They went on a trip and just got back. I went to pick them up today."
"Okay." No wonder Julian Sterling was carrying two suitcases.
Wait, that wasn't right!
Suddenly, Claire Bennett thought of something and asked suspiciously, "Then why is Ruby with you?"
Julian Sterling had gone to pick up his parents, so why was Ruby Sterling with him?
"She was heading out, so I gave her a ride on the way." By now, Julian Sterling was extremely practiced at dealing with this sort of thing, and he answered without batting an eye.
Claire Bennett didn't suspect anything. This wasn't the time to dig into that anyway. What she felt now was that they were about to get divorced, and meeting his parents under those circumstances didn't seem very appropriate.
She said, "How about we find an excuse to leave first? The way things are between us now, it probably isn't suitable for us to meet your parents, right?"
Julian Sterling looked at Claire Bennett's eager-to-leave expression, then said unhurriedly, "No rush. I already took time off anyway. It won't take that much time."
Claire Bennett: "..."
Who said she wasn't in a rush? She was about to die of anxiety, okay?!
At that moment, Julian's mother saw Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling whispering to each other. The two of them really were an exceptionally well-matched pair in appearance; they looked like a talented man and a beautiful woman together. She smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
She was truly extremely satisfied with this daughter-in-law.
In the end, Claire Bennett accepted reality and stayed for the time being as a guest.
Julian's mother directed Julian Sterling to go downstairs to buy bottled water, saying she wanted to make tea for Claire Bennett. Claire Bennett wanted to politely decline, but it was no use. Julian's mother was simply too enthusiastic. Every time she wanted to speak, Julian's mother would pull her into conversation.
By the time she got a chance to say anything, Julian Sterling had already bought the water and returned.
Claire Bennett silently sighed to herself.
The elders she usually faced were always opposed to her. They were forever lofty and bossy, and she had never encountered anyone as warm and affectionate as Julian Sterling's parents.
It left her somewhat at a loss, not knowing what to do.
Julian's mother tugged at Julian's father and said, "The water's back. Hurry up and get the tea leaves out to make tea for our daughter-in-law."
Julian's father stood up and walked toward a cabinet nearby.
He opened the cabinet door, and with a clattering rustle, countless cups of instant noodles fell out.
Claire Bennett's attention was drawn over by the commotion.
Julian's father awkwardly cleared his throat with a fist to his mouth. "I opened the wrong cabinet. The tea leaves should be in the one next to it."
After saying that, he opened the cabinet beside it.
Unexpectedly, it was full of kitchen supplies. There was no sign of any tea at all.
Julian's father felt extremely embarrassed, and at the same time secretly grumbled to himself: Where the hell did Old Lee put the tea leaves?
Old Lee was the Sterling family's real driver, and this place was Old Lee's home.
The three members of his family lived here. Just now, with one urgent phone call, he had Old Lee leave first and lent him the house for their use.
Julian's father opened every cabinet there was, but still couldn't find the tea leaves.
Claire Bennett said stiffly, "If you really can't find them, then forget it. I actually don't need tea anyway."
That way, she could leave a little sooner too.
Otherwise, just sitting here quietly was honestly putting her under a lot of pressure, and she was very tense all over.
Julian's mother shot Julian's father an unhappy look.
He'd said they were going to make a good showing, but now he had almost blown their cover. In his own house, he couldn't even find the tea leaves. Did that make any sense if word got out?
Julian's mother smiled at Claire Bennett and said, "Daughter-in-law, we were away having fun for too long, so your dad kind of forgot where the tea leaves are. Wait a moment, don't be in a hurry!"
Claire Bennett answered, "I'm not in a hurry. Take your time looking."
The pressure on Julian's father grew even greater. Today, he absolutely had to find those tea leaves!
He was practically rummaging through everything, but he still couldn't find where the tea leaves had been put.
Julian's father muttered to himself: Strange. Old Lee usually loves drinking tea. He carries a thermos everywhere. There's no way there wouldn't be any tea in the house.
In the end, Julian Sterling couldn't stand watching anymore. He stood up and walked toward the TV. Then he opened an inconspicuous cabinet next to the TV stand, and sure enough, several boxes of tea were inside.
Julian's father was a little dumbfounded. Why had Old Lee put the tea leaves there?
Seriously! He'd wasted all that time searching.
But how did Julian Sterling know?
Julian's mother hurriedly smoothed things over and started blaming Julian's father. "Oh, honestly, you don't even remember where you put the tea leaves yourself. Our son has the better memory."
Julian's father quickly chimed in with a genial smile.
The tea was brewed very soon, and Julian's father pushed the teacup in front of Claire Bennett. He said, "Julian suddenly got married without telling us at all. After we came back from our trip, he gave us a huge surprise. To be honest, we were shocked..."
Claire Bennett's heart jolted, and her nerves instantly tightened.
Was it starting now?