CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 164: LOTUS

"Sometimes, whether or not to believe isn’t up to what others say, but once mentioned, it leaves a knot in the heart, wouldn’t you agree?"

Facing Mia Clarke’s sarcastic remarks, Julia Bennett eventually maintained her composure. She knew Mia wouldn’t do anything excessive, she just enjoyed causing trouble.

Ever since Mia lost her child, she became like this, making Julia both disgusted and sympathetic towards her.

"Alright, I’m just giving you a reminder, nothing more. It’s late, go to sleep."

Mia Clarke watched Julia Bennett’s back with a sly smile and called out, "Thank you for the reminder then."

...

"Good morning, Norman." Mia greeted with a seductive smile, her every move causing discomfort.

It was three in the morning, and Norman Bennett had just come out of the study. He didn’t expect to find Mia at the door.

Seeing the unapproachable look on Norman’s face, Mia still smiled gently, "Norman, do you dislike me that much? After all, I am your stepmother, right?"

Mia knew deep down that Norman’s hatred for her began with his biological mother’s suicide.

Feeling Norman’s cold gaze, she didn’t retreat, instead continued, "Norman, your mother wasn’t forced by me. What’s the use of hating me? Your father deceived me back then too, you should hate him instead, right?"

Norman coldly asked, "What are you trying to say?"

There was no point beating around the bush any longer. Mia said bluntly, "I just want to tell you, your aunt bribed your dad’s assistant to drive him out of The Bennetts. I saw it with my own eyes. Of course, your dad hasn’t spared his efforts against your aunt. Several factories have had internal problems because of them, and this back and forth is ruining The Bennetts."

Yet, after Norman listened to her, he walked away without glancing back.

"Since you don’t care, then I won’t bother either." Mia smiled at his departing figure, she already had her answer. Norman no longer cared for The Bennetts, quite different from a few years ago.

When Mia returned to her room, Shen Yunzhe was already awake, asking, "What were you doing out in the middle of the night?"

"I had a terrible stomachache and couldn’t sleep. I was afraid of waking you, so I went for a walk myself."

At this, Shen Yunzhe’s expression changed, from initial displeasure to guilt and tenderness.

Lying in Shen Yunzhe’s arms, Mia became hesitant, sighed, and said, "Honey, I just overheard something outside. It’s about Norman and his aunt’s conversation."

"What? What did you hear?" Shen Yunzhe’s tone turned tense, sitting up halfway.

Seeing this, she began to explain slowly, "It seems like Norman has reached some agreement with your sister, saying he wants to use The Bennetts’ resources to expand the outside company and secretly bring down The Bennetts step by step."

"Unfilial son! Unfilial son!"

Shen Yunzhe cursed in anger, and as Mia saw this, she added fuel to the fire, "It’s all my fault. If not for me, Norman’s mother wouldn’t have died, and he wouldn’t hate you."

"It’s not your fault. That unfilial son is just like his mother. I want to see how he can bring me down!"

"Honey, I also heard them say that the outside company has lost a lot of money, just holding up pretenses. It seems old industries are still trustworthy."

Originally, Shen Yunzhe had some inclination to develop new industries, but after hearing Mia’s words, he dismissed the idea.

Shen Yunzhe’s face turned as dark as it could be, suppressing his anger, he told Mia, "Alright, let’s sleep, get up early tomorrow."

"Okay."

Lying in the man’s arms, Mia couldn’t stifle her smile, amused at how easily Shen Yunzhe was deceived as he aged, and at the unreliable kinship within the Bennett family.

That old woman accused her of being the cause of the Bennett family’s misfortune, without heeding her explanations, even ordered the abortion of her six-month-old child. So she decided to be the cause of chaos in the Bennett family!

The more chaos, the better!

...

―――The next day.

Elliana Lyle awoke to find the man holding her in his light sleep. She dared not move, simply watching him.

Opportunities to see him asleep were rare; as long as she stayed still, he wouldn’t wake up.

While she was still pondering, the man suddenly opened his eyes, "Awake?"

"..."

―――11 a.m.

The Bennett matriarch’s birthday was more lively than she expected, attended by numerous illustrious figures from the business world.

However, she wasn’t at the banquet but was pulled out by Eliza Bennett.

"Aunt, there’s nothing fun inside. I’ve arranged to meet uncle; let’s go upstairs and play cards."

"You know how to play cards?" She didn’t expect that Eliza, at such a young age, would already know how to play.

Eliza laughed, embarrassed, and scratched the back of her head, "It’s not real card playing, it’s a flipping game. Whoever gets matching cards takes them."

...

―――Lotus Park in North City.

"Hey! Luna, are you sure it’s here? This place doesn’t look like it has any companies."

Andrew Hue stood by the lotus pond, calling Luna because she had asked him to investigate insider information at White Orchid yesterday.

But upon arriving today, he found nothing; in the entire North City, only this place was called Lotus.

The voice on the other end said, "It’s on Lotus Road number 17. Did you see Lotus Park?"

"I see it; I’m at the park, but there’s nothing here. There are no companies nearby."

"Hold on, I’ll ask around."

Beep―――!

...

Minutes later, Luna called back, "I got it wrong, it’s Wan He, like ’family harmony makes all things prosperous.’ Forget it, just come back. A foreign woman showed up at the company asking for you, with a child."

On hearing this, Andrew panicked, quickly asking, "Is it Susanna?"

An impatient Luna replied, "You do remember. Hurry back and take her away, I’m at my wit’s end."

At that moment, Luna listened to a blonde woman rambling in a foreign language, calling her a jerk.

She hadn’t expected Andrew to have such a grown child.

Andrew’s voice said, "Luna, I’ll lay low for a bit. That kid isn’t mine. We’ve had a paternity test done. Please keep her away, thanks!"

Beep―――!

Luna: "..."

The call ended faster than she could respond.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

She shouted at the blonde woman in English, and seeing the woman quiet down, she said, "Why are you cursing at me? I’m just Andrew’s boss. He was my employee, but not anymore because I’m firing him today."

The woman looked puzzled, then asked, "Aren’t you Andrew’s lover? Last time he told me he likes Lolita and even sent me your photo."

Luna was taken aback. This Andrew! Using her as a shield?

"...Here, I’ll give you Andrew’s address."