Chapter 43
When Sean and Lydia learned the security cameras would be reviewed, their faces went pale. They knew exactly what had happened-if the footage was checked, the truth would be revealed.
Emily hadn’t planned on saying much to these people. She knew they didn’t care about her side of the story or what really happened. All they wanted was to blame her and make her look bad, and she was ready to take it.
But when she glanced up and saw Sean and Lydia’s expressions, she suddenly changed her mind.
“Fine, let’s pull up the camera footage,” she said, fixing the two with a cold stare. “I’m dying to see what terrible thing you’re accusing me of now.”
Gale had expected Emily to grovel and apologize, but her defiance caught him off guard. “What’s with that attitude? How dare you talk to me like that?” he shouted, his face turning red with rage.
The two Bennett brothers walked in just in time to hear this.
In their family, Gale had always been the ultimate authority. When he got mad, everyone knew to back down. Even Lucas, the family rebel, now stood silently next to Emma.
Andrew didn’t back down. “Dad, take it easy,” he said. Then he turned to Emily with a stern look. “Emily, you’re an adult now. Can’t you think about how Mom and Dad feel? Apologize to Dad right now!”
He’d always been this way. No matter the situation, he’d immediately side with others, pushing Emily to be the one who compromised.
Emily answered earnestly, “Mr. Gale Bennett wanted to check the hotel surveillance to prove I did something wrong. I agreed, but he’s still mad. Isn’t cooperating with him being considerate?”
As Andrew walked over, he’d heard them talking about the surveillance. He had figured the footage must show Emily in the wrong. And since she refused to own up, Gale was fuming.
But Emily had agreed to review the footage, and Gale was still furious. Andrew thought to himself, ‘It’s definitely her attitude. Since she came back, she’s been picking fights with everyone, showing zero remorse. No wonder Dad’s losing it.
Andrew looked irritated. “This isn’t being considerate-you’re just pushing Dad’s buttons. We sent you to St. Gabriel Reform Academy to get your act together, not to learn how to be more disrespectful.
“With our family’s status, if this hotel footage goes public, the media will have a field day. You’ll be the one who gets dragged through the mud.”
Andrew’s tone was heavy with disappointment. “You think we’ve been holding back for no reason? It’s for your good.”
Emily was done with their constant “for your good.” Her voice turned glacial. “Thanks for your ‘good intentions,’ but I’d rather check the footage and see exactly how bad it looks. I don’t need your so-called kindness.”
Lucas couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “Andrew, she’s being ungrateful. Just show the footage; no need to save her face.”
Andrew frowned, not arguing but not agreeing either, like he was on the fence.
Gale lost his temper, snapping, “You won’t learn till it’s too late. Fine, check the footage. But if reporters get wind of it, don’t come begging us to fix your mess.”
Seemingly afraid Gale might change his mind, Lucas jumped in, saying, “I’ll take care of it!”
1/2
Chapter 43
After the confrontation, the Bennett family had already dispatched someone to retrieve the surveillance footage. Since it involved their reputation, they’d had pros handle it.
Lucas pulled out his phone to get the hotel footage, but Lydia stopped him.
“Lucas, stop,” Lydia pleaded. “I’m sure she just acted on impulse. She just got back to town, and if this blows up, how will she survive in Cloudridge? Plus, Sean’s injuries are serious. If they dig into this, she could end up in jail.”
Besides Lydia, Sean was the last person who wanted that footage to see the light of day. He chimed in quickly, “Yeah. If she gets arrested, the media will descend on Bennett Group. It could tank the company’s stock.”
Gale knew all too well that negative publicity could devastate the family business. And Bennett Group was his top priority. Without hesitation, he dropped the idea of checking the footage.
Lydia looked at Sean, her eyes softening. “You’re badly injured and still worried about the company. That’s incredibly thoughtful of you.”
Though flattered, Sean tried to play it humble. “Our Sinclair family’s part of Bennett Group now. My dad even considers himself half a Bennett. We always put the family’s interests first.”
Matthew loved how his son Sean was looking out for his family. As soon as Sean finished, Matthew walked over with a smile and said, “Sean’s right. He can take a little unfair treatment, as long as it doesn’t harm Bennett Group.”
Matthew hadn’t come to seek justice for Sean. But with his son so badly injured, he wasn’t about to let it slide. As he watched quietly, he noticed Emily was long out of favor with the Bennetts-they even seemed glad she was in trouble.
Matthew continued, sounding generous, “As long as Emily realizes her mistake and sincerely apologizes to Sean, we can drop this.”
Sean nodded quickly. “Yeah. If she gives a genuine apology, I’ll let it go. But she needs to apologize to Lydia for shoving her. Her last apology was completely bogus. This time, she’d better bow deeply-or it doesn’t count!”
No one argued with Sean. In fact, from their expressions, forcing Emily to grovel and apologize seemed like getting off with a slap on the wrist.
A chill ran down Emily’s spine as she looked at the Bennetts, the family she once considered closest to her. She clasped her hands together, one hand unconsciously digging into the back of the other.
Matthew and Helen had once greeted her with warm smiles, even telling her privately how much they wished she was their daughter. Now, they seemed determined to break her spirit completely, to strip away every last shred of her dignity.
Emily’s nails pressed so hard into her hand they were about to break skin, yet her gaze remained firm. Those two years at St. Gabriel Reform Academy had already crushed her pride. The proud, bright Emily was long gone.
Bowing deeply to apologize was the mildest insult she’d endured at St. Gabriel Reform Academy. But someone had once told her. “If you’re going to fight back. never bow your head again.”
