The Presence of a Matriarch

Claire Bennett hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Grandma, can I go with you?"

The truth was that Grandpa Sterling's presence was just too overwhelming. Although Claire Bennett wasn't exactly afraid of him, being in the same space with him still felt a little awkward. Seeing Madam Sterling about to go out, she couldn't help wanting to go along too.

With Claire Bennett accompanying her, Madam Sterling certainly wasn't going to refuse. She immediately said, "Of course you can!"

Claire Bennett said to Julian Sterling, "Then I'm going with Grandma to buy groceries."

Julian Sterling knew Claire Bennett and Grandpa Sterling didn't get along, and he didn't want her to stay and suffer through it, so he nodded and said, "Mm. Be careful on the way."

So Claire Bennett and Madam Sterling went out together.

After they left, only Grandpa Sterling and Julian Sterling were left in the house. Of course Grandpa Sterling could tell that Claire Bennett was avoiding him. He let out an annoyed snort and said, "Such a scaredy-cat. She doesn't have the bearing of a matriarch at all!"

After hearing that, Julian Sterling curled his lips slightly and smiled. "Grandpa, if Claire were a little bolder, would that mean she has the bearing of a matriarch?"

"Isn't that obvious? As the matriarch of the Sterling family, the first requirement is to stay calm in the face of danger, when facing..." Grandpa Sterling had originally been talking away confidently, but he suddenly realized he'd fallen into Julian Sterling's trap. His expression stiffened at once, and he swallowed back everything he was about to say.

That brat!

He actually wanted him to indirectly acknowledge Claire Bennett's status as the matriarch!

Julian Sterling didn't expose Grandpa Sterling's embarrassment. He only said softly, "Grandpa, Claire is a good girl, and she's not lacking in ability at all. You should let go of your prejudice against her."

After hearing that, Grandpa Sterling's eyes showed disdain. "Doesn't look like much to me."

Julian Sterling's gaze darkened slightly. As if thinking of something, he continued, "You had Hazel Lewis enter Sterling International and create a brand called Nia to compete against Maison Verne, which Claire manages. If Claire wins, can you stop standing in the way of me and Claire?"

After saying that, Julian Sterling looked at Grandpa Sterling with hope in his eyes.

Grandpa Sterling had spent his whole life refusing to lose, but in truth he was the type who responded to softness, not force. Earlier, Julian Sterling had opposed his opinion so strongly that it triggered his rebellious streak. Now that Julian Sterling was pleading in a low voice like this, it was hard for Grandpa Sterling not to soften.

He didn't reject it outright.

A moment later, Grandpa Sterling gave a cold snort and said, "Then I'll see whether she's really as capable as you say!"

Although he had relented, Grandpa Sterling still felt in his heart that Hazel Lewis was more capable.

Thinking that, Grandpa Sterling rudely ordered, "If Hazel wins, you'll obediently go on a blind date with her for me!"

On the way to the market,

Claire Bennett and Madam Sterling chatted casually. "Grandma, have you and Grandpa always lived here?"

Seeing that Madam Sterling didn't know how to answer, Auntie Ann at her side answered for her, "Madam and sir usually live in the city. It's only because sir has been recuperating recently that they moved back here to stay."

Madam Sterling echoed repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes. We only moved here a few days ago."

Just now, Madam Sterling had been afraid that if she told Claire Bennett they had lived here for a long time, something might slip somewhere.

Thankfully, Auntie Ann had reacted quickly.

Looking at the fresh and pleasant trees around them, Claire Bennett sighed, "The environment here is nice, and the air is very fresh too. It's a good choice for Grandpa to recuperate here. He'll definitely get better and better."

A look of sudden emotion appeared on Madam Sterling's face. She muttered, "Claire, Grandpa and I had five children, but every one of them has their own things to be busy with. In the end, it's only the old man and me relying on each other. When you and Julian have time, you should come back and visit us more often. The old man has a hard mouth and a soft heart. He'll accept you soon enough."

Who says wealthy families don't need family affection?

Although Grandpa Sterling had dominated the business world when he was young, now that he was old, he had begun to long for the companionship of family affection.

It's just that in a wealthy family like this, there was still always a little less warmth than in an ordinary household.

When Claire Bennett heard Grandma Sterling say that she and Grandpa Sterling had five children, aside from that nouveau riche aunt from last time, Claire Bennett hadn't seen any of the others. She asked curiously, "Grandma, you just said you had five children. Are they all in New York?"

If they were all in New York and still hadn't come to visit the two elderly people, then they were really lacking in filial piety.

At the mention of Madam Sterling's children, a faint sorrow appeared on her face, and she said, "The eldest died young after a serious illness, and as it happened, his son was short-lived too, leaving behind a widow and orphan..."

Ethan Sterling was disappointing too; compared with Julian Sterling, his ability was far inferior.

That was why Grandpa Sterling had supported Julian Sterling, wanting him to inherit the Sterling family's enormous fortune in the future.

"The second is Julian's father. They live in Chicago year-round, and only come to visit us two old people during holidays and festivals. Fortunately, Julian is also a filial child. He comes by from time to time, and he's much better than his father."

When a wealthy family has many children, this is the kind of trouble that comes with it. Everyone always thinks the other siblings will look after their parents, but in fact everyone thinks that way, and somehow they all end up reaching that same unspoken understanding.

"The third is Julian's aunt..."

When Madam Sterling brought up Paige Sterling, her face showed helplessness and irritation.

Daughters are supposed to be the most considerate, yet Paige Sterling seemed to have gotten stuck in some dead-end way of thinking, fighting tooth and nail to compete with her brothers.

It wasn't that the Sterling family believed in passing things to sons and not daughters, but Paige Sterling and her son's abilities were both mediocre. If the Sterling family fell into their hands in the future, it probably wouldn't last five years before it collapsed, and then the two of them would be too ashamed to face their ancestors.

Madam Sterling didn't say much more about all that mess with Paige Sterling.

She jumped straight to the Sterling family's fourth child.

"As for the fourth... the fourth was the smartest of all the Sterling children, and very handsome too. Julian looks a bit like his uncle, but what a pity..."

At this point, Madam Sterling's mood suddenly sank, and her eyes reddened.