However, Mr. Bennett didn't forget to add a word to Thornton Chairman.
“So, starting today, as your girlfriend for two months, at the end of the contract, it will automatically end, and the debt I owe you will be settled. We'll go our separate ways, and neither of us will owe the other anything.”
Lily was incredibly anxious as she uttered these words. The person on the other end of the phone stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity. Just as Lily thought the other party would not respond and was about to hang up, Maxwell Thornton's soft voice unexpectedly broke the silence.
"Alright."
As soon as the man finished speaking, the woman on the other end quickly ended the call. Staring at the recording of the call she had just made, Lily was so overjoyed that she almost burst into tears. Finally, she had some evidence to hold Maxwell accountable if he didn’t keep his word.
Lily immediately dialed Ethan Montgomery, the head of the department, “Dr. Montgomery, I’m really sorry, but Mr. Thornton insists that I take a two-month leave. As you know, I only have a month and a half of annual leave left. If I take another half month off, will the hospital deduct my salary?”
“Dr. Bennett, what are you talking about? Do you realize that our hospital desperately needs the latest medical equipment? If Chairman Thornton agrees to invest, not only will there be no salary deduction, but I’ll even reward you!”
Lily could sense Ethan Montgomery's excitement through the phone. She chuckled to herself, but still, she was prepared to accept a pay cut if Ethan found out she was lying. After hanging up, she grasped her son's little hand and climbed into the car, her heart filled with an indescribable joy. She finally found a way out of this situation and hoped that once it was over, she would never have to see Maxwell again. Living a peaceful life with her son, just like before, was all she wanted.
Ever since Lily abruptly hung up the phone, Maxwell had tried calling her back several times, but to no avail. Her phone, which had previously been on, suddenly turned off! Realizing this wasn't just a coincidence, Maxwell was about to call Simon to go check on the situation at the hospital when he received a call from Elias.
“What’s going on between you and Lily Bennett?” Elias’s deep voice resonated from the other end. Hearing Lily’s name, Maxwell went silent, pausing for two seconds before answering, “It’s nothing.”
“Maxwell, let me remind you, she’s a kind and serious woman, not to mention the daughter of the Bennett family…”
“I know,” Maxwell’s calm voice reached Elias through the line.
At that moment, Elias clicked his mouse and sent all the information he had gathered about Lily over the past few days to Maxwell's private inbox.
"I’ve sent everything over. It wasn’t easy to dig up this information, but it’s best you don’t get too involved with her or play with her emotions," Elias warned before hanging up.
Sitting in front of his computer, Maxwell logged into his email and opened the files about Lily Bennett. What he saw was completely different from the story she had told him at the hotel. Lily wasn’t lazy or rebellious during her school years as she had described. Her childhood was more like that of a well-behaved, well-raised lady, adhering strictly to the rules set by her father. She attended school on time, came home immediately after, and had never engaged in any reckless or rebellious behavior typical of teenagers.
The only record of her acting out was at sixteen, when she snuck out with friends to a bar. Two months later, she left the Bennett household and disappeared. Strangely enough, the information from when she was eighteen to twenty was completely blank. Not even Elias could find any trace of her during those two years. If someone lives somewhere, there should always be a trail left behind. But for Lily Bennett, it was as if those years were a blank slate.
Elias was right—Lily was a mysterious woman. Gregory Bennett might act indifferent toward his daughter, but behind the scenes, he had probably erased any traces that could harm her. It seemed wise not to get too close to her if he wanted peace, but how could he? From the first moment he laid eyes on Lily Bennett, Maxwell had been unable to look away. She and he were like the opposite poles of a magnet, drawn together and unable to separate.
Maxwell stared at his computer, completely unaware that Simon had entered the room. Seeing that Maxwell didn’t turn around, Simon knocked on the door.
“Chairman, here’s your schedule for today. Also, the business trip this afternoon can be postponed for two weeks.”
Maxwell waved his hand, “No need, stick to the original plan. You may go now.”
After Maxwell finished speaking, Simon hesitated, standing there without turning to leave. Maxwell looked up from his computer and asked, “Is there something else?”
“Chairman, Miss Zelda is in the waiting room. She’s been waiting for you for two hours.”
Zelda Bennett? He had forgotten about her.
“Let her in!”