Chapter 301
I'm Already Married
Now that he finally had the ability, this was the ending when they met again.
Seeing how awful Zane Cole looked, Claire Bennett hurried to soothe him. "Oh, come on, don't be upset. Telling you now shouldn't count as too late, right? You're not going to be mad at me, are you?"
She knew Zane Cole wasn't that petty. He definitely wouldn't hold it against her.
Even now, Claire Bennett still thought that Zane Cole was angry because she had kept her marriage a secret from him.
After a moment of silence, Zane Cole finally accepted the blow.
He said bitterly, "What kind of person did you marry? Which family's son is he? What's his family background like? Does he treat you well? Do you... like him?"
Claire Bennett shook her head helplessly. "You asked so many questions all at once. How am I supposed to answer you?"
She pulled Zane Cole down into a seat and said, "Let's sit down and talk slowly."
Claire Bennett handed the chopsticks to Zane Cole and started telling him about Julian Sterling.
Of course, so Zane Cole wouldn't worry, she left out the part about meeting Julian Sterling by accident. She only said that a close girlfriend had introduced them, that they had hit it off immediately, and then gotten married in a whirlwind.
After listening in silence, Zane Cole came to several conclusions.
First, Claire Bennett had married a man she had only met a few times.
Second, that man was a driver and assistant, an extremely ordinary man!
Third, when Claire Bennett mentioned that man, the emotion in her eyes seemed to show that she liked him very much.
Every single one of those conclusions made Zane Cole feel extremely displeased.
After Claire Bennett left back then, he had wanted to go with her, but at the time Mr. Cole had said that they had no ability whatsoever just then, so was he supposed to let Claire Bennett suffer hardship alongside him?
As long as he stayed and studied hard and earned everyone's approval, then in the future, no matter what he wanted to do, no one would interfere.
Now he had done it, but Claire Bennett was gone.
If the person Claire Bennett had married had been an outstanding man, then maybe Zane Cole could have stepped aside and given his blessing.
But now, hearing Claire Bennett say all that, with that kind of background, a man who had accomplished nothing, how could he bear to let his little princess suffer any grievance? Claire Bennett ought to be pampered and loved.
But seeing the girlish way Claire Bennett unconsciously revealed herself when it came to her new husband made Zane Cole feel somewhat sour inside.
Without showing it, he said, "He didn't come to New York with you this time? When are you going to bring him for me to meet?"
He decided to thoroughly understand his enemy first before taking the next step.
As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
Claire Bennett froze for a moment. "He has to go on a business trip, so he doesn't have time for now."
Zane Cole had grown up with Claire Bennett since childhood. He understood her that well, and the slight pause just now made him realize that maybe things had not yet reached the point of no return.
Logically speaking, with something involving his mother-in-law, even if a son-in-law didn't know about it beforehand, he still ought to come and visit.
But Claire Bennett had come by herself.
Then there was only one possibility: Claire Bennett had been sweet-talked and deceived by that man, which was why she showed him such admiration.
Zane Cole felt a little more confidence in his heart.
After the two finished eating, Zane Cole said he wanted to lend Claire Bennett his house to stay in, but she politely declined. Even though she couldn't return to the Bennett family home in New York, it wasn't as if she had nowhere to stay.
She was somewhat impatient to see her mother and asked Zane Cole to take her to the hospital first.
In the end, Zane Cole could only take her to the hospital, and he could also give Mrs. Bennett a simple preliminary examination while he was there.
Before long, Claire Bennett and Zane Cole arrived smoothly at the hospital.
Claire Bennett's mother, Megan Shaw Bennett, had been in a car accident and become a vegetable nearly fifteen years ago. She had been lying in this private hospital the whole time. Usually, when Claire Bennett was busy with work, a caregiver would look after her, and whenever Claire Bennett had free time, she would come care for her herself.
On the way over, Claire Bennett had bought a bouquet of fresh flowers. Megan Shaw Bennett had never regained consciousness and couldn't eat, so something like flowers was more suitable.
After arriving at the hospital, Zane Cole went to find the attending physician to learn about the situation.
Claire Bennett sat down at the bedside, holding a towel in her hand as she carefully wiped Megan Shaw Bennett's face.
Because she had been well cared for, although Megan Shaw Bennett looked somewhat thin and weak, she was still beautiful and moving. Claire Bennett's high nose bridge looked very much like hers, and her fair skin and delicate features were equally exceptional.
Very soon, Zane Cole came back.
He said to Claire Bennett, "Claire, I've already learned about your mother's condition. There really is hope, but the treatment is fairly complicated, so I want you to transfer her to my hospital for treatment. That would make things more convenient, and I'd be able to look after her more too."
In reality, Zane Cole had selfish motives. Megan Shaw Bennett could stay here just fine.
But he wanted more contact with Claire Bennett, and using Megan Shaw Bennett as a way in should be the best method.
In the end, Claire Bennett didn't hesitate at all and agreed immediately. As long as Zane Cole was willing to treat her mother, it didn't matter where they went.
Right after that, she went through the procedures to transfer her mother to another hospital.
By the time everything was taken care of, it was already close to twelve. Zane Cole didn't leave until after he had taken Claire Bennett to the apartment she had rented in the past.
The place hadn't been cleaned for quite some time, and thick dust covered everything. Claire Bennett spent quite a while cleaning it up before she could finally go to sleep with peace of mind.
She had come to New York early this time to deal with her mother's situation. Tomorrow she could still spend a day at the hospital with her mother, and the day after tomorrow she had to go meet Julian Sterling's grandmother.
Thinking of Julian Sterling, Claire Bennett took out her phone and sent him a message: "Are you asleep? What are you doing?"