Nathan knew staying any longer would only make things worse for himself.
He shot Benjamin a sharp glare, then turned on his heel and left the conference room without sparing Isabelle a second glance.
Watching him storm off, Edward’s anger flared.
“Delia, don’t push things too far!
I’ve been in this company for years.
You think you can kick me out just like that?
I still hold shares!”
Delia looked at him, face twisted with rage, and in her eyes flickered something close to pity.
“You want to drag this out?
Be my guest.” A cold smile tugged at her lips.
“Let’s see who really runs Fleming Group.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world to take you to court, Edward.
Stop thinking you can keep this act up.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Your daughter’s been moving company funds under the table, think no one noticed?”
Her words hit like a thunderclap.
Edward’s face went pale, though he didn’t seem all that shocked.
Of course he knew what his daughter had been up to.
Isabelle’s face drained of color, lips trembling.
She’d thought she’d covered her tracks flawlessly.
How the hell did Delia-this so-called pampered heiress who spent her days partying-find out so much?
The look on Isabelle’s face was just…
priceless, but all Delia felt deep inside was pure, seething hatred.
How did she know all this?
Because in her previous life, when she was barely hanging on, Isabelle had shown up with Nathan, smug and gloating.
Delia would never forget that scene.
“Oh, sweetheart, while you were too busy fighting with Curtis over the divorce, we already had Fleming Group in our pockets.”
“Delia, maybe next time don’t be so damn naive, huh?”
They’d been so full of themselves, bragging about how they’d teamed up with Edward, taken advantage of her trust, and bit by bit bled the company dry, shifting assets right under her nose.
Every word was like a knife to her chest-merciless, unrelenting.
It hurt more than any scar on her body.
It tore open her soul, forcing her to face the hideous truth about the people she once called family.
That deep betrayal had almost drowned her.
Delia shut her eyes; her lashes trembled as she forced herself to stay calm and not let the hate break her down.
Next to her, Benjamin frowned slightly.
He didn’t get the full story, but he could feel the storm inside her-raw pain, rage, and something darker.
He ran a thoughtful hand across his chin.
Whatever happened in the past…
wasn’t just some minor grudge.
“You can’t just make wild accusations!”
Delia looked at him like he was already done for.
Her voice was quiet but firm.
“Don’t worry.
The evidence is coming.”
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway-quick and heavy.
Several police officers stepped into the room, one of them flashing his badge.
“Who’s Isabelle?”
Isabelle panicked instantly, scrambling behind her father like a frightened child, lips tightly sealed.
Edward froze, staring blankly as Delia calmly pointed in her direction.
“That’s her,” she said with a polite smile.
“We’ve received a report and have initial evidence suggesting your involvement in financial misconduct.
Please come with us for further investigation.”
The officer’s tone was formal, but left zero room for argument.
Two officers took position on either side of Isabelle and escorted her out.
Edward could only watch helplessly.
“Dad-!” Isabelle cried.
She was his only daughter-the one he’d always protected, spoiled since she was small.
She wasn’t used to this.
Not at all.
Watching Isabelle get taken away like a criminal, Edward felt like his heart had been ripped in two.
A rush of anger hit him and he rushed up to Delia.
“Delia, listen to me, please!
Isabelle, she’s innocent!”
He reached out to grab Delia’s arm, but she stepped back coldly, dodging him without hesitation.
Edward stumbled a bit but steadied himself, his voice full of desperation.
“She’s your cousin!
You two grew up together!
Sure, she’s still young and maybe doesn’t think things through, but she’s a good kid deep down!”
He sounded so heartbroken, like Delia was some villain out to get her poor, misunderstood baby cousin.
“I’m begging you, okay?
Just this once, for the sake of family, let her go…”
Maybe in another life, the old Delia, blindfolded by family ties, would’ve fallen for that.
But now, hearing those fake, pitiful words only made her want to laugh.
“Innocent?
Seriously?”
The once “innocent” Isabelle, the one who teamed up with Nathan behind her back, played her like a fiddle, pushed her to hurt Curtis…
that Isabelle?
When she was lying in the hospital, skin burned and pain eating her alive, Isabelle had the nerve to bribe staff to make it worse, all under the pretense of “caring”.
“She’s my cousin?” Delia tilted her head slightly, shooting him a sarcastic smile.
“You mean that sweet girl who pretends to love me while scheming every second behind my back? This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The one who cozied up to Nathan knowing full well how I felt about him?”
“She’s done a lot more than you think.
Or maybe not-you knew.
I know you did.”
“But she’s your family-your cousin!” Edward didn’t stop begging.
Delia let out a hollow chuckle, like she just heard the joke of the century.
“She lied to me, hurt me, milked me for everything she could-and you want to play the family card now?
Edward, I’m done with the fake love and fake loyalty.”
And just like that, she turned to Benjamin, not wasting any more breath.
“Get him out, too.”
Benjamin nodded, no hesitation.
“Got it.”
He gestured, and the guards stepped forward, yanking Edward off his feet and dragging him toward the door.
“Delia!
I’m the CEO of this company-how dare you?!” Edward thrashed and screamed like a man possessed.
But the guards didn’t react.
Benjamin gave the orders, and they obeyed-not Edward.
Once the door shut, his voice cut off completely, leaving only silence.
Delia stood there, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows, lost in thought.
Benjamin walked up beside her, his voice carrying a teasing edge.
“Relax, Delia.
I’ve got the clean-up from here.”
Delia blinked, coming back to herself.
She smiled, a rare, real smile.
“I trust you.
Honestly, I’m not even into managing the company.
It’s gonna be all on you.”
She wasn’t sugarcoating it.
She just straight-up told him she planned to sit back and let him take the wheel.
Benjamin froze for a half second, then laughed with a shake of his head.
“Wow, you’re really handing it all over, huh?”
He sounded like he was griping, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of refusal.
“Work goes to the capable.
And I trust Curtis’s judgment-plus, yours.”
“Saying nice things like that’s gonna make me feel bad for wanting to slack off.”
He scratched his head awkwardly but grinned wide.
“Fine, fine.
I’ll take it from here.”
His tone was light, but as soon as he turned around, he was back in work mode.
Benjamin moved fast, rattling off orders like a machine-clear instructions, no wasted words.
Delia watched him juggle files and calls, and her eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
No wonder Curtis kept him around.