CHAPTER 247: YOUR FAMILY’S SCANDAL ARE PUBLIC RECORDS

Inside the expansive boardroom of Bennett International, every investor and board member had settled into their seats, the long marble table reflecting strained faces and hushed whispers. The atmosphere was thick—tense enough to cut through.

The news of Roseline’s attack had spread like wildfire, and the blowback was merciless. The public outrage, the speculation, the gossip—it all seeped directly into the company’s veins, poisoning its stability.

For the past three years, Hugo Bennett had clawed his way back into relevance, trying to restore the legacy his family had nearly lost. With Daniel Clafford—the current powerhouse of the business world—publicly supporting Bennett International, Hugo had finally begun securing his footing again. Investors trusted him. Markets stabilized. Bennett International looked like it was rising again.

But now?

Now, everything had been thrown into chaos once more.

Hugo stood at the head of the table, shoulders tense, jaw tightly set. His posture was controlled, but the flicker of strain in his eyes revealed the truth—he was on the edge.

He had already weathered one storm when Anna’s truth had surfaced in the media. Their name had taken a hit then, and Hugo had been forced to publicly acknowledge his daughter to restore credibility. It had been humiliating, but necessary. And in time, with Daniel’s aid, the company had recovered. The numbers steadied. Investors calmed.

But the current situation was different. Darker.

This wasn’t a scandal—it was violence. Brutal, targeted violence.

"Ladies and gentlemen," one of the senior board members spoke up, breaking the silence, "the market value has dropped again—this time more significantly. Investors outside this room are already withdrawing interest."

Murmurs erupted around the table.

Another investor leaned forward, fingers steepled. "People are speculating your family offended someone ... someone dangerous. That kind of rumor doesn’t disappear overnight, Mr. Bennett."

Hugo’s jaw tightened. "And I assure you, Bennett International has nothing to do with—"

"With all due respect," another board member cut in, "this is the second time in recent years your family affairs have jeopardized company stability."

The words fell like a slap.

Hugo inhaled deeply, keeping his voice steady. "What happened to Roseline is under investigation. We have no reason to believe our company is the target."

"But the public believes it," an investor countered sharply. "And perception drives the market. If people think the Bennetts are involved in some hidden feud, they won’t trust us. They won’t invest."

Hugo’s fingers curled against the edge of the table. He hated that they were right. The Bennetts’ name—once synonymous with prestige—was now being dragged through the mud yet again.

The cruelty of the attack, the mystery surrounding the girl, the circulating rumors... it was all creating a narrative Hugo had no control over. And the more he struggled to pull the company out of the mess, the deeper it seemed to sink.

Every eye in the room was fixed on him.

Every doubt, every whisper, every question pointed directly at his credibility.

The numbers didn’t lie—and they were falling.

Fast.

"I assure you this will be the last time anything like this happens," Hugo said at last, each word pressed out through tightly controlled breaths. He could feel the anger coiling in his bones, a slow burn he forced himself to restrain. Losing his temper here would only feed the wolves.

He straightened his jacket, meeting every gaze head-on. "I only ask for a chance."

The boardroom remained silent—waiting, judging—until a voice cut through it like a blade.

"And how can we trust that our money won’t suffer under your guidance?"

Hugo stiffened.

The question had come from Fredrick Stewart. Not a major shareholder, but just significant enough to sit among them. The smirk on his face made Hugo’s stomach darken with contempt.

Of all people, Fredrick was the last he wanted speaking right now.

"The news about the girl who attacked Mrs. Bennett is everywhere," Fredrick continued casually, as if discussing a stock report and not someone’s life. "And the police still haven’t found her. What happens when they do, hm? What happens if the truth is... unpleasant?"

Several board members shifted, murmuring in agreement.

"People are already whispering that your wife offended someone powerful," Fredrick added, his tone dripping with false concern.

Hugo felt the air thicken, tense eyes turning toward him.

He clenched his jaw so hard it hurt, but he remained perfectly composed. He had dealt with worse men in business. Fredrick wasn’t even a challenge—just a nuisance backed by a little inherited power.

If his father hadn’t locked those shares away under Stewart’s name, Hugo would’ve ousted him years ago.

Fredrick wasn’t finished.

"In fact," he said smoothly, "my wife—who happened to be the sole witness at the scene—claims she saw Mrs. Bennett walking out to meet someone. Quite intentionally, I might add. So... should we assume she knew the attacker?"

A stunned hush fell across the room.

Hugo’s eyes widened for a split second—then narrowed dangerously.

Fredrick had crossed a line.

"My wife has nothing to do with this," Hugo said, voice steady but vibrating with restrained fury. "Someone is targeting her. That is the only truth."

Fredrick leaned back in his chair, feigning innocence. "Of course, of course. But you understand how it looks."

He let the words linger, poisonous, inviting doubt to fester.

Hugo could practically see the satisfaction gleaming in Fredrick’s eyes. This wasn’t about justice or concern. This was about vengeance. Competition. Ego.

Fredrick wanted him to fall—and he wanted the investors, perhaps even Daniel, to witness it.

Hugo stood taller, refusing to give him the satisfaction of cracking.

"We do not deal in rumors," he said firmly. "We deal in facts. And the fact is, my wife was attacked. She did not know the girl. She was not meeting anyone. She is the victim here."

Fredrick gave a soft chuckle. "Victim or not, Mr. Bennett, the market reacts to perception—not truth. And right now, perception is... fragile."

The boardroom murmured again.

Hugo’s hands curled subtly into fists behind his back.

He had known Fredrick would play dirty someday.

He just didn’t expect him to strike this low.

Nor at the worst possible moment.

And as the investors exchanged whispers and second-guesses, Hugo felt something shift—

This wasn’t just about the company anymore. It was becoming a battle for survival.

"If we’re speaking of assumptions," a voice suddenly spoke and their heads turned to Kathrine who was now speaking on behalf on her father "let’s address the biggest one in this room."

Fredrick’s smirk faltered.

"You’re implying my mother invited her own attacker," she continued, keeping her tone polite but razor-sharp. "Based on a claim your wife made in shock, minutes after witnessing a violent crime."

Fredrick opened his mouth, but she didn’t give him the chance.

"Mrs. Stewart was traumatized. Disoriented. No witness in her state can be expected to process events accurately—not without proper investigation." she folded my arms. "And implying otherwise is irresponsible."

Several board members exchanged hesitant glances.

Fredrick leaned forward, lips curling. "I’m only repeating what she saw."

"No," she corrected, "you’re manipulating what she saw because that’s not the statement she gave to the police"

His expression darkened.

Good.

She then stepped closer to the table, voice gaining strength.

"You’re weaponizing a tragedy to attack my father. Don’t pretend otherwise."

The room went silent—so silent that she could hear her own heartbeat.

Fredrick scoffed softly. "Emotion doesn’t run a company, Miss Bennett."

"No," she agreed, "but integrity does." and few eyebrows rose.

She looked directly at the investors.

"My family has been dealing with a horrific crime while also trying to protect this company’s standing. Instead of offering support during an ongoing police investigation, some of you are busy spreading rumors and assigning blame without evidence."

Fredrick narrowed his eyes. "Rumors? Your family’s scandals are public record."

Kathrine smiled—cold and controlled.

"And yet," she said, lifting her chin, "despite those scandals, our numbers rose. Investors stayed. Markets recovered. All under my father’s leadership."

The board members shifted, unable to deny it.

"And that," she finished, "is a fact—not an assumption."

A few murmured in agreement.

Fredrick’s jaw tightened. He clearly hadn’t expected resistance—least of all from me.

Kathrine didn’t look away, but rather faced everyone head on.

"If you want to discuss the market, do so. If you want to discuss leadership, do so. But don’t you dare drag a recovering woman’s name through the mud to satisfy your personal grudges."

Fredrick’s face flushed with restrained anger.

Hugo looked at her—not with surprise, but with something else.

Pride.

For the first time since she entered this room, he looked... less alone.

"I think Miss Kathrine is right."

The voice came from one of the senior investors—Mr. Halden—someone known for being brutally practical and never taking sides lightly. His statement cut through the room like a clean blade.

Fredrick’s face twisted, the smirk slipping from his lips as he turned sharply toward the man. "Excuse me?"

Halden adjusted his glasses, unfazed. "We’ve all seen Hugo’s leadership. For years, actually. And I can say with confidence that he has never disappointed us." He looked around the table as if daring anyone to disagree. "Even when this company faced turbulence, Hugo managed to steer it back on course."

Several board members nodded, some reluctantly, some with conviction.

Halden continued, leaning back calmly. "So throwing accusations based on rumors—rumors tied to a violent incident still under investigation isn’t just unprofessional," his gaze sharpened on Fredrick, "it’s irresponsible."

A murmur of agreement spread around the table.

Finally.

Fredrick’s jaw tightened. "I’m simply pointing out potential risks—"

"No," Ms. Bernard, another investor, interrupted sharply. "You’re sensationalizing the situation to undermine Hugo. And frankly, it’s transparent."

Fredrick shot her a glare. "I’m doing no such—"

"Oh, you are," a younger board member added, tapping his pen against the table. "Mrs.Bennett is still in the hospital. Misusing half-baked statements from a shaken witness to push your personal agenda is at best bad faith."

"And at worst," Halden said calmly, "grounds for reconsidering your place in future discussions."

Fredrick froze.

The table had turned sharply, decisively, and against him.

He opened his mouth, but before he could launch another protest, Ms. Collins added, "We trust Hugo. He earned that trust. One incident—one still shrouded in incomplete information does not undo years of strong leadership."

"And doubting him on something that hasn’t even happened yet," Halden concluded, "would be foolish."

The room hummed with agreement.

Fredrick’s fists tightened on the table, his face a storm of injured pride and barely veiled fury. He glanced toward Hugo, who now stood a little straighter, a spark of renewed strength in his eyes.

Kathrine could almost taste Fredrick’s frustration—sharp, bitter, and deeply satisfying.

He wasn’t used to losing ground.

He certainly wasn’t used to being publicly dismissed.

But today... he was being cornered.