The Bennet Scandal

Fractured Foundations

The air in the Bennet household felt charged as Camila Bennet stepped through the door, a weight of exhaustion hanging heavily on her shoulders. She had just returned from London, ready to confront her husband about his worst decision—casting Sophia out.

"Marshal!" she called, her voice echoing through the grand foyer. She could sense the tension lying beneath the surface of their home, a tension she had tried to ignore while abroad.

In the study, Marshal sat behind his desk, a stark silhouette against the glow of his computer screen. He didn't look up.

"You're back," he said, his tone clipped as if their reunion held no importance.

"Where's Sophia?" Camila demanded, urgency slicing through her voice.

He hesitated, his fingers stilling on the keyboard. "She's... not here."

Camila felt a surge of panic. "What do you mean, 'not here'?"

"You know she's been exiled," he said flatly, finally meeting her gaze, his expression unreadable.

"Exiled?" Camila echoed, fury bubbling within her. "You threw her out! Couldn't you have handled this differently? She's just a young girl, Marshal! The world outside isn't friendly, and you know that!"

"I did what I had to do," he replied, his voice steely. "Getting involved with Gabriel Westbrook is unforgivable. She has to suffer the consequences of her actions."

"Suffer?" Camila's voice trembled with disbelief. "You think that's teaching her a lesson? You've put her out into the world like she's a piece of broken furniture!"

"That's enough, Camila." His tone had shifted slightly, but it only ignited her anger further.

"Enough?" she shot back, stepping closer, her heart racing. "You can't just dismiss this! What is she supposed to do? How will she survive out there on her own? If she made a mistake, you could have warned her, and shown her some compassion instead of this ruthless punishment!"

Marshal leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, a wall between them. "Compassion? This isn't about compassion; this is about her betrayal. She needs to learn that her choices have repercussions."

"Repercussions?" Camila echoed incredulously. "You think this is the way to teach her? By tossing her out and letting her fend for herself? What kind of lesson is that?"

"An important one," he replied, his voice growing sharper. "One she needs to learn before it's too late."

Tears pricked at Camila's eyes, a mix of anger and helplessness overwhelming her. "You're not just hurting her, Marshal. You're tearing our family apart. I can't stand by and watch this happen. I'm going to bring Sophia back."

"You will not," he said, his voice suddenly low and threatening.

"If you go after her, I will throw you out too. This is my house, and I will not tolerate any disobedience."

Camila recoiled, the gravity of his words hitting her like a physical blow. "You would do that to me? To your wife? To the mother of your children?"

"I would do what's necessary to maintain control," he stated, unwavering. "You have to understand the stakes here, Camila. This is about our family's reputation."

"Our family's reputation?" she echoed, her voice rising. "What about our daughter? You're prioritizing your image over her well-being! Do you even care what this is doing to her?"

"Of course, I care!" Marshal snapped, his eyes flashing with frustration. "But I can't allow any weakness to be shown, especially not to a rival like Westbrook. Do you understand that?"

"Understand?" Camila laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "You're the one who doesn't understand. You think you're protecting us, but all you're doing is pushing us away. You're creating a chasm between us and our daughter!"

"That's your opinion," he replied coldly, though she could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"It's not just my opinion, Marshal! It's the truth! You're the worst kind of man, hiding behind your pride and power. I regret the moment I married you," she declared, her voice raw with emotion. "You are nothing but a selfish, self-centered, greedy person!"

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Marshal's face tightened, a storm brewing within his expression.

"You don't know what you're saying."

"I know exactly what I'm saying!" Camila insisted, stepping closer, her heart pounding. "You're blinded by your ambition. You're willing to sacrifice your family for the sake of your ego. And it's going to destroy us!"

Marshal stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as he towered over her. "You don't get to dictate how I run my house!"

Camila took a deep breath, trying to steady her shaking hands.

"This isn't about how you run your house, Marshal. This is about how we run our family. If you can't see that, then I don't know who you are anymore."

His expression shifted, a flicker of vulnerability passing through his eyes.

"I'm trying to protect us. I'm trying to protect our legacy."

"Our legacy?" she repeated, her heart aching. "You think that legacy is worth destroying our daughter? You've lost sight of what truly matters. Love, family—these are the things that matter, not power or status."

"Love doesn't pay the bills, Camila!" he shouted, the frustration spilling over.

"No, but it builds a home," she shot back, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "A home that Sophia deserves to return to. I will not let you push her away any longer. I'll find her, and I'll bring her back."

"And if you do," Marshal warned, his voice dangerously low, "you'll be making an enemy out of me."

Camila stood under a wave of shock, and before she could say anything, Reckon Bennet entered the study, holding her arm and saying, "Mom, you need to come with me... I need to talk to you." Reckon wanted to take Camila away before the situation escalated and became out of control.

"Ask your dad to bring Sophia back," Camila said in a heavy tone.

"I will... You come with me." Reckon said and led Camila out of the study.

As she reached the door, she paused, looking back at the man she once loved and the man he had become.

"I hope one day he realizes what he has lost," she whispered before stepping out of the study.

She was exhausted, terrified, and tense, and Reckon was trying to give her the solace she needed to put her shattered family together.