Chapter 602
Bringing Old Mr. Sterling Home
Julian Sterling could originally have let his grandparents stay in the apartment across from the one he used to live in, but he still chose to have them move in here with them instead.
It wasn't that he didn't have a bigger place now, nor that he lacked the means, especially since he was at a critical stage in building his business.
Rather, if he started buying up property on a large scale, it would very likely arouse Thomas Sterling's suspicions, and if that led to Thomas obstructing him, the loss would outweigh the gain.
Only by having all of them crammed into a single apartment would he look miserable enough, and that fit even better with the situation Thomas Sterling and Ethan Sterling believed him to be in.
So his grandparents would just have to put up with it.
Old Mr. Sterling and Old Mrs. Sterling entered Claire Bennett's apartment. Old Mr. Sterling looked around, and as he took in the tiny apartment, a look of disdain appeared in his eyes.
Such a small place, and they were supposed to squeeze in here?
Old Mr. Sterling gave a light snort. "How about we go stay with Muyuan instead? Or Panlan's place would work too..."
Although coming to Claire Bennett's place had been the plan, Old Mr. Sterling still looked down on this tiny place a little. After all, he had been living in somewhere as luxurious as the Sterling estate before; this little apartment was in no way comparable.
Julian Sterling really didn't want to hit Old Mr. Sterling with the truth, but he had no choice except to say it.
"Grandpa, because of what happened with Thomas Sterling, my parents were badly affected too and lost quite a bit. I've already arranged for them to go back to Chicago. As for my aunt, because of Ian Sterling's situation, she had to pay out a huge sum. From what I know, she's moved too, and her circumstances aren't much better than ours."
Hearing Julian Sterling's words, Old Mr. Sterling felt a wave of bleakness in his heart.
He had never imagined that one day he would fall this far, to the point where he didn't even have a place to live!
Old Mrs. Sterling accepted it much faster. She said, "Enough! You could live in a place like the countryside, so why can't you live here now that you've come here?"
While they were hospitalized, that bastard Thomas Sterling had actually swallowed up every last one of their assets, leaving them nothing at all. Even their little courtyard house in the countryside was gone.
Old Mr. Sterling wanted to argue back.
How could this be the same? But then he suddenly felt that he really was being somewhat unreasonable.
In the end, he accepted it in silence.
Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling returned to their room.
"Julian Sterling." Remembering how dissatisfied Old Mr. Sterling had looked just now, Claire Bennett spoke hesitantly. "Julian Sterling, I think Grandpa Sterling really isn't used to this place. So how about..."
Claire Bennett looked up at Julian Sterling. "I go back to the Bennett family and take back the shares that belonged to my mother, and then get them a better house."
Back then, Megan Shaw Bennett had started her business together with Victor Bennett, and she had left quite a lot for Claire Bennett.
After Hannah Bennett drove Claire Bennett out of the Bennett family, she had never gone back to take it back.
When Julian Sterling heard Claire Bennett's words, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Resting his chin against her head, he said, "What's yours should naturally be taken back, but I can't use your money to buy property. Otherwise, how would I be any different from a man living off a woman?"
He let out a somewhat helpless sigh in his heart.
In Claire's eyes, was he really that down-and-out now?
Claire Bennett shook her head and said, "Julian Sterling, we're husband and wife. Your grandparents are my family too. Even though we had some pretty serious conflicts before, at a time like this we can't be too concerned about that. Grandpa and Grandma are old now. If they have to squeeze into a tiny place like this with us, it'll be bad for their mood, and they could end up making themselves sick from feeling so stifled."
Outside the bedroom door, Old Mrs. Sterling and Old Mr. Sterling stood there in silence.
Old Mr. Sterling had heard what Claire Bennett said just now, and he was deeply moved.
He had never expected Claire Bennett to set aside old grievances and think of them like this. He had always had so many complaints about Claire Bennett before, and now they might even have to rely on the assets that woman had left behind.
How could Old Mr. Sterling not be filled with emotion?
But when he thought of that woman, what worried Old Mr. Sterling even more was Quentin Sterling. He had been a vegetable for years, and just lying in the hospital cost a considerable amount of money. In their current situation, when they didn't even have a house of their own, what were they supposed to do about Quentin Sterling's medical expenses?
Inside the room, Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling were still arguing about the house when Old Mr. Sterling shoved the door open. "You two don't need to argue anymore!"
"Grandpa Sterling!" Claire Bennett froze.
She hadn't expected Old Mr. Sterling to be standing at the door, let alone to have heard what they were saying. Realizing she was still in Julian Sterling's arms, Claire Bennett hurriedly pushed him away, blushing.
Old Mr. Sterling said in a deep voice, "I think it's quite good living here. You don't need to go doing anything else. I've already decided I'm staying here!"
Old Mrs. Sterling couldn't help giving a quiet snort inwardly.
Just now the old man had been complaining that this place was too small and too shabby, and now the slap in the face had come awfully fast.
"That's right. Your grandfather and I have already decided to stay, so you two don't need to busy yourselves with anything else," Old Mrs. Sterling chimed in from the side.