Chapter 399 I'm Helping You
William's features hardened, his eyes darting away in evasion. "No, I didn't," he denied. Fear gripped him at the thought of his father involving Ava, and he dared not admit to any feelings.
Once, when he was a mere elementary school student, he had found companionship in a girl. They were innocent children then, expressing their fondness for each other in the purest form. However, his father discovered their budding friendship.
In the aftermath, the girl was sent away, disappearing from his life. His father had forbidden him from developing any form of attachment, insisting on controlling every aspect of his life. From that point onwards, William never dared to express his feelings for anyone in his father's presence, fearful of his interference.
"No?" Dalton's voice was laced with impatience as he brushed past his son. "Then don't marry Ava. If you don't harbor any feelings for her, even my matchmaking efforts would only serve to irritate you. Leave."
Dalton's words left William feeling uneasy. He followed after his father, confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean by that? This has nothing to do with Ava. It was my decision. Ava doesn't harbor any feelings for me."
He was anxious, worried that his father was attempting to ensnare him with his words. Dalton stopped in his tracks, turning to face his son. "So, you do have feelings for her?"
"Dad, she is Alexander's ex-wife. She's not someone you can just send away. You better not lay a finger on her, or the Mitchell family..."
"William," Dalton interjected, a hint of helplessness seeping into his voice. "Do you really think I'm that ruthless? Do you think I would send her abroad, hide her from the world, and deny you any chance of seeing her again?"
"Didn't you do that once before?" William's fists clenched at his sides.
"Are you still holding that against me? Don't worry, that girl is doing well. I provided her with a good education and a better life. She should be grateful. The only price was her distance from you, which isn't a significant loss. If you insist on keeping her close, her fate may not necessarily be any different."
The issue had lingered for an inordinate amount of time, nearly two decades in fact.
Upon hearing his father dredge it up once more, William found himself oddly relieved. Perhaps this could be a turning point for the better.
He had faith in his father's honesty. Despite his father's occasional ruthlessness, he was not a man given to falsehoods.
"Dad, I have no desire to rehash the past," William declared, his voice firm. "I merely wish to caution you against repeating old mistakes. I am no longer a child."
Dalton stared at him in response, his face unreadable. Wordlessly, he retrieved his phone from his pocket, dialed a number, and switched it to speaker mode.
A soft, feminine voice echoed from the other end of the line, "Hello."
"Ava, it's me," Dalton said.
"Mr. Bennett, what's the matter?" Ava asked.
William was taken aback by his father's call to Ava. He opened his mouth to interject, but a swift gesture from Dalton silenced him.
"It's nothing, Ava," Dalton began, his voice steady. "I just wanted to ask if you told William about the marriage."
"Yes, he is involved, so he should know," Ava replied.
"No wonder William approached me, declaring his refusal to marry," Dalton mused aloud. "I wonder if you could persuade him."
"Mr. Bennett, I cannot. This is William's decision to make. I cannot force him to marry a woman he doesn't love," Ava retorted.
Dalton sighed heavily. "He is the eldest son of the Bennett family. He has responsibilities. If he persists in his refusal to marry, then I will have no choice but to disown him."
"You are being excessively harsh. He is your son," Ava protested.
"It's precisely because he is my son. I have afforded him a life of privilege from his infancy to this very day, shaping him into the man he is now. Yet, if he chooses to defy me on a matter as significant as marriage, then I will strip him of everything he possesses while I still can, cast him out, and let him taste the bitterness of failure."
"If you insist on doing this, then there's nothing I can do," Ava said. "I believe William is an exceptional individual. Even without the Bennett family, he can still make a name for himself."
Dalton chuckled, "Ava, you remain as naive as ever. Do you truly believe that once I expel William from the Bennett family, he can still stand on his own? Who would want someone I've disowned? I can even make sure he never leaves the country for the rest of his life."
"You are crossing a line, Dalton. How can you treat him so callously? Expelling him from the Bennett family, blocking his path forward, why must you be so oppressive?" Ava exclaimed.
"I have granted him opportunities, but he has chosen not to seize them. This is his decision," Dalton replied coldly. "I also gave you a chance to persuade him, but you declined. That's your issue."
Ava opened her mouth to retort, but Dalton abruptly ended the call.
"Dad, why did you say those things to her?" William asked, utterly bewildered by his father's actions.
Before he could finish speaking, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was Ava.
Everything was unfolding precisely as Dalton had anticipated.
Just as William was about to answer the call, Dalton snatched the phone from his grasp and disconnected the call.
"Dad, what are you doing?" William demanded.
"Preventing you from contacting her," Dalton replied curtly.
"Do you have to be so extreme?" William retorted, anger flashing in his eyes.
"You foolish boy, can't you see my intentions? I am doing this to help you," Dalton said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Help me?" William echoed, confusion evident in his voice. "What do you mean?"
Dalton continued walking forward and said, "Come with me."
