Chapter 131

Emma had no idea she was being strung along like a puppet.

Fuming, she stormed into the Enigma store, her heels clicking like gunfire across the polished floor.

As luck would have it, Eleanor was inside, quietly going over the accounts. Emma wasted no time. She marched straight over and blocked her path.

"Eleanor!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "You shameless bitch! Can't rely on your own abilities, so you seduce someone else's husband instead?"

Eleanor blinked, utterly baffled by the sudden outburst.

Her lips curved in the faintest trace of irony as she lifted her gaze to Emma."Tell me,"she asked mildly,"who do you think is more impressive? Your brother, or Nolan?"

The question caught Emma off guard. She was crazy about Nolan. Of course, she thought he was better than her own brother. But admitting it was out of the question.

"You!" she sputtered, scrambling for words. "You're despicable! Whether it's my brother or Nolan, you've lured them in. Otherwise, why on earth would they be drawn to you?"

Eleanor had met plenty of unreasonable people before, but Emma was in a league of her own.

She couldn't decide if she should sigh in helplessness or feel a bit of pity.

With a small chuckle, she said in a steady tone, "Use your head before you act. Don't let yourself get played like a pawn without even noticing."

Emma barely registered the warning.

What stuck like a thorn was that Eleanor had implied she wasn't thinking at all.

Her temper snapped. "Don't be so smug! Nolan isn't serious about you! A woman like you,raised without proper upbringing, how could he ever seriously want you?"

The insult rolled off Eleanor like water off stone. She stayed composed, her voice cool. "And yet, you think Nolan would want you? Security, please see her out."

There was no point in trading barbs with someone like her. It was simply a waste of energy.

Emma balked when two burly security guards began walking over. Her bravado shriveled, and she backed away, muttering, "Just wait! I'll tell Lainey about this. She's got more power than you could ever dream of,and she'l put you in your place!"

With that threat, she spun on her heel and left.

Lainey was now the daughter of the Benton family, carrying influence and status that Eleanor couldn't hope to match.

Once Lainey stepped in, Eleanor wouldn't stand a chance.

Seething,Emma made her way back to the Benton family's estate, only to be greeted by a maid who, with perfect politeness, told her that Lainey was away at an important event.

Emma didn't even get a glimpse of her. Left with no choice, she left a message and dragged herself home,her fury dimmed by disappointment.

The truth, however, was very different. Lainey hadn't gone anywhere. Upstairs in her bedroom, she was sitting ather vanity, flipping through a thick stack of documents.

Her mind was already moving ahead, calculating. She wondered how to talk Jeff into working with the Stewart Group.

Only with shared business interests could she force Nolan to realize she was perfect for him.

Her gaze landed on one file in particular-the renewable energy project.

It was the future, and whoever controlled it would hold enormous influence.

But it wasn't something the Benton family could dominate alone. If they teamed up with the Stewart Group, they could secure a stronghold not just in the country but overseas too.

The profits would be staggering, and Nolan would be forced to acknowledge her worth.

Decision made, Lainey gathered the papers and made her way downstairs. Moving with her usual grace, she settled beside Jeff, who was reading the financial section.

"Dad," she began lightly, "I heard from Denny that our first domestic project will focus on renewable energy.I've done some research, and I don't think it's something we should handle alone. Have you thought about partnering with the Stewart Group?"

Jeff frowned a little at her words and lowered his newspaper to look at her."I won't even consider it. After the way Nolan disrespected me before, that's out of the question."

Once, he had admired Nolan's poise, his ambition, and his capability.

But the memory of Nolan humiliating his cherished daughter in public had soured every impression.To him now, Nolan was reckless and unworthy.