Chapter 78
The Dream of Becoming Mrs. Sterling Again
Ethan Sterling was half convinced and half doubtful, and a conflicted look appeared on his face.
If Claire Bennett wanted revenge, it wasn't impossible that she'd do something like this.
Tanya Sterling was shocked inside. Could it really have been that woman Claire Bennett pulling something behind the scenes?
She immediately tugged on Ethan Sterling, signaling for him to go up and coax her a little.
Ethan Sterling came back to his senses. He reached out and pulled Naomi Pierce into his arms, saying in a low voice, "Naomi, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I'll definitely get justice for you."
Although he might not actually do that, Ethan Sterling decided to soothe her first.
Naomi Pierce wasn't counting on Ethan Sterling either. As long as their relationship could ease up, nothing else mattered.
She obediently leaned into Ethan Sterling's arms and started crying pitifully.
Ethan Sterling held her and coaxed, "Baby, don't cry. It's all my fault for being too angry. Does it hurt? I'll take you to the hospital right now."
After saying that, Ethan Sterling took Naomi Pierce away.
Tanya Sterling stayed behind to steady things at the banquet. She told everyone that Claire Bennett, driven to hate by love, had used AI face-swapping, and managed to suppress the matter.
Everyone had just seen with their own eyes that the Bennett family had come bearing gifts, and there was no way to tell whether the video was real or fake.
Some people believed that explanation, while others remained suspicious.
But no one would expose it to her face. As for what they might say after going back, that was another matter.
Julian Sterling brought Claire Bennett to the parking lot outside the manor castle.
Claire Bennett walked in silence. For a moment she didn't watch where she was stepping, and suddenly her high heel twisted. She sprained her ankle and pitched forward.
Fortunately, Julian Sterling reacted quickly and caught her.
Only when she was held in his arms did Claire Bennett feel like she had returned to reality.
Julian Sterling lowered his head to look at her and asked, "Are you okay?"
"N-no."
Actually, Claire Bennett had many things she wanted to ask, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn't ask any of them. Her mind was in complete chaos right now.
Just then, footsteps sounded from behind them.
It was Uncle Ming and several bodyguards. When Uncle Ming saw Julian Sterling leaving with Claire Bennett, the relationship between the two of them seemed anything but simple.
No wonder Julian Sterling had refused to go on the blind date with Miss Hayes. So it was because he already had another woman.
At that moment, Julian Sterling noticed Uncle Ming and the others following after them, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Young Master Julian..."
Julian Sterling's expression darkened. "We've already left. Uncle Ming, there's no need to keep acting anymore."
Uncle Ming: "???"
Hearing that, Uncle Ming looked at Julian Sterling suspiciously.
Acting? What acting? What was Young Master Julian talking about?
Seeing that his identity was about to be exposed, Julian Sterling handed Claire Bennett a key and said, "Go wait in the car first. I need to say a few words to them."
Claire Bennett nodded, took the key, and walked away by herself.
In truth, she also felt that her thoughts were in a mess and wanted to be alone for a while.
After Claire Bennett left, Uncle Ming said respectfully, "Young Master Julian, you stood up the Hayes family's daughter without permission. The old master will definitely be very angry, and you know his methods."
Julian Sterling's expression grew several degrees more serious.
He knew Old Master Sterling was domineering by nature and extremely controlling. If he found out that he had found himself a woman, Claire Bennett would probably be in danger.
At that thought, Julian Sterling became somewhat worried.
In the past, Claire Bennett had been nothing important and could be used against his grandfather. He could ignore whether she lived or died. But now, everything seemed a little different. He didn't want Claire Bennett to be hurt.
After a moment of silence, Julian Sterling said, "I know. I'll handle this matter. Uncle Ming, thank you for accompanying me to Chicago."
At that, the corners of Uncle Ming's mouth twitched. He hadn't wanted to come either!
At the time, he had been escorting Julian Sterling to meet the Hayes family's daughter, but out of nowhere five bodyguards had appeared and kidnapped him to Chicago. With his old bones, how could he take all Julian Sterling's tossing around?
So those bodyguards weren't there to protect Julian Sterling at all. They were there to keep an eye on him and kidnap him to Chicago. They had stood Miss Hayes up, and when they went back they would have to answer for it.
Having accidentally helped a tyrant do evil, Uncle Ming felt like crying without tears, miserable beyond words.
"You should head back first," Julian Sterling said.
"As for the old master..." Uncle Ming asked. He hadn't expected that after making such a huge mistake, Julian Sterling still wouldn't go back and explain himself to Old Master Sterling. He truly had no fear because he had something to rely on.
"I'll explain it to Grandpa."
"All right then," Uncle Ming replied.
But as an old servant of the Sterling family, there were still some things he had to remind him of as part of his duty. "Young Master Julian, the old master still doesn't know that you've already gotten married on your own, and that the person you married is also..."
Having stood in the banquet hall listening for so long just now, Uncle Ming naturally also knew Claire Bennett's identity.
Ethan Sterling's ex-girlfriend...
That was no small matter. He couldn't understand why Julian Sterling had passed over so many daughters from prominent New York families, only to choose a woman like this.
There was no way Old Master Sterling would accept a woman like this.