Chapter 309

The moment the announcement was made, the hall froze as though time itself had stumbled. Shock rippled through the crowd,leaving everyone silent and wide-eyed,unable to digest what they had just heard.

The air grew heavy, disbelief written across every face,as if trust had suddenly become too costly to afford.

Molly, just stepping out of the restroom, caught Luis 'voice as his words fell like a hammer.

Her stride faltered, feet rooted to the floor.She lifted her gaze toward the stage, her expression clouded with incredulity.

What?

Luis was placing the reins of Benedict Pharmaceuticals into Verena's hands?

Her eyes clung to Verena, blazing with a mix of shock and bitterness.

Molly had poured years of sweat into managing Benedict Pharmaceuticals, brick by brick, like building a fortress in stormy weather. And now, Verena appeared out of nowhere, only to have the whole fortress delivered to her.

And Molly herself?

Was she expected to bow before Verena, as though the years of her labor were mere shadows?

The thought gnawed at her, feeding a deep well of resentment.

She knew well that Benedict Pharmaceuticals was the Sampson family's property, but without her father's devotion, it would have been a withered tree long ago.

Could Verena even fathom the labyrinth of management? A pharmaceutical company was no corner store.

How could a young woman, freshly acknowledged by the Sampson family and untested in business, hope to steer such a mighty ship?

Dissatisfaction, envy, and anger twisted together in Molly's chest.

She glared from below the stage, teeth clenched tight, and then stalked toward the guest seating area.

After a moment, faint gasps fractured the silence,and the audience slowly regained its voice. Soon the hall stirred like waves in a restless sea.

"Can Verena truly manage such a company right after joining the Sampson family?" someone muttered,brows furrowed with doubt.

"Indeed! Benedict Pharmaceuticals is the lifeblood of Sampson Group. Though young, its future is bright,"an elegantly dressed woman agreed,her tone sharp with skepticism. "To entrust it so hastily to a novice -what on earth is Luis thinking?"

A bespectacled man stroked his chin,eyes narrowed in thought. "There must be a hidden reason. Surely,he doesn't genuinely believe she's capable... does he?"

"How could she be incompetent?" A firm voice cut through the murmur like a bell ringing clear.

Heads turned toward a stout middle-aged man who had just spoken. "Have you forgotten who Verena truly is? She is Evelyn, famed for her unmatched medical skill."

He paused, sweeping the crowd with a knowing smile."When it comes to medicine, or leading a pharmaceutical venture, who among you holds more weight than she? And beyond that, remember her husband. Isaac commands Shoildon's business world with an iron grip. His judgment could outwit a hundred men." The man's lips curled, as though mocking the narrowness of the crowd."With these two truths alone,how could you still call her unfit?"

His words struck like sparks, stirring commotion anew.

Someone nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, there's an old saying in business: 'Ochrerayd's Sampson, Shoildon's Bennett.' Both families stand as pillars. Under Isaac's lead, the Bennett family has flourished,his foresight razor-sharp."

A middle-aged woman added, "If the Bennett family has embraced Verena, it must be for more than her skill in healing."

Another guest sighed, "Perhaps Luis' choice to entrust her with Benedict Pharmaceuticals is a masterstroke."

Hearing the growing chatter, Molly froze mid-motion,her wine glass suspended just shy of her lips.

"What?" The word escaped her, loud and raw, carrying her astonishment tothe room.

She scanned the hall, heart thudding.

Her eyes landed on lsaac, seated quietly in his wheelchair.

His gaze never wavered from the stage, fixed solely on Verena, as if the rest of the world had ceased to matter.

Even strangers could read the tenderness etched in his expression.

Molly's mind buzzed. Her breath caught as she looked back at Verena.

Never had she imagined that Verena's husband was none other than Isaac Bennett-the formidable leader of Bennett Group, the man whispered about in boardrooms as both savior and storm.

She had never seen his methods firsthand, yet his reputation alone was legend.

And legends, she knew, were not to be tested.

Drawing in a long breath, Molly fought to steady her thoughts, her resentment bending under the weight of reason.

Antagonism,she realized,would be foolish.

Better an ally than an enemy.

Her gaze drifted again to Isaac.

The guests, now enlightened to lsaac's identity,approached him with eager smiles, each angling for favor. But Isaac remained cool, nodding politely at best, his eyes unfailingly returning to Verena.

Molly saw it clearly-his devotion,his fierce protection.

And she knew, should she openly cross Verena, the price would be more than her position. With Isaac's fiercely protective heart and his reputation for ruthless precision, Molly might find herself unable to plant even a single firm step in the business world, no matter how strong her father's backing.

If that were all, it would be a small mercy.Worse still -her very life might hang in the balance.

Realizing this bitter truth, Molly forced a smile that tasted of defeat.

She lifted her wine glass slowly, taking a measured sip to mask her unease, while her mind whirled,calculating the best way to weave a bridge toward Verena instead of burning one.

On stage, Verena and Luis stood side by side,bringing their closing words to a graceful end. Verena inclined her head, her gratitude flowing toward the assembled guests.

Luis,steady and composed,lifted his hand in a guiding gesture, escorting Verena as they descended the steps together. The audience's eyes trailed after them, whispers rising and falling like the rustle of leaves in a restless breeze.

As Verena stepped off the stage, she caught sight of Isaac steering his wheelchair toward her.

In his broad hand, he carried a glass of water, his long fingers finely cut, glimmering faintly beneath the lights.

He stopped before her, tilting his head in quiet affection, and extended the glass. His voice,low and steady, reached her gently. "Here.Have some water."

Verena's smile deepened,lighting her face like dawn."Thank you,honey."

She accepted the glass with both hands, feeling its warmth seep into her palms, anchoring her.

Lowering her gaze,she sipped lightly, the water easing the dryness in her throat.

Luis, watching the exchange, let his eyes rest on Isaac and arched a brow ever so slightly.

In that small gesture, it was clear he had seen enough -his brother-in-law was not only capable, but devoted to Verena with genuine care.