Dating with a License

As he drew near, Claire Bennett caught his familiar clean scent, a feeling that made her feel safe and at peace, and her tightly wound body suddenly relaxed again.

After Claire Bennett relaxed, Julian Sterling's kiss landed lightly on her cheek, gentle and lingering. He didn't push his luck, pulling away at just the right moment.

Julian Sterling saw the tips of Claire Bennett's ears turn red, the flush gradually spreading to her cheeks, just like how she'd looked that day beneath him, and it made him want to get even closer to her.

But her resistance and stiffness just now had been very obvious, so he still had to take things step by step. He couldn't scare her and make her resent him.

After Julian Sterling sat back upright, he reached out and patted Claire Bennett on the head, saying softly, "Go on back."

Even after getting out of the car, Claire Bennett was still in a daze.

But Julian Sterling had already driven away.

She stood silently by the roadside as a light breeze blew over, instantly clearing her muddled head.

She had been anxious and uneasy for days, already prepared to go down fighting, and had even readied several plans in her mind, running through every possible situation in advance.

But this was the one outcome she had never imagined.

In the short time between getting off work and now, she'd somehow agreed to date Julian Sterling.

And it was the kind of dating with a license.

...

The Sterling residence.

Julian Sterling's car drove into the garage and parked alongside the luxury cars filling the space, looking exceptionally out of place among them.

After Claire Bennett moved out of Parkview Heights, Julian Sterling hadn't wanted to live alone either, so he moved back to the Sterling family home.

After Mr. and Mrs. Sterling learned what Kelsey Lee had done, they were furious. But Kelsey Lee had already been dealt with by Julian Sterling, and kindhearted as they were, they didn't pursue the matter any further.

Later, Old Lee knew he was in the wrong and even offered his resignation out of guilt.

But Mr. Sterling, considering how many years Old Lee had worked for the Sterling family, didn't actually dismiss him. He only told him to take a good rest for a while and handle his family matters properly.

After Julian Sterling walked into the house, Ruby Sterling came right up to him.

She asked, "Brother, how's Claire? Did she agree to your proposal to date?"

Recently, Julian Sterling hadn't disturbed Claire Bennett, and Ruby Sterling hadn't dared show up in front of her either. But she'd brought her to that gathering and ended up getting her into trouble instead, so she did feel somewhat guilty.

Julian Sterling glanced at her. "Mm."

She agreed, though it was obvious she wasn't all that willing.

Hearing that, Ruby Sterling finally let out a sigh of relief. As long as she'd agreed, that was enough.

Very quickly, she thought of something and said a little sulkily, "Claire really is something. She actually has a family like that and never told me. She's hidden it way too well."

Ruby Sterling already knew that Claire Bennett was the daughter of the Bennett family, but she'd been kept in the dark the whole time, and she was a little upset about it.

She was Claire Bennett's best friend, and in the future she'd even be her sister-in-law.

How could Claire Bennett keep even her in the dark?

Julian Sterling's eyes flickered slightly. "Something unpleasant happened between her and the Bennett family. Since she doesn't want to talk about it, don't bring it up again in the future."

Getting lectured by her own brother, Ruby Sterling could only nod resentfully. "Fine, I got it. I'll just pretend I don't know about it."