Chapter 590
Need You to Put On an Act
The news that Old Mr. Sterling had already regained consciousness was not made public. Julian Sterling had kept the matter of bringing in an overseas medical team tightly under wraps, so to outsiders, Old Mr. Sterling still appeared to be in a coma.
That also made it easier for Julian Sterling to carry out his next counterattack against Ethan Sterling.
Thomas Sterling and Ethan Sterling had taken over Sterling Group. They began laying people off on a large scale, clearing out everyone in Sterling Group who was connected to Julian Sterling, to keep him from making a comeback.
During this period, everyone at Sterling Group was on edge. On top of Old Mr. Sterling's coma, many people felt that Julian Sterling would never be able to come back, and some had defected to Ethan Sterling's side.
At that moment, Julian Sterling was on his way to the detention center to pick up Claire Bennett.
Claire Bennett had already mentally prepared herself to wait at least ten days to half a month before seeing Julian Sterling, but she never expected to see him today.
Before this, Julian Sterling had never come to see her. The only people she had seen were Ruby Sterling and Ethan Sterling.
She knew Julian Sterling could barely protect himself right now, so it was only normal that he had no time to come see her. Seeing him now felt extremely unexpected.
Claire Bennett's gaze fell on Julian Sterling as she gave him a brief once-over, seemingly checking how he was doing. She had thought Julian Sterling would look impoverished and bedraggled, but to her surprise, he was still as tall and handsome as ever. The worry she had been carrying gradually eased.
"Julian Sterling, you... how are things on your side?" Claire Bennett asked first.
"Mm, everything's going smoothly."
Smoothly?
Julian Sterling had actually used the word "smoothly," as if everything were under his control.
"As long as you're okay." Claire Bennett smiled.
Julian Sterling took Claire Bennett's hand and said, "What about you? How have you been feeling lately? Have you cried?"
Hearing that, Claire Bennett really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Did she look like someone who loved to cry that much? She wasn't that fragile, okay!
"I wouldn't cry!"
Julian Sterling curled his lips into a smile. "Claire's amazing."
When Claire Bennett saw him looking at her with smiling eyes and that indulgent tone, as if he were teasing her, she couldn't help blushing.
Was he praising her, or deliberately being sarcastic?
Julian Sterling reached out, gave a hard tug, and pulled Claire Bennett into his arms. Then he held her tightly, as though he wanted to knead her into his bones and blood.
After Claire Bennett crashed into his embrace, he held her fast. The moment she caught that familiar cool, clean scent on him, her heart finally seemed to settle completely.
The two of them only held each other gently and did not speak again.
A moment later, Julian Sterling said, "Let's go. We're going home."
"Hm?" Claire Bennett looked up at Julian Sterling in surprise, as if she couldn't quite believe what she had heard.
What had Julian Sterling just said? He said go home?
She had thought Julian Sterling was only here to see her today. Did he mean she could go home now?
Seeing that Claire Bennett still hadn't processed it, Julian Sterling took her hand and led her outside. "Come on. Ruby's already waiting for us at the apartment. Since we're out today, we have to celebrate properly."
Claire Bennett noticed that Julian Sterling had said they were going to the apartment!
So he wasn't taking her back to the Sterling family home?
"Julian Sterling, how is it that I can suddenly get out? Have they already found the person who poisoned him?"
"How is Grandpa Sterling doing now?"
"Have you already left the Sterling family now? What about the company?"
Claire Bennett had countless questions in her heart. A trace of helplessness flashed through Julian Sterling's eyes as he said, "Let's go back first. I'll explain it all to you properly in a bit."
...
Marcus Reed had already completed the paperwork. Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling got into the car, and as Claire Bennett looked at the scenery outside the window, it still felt a little unreal. She had really left just like that.
Half an hour later, the two of them returned to the apartment together.
The moment the door opened, Ruby Sterling was holding a basin of water and some leaves, swishing them at Claire Bennett. Claire Bennett froze in the doorway. "Ruby, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting rid of bad luck! You just came out of a place like that, so of course we have to sweep away the bad luck on you!"
Claire Bennett didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but she still let Ruby Sterling carry out the bad-luck-cleansing on her.
After they went inside, Julian Sterling said to Claire Bennett, "Go take a shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. Dinner will be ready soon."
Recently, Sterling Group had been the center of everyone's attention. No matter where they went to eat, they might attract a lot of notice. Julian Sterling didn't want Claire Bennett subjected to those stares, so he had specially invited a chef to come cook on-site at home, which would also avoid a lot of problems.
An hour later, Claire Bennett came out still damp all over. After taking a hot shower, she had completely relaxed.
The chef had also finished making all the dishes and left. Julian Sterling and Ruby Sterling were sitting at the dining table waiting.
Claire Bennett, dressed in loungewear, walked over and sat down across from them.
She had kept thinking about this the whole time she was showering, and now she could finally ask Julian Sterling. If she didn't ask soon, she was going to suffocate from holding it in.
"Julian Sterling, you can tell me now, right? How did I get out?"
"Grandpa has already woken up, and they've also found out who the poisoner is, so you were able to come out." Julian Sterling smiled as he spoke.
"Who was it?"
"Who was it?!"
Claire Bennett and Ruby Sterling asked in unison.
Although Ruby Sterling knew that Old Mr. Sterling had woken up and that Claire Bennett could come out, she didn't know who had made a move against Old Mr. Sterling.