[Glorious International]
The entire conference room was filled with deafening silence until one of the elder board mbers finally spoke.
"This is a huge allegation against us, Chairwoman Norma. The dia is already trying to dig deeper into the truth."
Roseline’s public accusation against Norma and Daniel for Hugo’s condition had spread across the dia like wildfire.
To confirm her claims, reporters had checked the hospital where Hugo had been admitted. The information was verified. Hugo Bennett had indeed consud poison and had barely been saved. However, his condition remained critical, and doctors had warned that if his body did not respond to treatnt, he could slip into a coma.
Norma had remained silent the entire ti, listening to every word without reacting. Finally, she lifted her head and t the eyes of the board mbers who had called this urgent eting.
"You need to justify yourself before the dia so that our future does not beco a target," the sa man continued. "You know public outrage will only settle once there is an explanation. Otherwise, our investors might start reconsidering their position."
Everyone sitting in the room knew the truth about Hugo Bennett.
He had been exposed for the greed he had hidden behind polite smiles. The illegal dealings he tried to build in the shadows had been brought into the light by Norma herself. Her investigation had led to his downfall and his complete removal from every connection with Glorious International.
For months afterward, things had finally begun to stabilize. Under the leadership of Katherine Bennett, the Bennett Enterprise had slowly rebuilt its reputation.
And yet now, after so long, the news of Hugo’s suicide attempt had suddenly exploded across every dia channel, with his wife Roseline standing before caras and accusing Norma and Daniel of being the reason behind it.
"What justification should I give when we all know she is lying?" Norma finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, but the firmness in it made several people shift uncomfortably in their seats.
She had done her duty. She had removed the parasite who had been feeding off the company for years. And now, after everything had finally settled, Hugo chose this mont to create another storm.
Nothing about it felt natural. The entire situation slled of manipulation.
"You believe a woman would lie about her husband’s condition simply for attention?" another board mber suddenly spoke. "That would make you incredibly insensitive, Chairwoman."
Norma slowly turned her gaze toward the man.
If only they knew how calculating Roseline truly was. That woman had never hesitated to twist reality to protect herself. If sacrificing Hugo could create sympathy and redirect bla, she would do it without hesitation.
"So you want to apologize to her," Norma asked evenly. "Is that what you are suggesting?"
The room grew tense.
Several board mbers exchanged uncertain looks.
"We are not asking you to apologize," another man replied carefully. "We only want you to control the situation and calm the public outrage, Chairwoman Norma. Words spoken in the public sphere can damage business faster than any accusation."
Norma’s eyes narrowed slightly as her thoughts began racing.
Slowly, her gaze shifted toward the empty seat at the far end of the table.
Daniel had not shown up.
The absence weighed heavily on her mind.
She did not want to think anything negative about her nephew. Daniel had always been decisive, always standing beside her during every corporate battle.
But she also could not ignore one simple truth.
The Bennetts were, after all, his wife’s family.
***
[Hospital]
"What is wrong with you, Mom? How could you expose our family matters to the dia like that?"
Katherine’s voice was sharp with anger as she dragged Roseline away from the group of reporters crowding the hospital corridor. Caras had been flashing nonstop while reporters whispered among themselves, openly mocking the chaos surrounding the Bennett family.
Roseline imdiately pulled her hand away, her expression twisting with irritation.
"What wrong have I done, Katherine?" she snapped. "Can you not see what your father has done to himself? It is because of the Claffords that he took such a drastic step."
Katherine stared at her in disbelief.
The news of Hugo’s suicide attempt had already shaken her when she heard it at the company earlier that day. But hearing Roseline publicly accuse Norma and Daniel had filled her with a different kind of anger.
"There is no way Dad would hurt himself," Katherine said firmly. "I spoke to him just a few days ago."
Her mind drifted back to that visit at the Bennett house.
Hugo had seed perfectly normal. They had spoken about the company, about small matters, even about dinner plans for the weekend. There had been no sign of despair in his voice. No tension in his expression.
He had looked calm. Almost too calm.
"He was completely fine," Katherine continued. "He did not look stressed. He was not acting like soone about to do sothing like this."
Roseline let out a sharp laugh.
"So now you think I am lying?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger. "You believe your own mother would fabricate sothing like this?"
"I did not say that," Katherine replied coldly. "But sothing about this does not make sense."
Roseline stepped closer, lowering her voice but not her fury.
"You think your father poisoning himself is so kind of performance?" she said. "Do you believe he would destroy his own body just to create drama?"
"That is not what I ant."
"Then what exactly are you implying, Katherine?" Roseline pressed. "Say it clearly."
Katherine inhaled slowly, trying to keep her temper under control.
"What I am saying is that blaming the Claffords publicly without proof is reckless," she said. "Do you even realize what you have done?"
Roseline’s lips curled.
"I told the truth."
"You told a story," Katherine corrected imdiately. "And now the entire dia is repeating it like a headline."
"Good," Roseline said without hesitation. "They deserve to know what those people did to your father."
Katherine’s frustration grew.
"You are turning this into a public war," she said. "Do you understand what that ans for the Bennett na? For the company?"
"The company?" Roseline scoffed. "Your father is lying inside that hospital room fighting for his life and you are worried about the company."
"I am worried about the consequences of your actions," Katherine replied sharply. "You have just accused one of the most powerful families in the industry on national dia."
Roseline folded her arms stubbornly.
"And they deserve it."
"You have no proof," Katherine said.
Roseline’s eyes flashed dangerously.
"I do not need proof when I know the truth."
Katherine looked at her mother in silence for a mont, sothing heavy settling in her chest.
"And what exactly is the truth, Mom?"
The sudden voice cut through their heated argunt.
Roseline and Katherine both turned at the sa ti.
Anna stepped forward, her expression calm yet completely unreadable as her eyes settled on Roseline.
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