Chapter 581
Trying to Get Along with the Sterling Family (Continued)
Mrs. Sterling glanced at Mr. Sterling. Seeing that although his face was stern, he was secretly pricking up his ears to listen, she couldn't help laughing.
He had obviously watched Claire Bennett's new product launch livestream yesterday, and he'd even praised her for staying calm under pressure, yet now he was acting all disdainful. What an old fossil!
Mr. Sterling really was secretly listening to what Claire Bennett was saying. Even though he claimed he would stop interfering in Julian Sterling's affairs, how could he truly not care? After all, Julian Sterling was his favorite grandson.
"Claire, I've already watched your launch event. It really was very well done. You're truly impressive."
After Mrs. Sterling said that, she looked over at Mr. Sterling and asked, "You watched Claire's launch event too, didn't you? Isn't Claire impressive?"
Being called on by name, Mr. Sterling was caught in an awkward spot, neither able to answer nor not answer.
After quite a while, he finally gave a light snort. "It was all right."
Although Mr. Sterling was holding back, Claire Bennett knew he had never thought much of her, so a judgment like this was already extremely good. She curled her lips into a faint smile, and she was no longer as nervous as when she had first arrived.
Maybe, just like Julian Sterling had said, Mr. Sterling wasn't quite so opposed to her anymore.
After that, the topics Mrs. Sterling asked about were all ordinary ones, and none of them made Claire Bennett feel any pressure. She answered Mrs. Sterling obediently as well.
The atmosphere in the living room was harmonious, but a dark look flashed through Megan Sterling's eyes. Then she quietly got up and walked out.
In the garden.
Megan Sterling was on the phone with Ethan Sterling.
Ethan Sterling had been afraid something unexpected might happen, so he had been waiting for Megan Sterling to make a move against Mr. Sterling. But she had kept saying she was waiting for the right opportunity. After urging her for so long, Megan Sterling had finally been willing to come to the Sterling family home.
He had never expected that today he would hear Megan Sterling say Julian Sterling had brought Claire Bennett back to the Sterling family home. He immediately became unable to sit still, afraid Mr. Sterling would go soft and let Julian Sterling come back.
"You have to keep a close eye on them. If anything happens, you must tell me right away."
Megan Sterling responded indifferently.
Ethan Sterling thought for a moment, then continued, "But Julian bringing Claire back proves he still wants to be with her. A woman like Claire Bennett—how is she better than you? I think... you might as well use today's opportunity to pin this matter on Claire Bennett! That way, you can also get rid of suspicion against yourself."
Although Ethan Sterling still had designs on Claire Bennett, Claire Bennett's heart was now full of Julian Sterling. If something happened to Mr. Sterling, Julian Sterling would have no ability to save her. At that point, he would be Claire Bennett's only support.
Claire Bennett would definitely change her mind and come back to him.
That was what Ethan Sterling was thinking.
Megan Sterling's thoughts were more or less the same, except she wanted to drive Claire Bennett to her death, and then she would be able to break her up with Julian Sterling.
The two of them were in complete agreement.
Megan Sterling said, "Okay, I know."
"I'll wait for your good news."
...
It was time for dinner.
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling usually ate fairly light meals, but today, with Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling back, and Megan Sterling here as well, dinner was noticeably more lavish.
The few of them took their seats together in the dining room.
Claire Bennett sat beside Julian Sterling. Because of Mrs. Sterling's kindness that afternoon, her nervousness had long since disappeared, and she seemed much more relaxed and at ease. Mr. Sterling, too, no longer wore the cold expression he had before. When Mrs. Sterling asked questions, he would occasionally cut in and ask Claire Bennett a thing or two.
After dinner, Mr. Sterling said to Claire Bennett, "Come into the study."
He wanted to ask Claire Bennett some things. Claire Bennett glanced at Julian Sterling, and Julian Sterling frowned and said, "Grandpa, what do you want to say to Claire?"
Mr. Sterling said irritably, "What, I can't even talk with her for a bit now? You're watching so closely—what, are you afraid I'll eat your wife or something!"
When Claire Bennett heard Mr. Sterling call her Julian Sterling's wife, she felt that in his eyes, he seemed to have already regarded her as Julian Sterling's wife. In the past, he always seemed to call her that woman.
She gave Julian Sterling a reassuring look and said, "Grandpa, I'll go in with you."
After speaking, Claire Bennett stood up and followed Mr. Sterling into the study.
When Megan Sterling saw the two of them go in, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
An opportunity for Claire Bennett and Mr. Sterling to be alone would make it even easier for Claire Bennett to take the fall. She got up and went to the kitchen.
At that moment, a maid in the kitchen was making tea. Megan Sterling said, "Use the tea I brought over. I specially prepared it for Grandpa—let him have a taste."
How could the maid suspect anything? She directly took the tea Megan Sterling handed her and began to brew it.
Seeing this, Megan Sterling finally returned to the living room at ease.
Inside the study.
Mr. Sterling sat in his seat with a serious expression. He fixed his gaze on Claire Bennett and asked, "How have things been between you and Julian lately?"