Chapter 481: Philip Bennett's Expression Darkened at His Son's Words

Philip Bennett’s expression darkened at his son’s words. “Why?”

“I… We believed Sienna was responsible for the destruction at the Carlisle Estate yesterday. So we invoked your authority to revoke her shares and formally disowned her. We even gathered men to storm the Willowcrest Estate and insulted her publicly. She… She may refuse to assist us now…” Philip hung his head, the shame of facing Sienna overwhelming him.

The elder Bennett’s face flushed with rage. “You fools! How could you be so reckless? Did I not explicitly say we wait for Caleb to regain consciousness? How dare you defy me—cough, cough!” His coughing intensified with each furious word. Logan Pierce rushed to his side. “Please, sir, remain calm. Let them rectify their errors—don’t sacrifice your health over their foolishness.”

“My health is irrelevant… Sienna is what matters. My true granddaughter all along! Philip, you will go to her and apologize immediately! I don’t care how you do it, but you will bring her back into this family. If you fail, I will disown you as my son!” Senior Bennett’s voice trembled with fury.

Philip nodded grimly. “I understand, Father. Once Helena is conscious, we will go together. Please, try to calm yourself.” He needed to steady his own emotions. The daughter he cherished for twenty-three years was not his biological child, while the one he rejected and mistreated was his actual flesh and blood. The daughter he adored had been secretly scheming against the family all along. The revelation felt like the ground had shattered beneath him.

Helena Bennett drifted in a troubled sleep, trapped in a lengthy nightmare. She dreamt of rescuing Sienna from a dumpster and raising her with affection until she turned eight, when the girl became defiant and unruly. Sienna repeatedly humiliated the Bennett name. Helena’s scornful words echoed in the dream: “Get out of this family! I regret ever taking in a stray like you!” “Why are you so ungrateful? You’re just an adopted child! Nothing more!”

Young Sienna stared back with tear-filled eyes. “If you hate me so much, then cast me out!” She turned and fled, sprinting toward a jagged cliff edge—a gaping chasm with no bottom. Helena tried to chase her, but Sienna leaped into the void, her small form disappearing into the abyss.

“No!”

Helena jolted awake, her face wet with tears. Philip gripped her shoulders. “What’s wrong, Helena?”

“I… I dreamed of Sienna. She was running away…” Her voice shook with terror.

Her mind foggy, she clutched Philip’s arm. “Tell me it was just a dream. The lawyer hasn’t come, right? Vanessa is still our real daughter, isn’t she?” Philip frowned and sighed heavily after a long pause. He said nothing. The hospital room grew thick with tension. Helena’s grip on his arm slackened, her hand falling away. His silence confirmed the truth. It was no nightmare. Vanessa was not her biological daughter. Her real daughter was Sienna…