Chapter 116
"Mr. Harris, do you truly love Ms. Chloe Johnson?"
"Mr. Harris was so harsh with Ms. Johnson—is there conflict between you two, or are you turning your back on her?"
"If Mr. Harris is dissatisfied with Ms. Johnson, does that mean you'll be breaking off the engagement?"
Watching the reporters grow more frenzied by the second, Benjamin completely lost his patience. A terrifying chill radiated from him.
"I'll say this one more time—get out of my way!"
Just then, several bodyguards in black suits and earpieces rushed over from the far end of the corridor, positioning themselves in front of Benjamin.
"Excuse us, everyone, please step aside. Mr. Harris has urgent business and needs to leave now."
Without waiting for a response, they pushed through the crowd, escorting the ashen-faced Benjamin toward the elevator.
Just as he was about to step inside, Benjamin turned back and shot Chloe a cold glance—as if she were nothing more than trash.
Chloe's heart lurched at that look, but a moment later, she straightened her spine.
Because she knew that from this moment on, she was permanently tied to Benjamin.
Sure, things between them had turned ugly. But Chloe didn't care.
After all, compared to being 'Mr. Harris's fiancée,' none of that other stuff mattered.
In less than half an hour, the drama that unfolded at the Celestial Peak Hotel had swept across the entire internet.
#Mr. Benjamin Harris Spends Night at Hotel, Entangled with Ms. Johnson#
#Benjamin and Chloe's Romance Exposed#
#Elite Family Romance#
One trending topic after another shot to the top of the charts, with related news articles and videos racking up views at an exponential rate.
Online, public opinion was in an uproar.
Naturally, among the masses, some envied Chloe for her Cinderella story, others cursed Benjamin for his messy private life, and quite a few dragged Charlotte into the mix.
While the scandal continued to ferment, Henry—in his capacity as Chloe's father—voluntarily accepted an exclusive media interview.
In the video, he looked pained and helpless.
"Chloe has always been naive, and she takes relationships very seriously."
"I thought I could trust Mr. Harris with my daughter, but now it seems..."
"The Johnson family may not be as powerful as the Harris family, but we're not pushovers either! I don't want anything else—I just want the Harris family to give Chloe justice and legitimacy!"
Henry's words seemed like a father fighting for his daughter's honor, but in reality, he was pressuring the Harris family, using public opinion to force the marriage through!
In no time, the internet was flooded with demands that Benjamin take responsibility. The backlash even affected the Harris Group's stock price, which dropped steadily after the market opened.
……
The Langley Group, Director's Office.
Assistant Mireille rushed in clutching a tablet, her face full of urgency.
"Ms. Johnson, there's breaking news online—about your sister and... Mr. Harris. It's gone viral..."
Hearing this, Charlotte paused mid-review of her data report and looked up at the tablet.
On the screen, Benjamin was cornered by a mob of reporters, looking completely disheveled. Chloe stood off to the side with her head down, crying, her peach-blossom eyes swollen and red.
Below the photo were countless comments from netizens—many of them targeting Charlotte.
After a quick glance, Charlotte returned her attention to the document in front of her, her tone indifferent.
"Got it."
Seeing Charlotte's utterly calm reaction, Mireille looked stunned.
"But there are so many people online saying things about you..."
"Let them talk. Their mouths are their own—they can say whatever they want. It has nothing to do with me."
Charlotte waved dismissively, her eyes cold.
Honestly, Benjamin ending up in this mess was entirely his own fault. He'd always put profit first—being used by someone else was just karma catching up with him.
What did surprise her, though, was what Chloe and Henry had pulled off.
Those two were even more foolish and greedy than she'd imagined.
This whole spectacle might look like they were pressuring Benjamin, but in reality, they were challenging the entire Harris family's bottom line.
If she wasn't mistaken, there'd be a good show to watch soon enough.
With that thought, Charlotte narrowed her eyes and closed the file in her hand.
"Don't worry about any of this."
"Notify everyone—in ten minutes, we're holding an emergency board meeting. All directors must attend."
"Also, have the audit team wait outside the conference room."
"Right now?" Mireille froze. The entire company was already on edge, and there were still family members of affected project victims lingering outside the main entrance.
Holding a board meeting at a time like this seemed... unwise.
Charlotte knew what Mireille was worried about, but she didn't bother explaining.
"Right now."
"After all, the people who haven't been dealt with yet—it's time to clean house."
Right now, everyone's attention was glued to the Harris family scandal. Which made this the perfect moment for her to strike and eliminate the threats within her own ranks.
At that moment, inside the Harris Estate, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like water could wring from the air.
Edward slammed his cane hard against the floor, the dull thud echoing through the room.
"You absolute fool! This is outrageous! You've dragged the Harris family's name through the mud!"
Listening to his grandfather's scolding, Benjamin didn't dare say a word. He could only stand pale-faced in the center of the living room, enduring the elders' fury.
"Look at this yourself! The entire city of Imperial is laughing at the Harris family!" Edward threw a newspaper at his feet. "You've humiliated us completely!"
"I warned you—that Johnson girl was trouble. I told you to stay away from her! But you didn't listen!"
"And now look what's happened! You got played, and caused this massive scandal!"
"Benjamin, you..."
After being berated by Edward, Benjamin's expression turned equally grim.
Ever since leaving the hotel, he'd received a summons back to the Harris Estate and had been on edge the entire ride over.
Now, after being chewed out, the anger and grievance that had been building inside him finally exploded. He couldn't help but defend himself.
"Grandpa, I swear I didn't—she drugged me! And I never even touched her!"
"She drugged you? Do you think anyone outside will believe that?!" Edward let out a cold laugh. "Everyone knows you spent the entire night with her at that hotel—and there are photos to prove it!"
"And Henry's already gone to the media demanding answers from the Harris family! Our stock price dropped because of your mess—do you still not understand?"
At those words, Benjamin felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, spreading through his entire body.
He understood the Harris family's rules all too well.
He'd crossed the family's bottom line. And for the sake of the family's interests, they had no choice but to throw him under the bus.