Chapter 426
“Emily, will you come back with me to see Mom and Dad?” Lucas ventured, his voice tentative.
Ever since uncovering Lydia’s true nature, Lucas had always been cautious when facing Emily. This encounter proved no different. Though he’d come to confront her over Gale’s stroke-a crisis she’d precipitated-his tone defaulted to appeasement.
Growing up, Lucas had always leaned on Emily. But when Lydia appeared, gazing at him with adoration, he finally tasted what it meant to be someone’s anchor. So when torn between them, he’d instinctively side with Lydia.
Now, with Lydia’s malice exposed and years of her dependency on him having ended, Lucas ached to rely on Emily again. But second chances didn’t come so easily.
Emily’s voice turned glacial. “If that’s all, leave. I have work.”
As a non-employee, Lucas shouldn’t have gained entry, but his shareholding status granted him access. Emily merely signaled her bodyguards to remove him, sparing the security staff any awkwardness.
As bodyguards closed in, Lucas’ face crumpled. “Emily, we know we were wrong. We’re sorry. Why can’t you forgive us?” he pleaded. “We’ve hurt you terribly, but we—”
“You were manipulated,” Emily sliced through his words, frost coating each syllable. “Not really your fault. Is that the script?” A bitter laugh escaped her, eyes scalding him with contempt. “Cut from the same rotten cloth. Even your apologies are carbon copies.”
Lucas reddened, struck mute. He burned to defend them, to swear they’d never intended harm, that none was deliberate.
But Lydia’s venomous words echoed: Had they trusted Emily unconditionally, Lydia couldn’t have driven a wedge between them—averting this catastrophe entirely. Their resolve buckled. That was the heart of it.
Lucas’ mouth opened. A rasp scraped out. “Emily… we’re family—”
“Enough.” Her voice splintered the air like ice. “Didn’t Gale spell out how I loathe sharing blood with you?”
The words stabbed deep. Lucas’ face bleached of color. “Why…” His voice frayed. “Do you hate us that much?”
It was also the same question Gale had asked before. Emily’s patience evaporated. “Save your breath asking about hate,” she said, her voice arctic. “Help Gale recover. Or find where Andrew vanished. That’s time better spent.”
At Andrew’s name, grim satisfaction flickered across Emily’s face. “When he returns,” she purred, a predator’s edge in her tone, “ask him about his adventures. Then, if you still wonder whether I hate you, maybe I’ll answer.”
Lucas wasn’t a fool. He grasped the crux. “You know where Andrew is?” he asked.
Emily didn’t deny it. “I know precisely where he is,” she stated, cool as marble. “I put him there.” A frosty smile grazed her lips. “You Bennetts always blame kidnappings on me. This time? It was indeed me. Will you call the police?”
Emily’s brazen admission relied on Lucas having no proof, and St. Gabriel Reform Academy’s methods fell outside the scope of what conventional law enforcement could handle. Besides, she was already undermining the academy. If Lucas’ report caused them trouble? She’d savor watching them burn.
Lucas hadn’t expected raw defiance. He stood paralyzed, disarmed by her audacity.
Indifferent to his shock, Emily flicked a dismissive hand. Bodyguards ushered Lucas out.
1/2
Chapter 426
Truthfully, resentment toward the Bennett family lingered, but hatred never took root. They weren’t worth the emotional toll. Without Lydia, she’d have ignored them entirely.
For Charles, she wouldn’t seize their shares. But returning to the past was impossible. Their fates no longer concerned her.
Lucas saw Emily’s resolve, ironclad, unforgiving, yet he remained stubbornly unwilling to accept it. Blood ties and years of shared history had to matter. She’s just furious, he insisted. When it fades, she’ll forgive us. She must
So Lucas appeared daily at the company’s entrance. And daily, he was barred. Unlike Emma’s public theatrics and media pleas, Lucas never raged. He simply waited, silent, solitary. He clung to the faith: if Emily witnessed his devotion long enough, forgiveness must follow.
Unbeknownst to him, Emily had ordered all Bennett news silenced. Lucas’ vigil unfolded unseen. Had she known, indifference would’ve been her only reply.
She was busy with company matters. Fortunately, with Austin’s support, she steadied the company swiftly. Then, she hired a professional CEO and retreated from daily operations.
After that relentless pace, Emily planned to have a rest, but Calvin appeared at her door.
Since mailing the mask, Calvin had tracked Emily’s every step. He’d been stunned when, after two days secluded, she’d returned to the office, then mustered the audacity to orchestrate Bennett Group’s takeover.
He remembered her past terror, his men confirmed her mask-induced distress. This rapid rebound defied belief. Suspicion coiled within him. ‘Could Austin be behind this resilience Calvin wondered.
Inaction became unbearable. He needed to see Emily. He needed to test if the frightened girl still lurked beneath. If not, he’d resurrect every horror with relish.
However, Calvin’s expectations shattered He’d never be able to meet Emily.
Once Austin identified Calvin as the mask’s sender, vigilance became imperative. To divert Calvin’s attention from Emily, Austin decided to cause him some trouble.
One masterstroke: arranging a public dousing of pig’s blood, livestreamed for all cameras.
