Chapter 100

As soon as Finnian finished speaking, his assistant fell silent. "Does the man have a special identity?" Finnian grew nervous. He wasn't afraid of the man's identity, but he feared Odalys would betray him. If she dined alone with a man in such a private room, he couldn't imagine what might happen. Previously, he hadn't even been able to hold her hand, and their relationship was unconfirmed. This thought made his heart race.

"I'm sure there was a couple who went there for lunch that afternoon!" the assistant said.

Finnian looked at Sophia suspiciously.

"I'll send you the video. See for yourself," the assistant said, then hung up.

After a while, the assistant sent a long video. Finnian clicked on it; the footage covered 12 pm to 2 pm.

"It happened around 1:30 pm," Sophia said, approaching him. She stood very close, her chest brushing against his.

His body froze. He looked down; their bodies were almost touching. He subconsciously flinched, but Sophia pressed against him again. "Don't move. You'll know when you see the video later." She saw his resistance, feigned ignorance, and looked innocent.

Finnian remained silent. He watched the surveillance video and saw no one enter the private restaurant until 1:30 pm, when two burly men arrived, accompanied by bodyguards. At 2:00 pm, the two men left together in a Porsche (license plate 5-AB), followed by the bodyguards in a Mercedes.

"No… that's impossible! How could it be two men? It was clearly Odalys and a man!" Sophia exclaimed agitatedly.

Indignant, she continued watching. She realized that, besides the two men, no one else entered the restaurant.

"It's fake. This surveillance video must be photoshopped, tampered with. The Stewart family is so powerful; they could easily find someone to do it," Sophia muttered.

However, Finnian grabbed her wrist, his gaze complicated. "Sophia, that's enough. Don't blame me if we fall out again. You always claimed Odalys made things difficult for you."

"From the looks of it, your ability to lie is top-notch." Finnian pushed her away, his expression dark.

Sophia stumbled, her lips moving, her feet tapping anxiously.

"I'm not lying! My brother and I saw it with our own eyes. Now, the person in the video has been changed! Finnian, you have to believe me. I wouldn't harm you," Sophia explained softly, tears welling up. "Finnian, I just feel sorry for you." She sobbed quietly.

Finnian felt a headache coming on. He tossed his phone aside. "Ms. Bennett, I'm not familiar with you. To avoid misunderstandings, you should leave. In the future, if there's nothing else, it's better for us not to interact privately." He definitively ended their interaction.

He suspected something was wrong with the Bennett family. Sophia had rescued him from the elevator, calling him "lucky." Now, despite the surveillance footage, she claimed it was photoshopped. This implied she suspected his assistant, but Finnian didn't believe his assistant was involved.

"You want to cut ties with me?" Sophia was stunned, looking at him in disbelief. Her eyes were red and her body trembled, but she tried to remain calm. Finnian would usually comfort her, but now he was annoyed, especially after Henry asked him to call Orson. He feared this call would cost him his place in the Lark family.

"You are filming a variety show tomorrow, Ms. Bennett. You should go back and prepare," Finnian said hoarsely.

He lay back on the bed, examining a wound on his fingertip. Something felt strange.

Sophia bit her lip, noticing his coldness. Anger flashed in her eyes. She retrieved a talisman, lit it (it released no scent), threw it into a glass of water, and shook it.

"Alright, I'll watch you drink this water and then leave," she said, handing him the glass.

Finnian was frustrated but, seeing her insistence, drank the water. "Alright, I'm done. Can you leave now?"

"Finnian, you're the best." Sophia smiled sweetly.

Finnian groaned, falling onto the bed. He felt drained. He picked up his phone and called. "I'm not feeling well. I don't think I can come home tonight. Help me pack my luggage and pick me up at the hospital tomorrow morning. I'll leave from there." He hung up.

Sophia left arrogantly, the pitiful look gone. Back at Hannah's, she said, "Mom, I have to continue filming with Odalys tomorrow. I'll probably have to go home tonight and won't be able to accompany you." Her eyes were red as she hugged Hannah tightly. "Although I've been defamed on this variety show, I won't give up. For my family, I'll use this opportunity to talk with Odalys. I believe she will ask the Stewart family to help us for your sake. If Odalys refuses to forgive me, I'll give her the position of the daughter of the Bennett family!"

Her words stunned Hannah. "I'm leaving, Mom! I love you," Sophia said, forcing a smile.

Hannah watched the door close. "As expected, only the daughter I raised is the closest to me!" she said coldly, a painful grin twisting her lips. "Henry, have you successfully asked Mr. Carline to come? Odalys will be going to the variety show tomorrow. If I don't get the emerald pendant, I'm afraid I will die soon." Tears fell.

Henry rushed back, looking embarrassed. "Mom, Mr. Carline refuses to see anyone from the Bennett family. He's determined to cut ties with us."