Chapter 413: At Crown Monarch Hotel Bar

At Crown Monarch Hotel Bar, inside a private room. The room was completely dark, not a single light on. Derek Prescott sat on the floor. Empty wine bottles covered the table in front of him. He drank one after another. A growing pile of bottles surrounded him. His eyes were bloodshot. A cold, distant aura radiated from him. Each sip of wine brought back memories of a younger Vanessa Bennett. He remembered the first time he saw her at the Bennett Manor. He told himself she was a fairy tale Snow White.

He wanted to be her Prince. Back then, he was bitterly paired with the unattractive, coarse Sienna Bennett. It was an arrangement between the Prescotts and the Bennetts. He despised Sienna but kept silent. He had no right to object. Slowly, he and Vanessa began a secret relationship. He always loved and cherished her. Even after discovering she wasn't a blood-related Bennett, he never looked down on her. He worried for her survival within the family. He taught her to manipulate Sienna and Caleb. To slowly steal their shares.

It seemed like he was the instructor. But revisiting these memories, he realized Vanessa did everything herself while pretending reluctance. He always believed she was kind, pure, and innocent. He never imagined she could be so calculating! Thinking of the investigation results, he took another large gulp. Yes, Vanessa was indeed drugged. But she drugged herself! She set a meeting with Lucas Harrington. She wanted to sleep with him but failed. Sienna sent Derek a text that day, trying to give him and Vanessa a chance. He sent Harrison Caldwell instead.

If Vanessa's plan had succeeded, she would have slept with Lucas and dumped him! He always saw her as Snow White. The truth was she secretly wanted to sleep with Lucas and then discard him! Another mouthful of wine. The pile of empty bottles was now a small mountain. The drunker he got, the clearer his thoughts became. Sienna's face slowly surfaced in his mind. Free from Vanessa's manipulation for 18 years, she would have been just as incredible. Sienna never did anything wrong. Even the incident five years ago was set up by Vanessa.

If... If he could turn back time, he would gladly accept the marriage arrangement with Sienna. He would support her. Work hard with her. They would have been happily in love. An indisputable power couple. Most importantly, Sienna would never betray him. Never! Sienna followed him everywhere since they were children. Her eyes sparkled every time she saw him. He made a mistake. He picked the wrong girl from the very beginning. He swung his arm violently. The glass bottle shattered instantly. Pieces of broken glass scattered everywhere. A sharp cut on his palm.

The pain jolted him back to reality. Thinking of Sienna, he clenched his fists. His eyes darkened. At Willowcrest Estate, Sienna was sitting on the sofa using her phone. Miles Reed. [Boss Bennett, should we expose your true identity now? Along with the DNA results? I think it's time.] Sienna. [Not yet. Soon. Wait two more days. Keep a very close eye on Vanessa in the meantime.] Miles. [Alright.] She was about to put her phone down when a call came in. An unknown number. She answered.

"Hello, Ms. Bennett, this is Crown Monarch Hotel Bar. A man named Sebastian Harrington wishes to speak with you. He says he has important information for you."

Sebastian Harrington? Important information? Sienna's eyes lit up. Was Sebastian finally emerging now that Vanessa was ruined?

"Okay. I'll be there soon," she replied.

She put her phone away. She saw Lucas and Noah preparing dinner in the kitchen.