The Bennet Scandal

The Weight of Betrayal

"What's the emergency?" Gabriel asked, shutting the heavy oak door of the conference room behind him, sealing himself off from the sterile air and the buzz of muted conversations. "I was in a meeting." He glared at his legal team, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"Sir, we couldn't wait," Emily Trent, head of Gabriel's legal team, said.

"Tell me the details," Gabriel demanded, a knot of tension tightening in his stomach.

"A case has been filed against you," Emily said in a dreadfully serious tone.

"What case?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper as tension spread across his face.

"Gabriel," Emily said gently, her brow furrowing with concern. "Marshal Bennet has filed a lawsuit against you. He claims you've committed significant financial fraud during the construction of the trust hospital funded by the government."

Stunned, Gabriel felt the blood drain from his face. "Fraud? That's absurd! I've dedicated years to this project. The community needs that hospital... Why would I do such a thing?" His voice cracked with disbelief and anger.

"I understand," Emily replied, her tone calm yet serious. "But you need to take this seriously. The allegations are severe. If they stick, your reputation could be ruined forever."

"Ruined?" Gabriel echoed, his mind racing. He had worked tirelessly, and fought tooth and nail for every inch of that project. "This is a smear campaign. It has to be."

"It's not just about you," she continued, glancing at her colleagues. "Marshal Bennet's lawyers are claiming they have documents, emails, everything to prove that you committed the fraud. So if we don't prepare a solid defense..."

Gabriel cut her off, panic rising in his chest. "Then don't waste time here. Go and make a solid defense. Meanwhile, I'll try to find out how and why Marshal is playing this dirty game." He said it abruptly, urgency fueling his words.

"We're on it," Emily said, showing him a few documents regarding their defense plan. "I've asked your project manager to give me a complete money trail for the trust hospital. That should clarify that you didn't waste a single penny of the government's funds." She looked toward him, seeking reassurance.

"Hmm," Gabriel said, exhaling deeply. The weight of the fraud case pressing down on him felt like it was crushing his nerves. His reputation, name, and career were at stake.

After a few minutes, Emily Trent and her team left the office, and Gabriel sank into his chair, lost in thought. The door of the conference room swung open again, and Sophia Bennet walked in.

Gabriel looked at her, a surge of anger and rage coursing through him as he got up from his chair. Ignoring the feelings he had developed over the past few weeks, he spat, "You and your father are shameless and have no moral values. I hate both of you."

Sophia heard the words and was shocked. This wasn't the Gabriel with whom she had developed a bond of understanding. She looked into his eyes, and her anger and frustration reignited.

"And who told you that your hatred affects us? We don't even care what you think about us," she shot back.

"Sophia Bennet, you still haven't seen my worst side. You should ask your dad to stop messing with me, or he'll bear grave consequences," Gabriel said, locking eyes with her.

"What did my dad do?" she asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

"A case has been filed against me. Marshal Bennet is claiming I committed financial fraud on the hospital project." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's insane. I haven't done anything wrong!"

Sophia's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and something else—was it glee?

"Well, I always said you'd pay for your actions. So maybe Dad has gathered something against you to make you pay for your wrongdoings," she said coolly, almost too casually.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at her, incredulous. "You're not serious. You're happy about this?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" she shot back, a fierce glint in her eye. "You've always looked down on me. You treated me like I was a mistake. You think I care what happens to your reputation?"

"Sophia, this isn't just about me! It's about everything I've built, everything I've worked for!" His voice escalated.

"And you know what you've done to me," she snapped. "You think you can just ignore that? I was thrown out by my father because of you! Because of that stupid video! You deserve this, Gabriel."

Gabriel's heart sank, anger and hurt mingling inside him. He was taken aback by the venom in her voice, and his heart missed a beat. "You think I wanted any of this to happen to you? I tried to help you by letting you live in my house. I gave you a position in my business, and still, you're behaving like a thankless person."

Sophia stepped closer, her expression softening for just a moment. "Help? Is that what you call it? You used me, just like everyone else. You thought I would just accept your pity. But look at you now." Her voice was steadier, almost triumphant.

"I can't believe you," he said, stepping back. "You're celebrating my downfall?"

"I'm not celebrating. I'm simply... relieved. It's justice." Her eyes flickered, revealing a deeper pain hidden beneath her defiance, but she quickly masked it, hardening her resolve.

Gabriel's expression darkened. "You think this will help you get back to your family? They tossed you aside! You're better than this."

"Better?" she laughed bitterly. "You don't get to define that for me. Maybe if you had treated me differently, I wouldn't have to resort to this."

With that, Sophia turned and stormed out of the conference room. She slammed the door behind her, the sound reverberating in the silence that followed.

Once in her office, she held her head in her hands, her emotions a tangled mess. She felt a flicker of the love she once had for him, but it was extinguished by the harsh reality of their history. She had once believed in their connection, but now all she could see was the need for survival.