Chapter 209
She Doesn't Like Me
Julian's parents eagerly started asking questions.
Even though the Sterling family was wealthy, Julian's mother had a gentle, down-to-earth personality. When they traveled abroad, because she wasn't used to the food there, she often cooked for herself, and now that they had just gotten back, she hadn't thought too much about it.
Still, what she was doing fit Julian's status even better.
Claire Bennett hadn't expected Julian Sterling to agree on her behalf without permission.
Looking at his mother's expectant expression, the words of refusal stuck in her throat, and she could only force herself to say, "Anything is fine. I'm not picky."
After that, Julian's mother asked quite a few more questions, almost leaving Claire unable to cope. She could only use needing the bathroom as an excuse and planned to hide for a bit first.
She said apologetically, "Sorry, I need to use the bathroom."
"The bathroom is over there." Julian's mother pointed at the door next to the kitchen.
Claire stood up, walked over, and opened the door, only to find that this wasn't the bathroom at all, but a room for storing odds and ends.
Julian's mother coughed awkwardly. "Daughter-in-law, you opened the wrong door. I meant the one next to it."
Claire walked over and opened the door. This time, it really was the bathroom.
After she went in and shut the door, Julian's father finally lowered his voice and whispered, "You were just criticizing me, but didn't you get it wrong yourself?"
Julian's mother huffed. "Now isn't the time to argue about that. The issue is how we're going to keep our daughter-in-law from leaving."
After saying that, she looked at Julian and asked, "Julian, are you really going to divorce our daughter-in-law?"
"Mm." Julian didn't say more, only responded lightly.
Julian's mother slapped him and said unhappily, "You brat, you two obviously have feelings for each other, so why are you getting divorced? It's normal for husband and wife to fight at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of it. Are you trying to piss your father and me to death?"
"She doesn't like me."
Claire liked Sean Shaw, and now she had even moved in with Sean Shaw.
Julian's mother said, "How do you know she doesn't like you? Did you ask her?"
Julian shook his head.
There was no need to ask. He wasn't about to humiliate himself. Or perhaps he was also worried the answer would be something he couldn't accept, that the emotional blow would be too great, so he chose to avoid it.
When Julian's mother saw him like this, she knew he definitely hadn't asked.
She snorted. "Exactly! As soon as our daughter-in-law heard you were hurt, she rushed over to see you. Look at how worried she is about you. If it were someone else, you might've been stone-cold dead and they wouldn't even bother to come take a look."
"..."
"Maybe our daughter-in-law already fell for you a long time ago. It's just that neither of you has seen your own hearts clearly. I don't think there's no chance of saving things between you. Do you really have so little confidence in yourself?"
After hearing that, Julian revealed a thoughtful expression.
Could it be that he really was too close to the matter to see it clearly?
At that moment, the bathroom door happened to open, and Julian's parents stopped talking about the topic. Claire had hidden in the bathroom for a while, afraid that if she stayed too long, they would come knock on the door.
In the end, she had no choice but to come out.
Julian stood up and said to Claire, "Let's go."
Huh? Claire, who had already mentally prepared herself, couldn't quite react to this sudden piece of good fortune.
She had thought she would have to stay a while longer.
But being able to leave now was exactly what she wanted most.
Claire immediately stood up and politely said goodbye to Julian's parents. "Then I'll be leaving first."
Julian's mother waved at Claire. "Go on, and remember to come early tomorrow."
After Julian left with Claire, Julian's mother looked at his father and instructed, "Why aren't you hurrying up and telling Old Lee that we need to keep borrowing his place for a little longer?"
"Got it. No need to worry about Old Lee."
...
The two of them got into the car together and drove away from the apartment building.
Only then did Claire ask, "Why didn't you let me tell your parents that we're getting divorced?"
Julian's eyes shifted slightly as he thought of what his mother had just said.
Could Claire really be like his mother said—actually have feelings for him too, only not know it herself, and that's why she had taken the initiative to ask for a divorce?
Julian turned the steering wheel and pulled the car directly over to the side of the road.
Seeing this, Claire looked completely dumbfounded.
What was he going to do?
Julian rested his strong arm on the steering wheel, turned toward her, and looked at Claire with dark, unreadable eyes.
The way he was looking at her made Claire's skin crawl a little. Why did she have this illusion that Julian was about to silence her forever?
"Uh... what's wrong?" she asked.
Julian said, "I want to ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
Julian said, "When I kiss you, how does it feel?"
Hearing that, countless intimate scenes suddenly flashed through Claire's mind, all of them moments when they had accidentally come into close contact.
Her cheeks gradually turned red, and she looked like she was about to spontaneously combust.
Julian's question was just too embarrassing. How was she supposed to answer it?
Actually, Claire didn't need to answer at all. Julian had already gotten his answer from her expression—she felt something too.
He curled his lips up in an excellent mood.
He hadn't expected that even he would one day be too close to the matter to see it clearly. His mother was right. It wasn't that Claire had no feelings for him.
Julian said lightly, "The reason I didn't let you tell my parents we're getting divorced is because... we won't be getting divorced."
What?
Claire was stunned. She stared at Julian in shock.