Do You Still Blame Dad Now

Victor Bennett sat in his chair. He pointed at the chairs in front of him and said, "Sit down first."

The two of them sat down in the chairs together. Looking at Victor Bennett, Claire Bennett vaguely realized that he had become much older than before. Without her noticing, Victor Bennett seemed to have grown quite a bit of white hair; even the hair at his temples was starting to turn white at the roots.

It was as if he had grown old.

Memories from the past came flooding over her: when she was little, she used to cling to Victor Bennett and ask him to buy her things, and he would dote on her and agree without conditions; and then there was his affair with Hannah Bennett. Those two conflicting memories mixed together and made Claire Bennett's emotions extremely complicated.

Claire Bennett pressed her lips together tightly and said nothing.

Actually, back when Victor Bennett separated from her mother, Claire Bennett hadn't cared all that much. What made her unhappy was that Victor Bennett had sided with Hannah Bennett and, after her mother got into a car accident, had stood by and done nothing to save her.

That was also what led to her struggling to make money on her own out there back then.

When Victor Bennett saw Claire Bennett, how could he not also begin recalling the past? He let out a heavy sigh and asked, "Claire, do you still blame Dad now?"

Claire Bennett didn't speak.

It would be absolutely impossible to say she didn't blame him, but the hatred in her heart toward Victor Bennett had already faded quite a bit.

At least when facing him now, she no longer hated him as deeply as before, nor did she feel like not even speaking to him.

After a moment of silence, Claire Bennett said, "Of course I blame you."

If Victor Bennett hadn't cheated back then, their family wouldn't have fallen apart.

As if sensing Claire Bennett's low spirits, Julian Sterling reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently patting her on the back.

Claire Bennett seemed to rely on Julian Sterling deeply. Breathing in his familiar scent, Claire Bennett felt very safe, and all the restlessness in her heart disappeared.

When Victor Bennett saw the trust and closeness between Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling, his expression darkened.

Originally, he had wanted to tell Claire Bennett about this matter, but now he suddenly changed his mind.

It was precisely because his relationship with Claire Bennett's mother had been bad that he hoped Claire Bennett could have the happiness she wanted, rather than suffer for a lifetime like their generation had.

After thinking it through, Victor Bennett said in a deep voice, "Claire, go out first. I want to talk to him."

Claire Bennett hesitated for a moment.

Julian Sterling smiled and said, "Don't worry about me. This isn't the first time your father-in-law and I have met."

Hearing that, Claire Bennett remembered that the last time they had met was at Ethan Sterling's wedding. Victor Bennett had already spoken with Julian Sterling then, so there probably shouldn't be any problem now.

With Julian Sterling's reassurance, Claire Bennett left the study.

After the study door closed and only Julian Sterling and Victor Bennett remained, Victor Bennett looked at Julian Sterling with a solemn expression and asked, "Do you know about Claire's mother's situation?"

After Claire Bennett came out, she went to the living room.

Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett, mother and daughter, were sitting there. When they saw Claire Bennett, both their expressions turned ugly at the same time.

Claire Bennett had embarrassed them badly enough today. Now, no matter how they looked at her, they found her unpleasant, and even wanted her to get out immediately.

"Claire Bennett, don't think that saying a few nice things to your father means you can move in here!" Hannah Bennett was the first to speak, mocking her.

She thought Claire Bennett had come back with Victor Bennett because she wanted to talk things out with him and then move back into the Bennett house.

Claire Bennett knew there would never be anything good coming from Hannah Bennett. She had always been like this—first imagining things in her own head, then mocking Claire Bennett with sarcasm.

"You think I want to move into the Bennett family home?" Claire Bennett shot Hannah Bennett a sidelong glance.

Seeing the mocking look on Claire Bennett's face, Hannah Bennett felt extremely uncomfortable. She kept feeling that Claire Bennett was looking down on her.

She gave a cold snort and said, "Isn't that it? You stole all the spotlight at the old man's birthday banquet, and now you want to come back to the Bennett family."

Claire Bennett listened quietly, then lightly curled her lips.

With a half-smile, she said, "Did you forget that I'm already married to Julian Sterling? I can live with the Sterling family. Is there any need for me to come back here and squeeze in with you people?"

From what Ava Bennett had tried to do to Julian Sterling at the birthday banquet just now, Claire Bennett already knew that they were attracted by Julian Sterling's status.