Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 951

Chapter 951: Too old for this

The planning that day lasted for hours. Stephen’s admiration for Charles’s children didn’t last long because, throughout their family meeting, he realized this plan would mostly rely on him. How Stephen would act, speak, and react could make or break the plan. _{freewёbnoνel.com}

But this was the only choice they had. Even Stephen didn’t want to hold such a big role in all of this, but he had no choice either.

"Before we part... or rather, before we help them clean this place, can you do it?" Charles asked Stephen sincerely. "Can you play along and do your part well?"

Stephen gulped. "I would need practice." His eyes flicked nervously as he realized there was one missing Bennet in this meeting. But in his mind, Slater’s absence was probably what Slater wanted, since Charles’s youngest son held a secret only Stephen knew.

"But... I’ll be fine," he said. "I know someone who could help me with it."

Charles arched a brow. "Someone who can help you with it?"

"Yes."

"Can you trust this person? Or should I ask, what are you planning to tell this person?"

Stephen’s face contorted a bit. ’Of course, I can trust him. He’s your son.’

"I’m not planning to tell this person everything, but I’m going to need his help without letting him know," he explained. But deep down, he knew he had to tell Slater everything. After all, if Stephen proceeded with their plan without informing Slater, the latter might just destroy him!

"Don’t worry," he breathed out, nodding reassuringly at them. "I will do it, not for you or anyone else, but for my wife and daughter... and my son as well. After all, it’s them who put Sven behind those bars."

Charles and Haines might have had a different opinion about that. However, they didn’t bother speaking it aloud because they knew Stephen already knew their thoughts.

As their meeting, disguised as a dinner, concluded, Stephen, Haines, and Charles were still forced to help Jessa and Allison clean the restaurant. Afterward, they bid each other farewell, with Stephen retreating back to his grumpy self.

Stephen walked toward his car, stopping as he looked back in Charles’s direction. A shallow breath slipped past his nostrils, gulping down all the tension in his heart before resuming his steps. His heart was pounding, and the moment he got into the car, his breathing hitched in his throat.

Although it didn’t show on his face, but rather his expression a mix of malevolence and nervousness—he ordered the driver:

"Call your boss. Tell him I have something to tell him—it’s urgent."

At that moment, Stephen knew, deep in his bones, that there was no going back. The second those words flew out of his mouth, the dice had been rolled. Even if he was overwhelmed with anxiety, this was a matter of life and death for him and his family.

He had to survive this night.

Just tonight.

One step at a time.

*

*

*

[PRESENT TIME]

No one could ever imagine what Stephen had been going through the past few days since that time in the restaurant. He didn’t just have to lie to his wife and daughter, but also had to lie to himself to convince others.

It was Slater’s advice.

After Stephen survived the first night—the night where he had "betrayed" Charles and told the enemies about their "plan"—he had to reach out to Slater. Well, he didn’t have to because Slater had already come to him sometime later. So, Stephen had to reveal everything and ask Slater how to act.