The Divorce Agreement

"Let's go inside and talk."

Claire invited Marcus into the house, and the two sat down on the couch.

Suppressing all the thoughts in his heart, Marcus took the divorce agreement out of the briefcase in his hand and placed it in front of Claire.

When Claire saw the divorce agreement in front of her, she froze for a long while.

Although she had planned to move back to the Bennett family home, seeing Julian Sterling take the initiative to put the divorce papers right in front of her still felt different. Was he really that eager to completely cut ties with her?

After carefully reading the terms for a while, Claire saw that Julian Sterling had given her many of the properties under his name. Her heart trembled, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

The more he was like this, the worse she felt.

Claire forced a stiff smile, gathered up all her heartbreak, picked up the pen, and signed her name on the agreement.

She asked, "Besides having you deliver this agreement, did Julian Sterling say anything else?"

"No."

Hearing Marcus say no, disappointment surfaced in Claire's eyes.

She had thought Julian Sterling would at least say something. He had said nothing at all and even had Marcus deliver the divorce papers, proving he had no attachment to this relationship whatsoever.

A sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her heart. Claire quickly turned her gaze aside so Marcus wouldn't see her vulnerability.

"Um... if there's nothing else, then I'll be leaving first." Marcus knew Claire was in a bad mood, and he didn't dare stay and bother her. He gathered up the documents in his hands, stood, and said his goodbyes.

After Marcus left, the house instantly became empty and hollow.

Claire sat on the couch for a long time without speaking.

Julian Sterling had also been very "generous" in giving her this detached house, but staying here would only make her think of the past. She simply didn't want to remain here.

After a long while, Claire left the detached house with her suitcase.

...

The Bennett family home.

When Ava Bennett and Hannah Bennett saw Claire return carrying a suitcase, their faces were full of gloating as they mocked, "Claire Bennett, did Julian Sterling dump you? Well, of course. Your mother was the main culprit in harming the fourth son of the Sterling family. Naturally he'd love nothing more than to kick you to the curb."

Facing the two of them and their cold mockery, Claire was expressionless.

Only after they had finished speaking did she say flatly, "I moved back here to live so I can better adapt to life at Bennett Group. Sorry to disappoint you."

After saying that, Claire ignored Ava and Hannah, carrying her suitcase upstairs.

The two of them were furious. It looked like Claire was definitely going to enter Bennett Group.

"Mom, do you think Claire and Julian Sterling got divorced?"

Hannah's eyes darkened. Logically, if Claire had moved back to live here, she should have suffered a setback out there. But seeing how calm she had looked just now, Hannah wasn't so sure anymore.

Whatever. It didn't matter if Claire entered Bennett Group.

She would find a way to deal with Claire properly. Claire wouldn't stay arrogant for much longer!

Claire went into her room.

The room was still decorated in the pink tones a young girl would like. It looked a bit childish, but it was filled with memories from her childhood.

She sat gently on the bed and reached out to stroke the bedsheet. It still looked brand-new. Just as Victor Bennett had said, someone really did clean it regularly.

All at once, her eyes turned sore and stinging.

While Claire was lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Ruby Sterling.

There was basically no need to guess; she already knew Ruby was calling to ask her out and comfort her.

Right now Claire was heartbroken. Ordinary comfort couldn't ease it, and going out with Ruby would only increase her guilt.

Actually, Claire didn't blame Ruby at all. By comparison, she was even very grateful to Ruby. It was because of Ruby that she had met Julian Sterling and had that beautiful period of memories with him.

There was nothing to regret in her heart anymore.

Claire noticed she had drifted off and swiped to answer the call. "Hello, Ruby."

"Cl... Claire..." After calling her name, Ruby suddenly didn't know what to say. She just felt terribly guilty, and couldn't even get words of comfort out.

She had gone to the detached house and hadn't expected Claire to already be gone, so she could only call her.

Claire and Ruby had been such good sisters for so long—how could Claire not know what she was thinking?

She chuckled softly and said, "Ruby, you don't need to feel guilty about what happened between your brother and me. There's an unbridgeable gap between us. This has nothing to do with you. On the contrary, I should thank you. Don't carry this burden. We'll still be good sisters from now on."

Ruby was so moved she was on the verge of tears.

She hadn't expected Claire not only not to blame her, but to comfort her instead.

Her brother had told her to come comfort Claire, but she felt that the person who ought to be comforted was herself.