Chapter 449
She Couldn't Really Have Chickened Out, Could She
She was going to ask Claire Bennett exactly why she still hadn't shown up yet!
When Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett saw Laura Bennett leave, they assumed she couldn't stand that the two of them had turned things around and had slunk off in embarrassment. The corners of their mouths curled into smug smiles, and they couldn't have been more pleased with themselves.
...
At the same time, outside the Bennett house, a low-key luxury business sedan slowly came to a stop.
Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling had arrived in New York two days early. The two of them had gotten ready first thing this morning and come to the Bennett family home by car to attend the birthday banquet.
Just as the car reached the entrance and Claire Bennett was about to get out, she received a call from Laura Bennett.
Her eyes lowered slightly as she swiped to answer. "Hello."
"Claire Bennett, where are you? Why aren't you here yet? You couldn't really have chickened out, could you!" The moment the call connected, Laura Bennett's voice came through the phone.
Because they were sitting so close together, Julian Sterling heard her rude tone too.
He glanced at Claire Bennett, and Claire Bennett gave him a reassuring look.
She said lightly, "I'm already at the door."
"What! You're at the door? Then wait there. I'll come out and get you right now!"
Click. As soon as Laura Bennett finished speaking, she hung up the phone.
Claire Bennett looked at the disconnected call in her hand, confusion showing in her eyes. She didn't remember Laura Bennett being such an easy person to deal with, much less someone who would come out to meet her.
Although it felt strange, Claire Bennett still decided to see what exactly she was up to.
She sat in the car and waited. Before long, she saw Laura Bennett appear.
After coming out, Laura Bennett stood there looking around in all directions, apparently searching for Claire Bennett.
Claire Bennett rolled down the window. "Aunt."
Hearing Claire Bennett's voice, suspicion flashed in Laura Bennett's eyes.
She started walking over. When she got close to Claire Bennett's car and saw the carefully dressed-up Claire Bennett inside, her eyes widened even more in disbelief.
Was this really Claire Bennett in front of her?
"Claire? How did you become..." so beautiful.
Laura Bennett looked Claire Bennett up and down, feeling that she was even prettier now than before. Her whole person gave off a different kind of confidence. Laura Bennett had originally thought that after Claire Bennett left the Bennett family, she would become destitute and down-and-out.
She hadn't expected Claire Bennett to be especially capable. As long as she showed up and disgusted Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett, that would be enough.
Laura Bennett's gaze shifted toward Julian Sterling beside Claire Bennett.
The man sat quietly in the car in a well-tailored black suit. His whole person gave off a mysterious, aloof air. His handsome face made it impossible to look away, and every inch of him radiated nobility and elegance.
Could it be because of this man?
Laura Bennett asked doubtfully, "Claire, this is...?"
At present, the Sterling family was still run by old Mr. Sterling. Although Julian Sterling was highly regarded by him and would inherit the Sterling family in the future, he still rarely showed his face for now, so even Laura Bennett couldn't recognize that the man before her was the president of Sterling International.
She only felt that Julian Sterling was exceptionally distinguished and extraordinarily handsome.
Without any hesitation, Claire Bennett said, "My husband."
"What does your husband do?" Laura Bennett suddenly became excited. If Claire Bennett's husband was someone important, wouldn't that mean he could slap those two in the face hard?
If it had been an ordinary person, Laura Bennett might not have reacted at all. But the moment she learned that the man Claire Bennett had found was impressive, she immediately pictured the ugly expressions Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett would wear when they were thoroughly crushed later.
Just thinking about it felt incredibly satisfying!
If it had been a closer relative, Claire Bennett might have answered honestly. But this aunt, Laura Bennett, had never treated her all that well before, and now that she was asking so warmly, it was only because she had ulterior motives. Claire Bennett could choose not to answer.
Claire Bennett let out a cold laugh and said, "Aunt, are you running a background check on me?"
Laura Bennett didn't get angry. Instead, she had already made up her mind that Claire Bennett's husband was definitely no ordinary person. She smiled and said, "Then let's go in together."
Next, Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling got out of the car together.
Laura Bennett actually led the two of them in through the back door!
"They're setting things up in front right now, so this is the way for us. Sorry to inconvenience you for the moment."
Laura Bennett explained as she walked.
Claire Bennett wasn't stupid. She immediately knew this was just Laura Bennett's excuse, but she didn't say anything. She simply followed Laura Bennett inside in silence.
In fact, Laura Bennett's purpose in doing this was to catch them off guard.
She would first bring Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling in through the back door, then later find the right moment to appear in front of Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett. It would absolutely make the two of them furious to death!
All of a sudden, Laura Bennett seemed to think of something. She said, "Claire, thank goodness your aunt called you over. Otherwise, the family business would just be handed over to someone else for nothing!"
"Part of the company Ava Bennett and the others have now was invested in by your mother too. Are you really just going to give it to them like that? With your mother's condition, who knows how many more years she'll be lying there? Keeping her going takes money. If you ask me, you should fight Ava Bennett for it and take back what belongs to you!"