Chapter 26

“I feel sorry for Lauren,” Lydia nodded. “But even if Lauren envies and hates Sally, I can understand her. After all, everything that belongs to Sally was supposed to be Lauren’s, including Sandy.”

“I could make amends,” Mrs. Bennett said hurriedly. “But Sandy loves Sally.”

Lydia disagreed, sneering. “Only you think so. Lauren is the offspring of the Bennett and Betty families, and she was better than Sally in every respect.”

“What are you talking about?” Mrs. Bennett said, unhappy. “What’s wrong with Sally? In celebrity circles, Sally is one of the best. She’s a skilled pianist and even held a personal concert.”

“How do you know Lauren couldn’t play the piano?” Lydia asked.

Hearing this, Mrs. Bennett was stunned for a moment; she felt she’d heard it before. After a while, she remembered Lauren had said it earlier.

Mrs. Bennett was silent for a moment, then told Lydia what Lauren had just said. She wanted to explain that Lauren didn’t want people discussing her past life, but Lydia thought differently. “Don’t underestimate Lauren. Maybe she was raised by a more powerful family.”

“She had no adoptive parents,” Mrs. Bennett frowned. She’d heard Mr. Bennett mention that Lauren was adopted by an old man—they only knew his surname was Bach—who also adopted two other children. His circumstances weren’t bad, but incomparable to the Bennetts.

After listening, Lydia nodded. “Then you’d better not mention Lauren’s past. Young girls that age have very strong self-esteem.”

“That’s what I think,” Mrs. Bennett agreed. She hadn’t meant to mock Lauren; she just felt sorry for her and her past.

Sally had been in the Bennett family for over ten years—an unchangeable fact. Sally’s knowledge, temperament, and perspective belonged to her. Even if Lauren was jealous, she couldn’t take them away.

Mrs. Bennett felt she cared about Lauren, but unfortunately, no one understood. “I’m really afraid my two daughters won’t get along,” she said, giving an example. “Take clothes, for instance. Sally has worn luxury brands since childhood, while Lauren doesn’t even wear earrings. Lauren must be uncomfortable seeing that.”

The more Mrs. Bennett spoke, the more worried she became. Sally knew so much more about fashion, luxury brands, and jewelry appreciation. Lauren knew little about these things, and without a good relationship with Sally, she might be embarrassed at future social events. Others would laugh at her, and at the Bennett family.

Lydia said, “It’s useless to say this now. It’s better to give her a competent assistant, someone who can help her in the future.”

It wasn’t easy for Lauren, newly returned to the Bennett family, to navigate such different personalities.

“But I’m afraid Lauren won’t trust me,” Mrs. Bennett said angrily. Because of Wendy and Monica, it had become harder for Lauren and Sally to get along. Mrs. Bennett feared Lauren might no longer trust her.

Lydia said, “You can ask Jeffery to do this for you.”

At the mention of her eldest son, Mrs. Bennett’s eyes lit up.