Chapter 430 Bentley
However, having heard that Leah maintained a low profile and no longer wielded any power or influence within the Rodriguez family, Ishara felt contemptuous. To defeat an enemy, one had to target their leaders; the primary objectives were still Bob and Mr. Rodriguez, the father and son pair. Winnie's connection with Leah Rodriguez was irrelevant. "Ishara, I've brought you some soup. Would you like some while it's hot?" Lawrence spoke softly, pulling Ishara back from her thoughts. She feigned shyness and replied, "Lawrence, thank you for being so thoughtful. I'm a bit hungry." Lawrence had his assistant pour her a bowl of soup and handed her the spoon and bowl. Lowering his voice, he explained, "After you have the soup, Ishara, we'll need to do some checks. We need to make sure your blood pressure is normal." Ishara leaned in close, focusing and rising onto her tiptoes to whisper intimately into his ear, "Is it about your mother's condition?" "Mm, I'm sorry, she needs a blood transfusion within a week." The girl obediently took the soup from him. "Then I'll have a bit more." "Look how Mr. Lawrence dotes on Ishara!" Angela, unable to hear their conversation but observing their closeness, was filled with envy. She raised her voice deliberately, addressing the envious debutantes around her. "Mr. Lawrence even brings soup to the party, fearing Ishara might get hungry. He's feeding her personally. Oh please, spare us your love display; you're making it hard for the rest of us to live!" "Angela…" Ishara gave Lawrence a seemingly helpless glance. Then a debutante approached, playfully saying, "Miss, how did you manage to capture the heart of the nation's most eligible, Mr. Lawrence?" "Yes, do tell us your love story with Lawrence," another chimed in. Ishara glanced at Winnie who was standing alone at a distance, being sized up by several men. A smile crept into her heart; Angela was proving to be an excellent ally. The girl looked bewilderedly at Lawrence and murmured shyly, "Lawrence, everyone's asking. What should we do, what should we say?" She passed the question to Lawrence. Lawrence watched her sip the soup before setting down the bowl, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Ishara had asked for their deal to be kept secret, and he would never reveal it. However, when his dark eyes caught sight of some men glancing in Winnie's direction, his expression turned cold, and he pulled Ishara closer to him. "I liked Ishara first, and she likes me too. That's all there is to it, no more questions." "Ah, Mr. Lawrence has admitted that he likes Ishara! Men do prefer the pure and simple. Unlike some, who bare their chests and necks, attracting nothing but flies. Right, Mr. Lawrence?" Angela said pointedly, glancing at Winnie. Hearing this, Lawrence nodded. "That's right, a woman should behave herself." Winnie, overhearing their "love story" from afar, scoffed so hard she could break a tooth, and then heard him mock her. Feeling a sharp pang in her heart, she couldn't help but wonder how far this man would go to cater to Ishara's desires. Her gaze turned cold, and she turned away, replacing her water with juice. A handsome hand extended, offering assistance with the stem glass. Standing tall in a dark blue suit, exuding elegance and charm, he smiled gently and introduced himself, "Miss, would you do me the honor of being acquainted? I'm Bentley Jenkins." He extended his hand, the epitome of grace. Winnie recalled Carlos mentioning the Jenkins family before. In Trento City's hierarchy of family power, the Rodriguez family held the top spot, followed by the Jenkins family in second, and the Blanchet family in third. Out of politeness, Winnie shook his hand."Mr. Bentley, hello..." Suddenly, Ishara pointed out, "Lawrence, look. Winnie is talking to someone. Father intends for her to choose a suitor, and I'm genuinely happy for her..." Lawrence's gaze flickered, darkening instantly. The man's grip on his spoon tightened at the sight of Winnie talking with a man and he changed the subject. "Is the soup not to your liking?" "It's a bit fishy." Ishara suppressed her nausea. "It's okay," Ishara said with a brave smile. "For Lawrence's mother, I am willing to eat it all to produce enough blood." Lawrence was moved and sighed. Then the butler called for him, "Mr. Lawrence, the master asks for you." "Go ahead, Lawrence. I'll finish the soup no matter what." "You're very kind, Ishara," Lawrence said softly, nodding before turning to leave. As soon as the man's back was turned, Ishara called out to Angela, who was boasting among the debutantes, seemingly nonchalant. "Angela, that man talking to Winnie, he's Mr. Bentley Jenkins, isn't he?" Angela turned and indeed saw Bentley chatting with Winnie, the man she had longed for herself. "That bitch, she's lured him to her side now." Angela ran over, fuming. Winnie glanced at Bentley, unsure of his intentions. "May I ask, Mr. Bentley, do you need something from me?" Bentley was taken aback, his lips curving into a smile as he looked at the beauty before him. "Are you pretending? Many men are eyeing you, and the newly returned young lady of the Blanchet family is beautiful and sexy, a fine marriage prospect. I'm just one of those who came forward to talk." Mr. Bentley was quite frank. Winnie shook her head. "Sorry, I currently have no intentions of marrying..." "Mr. Bentley! You can pursue anyone, but not someone like her!" Angela interrupted the conversation, blocking Winnie's path. She pointed accusingly at Winnie and addressed Bentley, "Do you know she's a divorced mother? I heard she's been divorced in Lymington. How could she be a suitable match for you? If you're considering a marriage alliance, it should be with me. How am I inferior to her?" Bentley was stunned. Angela deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of several onlookers to Winnie, and shocking them. Ishara, coughing, caught up with Angela and reprimanded her, "Angela, what nonsense are you spouting about Winnie?" "I'm not!" Angela glanced at Ishara, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Mr. Bentley, she's a promiscuous woman. The Jenkins family would never approve of your marriage to her." Bentley looked at Winnie with surprise, trying to smooth things over, "Ms. Angela, these are all rumors, right? Let's hear Ms. Winnie clear things up." Winnie stood there calmly, her gaze fixed on Angela and Ishara, a cold laugh escaping her. "If I had to clarify every time someone slandered me, I'd be exhausted. Angela, are you slandering me because you're infatuated with Mr. Bentley?" She directly exposed Angela, causing her face to turn red with embarrassment. "You..." "If I like a man, I'd be smarter about it. Even if I wanted to speak ill of a woman, I'd use someone else's mouth. Considering that Angela and Ishara are so close, I wonder where did these rumors come from, huh, Angela? Look at Ishara, always trying to keep the peace. Men like that kind of kindness. Do you understand, Angela? If you want to badmouth me, you should do it through Ishara's mouth, and then discourage it, making Mr. Bentley think you're so kind!" Bentley understood her words and found the situation fascinating. Some of the onlookers who understood the dynamics also turned their gaze to Ishara. Indeed, Ishara had come over to stop Angela, but her intervention was half-hearted. "Winnie, what do you mean by that? I don't know where Angela heard those rumors." Ishara was furious inside, not expecting Winnie to directly attack her, insinuating that she was behind Angela's slander.
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