C249 Don't Say I Never Warned You

The atmosphere inside the Wood residence gradually settled after Nicolas and Lindsey Heaps had left. Although the living room had finally become quiet, traces of the earlier confrontation still lingered in everyone's minds. Upstairs, Sarah had just finished taking a warm shower. She changed into a pair of comfortable light-blue pajamas, tied her slightly damp hair into a loose ponytail, and picked up a thick folder from her desk.

She looked at it for a brief moment before smiling to herself. "Business first... family discussion second." Just as she reached the bedroom door, she suddenly remembered Samantha. Instead of heading downstairs immediately, Sarah turned toward the next room where Samantha was staying. She knocked gently. "Come in." Sarah slowly pushed the door open. Samantha had also just finished freshening up. She was carefully drying her hair while little Monica crawled happily across the bed, occasionally trying to stand using the pillows for support.

The moment Monica saw Sarah, her tiny face lit up. "Mama..." Although the words were still unclear, the little girl stretched out both hands excitedly. Sarah laughed warmly. "Oh? Someone wants her aunt already?" She walked over and lifted Monica into her arms. The little girl immediately wrapped both arms around Sarah's neck before giggling happily. Sarah kissed her forehead. "My little princess has become heavier again."

Samantha smiled for what felt like the first genuine time that evening. "She eats almost everything now." "I can see that." Sarah gently bounced Monica in her arms before looking at Samantha. "Come on." "Where?" "Dinner." Samantha nodded. "Let's go." The three of them slowly walked downstairs together. Kelvin, Tracy and Ben were already seated around the dining table.

The servants had begun arranging steaming dishes one after another. Roasted chicken. Mashed potatoes. Fresh vegetables. Soup. Bread. The aroma quickly filled the dining room. Kelvin glanced toward the staircase every few seconds. "Where are those two?" Tracy smiled. "They're probably still getting ready." Just then, footsteps echoed through the hallway. Everyone looked up. Sarah appeared first, carrying Monica, while Samantha followed behind quietly.

Seeing them together immediately eased Kelvin's worries. "There they are." The two women took their seats. Sarah carefully settled Monica into the high chair beside her. A maid immediately brought the little girl's food. Monica clapped happily. Everyone smiled. Only Ben ruined the peaceful atmosphere. He leaned back lazily in his chair before grinning. "So..." "The two crybabies are finally back." Sarah slowly looked at him. Samantha blinked.

Ben continued shamelessly. "You two disappeared upstairs for so long." He folded his arms dramatically. "So..." "Were you crying again?" Silence. Sarah exchanged a glance with Samantha. Without saying a word, both women completely ignored him. Ben frowned. "What?" "No comeback?" Sarah calmly picked up her glass of juice before taking a small sip.

Only then did she answer. "Brother..." "You said you had something important to discuss." She placed the glass down. "So hurry up." "I also have something important I need to discuss with Dad." Ben immediately brightened. "Finally!" "I thought nobody wanted to hear my good news." Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Good news?" Ben proudly nodded. "Today Natalie and I opened a joint bank account." Everyone looked at him.

Ben smiled even wider. "We've decided to build the casino business together." "Everything will belong to both of us." "We'll build our future side by side." A brief silence followed. Then... Sarah laughed. Not loudly. But enough to make Ben uncomfortable. "I knew it." Ben frowned. "What?" "When I called you stupid earlier..." She folded her arms. "I wasn't wrong." The dining room instantly became quiet.

Ben stared at her. "What exactly do you mean?" Sarah calmly replied, "You trust her that much?" "You've known her for such a short time..." "...yet you're already sharing a bank account." She shook her head. "And not only that." "You're also making her your business partner." Ben frowned harder. "So?" "What's wrong with that?" Sarah looked directly into his eyes. "A business partnership requires trust." "A joint account requires even more trust." "You've given someone access to your money before you've even built your business."

Ben scoffed. "So you're saying couples shouldn't trust each other?" Sarah opened her mouth.. but Ben beat her to it. "Fine." He smirked confidently. "Answer me honestly." "If it were Chris..." "...wouldn't you share a bank account with him?" Sarah froze for a split second. She had been cornered. She knew exactly what Ben was trying to do. If she answered no, she'd sound hypocritical. If she answered yes, she'd lose the argument.

Ben noticed her silence and smiled triumphantly. "See?" "Exactly." Sarah sighed before shaking her head. "Fine." "If that's your answer, then I won't argue." She looked at him seriously. "But remember one thing." "If anything happens..." "...don't say I never warned you." Ben laughed carelessly. "I'll remember." "But nothing will happen." "Natalie isn't that kind of person." Sarah simply shrugged. "I hope you're right."

Kelvin finally interrupted before another argument could begin. "Ben." "The account number?" "Oh yes." Ben immediately reached into his pocket before handing over a folded piece of paper. "Dad." "This is the account." Kelvin accepted it. "I'll transfer the money tomorrow." Ben nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Dad." Then his smile slowly disappeared. "...Actually..." "There is one problem."

Sarah immediately laughed. "Oh?" "So you've finally discovered one?" Ben rolled his eyes. "Can you stop attacking me for five minutes?" "No." The answer came so quickly that everyone laughed. Even Samantha couldn't stop herself from smiling. Ben sighed dramatically. "I should've known." Sarah leaned back comfortably. "So?" "What's the problem?" Ben became serious. "I still don't know who took those photographs."

Everyone immediately became attentive. "The article appeared so quickly..." "...almost like someone had been waiting for the perfect moment." Sarah nodded slowly. "I was wondering about that too." Ben turned toward Samantha. "What about you?" Samantha blinked. "What about me?" "You weren't happy about Natalie." "Were you behind those photographs?" Samantha laughed in disbelief. "Ben..." "I've been working all day." "When exactly was I supposed to follow you around?"

Sarah immediately joined in. "And me?" "You think you're so important that we'd spend our time spying on you?" Ben folded his arms. "So..." "I'm not important?" Sarah laughed. "You asked the most obvious question today." Everyone burst into laughter again. Even Kelvin struggled to hide his smile. Only Ben looked offended. "I feel bullied in my own house." Tracy chuckled. "You deserve it."

Ben looked dramatically toward his mother. "Mom." "Whose side are you on?" Tracy smiled. "The side that's making sense." Everyone laughed once more. Before Ben could defend himself again, the servants finally finished serving dinner. The delicious aroma immediately distracted everyone. Kelvin smiled. "Enough." "Let's eat first." The family finally picked up their utensils, allowing the cheerful atmosphere to replace the tension that had dominated the house only moments earlier.