Claire Bennett Doesn't Know His Identity

Back in college, Claire Bennett had taken art as an elective. After graduating, to make it easier to take care of her mother, she became a freelance mural artist. As long as she got an order, she'd travel anywhere for work.

This time, Naomi Pierce had deliberately used a stranger's identity to book her for a job in Chicago, just so she'd run into what was going on with Ethan Sterling.

Naomi Pierce was truly scheming!

After going downstairs, Claire Bennett ran into Julian Sterling, dressed sharply in a suit.

He wore a pure black shirt and black dress pants. His whole person gave off a mysterious, reserved, cool aura. The crisp shirt perfectly outlined his handsome, broad shoulders, and the trousers were straight and sharp. Everything about him radiated nobility and elegance.

Julian Sterling's gaze fell on Claire Bennett's backpack.

She took the initiative to explain, "I've got something work-related to take care of, so I need to go out for a bit."

Julian Sterling gave a slight nod and didn't ask any further questions.

Claire Bennett was in a hurry, so she didn't say much more to Julian Sterling. She quickly opened the door and left.

At that moment, the phone in Julian Sterling's pocket rang.

He swiped to answer, and Marcus Reed's voice came through. "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling wants to paint a giant cartoon image for the department on the company's exterior wall."

Julian Sterling frowned, his eyes darkening slightly.

Mrs. Sterling was his cousin's wife.

The Sterling family's roots were in New York, where his grandfather held things down. Over here in Chicago was Sterling Group's Chicago branch. Three months ago, Tanya Sterling had suddenly brought her son Ethan Sterling to Chicago, saying they wanted to join Sterling Group's Chicago branch to learn the business.

They hadn't been in contact or seen each other for so many years, and now they suddenly came to cling to power. It really did strike him as odd.

Most likely they felt there was no hope on his grandfather's side, and seeing that he had recently won a fair amount of his grandfather's favor, they wanted to ride his coattails to stand a little higher.

After arranging for them to enter the company, he had gone on a business trip and still hadn't officially met them.

"Mm. Let her paint it," Julian Sterling replied.

After hanging up, he drifted off slightly, thinking of Claire Bennett.

He had forgotten to ask which family his wife came from. There didn't seem to be any prominent Song family in Chicago, though he had heard of the New York Bennett family.

...

Claire Bennett took a cab to the address the client had given her.

The cab driver was a chatterbox. When he saw the address, he immediately started making conversation. "Oh wow, miss, you're going to Sterling International."

Claire Bennett asked in confusion, "Yeah. Is something wrong with that place?"

"Sterling International is Sterling Group of New York's branch office. Nobody in Chicago doesn't know it. Are you going there for work? I hear it's not easy to get into that company..."

A look of surprise appeared in Claire Bennett's eyes.

Sterling International was actually part of Sterling Group? She didn't follow financial news at all, so she had no idea about that.

Wouldn't that mean she might run into Ethan Sterling?

Very quickly, Claire Bennett relaxed again. After all, the person who had spoken with her should be a manager at Sterling International. She probably wouldn't see Ethan Sterling.

No!

She was the one who'd been cheated on and betrayed, so why should she be afraid of that scumbag Ethan Sterling?

Claire Bennett gave a soft snort, a resolute look appearing on her face.

At that moment, the voice of a radio host came through inside the cab.

"Today we're extremely honored to have with us Mr. Victor Bennett, head of the New York Bennett family, and Mrs. Bennett. May I ask, since you've brought your beloved wife to this charity event today, what thoughts or experiences would you like to share with us?"

Hearing that voice, Claire Bennett went dazed for a moment.

The driver said with a grin, "There sure are a lot of rich people in New York. This Victor Bennett is rich too. I heard he's very loving with his wife, takes her everywhere with him. A woman really does need to marry a good husband..."

Claire Bennett let out a mocking laugh.

Of course they were loving. After all, she was his true love, while her mother and she herself had been nothing more than an accident.

After that, the driver's muttering and the radio's voice seemed to drift far away. Claire Bennett didn't take in any of it. She stared out the window in a daze, the fingers resting on her knees curling tightly into a fist.

Before long, the cab stopped in front of a skyscraper that soared into the clouds.

Claire Bennett pulled back all her thoughts. After transferring the fare to the driver, she opened the car door and got out.

Today, Claire Bennett had only come first to inspect the site. After going back, she would need to work on the design. She hadn't actually started painting yet, so she was traveling light and didn't need to bring any tools.

Claire Bennett had just been thinking that even if she ran into Ethan Sterling, she wouldn't need to be afraid of him, but what she had never expected was that she'd run into Ethan Sterling's mother, Tanya Sterling!

The unexpected encounter left Claire Bennett completely stunned.

Standing beside Tanya Sterling was Naomi Pierce. Today she wore a pure white dress, a faint smile at the corners of her lips. Her hair hung loose down her back, and she wore delicate makeup, looking fresh and lovely.

A bad feeling rose in Claire Bennett's heart.

She took out her phone and called the client's number, and then saw Tanya Sterling's phone start ringing.

The client who had made the appointment was actually Tanya Sterling!