Nathan couldn't help but crack a smile.
He had overheard the conversation between Hestia and Isaac.
Mr. Salter was right; he had been foolish.
He nearly fell for Hestia's act.
But when he gave it some thought, Hestia had once manipulated situations for the sake of having a family member. How could she truly be a damsel in distress?
After Hestia left the car, Nathan headed back.
Isaac was still in the library.
"Mr. Salter, are you really going to help Ms. Bennett?"
"Do I not have the right to take my people away from Eltham?" Isaac said with a smirk.
Reflecting on his recent actions, Nathan felt a pang of guilt, "Mr. Salter, I was wrong before."
"It's not your fault."
Isaac shook his head, "You've been by my side for years, rarely interacting with women. Hestia is a master manipulator. She appears weak but is actually quite shrewd."
"Do you know how she got the child?"
"Wasn't it Ms. Bennett's own?"
"Eltham never touched Hestia. That child was stolen from a sperm bank."
The Craneville royalty had an unspoken rule. After reaching adulthood, members would regularly donate to the sperm bank. Firstly, to prevent the lack of an heir in case of accidents. Secondly, due to a history of inbreeding within the Craneville royalty, which led to concerns about sperm quality, this was a necessary measure to preserve their lineage.
Nathan's expression changed drastically, "Ordinary people can't access the sperm bank. Ms. Bennett—"
"Clearly, Hestia has someone backing her."
Only then did Nathan realize how thoroughly he'd been played. "What's our next move?"
"We wait!"
...
Brittany and Eltham hadn't seen each other for almost a week.
Brittany had officially taken over the Lynette Conglomerate, swamped with work, and her relationship with Holden was warming up.
Brittany approached Eltham, "What brings you here?"
"I haven't seen you in a week, and you've lost weight."
Eltham seemed to have forgotten their previous argument, "I've booked a dinner spot for us. Let's dine together."
Brittany's eyes narrowed slightly, "Alright."
Eltham took Brittany to the reserved Imperial Diner, known for its excellent reputation.
Brittany preferred not sitting in private booths, so they chose a table by the window. After a week of non-stop work, she felt exhausted and took off her blazer, "Have you thought about what we discussed?"
"I've told you, I disagree."
Eltham browsed the menu, ordering Brittany's favorite dishes and a juice for her, "How have you been these past few days?"
"I'm fine."
Brittany wasn't disheartened. She had plenty of time to deal with Eltham, and time was something she had in abundance.
As they waited for their meal, Eltham said, "Let's call off the engagement ceremony."
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