Chapter 194

The moment Jeff entered the house, he nearly collided with Lainey, who came flying down the staircase in a whirlwind of panic.

Her face was pale, her eyes wild, as though some vital piece of her had been stolen away.

"What on earth happened?" Jeff asked.

That morning, Lainey had woken early only to find the vast villa deserted except for a handful of servants.

Her questions revealed the truth-Jeff and Hilda had left at dawn to visit Eleanor.

A cold wave of dread had gripped her chest.

There was no telling what family bonds might lead to,and that made them all the more dangerous. She couldn't shake the unease that came with how quickly Hilda had grown attached to Eleanor.

If they kept seeing each other, it might stir up feelings best left untouched.

She couldn't take that risk.

What mattered now was locking down the future she had built for herself.

The smartest move would be to marry Nolan without delay.

If she could do that, then even if the truth came out and people discovered she wasn't truly a Benton, it wouldn't matter. She would still have everything she wanted-wealth, status, and a secure place in the world.

With effort, Lainey smothered her fear and curved her lips into a trembling smile that looked more like pain than joy.

She rushed forward, clutching Jeff's arm. "Dad, I was terrified being here alone. When you and Mom disappeared this morning, I felt abandoned all over again. Back living with the Gilbert family, I never belonged, never had a place. Now, I just want to stay by your side."

Her words cracked something inside Jeff's chest.

Lainey had suffered years of hardship, and it had taken everything to finally bring her back.

Of course she felt insecure.

The blame fell squarely on him-he had failed her as a father.

Sensing his softened resolve, Lainey continued,"Since the Todd family collapsed, I've been nothing but a target for gossip. Even though Jonny and I are in the middle of a divorce, people still whisper about me. They even claim-"

Her voice trailed off.

Jeff's brows knitted sharply, his tone heavy. "Claim what?" Lainey pressed her teeth into her lip, and tears slipped freely down her cheeks. "They're saying that no matter what, I'll never measure up to the three Benton boys who grew up in this family. They say/I'II always be the least important, and when the time comes, my share will be the smallest of all."

"Utter rubbish!" Jeff's temper erupted, his palm crashing down on the table with a sharp crack.

His fury blinded him to the glimmer of calculation that flashed in Lainey's eyes, mistaking it for pure hurt.

To him, she wasn't just a daughter-she was the long-lost jewel of the entire Benton family. No one had the right to belittle her worth.

He would prove to the world how much she meant to him.

With a voice thick with determination, Jeff promised,"I'll establish a new branch here at home and place you in charge as president. On top of that, I'll transfer an extra ten percent of shares from headquarters directly to you. Let's see who dares to sneer at my daughter then!"

The heavy front door creaked open at that very moment.

Hilda stepped inside, arriving just in time to catch every word.

Her gaze flickered as she noted the ambition burning behind Lainey's tears.

In only a handful of days back in the family, Lainey was already angling for power and shares. Clever,dangerous, and far too bold.

Eleanor's stubborn, unyielding face flashed through Hilda's mind before her eyes returned to Lainey,whose performance reeked of carefully staged desperation.

Her own determination became firm and unwavering.

With a serene smile, Hilda moved closer. "Baby,that's a wonderful decision. Lainey is bright and capable. She'll surely thrive as president." She reached out, resting her hand warmly over Lainey's. "Don't worry, Lainey. You have our full support."