Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Iris’s POV
Soaked from head to toe, I dragged my waterlogged evening gown out of the banquet venue in utter disgrace.
The contrast was humiliating—I had arrived in style in Kael’s luxury car, yet now I had to slink away in a taxi. I climbed in with a dark expression, only to feel the driver eyeing my dress with obvious disgust as water dripped steadily onto his seat.
“Miss, you’re soaking my seat. That’s not acceptable—you’ll have to pay extra,” the driver said bluntly.
Already burning with rage, I felt my anger spike the instant I heard that. The driver paid no attention to my glare and continued, “If you don’t want to pay extra, you can find another cab. Once the seat’s soaked, how am I supposed to take my next passenger?”
Not wanting to be thrown out, I gritted my teeth. “Fine. Charge extra if you want. Just drive. Now.”
The driver stepped on the gas, and the car quickly pulled away from the venue.
Sitting in the back seat, my anger gradually eased, but wave after wave of unsettling thoughts rose in its place. I didn’t dare imagine how I could ever face those upper-class socialites and society wives again after tonight. Kael had publicly drawn a line between us, not only humiliating me but also stripping the Bennett family of the protection we had enjoyed in Maplewood City.
And it was all Clara’s fault.
That bitch Clara must have used some dirty trick to seduce him. Hadn’t my informant said that Kael met Clara at Aura Wellness Spa just a few days ago? What exactly happened there? No matter the details, it was Clara’s fault. There was no question.
I had to strike back.
The moment that thought settled in my mind, I picked up my phone and called my father, Arthur.
I knew that lately Arthur’s finances had grown tighter and tighter because of failed investments. My mother had complained to me in private that, to stabilize Bennett Corporation, he had been forced to sell off some of their real estate below market value. Even so, those measures still weren’t enough to turn things around.
When Arthur answered, he sounded distracted. “Iris, what is it? I’m working late. Can this wait?”
“Dad, this is important,” I said urgently. “Mom told me Bennett Corporation urgently needs cash flow right now. I know a way to solve the company’s crisis.”
I told him how Clara had agreed at the banquet to perform the surgery and had even voluntarily offered a fifty percent discount. The implication was obvious—Clara could casually throw away an enormous sum of money.
“Dad, do the math. A fifty percent discount—do you know how much money Clara just made The Gloria Nguyen Collective lose for nothing? She said it so casually, and just like that, that money vanished!”
“You’re her biological father. If she can throw away that much money so arrogantly, why can’t she provide funding for Bennett Corporation?”
“And don’t forget, she’s worked under Dr. Gloria Nguyen for so many years. She must have saved up a huge amount by now. Dad, ask her for three hundred million. Three hundred million is enough to bring Bennett Corporation back to its peak.”
There was silence on the other end for a moment. I knew Arthur was already calculating in his head.
After a pause, Arthur asked me for the banquet address.
I put down my phone and leaned back against the wet seat with a cold smile in my heart. Clara, aren’t you capable? Aren’t you impressive? Aren’t you rich? Then funding Bennett Corporation should be easy for you.
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Chloe’s POV
In the storage room, Ethan suddenly sat up straighter, pulled the laptop screen closer, typed a few keys, and switched to an enlarged view of the camera feed from the entrance.
“Chloe, Zoe, look at this guy,” he said, pointing at the screen. “Do you know him?”
I studied the face and shook my head.
Zoe leaned closer to the screen, stared at it for two seconds, then nodded. “I know him. That’s Arthur. He’s my mom’s father.”
She paused, then continued, “Sometimes he comes to our house, but every time he does, he just talks business with Dad and takes up all his time.” There was a faint but unmistakable dislike in her tone. “I don’t like him. Every time he comes, he steals the time Dad is supposed to spend with me.”
I nodded, then looked back at the screen. Arthur was currently being stopped by security at the entrance. He had his chin lifted and was trying to force his way inside by pushing past them, but the guard stood firm and didn’t move an inch.
Ethan had already imported Arthur’s facial image into a hidden database and started searching. A moment later, the relevant information appeared on the screen.
Ethan and I carefully went through the files. The more we read, the more stunned we became. When we reached the final photograph, all three of us froze at the same time and fell silent.
In the photo, Arthur had his arm around a young woman. She was holding a child who looked about our age.
I stared at the picture for several seconds. Something in my mind tightened at the sight of it, a heavy feeling I couldn’t quite explain.
On the screen, Arthur was shoved by security at the entrance, stumbling and falling to the ground. Just then, Jasper appeared at the entrance while seeing off a distinguished guest who was leaving early. He frowned slightly when he noticed the commotion.
Arthur recognized Jasper instantly and scrambled to his feet. “Jasper, it’s me! Arthur Bennett—Kael’s future father-in-law.”
I saw Jasper stop him before he could finish, his expression mild. “You’re here to see Mr. Voss? I can have someone call him over.”
Arthur hurriedly changed his words. “Wait, no need! I’m not here for Kael. I’m here for Clara. Clara Bennett, Dr. Gloria Nguyen’s assistant. I’m her father. I need to see her urgently.”
Jasper’s attitude shifted at once, and he had Arthur brought inside.
Ethan and I exchanged a glance, then both turned our attention back to the banquet hall feed, following Arthur as he walked in.
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