Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 1548

Chapter 1548: He finally has a reason for world domination.

Kiara and Stephen were born in different generations. Stephen could easily be her father, as he wasn’t much younger than her parents.

Even so, both understood the importance of networking.

Especially in business — or in the world of adults in general — having a broad network could open many doors. That was why Kiara, even at a young age, had been trained to socialize with the sons and daughters of wealthy families at the Summit School of Excellence.

If Kiara hadn’t cut ties with her family, she probably could’ve made a few calls to pull some strings. But she hadn’t just cut ties — she had also left Anteca for years. She started from scratch out of pride and ego. And while she’d made some progress, her current network wasn’t broad enough, nor were her contacts capable of helping in a case this massive.

For Stephen, last night had been a slap in the face — a harsh reminder of reality.

He didn’t go into detail about how many favors he’d tried to call in, but he had done his best. To him, this wasn’t just about helping Kiara or her friend. It was also a way to help someone in the same position his son had once been in — only this time, Cassandra was innocent, and Sven was not.

Unfortunately, Stephen realized just how shallow and short his network had become. The few who were willing to help had no real power, and many didn’t want to be entangled in the political mess surrounding Cassandra’s case. Others saw it as an opportunity to profit.

Stephen should’ve been as sociable as Charles.

"I’m sorry."

Kiara pressed her lips into a thin line, surprisingly taking the news better than expected. "Thank you, CEO Bennet. Really. Please don’t apologize. Your offer already meant a lot to me. It’s not like I expected miracles, but after a full day of rest, I realized just how massive and complicated this case really is."

"Even the biggest law firm in Anteca wouldn’t take it," she added with a faint, understanding smile. "It’s just too much. Still, I appreciate your efforts — especially when you owe me nothing."

"Helping someone in need doesn’t hurt," he grumbled, looking more defeated than she was. "I’ll keep trying."

"Thank you." Kiara opened her mouth to say more, but before she could, the small television to the side caught both their attention.

They turned toward it just in time to catch another news report about the ongoing case. This time, though, it wasn’t about Cassandra — it was about Senator Smith’s latest speech.

He expressed dismay over the court’s decision, rambled about his granddaughter’s innocence, and concluded by saying that if she were found guilty, he himself would file a petition for a harsher sentence — all to show that he stood for justice, even over family.

"What a piece of trash," Stephen muttered. "His granddaughter is already in prison with no chance of bail, and here he is, using the situation to boost his own campaign."

Shameless.

Kiara pursed her lips. She wasn’t surprised — not in the slightest. Then she glanced at Stephen.

He didn’t look like it, but he seemed like the kind of man who was often misunderstood.

Stephen had the air of someone distant — a father who didn’t care about his family. But the more she saw this side of him, the more she realized how wrong that impression was.

Unlike Senator Smith, who projected the image of a doting father and loving grandfather... or her own parents, whose PR teams kept their images spotless... Stephen just seemed like a regular man. A father trying to protect his family.

A subtle smile tugged at Kiara’s lips as she turned back to the screen.

Cassy... she thought, biting her inner lip. I guess you were right. We were friends because we had more in common than we thought.

Like being born into families that cared more about their own interests and used their children as tools to climb higher.

I wonder what else we can do in this situation?

---

Meanwhile, outside the warehouse...

Hugo pulled over in the parking lot beside the small building. Taking off his helmet, he narrowed his eyes and scanned the area.

"What’s he doing here this early?" he muttered. "Something shady going on?"

His brows furrowed deeply.

After talking to Mint, Hugo had made a few calls — to Penny and then to Atlas.

Why?