Margaret paced back and forth in her lavish bedroom, her hands clenched into fists. She hadn't expected Benson to react so strongly, he had always trusted her, always done as she said. But now, he was slipping away, and she couldn't afford that. Not when she was so close to securing everything.
She took a deep breath and sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. She needed to regain control. If Benson turned against her, she'd lose everything she had fought for. And Derrick? That fool was getting greedier by the day.
Margaret grabbed her phone and dialed Derrick's number. He picked up almost immediately, his voice laced with irritation.
"What do you want, Margaret?"
She smiled coldly. "To make you an offer."
There was a pause before Derrick let out a low chuckle. "An offer? You must be desperate."
Margaret's smile didn't falter. "Listen, Derrick. You and I both know we need each other. If you keep your mouth shut about Benson's true parentage, I'll make sure you get a fair share of the wealth."
Derrick scoffed. "A fair share? Margaret, I want what's mine. Benson is my son, and if he's going to inherit anything, I should be calling the shots,not you."
Margaret's eyes darkened. "You really think you can just take over? You abandoned Benson for years and only came crawling back when you smelled money."
Derrick's voice turned cold. "And you're any better? You manipulated him his entire life. The only difference between us is that you had a head start."
Margaret's patience was wearing thin. "I'm warning you, Derrick. You do anything to ruin my plans, and I'll make sure Adrian destroys you first. He has all the resources to bury you before you even get a chance to open your mouth."
Derrick hesitated, and Margaret seized the opportunity. "You're a smart man, Derrick. You know siding with me is your best option. Play your cards right, and you'll walk away with more than you could ever dream of."
After a long silence, Derrick let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But I want guarantees."
Margaret smirked. "You'll get them. Just do as I say."
She ended the call and exhaled sharply. One problem managed.
Now, she had to deal with Benson.
She couldn't afford to let her son slip through her fingers. He might be furious now, but Margaret knew how to manipulate people, especially her own flesh and blood.
She would remind Benson where his loyalties lay. And if he resisted?
She would make sure he had no other choice but to stand by her side.
Margaret wasted no time. She sent out invitations to both Derrick and Benson, demanding their presence at the mansion that evening. She knew that the more time passed, the more Adrian would strengthen his position, and she could not afford to let that happen.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Derrick was the first to arrive, dressed sharply in a navy-blue suit, his expression unreadable. He made himself comfortable in the lavish living room, pouring himself a drink as he waited. Benson arrived moments later, his usual arrogance dampened by the weight of the truth he had recently uncovered.
Margaret stood before them, her expression composed but commanding. "We don't have the luxury of wasting time," she began, her voice firm. "Adrian is already making moves, and if we don't act now, he'll secure the entire empire before we can claim a single dime."
Benson scoffed, crossing his arms. "So, what exactly are we supposed to do? Wait for crumbs? Because let's be honest, you and Derrick seem to be the ones making the plans here."
Derrick shot him a sharp look. "Watch your tone, boy. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be part of this conversation."
Benson clenched his jaw, but Margaret raised a hand to silence him before things got out of control. "Enough. We need unity, not petty fights." She leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Here's the plan. The will has not been read yet. That means we still have a chance to manipulate things in our favor. But we have to act fast."
Derrick frowned. "What exactly do you have in mind?"
Margaret smirked, her mind already working through every possible scenario. "We find out who holds the will. If it's Adrian, we make sure it never sees the light of day. If it's with the lawyer firm, we have ways of making them lose important documents."
Benson shook his head. "And what if Adrian already has control? He's not an idiot."
Margaret's smile turned cold. "Then we make him vulnerable. If we can't take the empire by legal means, we destroy his credibility. We ruin his business, make him desperate, and force him into a corner where he has no choice but to surrender."
Derrick leaned back, impressed. "That's risky."
Margaret shrugged. "So is being left with nothing."
Benson hesitated. His mother had manipulated him for years, but now that he knew the truth about his real father, could he still trust her? Yet, the promise of power, of revenge against Adrian for always overshadowing him, was too tempting.
Finally, he exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'm in."
Derrick smirked. "As long as I get my fair share, so am I."
The room fell into an eerie silence as the slow, mocking claps echoed through the air. Margaret's heart pounded wildly as she turned toward the source of the sound, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Emerging from the shadows, Adrian stepped forward, his expression unreadable, but his eyes burned with cold fury. Behind him, several figures followed—some of Adrian's trusted allies, a few high-ranking lawyers… and then, the man they had all believed to be dead.
Mr. Williams.
Margaret's breath caught in her throat, and the glass in her hand slipped, shattering onto the floor. Benson stumbled back, his face draining of all color, while Derrick's hands clenched into tight fists.
"Impossible…" Margaret whispered, her body trembling.
Mr. Williams, standing tall and very much alive, stared at them with sheer disappointment. "What's wrong, Margaret? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Adrian smirked coldly. "I must say, the performance earlier was quite entertaining. The fake grief, the scheming, the betrayal… truly award-winning."
Benson's lips parted, but no words came out. He turned to his mother, then to Derrick, desperate for an explanation—anything that could justify what was happening.
Margaret, though shaken, quickly masked her fear with a bitter smile. "How… how is this possible? We received a call! The doctor pronounced you dead!"
Mr. Williams took a step closer, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "I suppose that's what happens when you bribe the wrong people."
Margaret felt her blood run cold. The nurse. She had paid her to finish him off, but Adrian must have gotten to her first.
Derrick, who had been silent until now, scoffed and crossed his arms. "So what? You're alive—congratulations. But that doesn't change anything. You're an old man; your time is up. The company, the estate… it all belongs to us now."
Adrian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You really are a fool." He pulled out a stack of documents from his coat pocket. "Not only did you fail to kill my father, but we also have enough evidence to bring all of you down."
Margaret's breath hitched. "Evidence?"
Mr. Williams nodded, his expression dark. "Harriet recorded everything, Margaret. Every. Single. Word. The poisoning, your plans to steal from me, even the truth about Benson's real father. It's all documented."
Benson's gaze shot toward Margaret. "You knew?" His voice was almost a whisper, but the betrayal in his tone was unmistakable.
Margaret swallowed hard but didn't respond.
Adrian took another step forward, his voice dripping with mockery. "Tell me, Mother… how does it feel to lose everything?"
Margaret's world was crumbling, and for the first time in years, she had no way to escape it.