Chapter 253
“Li-Lilian?” he called, his voice hesitant. “Are you okay? Please, sis, don't scare me like that...”
His concerned tone made her blink, bringing her back to reality.
Lilian took a deep breath, trying to regain control.
“I'm fine, Benjamin.” Her voice came out hoarse, almost a whisper. “Just... disappointed.” We didn't manage to put that woman behind bars.
Benjamin let out a long sigh and ran his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
“I know...” he muttered. “I'm furious about it too. I did my best, but... it's humiliating to admit that she won this round.”
The silence that followed was almost palpable.
Only the distant sound of the computer fans broke the heavy air in the room.
After a few seconds, Lilian lifted her chin and forced a smile.
“Enough,” she said, with dangerous calm. “We can't change what happened, but we're not going to stand still either. Let's move on. Joana won't get away forever.”
Benjamin nodded firmly.
“Agreed, sis.” And then, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he asked, “Anything else I can do for you?”
Lilian crossed her legs, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
“Yes,” she replied, staring at him with determination. “I want you to teach those internet parasites a lesson. All of them who are defaming Globs Entertainment. Do whatever it takes.”
Benjamin's eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Oh, now we're talking!” he said, clapping his hands. “Leave it to me. I'll make those haters regret ever mentioning the company's name.”
Lilian let out a brief laugh, observing her brother's contagious energy.
For a moment, the tension seemed to dissipate—and she allowed herself to feel a glimmer of relief.
But deep down, she knew that this war was far from over.
Joana Mercadante may have escaped for now...
But the game was just beginning.
After putting the Joana Mercadante case aside, Lilian took a deep breath and refocused on what really mattered: the Arbex Group.
Benjamin, always direct, opened the report on the computer screen.
“The stock price continues to plummet,” he said, his expression serious. “It's already fallen more than forty percent since the beginning of the week.”
He turned the screen toward her, showing the free-falling charts.
“Panic selling has taken over everyone: smaller shareholders, public investors, and even the big names... Marcio Arbex and his brothers are starting to liquidate part of their own shares.”
Lilian raised an eyebrow.
“And is anyone buying?” she asked, crossing her arms.
Benjamin shook his head.
“No one wants to take a chance. The market is watching. Everyone wants to see how far the Arbex Group will sink before getting involved in this mess.”
A dangerous smile appeared on Lilian's lips.
It was exactly what she wanted to hear.
Let them be afraid. Let them rot in their own insecurity.
“Sis, should we act now?” Benjamin asked, leaning back in his chair. “The stocks are in free fall.”
Lilian rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a moment, then replied with calculated coldness:
“Not yet. Wait a little longer. Stick to the plan and put pressure on the majority investors. I want them to feel the desperation in their skin.” When they are vulnerable, they will sell everything below market price.
Benjamin smiled.
“Understood, sis. I'll execute exactly as you planned.”
“Great.” Lilian stood up, excited. “Keep monitoring everything closely. If all goes well, we will take over the Arbex Group by next week.”
The gleam in her eyes betrayed her pleasure at revenge.
She couldn't wait for the day when she would see her uncle—the arrogant Marcio Arbex—being escorted out of the very company he had humiliated others so much to run.
“Don't worry, Lilian,” Benjamin said confidently. “Everything you've planned will come to fruition. I promise.”
She smiled, satisfied, and gave a thumbs up.
“That's good to hear.” She picked up her purse, ready to leave. “I'm going downstairs now.”
But before she could take her first step, Benjamin stopped her.
“Wait... sis, there's one more thing. It's about your mother.”
Lilian stopped immediately.
His hurried and concerned tone made the air heavy.
“What about my mother?” she asked, turning slowly.
Benjamin gestured toward the sofa.
“You'd better sit down first.”
She obeyed, her heart already racing.
Benjamin hesitated for a moment before saying,
“Since early this morning... your mother has been out of sight.”
Lilian's eyes widened.
“Out of sight? What do you mean?”
“All the surveillance devices I installed near her... are gone. Nothing. No sign. She's disappeared.”
Lilian stood up abruptly.
“Are you telling me my mother is gone?” she asked, her voice rising. “She disappeared from your surveillance?”
Benjamin swallowed hard.
“Yes. And that's not all. I was monitoring Leandro Arbex's cell phone. He spent the entire morning calling and sending messages asking for help. He's desperately searching for Juci.”
Lilian was paralyzed.
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.
What do you mean my mother is missing?
Juci was a reserved woman, disciplined, overly obedient to her husband. Run away? Never.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Benjamin...” she murmured, her voice trembling. “If she didn't run away... then someone took her.”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
And for the first time in a long time, Lilian's gaze showed more than just anger.
It showed fear.
“Wait...” Lilian blinked several times, trying to digest the words. “Wait, Benjamin... are you saying that my mother didn't disappear, but ran away from home?”
Benjamin hesitated, uncomfortable.
“Did my explanation sound like that? Oops... yeah, I mean... yes. From what I saw on your father's cell phone, it looks like she ran away.” I'm sorry, sis... I'm not good with words.
His words hung in the air like an invisible punch.
Lilian felt her stomach churn.
Her heart simply... stopped.
She knew what that meant.
If her mother, Juci Wright, had run away from home — it was because something terrible had happened.
Her father's face came to mind, cold, merciless, his voice always sharp.
And with it came old memories: the sound of muffled screams, the smack of a heavy hand, her mother's silent crying as she tried to protect her.
No... not again.
“Mom... why are you running away?” she whispered, almost without a voice. “Did Dad hurt you... and now you can't take it anymore?”
Lilian's hands began to shake. Her whole body felt like it was about to collapse.
Benjamin watched silently, worried.
“It's been hours, sis...” he said, lowering his voice. “Your father hasn't found her yet. And he seems... desperate.”
Lilian's gaze rose, filled with fear and anger.
“Benjamin, can you find her?” her voice came out broken. “Please... find my mother before he does!”
“I'll try to track the neighborhood's CCTV,” he replied, already turning to the computer. “Maybe I'll find some trace.”
“Thank you...” Lilian murmured, breathing heavily.
She knew her father better than anyone.
If Leandro Arbex found Juci first, she knew what would happen next.
And the mere memory of old scenes—the sound of her mother crying on the floor, the metallic smell of blood—made her blood boil.
But now, she was no longer a helpless little girl.
Now, Lilian had power. And no one, not even her own father, would hurt her mother again.
“Benjamin, I'm going to look for Dinho,” she said firmly. “Let me know as soon as you hear anything.”
He just nodded, his eyes glued to the screen, already immersed in the code.
Lilian left the room almost running.
The heels of her shoes echoed down the hallway as she descended the stairs, dialing Dinho's number.
“Dinho, come to the office. Now. It's urgent,” she said bluntly.
Minutes later, already in her office, Lilian paced back and forth, her heart racing.
Every second seemed like an eternity.
With trembling hands, she picked up her cell phone and dialed her mother's number—something she hadn't done in years.
She called once.
Twice.
Three times.
Nothing.
Her face hardened.