로그인Claire Bennett’s voice remained cold and even. Her calm reply made Lily Marlowe secretly clench her fists.This Claire Bennett was definitely not to be underestimated.Yet Lily was, after all, a seasoned lawyer who had weathered countless storms and faced every kind of criminal in the courtroom. Even though Claire’s composure surprised her slightly, she still regarded the woman as extremely cunning and vicious. At this point the exchange had become a pure psychological battle.Lily kept her outward expression perfectly calm, offering only a cold smile that showed no ripple of emotion.“I came to the banquet at the invitation of the Wren family. Only after I arrived was I told that my aunt happened to be here these past two days as well. As far as I know, my aunt has been suffering from frequent headaches lately. If it weren’t for Jonathan always making her angry, she wouldn’t be in this state. So she’s been staying at the Wren residence for the past two days while the family members p
Because the matter concerned the Reid family, Melody Wren still went to inquire herself.Sure enough, she learned that an old servant in the Reid household had died not long ago an elderly woman whose position had been almost equal to that of President Reid’s wet nurse. The circumstances of her death were mysterious. Judging from Lawyer Marlowe’s words, the old maid’s death was inextricably linked to this fake heiress…It was only President Reid’s power and status that allowed the woman to stand here unharmed.Melody Wren was extremely righteous and hated evil with a passion. She could not tolerate injustice of any kind, and she especially despised hypocritical, calculating people who pretended to be honest and kind to her face. Therefore she gave Claire Bennett not a single friendly glance. She also believed Claire’s deliberate use of the word “mother-in-law” was nothing more than an attempt to pressure her with the Reid family name.Did the woman really think that caution toward the
Eleanor Reid’s voice sounded hoarse on the other end of the line. “I’ve run into some trouble with the Wren family, and only you can help me. By the way don’t tell Jonathan. Otherwise he’ll start arguing with me again.”Claire Bennett frowned in confusion. Not tell Jonathan? Was this about Jade Peak Mountain again? Remembering the last argument between mother and son, she already felt a headache coming on. She half-suspected their zodiac signs simply clashed.After hanging up she didn’t dare delay. She changed clothes at once and prepared to leave. If she couldn’t tell Jonathan, she could at least tell Leo.When she asked Leo for the car she added carefully, “If I’m late this evening and your master asks, just say I went to the Wren family. However… I’m not going to see Zoe.”The implication was clear enough. With Jonathan’s intelligence he would understand.“Yes, Madam.”Claire took Cole and Drew and left the manor.When Cynthia Reid learned that her sister-in-law had gone out agai
After those final words, Zoe Bennett shook her head and walked out.The door closed. Ryan Bennett slumped back into his chair, staring pale-faced in the direction his sisters had gone. He raised both hands and pressed them against his eyes. Zoe’s and Claire’s words had been like whips, striking every bleeding wound he already carried. Yet the more they cut, the clearer his mind became. Deep down he knew every single accusation was true.Claire and Jonathan personally escorted Zoe back to the Jade Orchid Pavilion, the quiet Chinese-style compound where she lived and studied under her master.After waving goodbye, Zoe had barely stepped toward the gate when two figures blocked her path.“Zoe Bennett, it’s you again! Why are you always the last one back? Our teacher said if you break the time rules one more time you’ll kneel at the gate for two hours until you admit your fault. Kneel!”Claire’s car window was still down. The moment she heard those words she shoved the door open and got o
Ryan Bennett dialed the number the moment he received the message.Claire Bennett hesitated, then let the phone vibrate unanswered beside the sink. She stared into the mirror until her breathing steadied. By the time she finally picked it up, Ryan had already called seven or eight times.She stepped out of the bathroom. Zoe was waiting by the door.“Are you alright?”Claire gave a bitter smile. “Even if something is wrong, we still have to digest it slowly, don’t we? And you?”Zoe sighed. “Let’s go back and eat first.”Claire’s phone buzzed again. Zoe caught the name on the screen and looked startled. “He…”“I tried to provoke Ryan,” Claire said quietly. “It worked. He’s panicking.”Zoe’s eyes widened. “Did he already know?”“I’ve always felt his reaction two years ago, when our backgrounds first came out, was too intense, too strange. Given his personality, if he learned a nurse had switched his sister, he would never have let it go. Instead he fled overseas. Was he running from me…
Mrs. Wells was the first to soften. “Old man… how about we trust him one more time?”Mr. Wells let out a long, weary sigh. “What else can we do? At worst we lose two old lives. Maybe these people really are decent.”Claire Bennett and Zoe Bennett exchanged a quiet look. No matter what Marian Wells had done, the two elderly parents sitting in front of them were genuinely pitiable.Everyone sat down.Mrs. Wells began slowly. “Marian was our only child. We spoiled her from the day she was born what else could we do? We gave her the best of everything. Dance, singing, piano… we raised her to be no less polished than any rich family’s daughter. You saw the photo. She used to be so beautiful, so outstanding. That’s why she grew up a little arrogant, a little high-minded, with more ambition than ability. But at least we never had to worry about her much.”“When it was time for her to start working, her father and I were still fretting over finding her a good job. Then she came home and







