Chapter 36
Trading Each Other's Little Secrets
Actually, Kevin Parker wasn't the main reason.
It was that what happened with him had triggered the shadows from her childhood, which was why she was having nightmares.
It was also possible that Victor Bennett had shown up.
Claire Bennett stared blankly at the ceiling, and in an instant her memories slipped back to the past.
When she was little, she had always thought she was happy. Later, she didn't know when it started, but her father gradually changed. He was often not at home, and sometimes she wouldn't see him for a very, very long time.
When she was ten, after coming home, she accidentally caught her father with that woman. The two of them were naked in the study, completely lost in doing that kind of thing...
She didn't dare tell her mother. From that time on, she carried psychological trauma.
Until later, when her mother became a vegetable after a car accident, her father brought that woman into the Bennett family.
Claire Bennett had always remembered deeply what she saw that day, and she also felt a slight sense of resistance toward contact between men and women.
During the three years she dated Ethan Sterling, it wasn't like he had never raised the issue.
But she had never been able to get past that barrier in herself.
Julian Sterling sensed the sadness Claire Bennett was giving off and figured she must have been badly frightened by Kevin Parker. He comforted her, saying, "He'll receive the punishment he deserves. You don't need to be afraid anymore."
Claire Bennett turned over, carefully moving her hand away so she wouldn't press her body against him.
Moonlight streamed in through the sheer curtains from outside, spilling over their bed. She saw it fall across Julian Sterling's excessively handsome nose bridge and his rising and falling Adam's apple, giving him a strange, exquisite beauty.
Thinking of how he had descended like Prince Charming today, Claire Bennett still felt touched.
"Thank you for today. You were very manly," she said sincerely.
"It's what I should do."
Claire Bennett silently absorbed those three words. What a pity that a man like this didn't like women.
She thought to herself that Julian Sterling was an orphan, yet every move he made was extraordinarily gentlemanly. Even without parents, his upbringing was excellent. She wondered what kind of people his parents had been; their genes were far too good.
"Julian Sterling, when did your parents pass away?"
Hearing Claire Bennett's question, Julian Sterling turned to look at her. Her curious eyes were wide as she looked at him, clearly very curious about the answer.
He gave a light cough. "When I was very young."
In truth, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling had gone traveling around the world. After Mr. Sterling handed the company over to him, the two of them had started their retired life.
"Do you have any other relatives?"
Julian Sterling thought for a moment, then said, "I have a younger sister."
Claire Bennett looked a little surprised. "Then you're not in contact with your sister anymore?"
"No."
"Why?" Claire Bennett asked curiously.
She knew it wasn't good to press people about their little secrets, but she really was a little curious. They were close family, so why weren't they in contact?
Before Julian Sterling could speak, Claire Bennett volunteered, "I don't mean to pry into your privacy. How about I tell you a secret too? Actually, I've also had a falling-out with my father. You could say I'm on my own now too."
She had taken the initiative to tell him about herself because she wanted to comfort Julian Sterling. She and he were in the same boat, so he didn't need to feel sad.
Julian Sterling caught her meaning, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. What an interesting girl.
He smiled faintly and said, "Is that so?"
"Mm. Because he betrayed me and my mother." Claire Bennett looked at Julian Sterling and said, "Now it's your turn. Why did you and your sister fall out?"
"She had five children and was busy with her family, so she didn't have time to keep in touch with me." Julian Sterling casually made up an excuse.
"F-five?!" Claire Bennett clicked her tongue, utterly shocked.
Taking care of one child was exhausting enough. Five children had to be insanely busy, right? No wonder he and his sister weren't in contact.
She never would have guessed that Julian Sterling's sister was a housewife.
Another day, she would definitely make time to go visit her.