Chapter 174
She’d been running around like crazy these past few days, trying to figure out what happened to Bob in that car accident, digging. into Quiana’s situation, and now she had to look into the Windrose family in Xalativa.
She hadn’t been back to the Bennett residence in days, except for the occasional break at her rental place. If it weren’t for the fact that she needed to pick up a few things of Bob’s, she wouldn’t have come back at all.
But as soon as she walked in, she ran into Lydia and Andrew. The two of them didn’t even notice Emily standing at the door. They were talking and laughing together, completely absorbed in their own conversation.
Lydia was clinging to Andrew’s arm, gently swaying it as she pouted and acted all cute. “Please, Andrew, just say yes.
“We’re going to need a partner for this project anyway, and the people from the Jenkins family are experts in this field. Handing it over to them wouldn’t be a loss for us.”
Andrew wasn’t upset about her getting involved in company matters, but he still frowned. He gave Lydia a curious look and asked, “What made you want to speak up for the Jenkins family all of a sudden?”
Lydia had always been sensible in his mind and knew he didn’t like others interfering in company business, so she never brought things like this to him.
Besides, the Jenkins family only had Xavier as their only son, and he and Lydia weren’t even that close. Andrew thought, ‘So, why is she going out of her way to help them?‘
Lydia didn’t get flustered by his questioning. She explained, “Andrew, I know you don’t like people interfering in company business, but I’m only doing this for Emily.”
She pouted and said, “I don’t really know why Emily and Xavier never got together, but everyone knows she got a lot of favors from him before.
“The Jenkins family hasn’t said anything, but to others, it makes us look like we’re the ones who owe them.
“I just want to make it up to them for Emily.” She spoke with real feeling, but what she said didn’t really add up.
But Andrew, who was usually so sharp, acted like he didn’t notice a single flaw in her reasoning. He just nodded along, totally buying it.
Standing at the door, Emily watched the whole thing play out, not the least bit surprised. ‘Same old story,‘ Emily thought to herself.
As long as the words came out of Lydia’s mouth, it didn’t matter if they made sense or not; the Bennett family would take her word as gospel, no questions asked.
After thinking for just a second, Andrew went along with Lydia’s suggestion. “The Jenkins family really is a solid choice. If we hand the new project over to them, the Bennett family could end up with a bigger cut…”
Andrew really was a businessman. He was already thinking about how to work with the Jenkins family as soon as he agreed to hand over the project.
As soon as he said yes, Lydia beamed, clinging to his arm and leaning her whole body against his shoulder. “I knew you were the best, Andrew!”
Andrew gave her a doting smile and reached out to pinch her nose. The familiar scene hit Emily like a punch to the gut.
Chapter 174
She couldn’t even remember how long ago it was that she used to be the one leaning on Andrew’s shoulder, trying to win him ove with her own little acts of affection.
But even back then, she never would have dared to get involved in Andrew’s company business.
Even when she helped Sean’s dad land the vice president position, it was only because Matthew had the skills, offered enough benefits, and Gale had called a board meeting to make the decision. All Emily did was help things along.
But even so, Andrew was still furious about it, not like he had been to Lydia. Emily couldn’t help but let out a soft, self–mocking chuckle.
‘So, this is what it means to truly spoil someone. One would end up letting go of one’s own boundaries for them, she thought to herself.
Emily had been disappointed by the Bennett family so many times, and had told herself again and again not to expect anything from them, but she still couldn’t help the ache in her heart.
She placed her hand over her chest, almost as if to soothe the pain. ‘Yeah, it hurts,‘ she told herself. ‘But after you’ve been hurt enough times, you just get used to it, like the days at St. Gabriel Reform Academy.’
AD
