Chapter 4
Fulfilling a Wife's Duties
Claire caught his wrist before he could open the door. The certificate on the table had already made a decision about her life; she would not let the next one be made in the foyer.
"If I am going to stand beside you when that door opens," she said, "we set three ground rules first."
Five minutes later, an agreement was placed in Claire Bennett's hands.
Julian Sterling sat across from her, relaxed and at ease, carrying an elegant, noble air all around him. He was patiently waiting for Claire Bennett to finish reading the agreement.
Claire Bennett looked over every clause on the agreement, her brows knitting tighter and tighter.
In the end, she pointed to one of the clauses and asked, "What does it mean that when necessary, I have to fulfill a wife's duties?"
Did that duty mean he could legally sleep with her?
Julian Sterling's sharp eyes looked at Claire Bennett calmly as he said unhurriedly, "It means exactly what it says. You have to fulfill your duties as Mrs. Sterling."
Grandpa might come personally or send someone to inspect. Even though their marriage was fake, Claire Bennett still had to do her duty as his wife and help him deal with Grandpa.
Hearing Julian Sterling say that, Claire Bennett felt like she'd guessed right.
This man really wanted to use the certificate as a legal pass to sleep with her!
Because of family reasons, and some psychological reasons too, she had made an agreement with Ethan Sterling that they would only have sex after they got married.
Now she wasn't even that familiar with this man. This was only their first meeting, right? Even though they'd accidentally gotten married, jumping straight to this step was way too fast. She really couldn't accept it.
Claire Bennett started to lose her nerve and had the urge to flee in a panic.
She set the agreement down. "H-how about we forget it? Tomorrow let's go to the marriage registration office and cancel this ridiculous marriage."
Finding someone else to pretend to be Julian Sterling didn't seem impossible either.
"Why?" Julian Sterling asked.
"I just think we don't know each other well, and we don't have any emotional foundation. Getting married like this is too hasty." Claire Bennett racked her brains for every possible excuse.
Really, the main thing was that she was afraid of giving herself away.
Julian Sterling remained calm and composed. He patiently persuaded her, "There are plenty of married couples who get married without feelings. Feelings can be developed."
Besides, theirs was only a contract marriage. Plenty of people wanted to become Julian Sterling's wife. He didn't understand what Claire Bennett had to worry about.
After a pause, he asked in a negotiating tone, "Is there something you're worried about?"
"It's just... I might..." Claire Bennett felt a little embarrassed and stammered, "I can't have sex with a strange man, so I think we..."
Julian Sterling frowned. He hadn't thought of that.
Before Claire Bennett could finish, he cut her off. "If you don't want to, I won't force you."
Hearing that, Claire Bennett was hugely relieved.
In that case, she didn't have to worry anymore. Anyway, he looked like an honorable gentleman and probably wouldn't go back on his word.
Julian Sterling stared at Claire Bennett, his gaze darkening slightly.
This woman was pretty traditional deep down, but he wasn't set on having sex anyway. The most important thing was finding someone to sit in the position of Mrs. Sterling.
Julian Sterling stood up and said like a gentleman, "You'll sleep here tonight."
With that, he opened the door and went to Ruby Sterling's room. He needed to properly ask her what exactly had happened and what she'd said to Claire Bennett.
Seeing Julian Sterling leave, Claire Bennett let out a sigh of relief.
In the study, Julian Sterling sat in a chair, his dark eyes fixed on Ruby Sterling, whose little head was practically hanging to her chest, when his stern, low voice rang out.
"Stealing documents, getting married on my behalf, getting dead drunk... Ruby Sterling! What is there that you wouldn't dare do?"
"Bro, I was wrong." Ruby Sterling apologized immediately, but quickly added, "I was helping you!"
"Helping me?" Julian Sterling curled his lips in mockery.
Ruby Sterling straightened her chest and said righteously, "Hasn't Grandpa always wanted to force women on you and try to control you? Now that you're married, he doesn't have a chance anymore. Heh heh, wasn't I smart?"
Julian Sterling's deep eyes darkened.
It was exactly as he'd thought.
Julian Sterling asked, "What did you tell her?"
Ruby Sterling's sly eyes shifted as she told Julian Sterling how she'd tricked Claire Bennett.
But she didn't dare mention her selfish wish for Claire Bennett to really become her sister-in-law. Once these two had cooked the rice into done rice, sooner or later she'd succeed!
Ruby Sterling smiled and said, "You help her slap that scumbag in the face, she helps you deal with Grandpa. You're each getting what you need. Once you get the company, you can go your separate ways and have nothing to do with each other. There definitely won't be any future trouble at all!"
Julian Sterling narrowed his eyes. "Driver?"
"Yeah. Claire's a very upright person. If she knew your real identity, she definitely wouldn't have agreed to a quick marriage."
It was precisely because Claire Bennett thought the certificate was fake that she'd agreed so readily to register the marriage. Otherwise, it would've taken a lot more time, and the only person Ruby Sterling could deceive was her own best friend.
Julian Sterling was silent for a moment.