Chapter 81
Who Says I Don't Want to Go
A moment later, Claire Bennett collected herself and came out of the bathroom. In the apartment living room, Julian Sterling was sitting upright on the sofa waiting for her.
Just as Claire Bennett walked toward him, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Who could be coming this early?
A little curious, she went over and opened the door, only to see Ruby Sterling standing outside.
Today Ruby Sterling wore light makeup, her features indescribably fresh and elegant. She was dressed in sporty casual clothes, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail, making her look youthful and pretty.
"Ruby, what are you doing here?"
With a big smile on her face, she stepped forward and linked arms with Claire Bennett. "Claire, yesterday we totally humiliated that scumbag Ethan Sterling. We should celebrate our victory today, so let's go have some fun together!"
"Go have fun? But Julian Sterling and I..." Claire Bennett hesitated.
She was supposed to go get divorced from Julian Sterling today. How would she have time to go have fun?
"Oh, enough with the 'but.' Go change your clothes already. I've already arranged everything. We're going out for a picnic and camping. You and your husband should come too and have a good time."
Claire Bennett looked helpless as she shook her head. "He doesn't have—"
Before she could turn him down for Julian Sterling, Julian Sterling stepped forward from behind her and said in a low voice, "I'll drive."
Ruby Sterling smiled and said, "That's great. Then let's head out!"
And just like that, Claire Bennett was muddleheadedly coaxed into the car and taken on a spontaneous camping trip.
It seemed Julian Sterling had already returned that top-of-the-line luxury car from yesterday. Today he was driving the same plain, unremarkable everyday car as before.
Naturally, camping meant buying groceries for cooking outdoors.
Ruby Sterling had experience with this, so she had Julian Sterling stop at a produce market. Then she led the two of them out of the car and went on a shopping spree, while they just followed behind her carrying things like attendants.
While Ruby Sterling was picking things out, Claire Bennett moved close to Julian Sterling and whispered, "If you don't want to go, you can say no. I can talk to Ruby for you. She won't blame you."
She thought that because of Julian Sterling's status, he felt awkward refusing his employer, so he hadn't turned Ruby Sterling down.
But she was different. She and Ruby Sterling were close friends, so it was fine for her to be the one to speak up.
Claire Bennett sighed silently to herself. They had originally been going to get divorced today, but who would have thought something unexpected like this would happen? It really left her feeling helpless.
Seeing how anxious Claire Bennett looked, Julian Sterling said slowly, "Who says I don't want to go."
What? He wanted to go?
Claire Bennett stared at Julian Sterling in shock, but he had already followed Ruby Sterling forward.
In the end, she could only carry the things and follow along with a sullen face.
After they put everything into the trunk, Ruby Sterling started checking whether they had brought everything they needed. Standing by the trunk, she muttered to herself, "Tent, medicine, sleeping bags, moisture-proof pads, mosquito repellent, lighter..."
After counting through everything once, she finally said in relief, "We've got everything. Let's head out right away."
Camping meant spending the night outdoors, so bringing a tent was necessary.
Claire Bennett had originally wanted to say something, but when she saw that Julian Sterling also seemed immersed in it, she suddenly fell silent again.
Actually, when it came to really divorcing him, she was somewhat reluctant. Delaying it another two days so her feelings could settle wasn't so bad either.
She would just pretend not to know...
Thinking that, Claire Bennett stopped dwelling on it and simply let Ruby Sterling take them out to have fun.
Claire Bennett glanced at Julian Sterling and Ruby Sterling and felt that the combination of the three of them was indescribably awkward, like it would be hard to balance.
So Claire Bennett hesitated and said, "Ruby, should we call a couple more people?"
With more people around, it wouldn't be so awkward. Otherwise, she didn't know how to face Julian Sterling. Even though she was happy to be able to go out and have fun with him, their relationship right now was just too strange.
Ruby Sterling secretly glanced at Julian Sterling.
On the surface, this trip was to cheer Claire Bennett up, but in reality, she was trying to bring the two of them together. What if Claire Bennett wanted to sleep with her tonight?
No way!
She still had to call one more person.
Ruby Sterling said, "Claire, you're right. The three of us really are a little too few. Wait a second... I'll call one of my girlfriends to come."
As she spoke, Ruby Sterling took out her phone and called one of her close friends from her contacts.
For some reason, none of Ruby Sterling's close friends in Chicago could be reached today. The only one she did get through to couldn't get away to come.
After all that effort, Ruby Sterling felt discouraged, her face full of gloom.
She couldn't find a single person!
Claire Bennett didn't have any friends in Chicago either. Her only close friend was Ruby Sterling. The other one was Naomi Pierce, who had stolen her boyfriend. Now Ruby Sterling was the only close friend she had left.