Chapter 159
Seeing her put on this pitiful act, Benjamin felt a wave of disgust wash over him. His tone grew harsher.
"Chloe, drop the performance."
"I'm here to warn you—this wedding happened exactly the way you wanted."
"Starting today, you're my wife. I'll give you the respect and dignity that comes with that position."
He paused, then stepped closer. His towering frame radiated an overwhelming sense of menace, his gaze razor-sharp.
"But make no mistake—my patience has limits."
"If you can behave yourself and stop pulling stunts, I won't make things difficult for you."
"But if you pull the same garbage you did before—if you embarrass the Harris family or mess with people you shouldn't..."
His voice dropped lower, each word dripping with warning.
"I promise you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Chloe froze at his words, staring at this man who treated her with such cold brutality. She could barely believe what she was hearing.
"Benjamin... how can you treat me like this?"
"What did I do wrong? I—"
Benjamin's eyes flashed with contempt. The sight of her playing the victim only disgusted him more.
"You know exactly what you did."
Without another word, he pulled a thin manila envelope from his jacket and slammed it onto the vanity.
The sharp 'crack' echoed through the silent room.
"See for yourself."
Chloe flinched at the sudden movement, her body trembling involuntarily.
She hesitated, glancing between Benjamin and the envelope before finally reaching for it.
She opened the seal and pulled out several documents and photos.
The papers detailed how Henry had been exploiting the Harris family name—throwing their weight around, forcing small companies to sell their shares at rock-bottom prices.
He'd even secured a massive bank loan he never should have qualified for.
The photos showed Henry at various business dinners, looking smug and self-satisfied, bragging to anyone who'd listen.
His arrogant, opportunistic expression was captured in perfect clarity. Nothing was hidden.
The color drained from Chloe's face.
She knew her father's nature—greedy, short-sighted, always chasing quick gains.
But she never imagined he'd be this reckless.
She'd specifically told him to be patient, that she hadn't secured her position in the Harris family yet.
Instead, he'd gone behind her back, using the Harris name to line his own pockets.
And he'd been so blatant about it, leaving a trail of evidence.
What an absolute fool.
"No... Benjamin, this is a misunderstanding." Chloe's instinct was to deny everything, to throw him off the scent. "My father... he wouldn't do this."
"Someone must be framing him! Yes, that's it! Even this loan—someone's trying to sabotage our relationship!"
She rushed toward him, reaching for his sleeve, trying to use tears and vulnerability to win his sympathy.
"Benjamin, I swear I didn't know anything about this... Please believe me. I'll go home and ask him what happened, make him explain everything!"
"Please don't be angry with me, okay?"
"Enough."
Benjamin couldn't stand to hear another word. He jerked his arm away, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Save your pathetic performance."
"Chloe, you really had me fooled before. I was a complete idiot."
"You think nobody notices the games you play behind the scenes?"
"You think everyone's as stupid as your father, falling for your act?"
He let out a cold laugh, as if something had just occurred to him.
"Let me be honest—when it comes to scheming, to manipulation, even to looks, you're not fit to touch even one of her fingers."
Chloe's body went rigid.
Though Benjamin hadn't said the name, she knew exactly who 'she' was.
The realization made her jaw clench tight, hatred flashing in her eyes.
Damn it! Charlotte again!
Why does everyone take her side? Why does everyone care about her?
Even the man about to become my husband still has that woman on his mind!
Jealousy and resentment wound around her heart like wild vines, choking her until she could barely breathe.
Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge.
Edward glanced at the silent Charlotte, then at Alexander's cold expression. He had no idea what to say to ease the tension.
At his age, he could clearly see something had gone wrong between them.
Just as he was trying to figure out how to broach the subject delicately, Charlotte suddenly stood.
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." She gave Edward a faint smile.
Honestly, she couldn't stand being in this suffocating space another minute. She didn't want to face Alexander's icy expression any longer.
Edward blinked, assuming she wanted to escape the awkwardness. He nodded without thinking too much of it.
"Of course, go ahead."
Hearing his response, Charlotte turned and left without sparing Alexander another glance.
The ballroom buzzed with voices and glittered with lights.
The noise only made Charlotte feel more stifled. She instinctively headed toward a quieter, more secluded corner.
As she rounded a corner, she spotted Mandy's figure and stopped short, her brow furrowing.
She narrowed her eyes, studying the scene. Mandy was talking to someone dressed as a server.
The corner was dimly lit. Mandy kept her voice deliberately low, leaning forward with an urgent manner.
The person across from her wore an ill-fitting uniform. A cap was pulled low over their face, hiding most of their features.
Charlotte's frown deepened.
What was she doing here? Having some secret conversation with a server, acting all suspicious—something was definitely off.
Charlotte's eyes narrowed further. She moved quietly, slipping behind a nearby potted plant to hide.