Chapter 132: Benjamin Cared for Sophia

At the Dreamland Villa.

After receiving a sedative, Charlotte lost consciousness and fell asleep on the white bed.

Kimberly sat beside her on a houndstooth-patterned armchair, her face full of worry for Charlotte.

"Mom!"

Owen barged into the room.

Kimberly glared at Owen and signaled for him to lower his voice.

Owen glanced at Charlotte, pursed his lips, and whispered, "Mom, what happened?"

"Let's talk outside," Kimberly said.

She tucked Charlotte in before standing up and walking past Owen.

Owen followed her out and closed the door behind him.

They headed toward the garden.

"Mom, you shouldn't have taken Charlotte to confront Sophia as soon as you returned!" Owen said in a low voice.

"Sophia is no longer the foolish illegitimate daughter she used to be. She has Benjamin backing her up now. She's unpredictable and dangerous.

"She doesn't seem to care about the Roberts family anymore.

"She resigned immediately after the gold exhibition and left the Summit Group without hesitation. Dad tried to contact her, but she didn't answer the phone. She really doesn't care about the Roberts family anymore."

Kimberly remained indifferent. She wouldn't shirk responsibility or make excuses for her actions.

"I did underestimate her."

Although Kimberly had been abroad for many years, she had always kept an eye on domestic matters. She knew Sophia had married Benjamin, but the investigation showed that Benjamin didn't care much for Sophia.

Their three-year marriage had been far from happy.

An illegitimate daughter, unloved by her husband, was no better than a stray dog.

That was what Kimberly had believed when she first arrived at Oakleaf Estates.

After all, Benjamin hadn't even left a single bodyguard for Sophia, which led her to assume he didn't care about Sophia.

However, to her surprise, Benjamin returned to Oakleaf Estates.

Kimberly had confiscated all the servants' phones, so Benjamin's return was clearly not due to a warning but because he had a habit of coming home every noon.

A man who often returned home must care for his wife.

Benjamin must care for Sophia.

Kimberly shouldn't have bullied Sophia in front of Benjamin.

"Mom, Dad is quite upset. He doesn't want to fall out with Benjamin just yet. Your actions today will surely provoke him."

Owen rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Kimberly sneered, "Then let's stop pretending."

She had never intended to get along with Benjamin.

Benjamin and the Walker family had acquired so many shares of the Summit Bank. They were determined to take over the Summit Group.

Carter's attempt to control Benjamin through marriage had backfired. The fake affection and peace were no longer necessary.

"Sophia still holds her shares," Kimberly speculated.

Owen's eyes gleamed with determination. "Then we must retrieve those shares from her!

"Benjamin and Joshua hold about 40% of the shares. Combining mine, Charlotte's, yours, and Dad's, we have about 50%. Sophia's 2% could be crucial."

Owen frowned.

"Mom, Sophia won't give up those shares easily."

Kimberly smiled with a hint of cunning in her eyes.

"Sophia has a fatal weakness. Once we grasp it, she won't resist."

Owen was puzzled.

Sophia seemed indifferent to everything. What weakness could she have?

Kimberly instructed Owen, "Investigate Sophia's activities over the past few months. I need to know her every move."

Owen, like Charlotte, respected Kimberly more than Carter.

Kimberly's noble blood and far-reaching vision made her stand out.

"Okay, I'll get on it right away."

Kimberly looked at Owen with a piercing gaze, her demeanor both cold and dignified.

"Mom?" Owen asked, unnerved by her stare, "Is there something else you need?"

Kimberly turned her gaze to the prized Clivia in the garden of the Dreamland Villa.

"Owen, you're my son. You deserve the best woman in the world."

Owen stiffened and forced himself to stand straight.

Wait a minute.

Could Kimberly know about his relationship with Harper?

Kimberly gently touched the bright orange flower of the Clivia.

"Some things are beautiful and valuable, but they're just playthings for admiration."

"..."

Owen glanced at the expensive Clivia in front of them.

He remembered it had been bought at a flower show for $1.2 million.

And it had been maintained at great expense.

Kimberly seemed to adore it.

She always spent hours admiring it when she returned home.

Kimberly picked up scissors from the crystal cabinet beside the Clivia.

"Mom!"

Owen tried to stop her, but Kimberly swiftly cut off the flower.

The flower fell lifelessly to the dirty.

The Clivia's green leaves were devoid of color instantly.

"Without the flower, it looks unpleasant," Kimberly said disdainfully, putting down the scissors.

Owen didn't understand why she would destroy something so carefully nurtured.

"Mom, aren't you upset?" he asked.

Kimberly's lips curved into a sneer. "What's there to be upset about? It's just a plant, an insignificant plaything."

She stepped closer to Owen and reminded him, "People are the same."

Owen realized Kimberly was comparing Harper to the Clivia.

No matter how beautiful or expensive, she was just a plaything. Toys had to be discarded when necessary.

He thought Kimberly would morally condemn his affair with Harper, but she didn't seem to care about "morality." For people of their status, living without constraints and doing as they pleased was expected.

"Mom, I understand," Owen said.

Smart people need only be hinted at.

Kimberly smiled approvingly and gently touched Owen's handsome face.

"I know the thrill of forbidden love is indeed exhilarating," she said with a laugh.

"Since you enjoy that toy, keep playing with it. But remember, we need to focus on dealing with Sophia and Benjamin."

Owe came up with a devious plan.

"Mom, maybe we can use Harper against Benjamin.

"After all, they used to be together."

Kimberly's smile widened.

"I trust you, Owen. Do whatever you need to."

At the kitchen of Oakleaf Estates.

The fish soup simmered and bubbled with a rich aroma as bubbles formed and burst.

Benjamin turned off the heat and poured the fragrant soup into a porcelain bowl.

"Sir!"

Laura entered the kitchen and saw Benjamin cooking despite his injury. "You can't touch the water!"

Benjamin glanced at his bandaged hand. The bandage was stained with oil.

"It's fine. I'll change the dressing later."

Looking at the three dishes and a soup on the counter, Benjamin ordered, "Take the food upstairs to Sophia."

Laura nodded. "Yes, sir."