Chapter 5 Mary

The atmosphere inside the factory was tense and oppressive. The roaring of machines and the busy figures of workers formed a scene of intense pressure and activity. Yvonne’s phone hadn’t stopped ringing since she stepped into the factory. Each ring seemed to remind her of the urgent tasks and important messages awaiting her. Her brows were furrowed, her eyes focused and determined. Methodically, she handled one urgent matter after another. Her voice was clear and strong, each instruction delivered accurately to her subordinates. Her fingers flew over the phone keypad, recording every important detail to ensure nothing was missed. Meanwhile, Yvonne was engaged in tense negotiations with suppliers. Her tone was firm yet polite, clearly expressing the factory’s needs and expectations while patiently listening to the suppliers’ suggestions. Thanks to her efforts, the suppliers’ attitudes gradually softened, and both sides began working towards a common goal, replaceing the best solution to the problems. Although Yvonne’s face showed signs of fatigue, her eyes revealed an unyielding determination. She knew that as the person in charge of the factory, she had to remain calm and focused during this critical time, leading the team to overcome difficulties and ensure the production line ran smoothly. When Benson appeared at the factory gate, Yvonne’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. Benson, dressed in a neat suit, looked particularly robust with his peaked lapel shirt, but his eyes remained cold and sharp. Yvonne felt a rush of complex emotions, losing any appreciation for Benson’s appearance. Thomas walked up to Yvonne with a slightly boastful tone, saying, “Sis-in-law, my brother is here to help you.” A barely noticeable bitter smile appeared on Yvonne’s lips as she coldly replied, “Help me? Then why didn’t he get out of the car earlier? Was it Victoria’s order? I don’t need such help. I can handle the factory issues myself.” Benson’s face turned grim at Yvonne’s rejection. His voice carried an undeniable authority: “This is a company matter. You can’t just do as you please.” To Yvonne, Benson’s words were filled with doubt and distrust about her abilities. She felt a surge of anger from being misunderstood and belittled. She was not a woman who only knew how to act out or use tactics. Unwilling to explain further, Yvonne turned to leave, but Benson grabbed her wrist, demanding coldly, “Yvonne, what’s this attitude?” Her wrist throbbed with pain under Benson’s tight grip. She tried to break free, but his hold was unyielding. His gaze was icy, as if trying to freeze Yvonne. Yvonne’s mouth curled into a mocking smile. She coldly said, “Attitude? This is the attitude you’ve shown me all these years. Can’t you handle it even once, Mr. Benson?” Benson was stunned. He had never seen Yvonne so stern, leaving him shocked and puzzled. Seizing the moment, Yvonne forcefully pulled her hand free from Benson’s grip. Glancing at her reddened wrist, she turned and went back to her office. Benson’s face was extremely displeased, a blocked feeling swelling in his chest. He had never expected that the wife who always approached him eagerly would show such a stern side. Thomas, having witnessed everything, felt confused and shocked. Adjusting his collar, he muttered to himself, “Is this still my sister-in-law?” In his memory, Yvonne was always the gentle and caring woman who prepared everything for Benson. She would personally ensure the chef prepared Benson’s favorite meals and would have Thomas pick him up from the airport on days he returned home. But the scene just now completely overturned his impression of Yvonne. Thomas turned to Benson, puzzled, asking, “Brother, what do we do now? This is a Taylor Group factory with nearly 800 million in foreign trade orders.” Benson took a deep breath, “Well, then let’s help handle it.” Yvonne focused on examining reports as Thomas walked in, trying to break the heavy atmosphere with a light smile. “Sis-in-law, this is an opportunity, a chance to get along and bond with my brother,” Thomas’s voice held a note of expectation. Yvonne didn’t look up, her eyes still on the reports, and responded indifferently, “Yes, it’s a good opportunity, but you can save it for someone else.” Seeing Yvonne unmoved, Thomas approached her, trying to persuade her more directly, “You two have never really slept together. Such a handsome face, isn’t it a pity to separate?” Yvonne’s heart stirred. She had to admit that Benson was indeed handsome, his appearance and demeanor impeccable. “Thomas, would you use a golden fork that someone else had already used to eat with?” Yvonne used a metaphor to express her stance. Thomas was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to respond to Yvonne’s analogy. Standing in the office, Thomas furrowed his brows, about to say more when Yvonne’s assistant suddenly knocked and entered, “Manager, all available staff are working overtime to meet production.” “Alright, I’ll go down immediately.” Yvonne was about to head to the workshop to handle urgent matters. Her assistant’s message doused her urgency like a cold bucket of water. Standing at the door, the assistant looked embarrassed and worried, her words stopping Yvonne in her tracks. “There’s a woman at the door asking for Mr. Benson,” the assistant said, her words like a stone thrown into Yvonne’s calm heart, creating ripples. Yvonne paused, her emotions stirring. She knew this woman was likely Mary, the one in Benson’s heart. Taking a deep breath, Yvonne turned to Thomas with a forced smile. “If Benson stays this time, I’ll make sure to seize the opportunity you mentioned.” Her words carried a hint of bitterness. Thomas could only respond awkwardly to Yvonne’s bitter smile, sighing inwardly. Mary’s appearance was undoubtedly a bomb thrown into Yvonne and Benson’s already fragile relationship. At the workshop entrance, Yvonne unexpectedly encountered Benson, who was about to leave. Benson hastily bid farewell, claiming he had matters to attend to, leaving Thomas behind to help. Yvonne’s smile held a touch of irony. She knew Benson’s so-called “matters” were likely related to Mary. She said nothing more, simply responding with “Alright” before turning away. She already had her answer. Yvonne knew that Mary would always hold the most important place in Benson’s heart. Even as his wife, she could never compare or be genuinely cared for. She was grateful she hadn’t wavered earlier due to Thomas’s suggestion, as it would have made her current pain even worse.