Chapter 73

Lauren ignored Sally and continued, "A bastard." She hesitated, wanting to reveal Sally's mother was a mistress, but fearing the impact on Sally, she stopped. Then she continued, "Do you think the Effie family would accept you knowing you're the illegitimate child of the Bennetts?"

Sandy looked at Sally, unsure how to react.

Sally clenched her fists, stared at Lauren, and said, word for word, "How do you know?" Impossible! she thought. She couldn't know that!

Sally couldn't understand how Lauren knew this secret. She resembled Mona and bore a slight resemblance to Mr. Bennett, but no one would ever suspect she was his illegitimate daughter.

"Is it so hard to guess?" Lauren calmly asked. "In the whole Bennett family, only my parents and Darren are biased toward you. Darren grew up with you, and you supported my mother during a difficult time; I understand their fondness for you."

Surprise and fear flickered in Sally's eyes. She couldn't believe Lauren's calculated approach. "What do you want?" Sally abandoned her pretense of gentleness. "Are you going to tell the Bennetts?"

Sally sneered. "My mother nearly went insane after you were lost. To tell her now—aren't you afraid of driving her mad again? How could she accept this?"

Lauren lowered her head, seemingly considering.

Seeing this, Sally continued, "Grandpa knows, and he accepts my existence. Do you still want to tell them? Telling Mom would be detrimental to her health, and the Bennetts wouldn't like you for it. Even Grandpa and Jeffery would blame you!"

"You're right," Lauren said.

Sally thought she'd persuaded Lauren, but then Lauren turned to Sandy.

"Now you know," Lauren said calmly, "I think you wouldn't want to marry such a scheming woman."

Sally was shocked. Preoccupied with preventing Lauren from revealing the truth to the Bennetts, she'd forgotten Sandy was present.

In Sandy's mind, Sally had always been kind and intelligent. Knowing she'd hidden her identity to remain with the Bennetts would undoubtedly alienate him. Lauren, realizing this, nervously looked at Sandy pleadingly, but he didn't meet her gaze.

Sandy left, leaving Sally and Lauren alone.

"Sandy!" Sally cried, desperate. "It's over! It's all because of Lauren!" She glared at Lauren.

Lauren lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers. "I told you to leave," she said.

"This was your plan all along!" Sally exclaimed. "You wanted to separate Sandy and me!"

From the beginning, her purpose was to prevent Sally from marrying Sandy, Sandy thought.

Lauren ignored her, walking toward the door. Passing Sally, she said, "Don't cause me any trouble." Lauren disliked playing games unless provoked. She avoided intrigue and rarely took action, but when she did, she struck decisively.