There's Definitely Something Wrong

Julian Sterling watched her eager, delighted retreating figure, and his face darkened heavily.

When Claire Bennett answered his question, she had hesitated for a moment. It had to be because she felt guilty.

The person she was going to meet was definitely more than just a friend. Most likely it was someone she was hiding and didn't want him to know about—and a man at that!

At that moment, Ruby Sterling came out of the tent.

She stretched and asked Julian Sterling, "Where's Claire? Don't tell me she's still sleeping?"

"She left."

Ruby Sterling's jaw dropped. "She left?"

"She went to see an old friend."

The moment Ruby Sterling heard that, she perked right up. She hurriedly sat down beside Julian Sterling, looking like Sherlock Holmes had possessed her.

She said seriously, "Bro! You're way too trusting. Claire's mother is in a private hospital in New York, and we also went to school in New York. If it weren't for Ethan Sterling, why would she have come to Chicago? Let alone have friends in Chicago!"

Julian Sterling lifted his eyes and looked over.

"Why didn't you go with her? You could've seen exactly what kind of friend she was meeting—whether it was a man or a woman, old or young, tall or short."

"She wouldn't let me take her."

Ruby Sterling slapped her hands together. "Then there's definitely something wrong! Think about it—when has Claire ever been the type to turn down a ride? The way she's hiding it so carefully is obviously because she feels guilty."

Julian Sterling was already in a bad mood. Hearing Ruby Sterling say that made his expression turn even uglier.

He took out his phone and called Marcus Reed, immediately instructing him to track Claire Bennett's whereabouts and find out exactly which friend she was meeting.

O'Hare International Airport.

Claire Bennett stood at the arrivals exit, looking around, and very quickly saw a handsome figure appear.

The man was tall and dressed casually, but he carried an extraordinary presence among the crowd, drawing quite a few stares.

It really was Sean Shaw.

She walked up to him, and Sean Shaw reached out and hugged her, chuckling softly. "Looks like after not seeing each other for so long, you really haven't changed at all. You're still just a little girl."

Hearing that, Claire Bennett felt a little emotional.

It had been a long time since she had heard words spoken in such an indulgent tone. It inevitably made her think of the Bennett family, and of that man in the Bennett family who was related to her by blood. Unfortunately, none of them could go back to the way things used to be.

"Sean, you haven't changed either. You're still just as devastatingly handsome."

Hearing Claire Bennett's praise, Sean Shaw curled his lips up in an excellent mood. "Such a sweet little mouth. Did you put honey on it? Come on, I'll treat you to something to eat."

"I should be the one treating you to food!" Claire Bennett corrected him.

Although she wasn't as rich as Sean Shaw now, she could still afford to pay for one meal.

The two of them left the airport together, chatting and laughing.

Ruby Sterling and Julian Sterling wrapped up their camping trip in a hurry and returned to the Sterling family home.

The camping trip had originally been organized for Claire Bennett anyway. Now that the main person was gone, there wasn't much point in their staying any longer.

But it wasn't as if there had been no gains at all. At least Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling had already reached an agreement that they would not get divorced for the time being.

Very soon, the photo of Claire Bennett hugging Sean Shaw at the airport was sent promptly to Julian Sterling's phone.

Looking at the man holding Claire Bennett tightly, his brows furrowed so hard they looked like they could crush a mosquito.

Julian Sterling had investigated Claire Bennett's background, yet for some reason had never looked into her mother's background. He only knew that Claire Bennett had an ex-boyfriend named Ethan Sterling, and had no idea where Sean Shaw had suddenly come from.

Now, in his eyes, Sean Shaw was his romantic rival.

Ruby Sterling picked up the photo and glanced at it. "Who is this guy? He actually looks pretty handsome... ahem, of course, he definitely can't compare to my brother. My brother is the man all the women in Chicago and New York most want to marry!"

Realizing she had almost said the wrong thing, Ruby Sterling hurriedly swerved.

After saying that, she quickly continued, "Bro, Claire Bennett's white moonlight has already come right to your door, and you still don't plan to do anything? If you don't make a move now, your wife is going to get stolen away."

Ruby Sterling had originally thought that once that scumbag Ethan Sterling was dealt with, everything could be settled in one step.

Who knew a man like this would pop up now instead.

Why was the road from bestie to sister-in-law for her best friend so difficult?

...

Inside the Western restaurant, Sean Shaw and Claire Bennett were eating.

Sean Shaw looked up at Claire Bennett and said, "Claire, you've been away from home for so many years now. Have you really never planned to go back? He actually still loves you very much. You've also suffered enough out there all these years."

Claire Bennett knew that the "he" Sean Shaw was talking about was her father, Victor Bennett—Sean Shaw's uncle by marriage.

At the mention of Victor Bennett, she instinctively began to resist.

There was no longer any place for her in the Bennett family now. Victor Bennett had a wife and a daughter. Even if she went back, she would only be an outsider who could never fit into the Bennett family.

Was there any need to go back at all?

And on top of that, she still couldn't let go of what had happened to her mother, and she could not forgive Victor Bennett.

"Sean, stop trying to persuade me. I know what I'm doing."

Seeing the resolute look on Claire Bennett's face, Sean Shaw let out a soft sigh.