Chapter 416 Putting on a Show
On the way back to the hotel, Freya asked Willie, "What do you think? I feel like both Zander and Isabella have pretty good personalities. Why don't you give it a try?"
After graduating, Freya married Willie and had been a full-time housewife ever since, so Willie had spoiled her into being quite naive.
Willie shook his head with an ambiguous smile.
He said, "I came to Silverlight City mainly to attend Tobias's birthday party, and the Martinez family has a marriage connection with the White family."
"If I announce cooperation with the Stewart Group now, it would be like digging my own grave."
Although he had been developing his business in the neighboring city, he knew something about the White family and the Martinez family.
Before coming, he had asked his subordinates to investigate Isabella and Zander, and he expected to know the results when he got back.
If the investigation came back clean, he could consider cooperating with the Stewart Group after the party.
But he didn't think there was much chance of finding problems.
After all, the White family was a top-tier wealthy family - why would they have a feud with a family like the Stewarts who were about to fall out of the elite circle?
If they really had a feud, how could the Stewart family still be around?
Freya listened in confusion but stuck to her opinion, "I think Isabella is a really nice woman. Why don't we help her?"
However, she was soon proven wrong.
After arriving at the hotel, a subordinate handed Willie the investigation materials.
Willie flipped through a few pages, then angrily threw them in front of Freya, "This is what you call nice?"
Freya didn't understand and picked up the materials to look through them.
She had no idea until she looked - and was immediately shocked, "How can this be? This can't be true, right?"
Willie sneered, "You treated that Isabella sincerely, but they're taking advantage of us not being locals."
The materials his subordinate found clearly stated Isabella's background and identity, as well as things she had done before.
It was hard for him to connect the malicious woman in the materials with the Isabella they had just had dinner with.
But these were all facts.
Since Isabella used to be an actress, many things could be found online with a simple search.
As for Zander... he already had an engagement with the Knight family, yet he still told them that Isabella was his girlfriend.
"How could this be?" Freya couldn't believe her eyes.
"There's something even worse!" Willie continued, "Keep reading. The only reason he could book a private room at Harvest & Hearth was because of his fiancée."
This Zander really had some nerve.
He used his fiancée's membership to take his mistress and treat them to dinner!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, so he called his subordinate over, "Go tell Zander that cooperation is absolutely impossible!"
The subordinate nodded and prepared to call Zander.
"Wait." Willie suddenly stopped him, and after calming down said, "Don't call yet. String him along for a while."
Since Zander dared to deceive them, he should face the consequences!
At the same time, Benjamin received a call from Chase, "Mr. White, it's done. The materials have been sent to Willie as you requested."
"Good. Don't worry about the rest. I believe Willie is a smart man who will make his own judgment."
After hanging up, he got up and walked to the bed, gently kissing the sleeping Sophia.
He wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
Even if there was the slightest possibility, he would eliminate it in advance.
Over the next few days, Zander kept waiting for Willie's call, but Willie showed no sign of contact.
He started getting anxious and couldn't wait to call Willie, but it was Willie's assistant who answered.
"Mr. Stewart, our Willie is very busy lately. He'll call you back when he's free."
Zander had to hang up, but the next few times, he got the same response.
Only then did he finally understand - it seemed the cooperation was no longer possible.
But he couldn't figure out where things went wrong.
Just then, Zander's subordinate suddenly knocked and entered the office, looking serious.
"Mr. Stewart, we just received news that Willie has received an invitation from the Martinez family. He's attending the birthday party tonight."
Zander's breath caught, and he stood up abruptly, "What did you say?"
Wasn't Willie in Silverlight City to talk business?
How did he get involved with the Martinez family?
Although the Martinez family wasn't as powerful as the White family, they were still one of the top wealthy families in Silverlight City.
If they got involved, the cooperation with Willie was basically over.
Zander angrily swept everything off his desk, feeling desperate.
Was the Stewart Group really beyond saving?
Compared to his anger and helplessness, Benjamin was in a very good mood because today was the day to remove his cast.
He had broken bones before and just had them set so he could continue fighting.
He had never been taken care of so carefully before. He both enjoyed it and felt helpless about it.
But fortunately, the cast on his arm could finally be removed - it made everything inconvenient.
He could only sleep flat on his back at night.
And he hadn't been able to hold Sophia while sleeping for many days now.
After the cast was removed, he moved his muscles and bones a bit. It was much better than before, but there was still a dull ache deep in the bone.
But this little pain was nothing to him.
Sophia wanted to put his arm in a sling, but he refused.
"I'm fine now, look if you don't believe me."
Worried that Sophia wouldn't believe him, he reached out and moved his arm around. It hurt a bit, but not badly.
Sophia looked at him skeptically, "Are you really okay?"
"Really okay." Benjamin's tone was serious and certain.
Sophia had no choice but to have the nurse put things away.
After the nurse left, she sat beside Benjamin and took out ointment to apply for him.
She whispered, "If you feel uncomfortable, you must tell me right away. Don't hide your illness."
"Okay."
Benjamin looked at her with smiling eyes and nodded gently.
Being cared for like this made even getting injured worthwhile.
Sophia smiled and let go of his arm, "You're promising so readily now, but I don't know if you can actually do it."
Didn't she know him? No matter what happened, he liked to tough it out.
"I definitely can this time." Benjamin helplessly rubbed his brow and got up to change clothes.
Tonight was Tobias's birthday banquet, and many celebrities from around the country were invited.
Family members like them needed to go early to help entertain guests.
Tobias had a son and a daughter. His son died of cancer over ten years ago, and his daughter was Amelia.
Adelaide was Tobias's son's only daughter.
Now Adelaide was the only one in the Martinez family who could hold the fort. Worried she couldn't handle it alone, they needed to go early to help.
"I need to get dressed up properly. If you finish getting ready first, just go out and wait for me." Sophia picked up the evening gown she had prepared in advance and walked into the bathroom.
The conditions were pretty basic now, so she had to make do with washing up and putting on makeup at the hospital.
But fortunately, her makeup skills were pretty good, and since it was an elder's birthday party, she didn't need heavy makeup, so she finished quickly.