Deciding to Visit Old Master Sterling

"Claire, did that scare you badly?" Seeing Claire Bennett frozen in place, Julian Sterling stood up and walked over to her. Then he pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back to soothe her. "It's okay now. Don't be afraid."

Claire Bennett buried her face in Julian Sterling's chest and became even more at a loss.

So had he heard what she and Ethan Sterling said just now or not? If he knew about what had happened between her and Ethan Sterling at Kinley Estate...

Their marriage had started out strangely to begin with, and even now it still wasn't that solid. At any moment, the slightest storm could very well tear them apart.

Suddenly, Claire Bennett rallied herself again.

No! It might not be Ethan Sterling either.

She had never found out who the owner of Kinley Estate was. Before there was solid proof to confirm it, she wouldn't believe it was Ethan Sterling.

Claire Bennett felt that using this to comfort herself, deceiving herself, was wrong.

But if she didn't even have this little bit of belief, then she was afraid her heart would completely collapse.

Hearing Julian Sterling's strong, steady heartbeat, Claire Bennett's panicked emotions gradually calmed down. The fact that he could still hold her now, without the slightest trace of disgust, probably meant he hadn't heard what Ethan Sterling had said.

"Feeling better?" Julian Sterling asked.

Only then did Claire Bennett come back to herself. She lifted her head from his arms and looked at him. "Julian Sterling, how is your grandfather?"

"He's fine now. He's still got enough energy to get angry, so he's very healthy."

Hearing that Grandpa Sterling had actually gotten angry, Claire Bennett immediately realized something.

Her face turned pale. "Was it because of me?"

At that moment, Claire Bennett's mind was in chaos, and she felt a faint sense of regret for having left early.

If Julian Sterling's grandfather really disliked her that much, then could she and Julian Sterling still keep going?

Sensing Claire Bennett's low spirits, Julian Sterling said softly, "Claire, you don't need to feel burdened. My grandfather won't affect any of my decisions. We've already gotten our marriage license and we're married. That's something no one can change."

He was reassuring Claire Bennett, telling her that he wouldn't change anything because of any outside pressure.

Claire Bennett was the wife he had legally married. That was an unchanging fact.

Hearing his words, Claire Bennett felt a surge of emotion.

A sudden sense of guilt rose in her heart. Her decision to flee the hospital in a panic earlier had really been wrong. In truth, she had only been afraid that being disliked because of her would make Julian Sterling give up on her.

A moment later, Claire Bennett asked, "Is your grandfather still in the hospital?"

Julian Sterling said, "Yeah. He'll stay for two days for observation."

Claire Bennett lightly bit her lip and made a decision. She said, "Then I'll go visit him tomorrow."

Even though Julian Sterling's grandfather was dissatisfied with her, they were husband and wife now. Sooner or later, she had to face Grandpa Sterling. She couldn't run away just because she was afraid.

Julian Sterling answered softly, "Okay. I'll go with you."

That night, the two of them stayed at Claire Bennett's apartment.

The bed here was fairly small, so they had no choice but to squeeze together. Claire Bennett didn't have any problem with it; on the contrary, she slept very soundly in Julian Sterling's arms.

Julian Sterling, on the other hand, was thoroughly tormented.

Countless times, he wanted to press Claire Bennett beneath him, but when he thought of how she'd resisted him before, he held himself back every time.

Looking at Claire Bennett sleeping peacefully in his arms, he felt that her resistance toward him wasn't as strong anymore. Maybe, just as Ruby Sterling had said, if he spent more time with Claire Bennett, she would slowly let down her guard.

Julian Sterling lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

One day, he would get what he wanted.

The next day, after Claire Bennett got up and she and Julian Sterling washed up and finished breakfast, they prepared to head out to visit Old Master Sterling.

On the way, they also bought quite a bit of fruit and other things for visiting a patient.

As they neared the hospital, Claire Bennett suddenly felt a little nervous. She hadn't had much direct contact with Old Master Sterling at yesterday's banquet, but she had already been able to tell from his eyes that he didn't like her very much.

A high-born heiress like Hazel Lewis really was much better than she was. Any normal person would choose Hazel Lewis, right?

Just as Claire Bennett was letting her thoughts run wild, Julian Sterling reached out and took hold of the back of her hand.

"Claire, I'll be with you."

Looking up and meeting Julian Sterling's concerned gaze, Claire Bennett felt the panic she'd just felt instantly vanish into thin air.

Julian Sterling's words somehow soothed her nervous heart.

She lifted a smile and said, "Let's go in."

Then, carrying a fruit basket and flowers, she walked into Cole Medical Center with Julian Sterling by her side.

Claire Bennett was no stranger to this place anymore, considering that her mother was in this hospital too.

Distracted, she thought that after visiting Julian Sterling's grandfather, she could stop by to see her mother. Then she could also bring Julian Sterling to meet her mother. It would be the first time she'd brought him to see her mother.

Inside the hospital room, only Old Madam Sterling was keeping Old Master Sterling company.

His spirits had already returned to normal, but the Sterling family was still somewhat worried, so they had him continue staying in the hospital.