?<strong>Chapter 695:</strong>


    Seeing the chill in Forrest’s gaze, Thea understood she would lose Felicia’s favor.


    Forrest was finished keeping Thea around, not even as a subordinate to order about. To him, she had bepletely dispensable.


    Thea was overwhelmed with panic and was at a loss for what to do next.


    Forrest nced at his watch and firmly said, “You should go too. Don’te here ever again. You’re not part of my family, so keep your distance.”


    Thea’s face went ghostly white.


    Forrest walked away decisively, leaving Thea without any hope.


    Returning home in despair, Thea found Felicia waiting in the living room.


    Feeling adrift, Thea masked her disappointment with a strained smile and asked, “Grandma, why are you still awake?”


    Felicia looked at her intently and replied, “I was waiting for you.”


    Thea’s heart raced with foreboding. “Why were you waiting for me?”


    Felicia inquired, “So, how are things going with Forrest Bentley?”


    Thea ran her fingers through her hair and hesitated. “It’s… fine, I suppose. I just got back from the Bentleys’ banquet, and I’m absolutely drained. I don’t want to attend another one.”


    “Don’t be so headstrong,” Felicia said calmly, leaning back against the sofa. “Pearce has a project and wants to partner with the Bentley family. Despite all these years, they still hold a grudge against us. I want to use this opportunity to mend fences.”


    After a brief pause, Felicia added, “Go talk to Forrest. Have him negotiate the cooperation with Victoria.”


    What Thea dreaded hade to pass. She had just been humiliated by Forrest and forced to keep her distance from the Bentley family. Now, Felicia wanted her to discuss cooperation with him.


    Thea’s mind swirled with conflicting emotions as she stood there, struggling to find the right words to respond to Felicia.


    Not getting the answer she expected, Felicia frowned and asked, “What? Can’t you do it?”


    “It’s not that I can’t, but I…” Thea trailed off, searching for an excuse. She wanted to maintain her standing in the Benson family without upsetting Felicia.


    Finally, sorrowfully, Thea said, “Grandma, it’s not that I don’t want to help facilitate the cooperation between the two families, but I simply can’t anymore.”


    Felicia’s face grew stern as she asked sharply, “What happened? Tell me.”


    “I was just thrown out by Forrest because… because…” Thea bit her lip, looking too embarrassed to continue.


    Felicia prodded, “Just spit it out.”


    Thea’s voice trembled with pain. “It’s Elyse’s fault. Elyse also showed up at the banquet today. She disappeared for half an hour. I have no idea what she did while she was there, but when Forrest came back, he kicked me out and said he wanted nothing more to do with me.”


    Felicia was stunned. “Elyse did this?”


    At this moment, tears cascaded down Thea’s cheeks.


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