Given Mrs. Bennett’s advanced age, the risks associated with surgery had always been higher than they would have been for a younger patient. After more than two weeks of careful treatment and conditioning, however, the doctors had been optimistic. The procedure carried a respectable chance of success.

No one expected everything to unravel so suddenly.

Midway through the operation, Mrs. Bennett’s blood pressure plummeted without warning.

The surgical team fought desperately to stabilize her.

They exhausted every available measure. In the end, none of it was enough.

After ruling out medical malpractice, the hospital transferred her body to the morgue while awaiting instructions from the family.

By the time Elise arrived at the hospital, Mrs. Lander was already waiting anxiously outside the main entrance.

The moment she spotted her, she hurried forward, eyes swollen and red from crying.

"Madam!"

Her voice trembled.

"The old madam was just transferred to the morgue. The hospital needs a family member’s signature before they can release her remains, but we’ve been unable to contact Mr. Bennett. We had no choice but to call you."

Elise’s brows knitted together.

"Grandma’s surgery was today. Wasn’t he here with her?"

"He was." Mrs. Lander nodded quickly. "He stayed after the operation began, but about thirty minutes later he received a phone call and left in a hurry."

The warmth instantly drained from Elise’s face.

Anything capable of pulling Dylan away at a moment like this could only involve one person... Quinn.

A bitter chill settled in her chest.

"Madam," Mrs. Lander continued cautiously, "I know we shouldn’t be troubling you with this anymore. But you know what the Bennett family is like. Mr. Bennett isn’t here, and someone has to make decisions regarding the old madam’s funeral arrangements..."

"I understand."

Elise drew a slow breath, forcing down the grief clawing at her heart.

"The divorce isn’t finalized yet. Legally, I’m still Mrs. Bennett. I’m still Grandma’s granddaughter-in-law. Since Dylan isn’t here, it’s only right that I handle everything."

Fresh tears filled Mrs. Lander’s eyes.

"If the old madam could see this, she would be so comforted."

Elise closed her eyes briefly.

"Let’s go."

The housekeeper nodded and led her toward the morgue.

Susan was standing guard outside.

The instant she saw Elise, relief flooded her face as though she had finally found something solid to lean on.

She rushed forward and grabbed Elise’s hand.

"Young Madam..." Her voice broke completely. "You’ve finally come. The old madam... she’s really gone..."

A sharp ache stabbed through Elise’s chest.

Until this moment, Mrs. Bennett’s death had felt unreal. Like a fact she understood but had not truly accepted.

Yet seeing Susan’s devastated expression made the truth impossible to avoid.

Only yesterday, the old woman had held her close and urged her to take care of herself.

Only yesterday.

Now they stood on opposite sides of life and death.

The separation was final.

Life was cruelly unpredictable.

Tears surged into Elise’s eyes, but she forced them back.

No matter how deeply she resented Dylan, this was not the time to let emotions dictate her actions.

If the Bennett family learned that Dylan had abandoned his grandmother’s surgery for the sake of another woman, they would tear him apart.

Especially Bruce and his son, Steven. Those two had spent years waiting for an opportunity to drag Dylan from power. They had never truly accepted his authority. They had simply been waiting for him to stumble.

And if Dylan fell, the consequences would extend far beyond the Bennett family.

The Harper family had benefited from the protection and influence of Bennett Group for years.

If Dylan’s position collapsed, the Harper family would inevitably suffer as well.

Elise held no illusions about most of her relatives. Many of them cared more about profit than affection.

Even so, she could not stand by and watch her family be destroyed.

The Harper family had raised her. They had given her opportunities. They had never allowed her to go hungry or face hardship alone.

Beyond personal feelings, she also knew a simple truth.

Dylan was an exceptional leader.

Under his management, Bennett Group’s market value had multiplied several times over. The company’s growth had created countless jobs, strengthened numerous domestic industries, and driven major breakthroughs in technology and artificial intelligence.

Whether viewed from a personal or professional perspective, he remained the person best suited to lead the Bennett empire.

After a moment of consideration, Elise looked at Mrs. Lander.

"Have you contacted Oliver Grant?"

"We have." Mrs. Lander nodded. "But neither Assistant Grant nor Mr. Bennett is answering their phones."

Elise’s expression darkened further.

After several moments of thought, she spoke decisively.

"Susan. Mrs. Lander. Continue calling Dylan and Oliver."

Both women nodded immediately.

"Also, the rest of the Bennett family will arrive soon after hearing the news. If anyone asks where Dylan is, everyone gives the same answer."

She paused.

"Tell them an urgent issue arose with a major overseas project. Dylan flew out overnight to handle it. He has already been informed about Grandma’s death and is currently on his way back."

The two women exchanged glances before nodding solemnly.

Not long afterward, Elise completed the hospital paperwork and signed the documents authorizing the release of Mrs. Bennett’s body.

She had barely finished when Bruce Bennett arrived with Ella, Alicia, and Steven.

The moment they learned Dylan was absent, a spark of suspicion flashed through their eyes.

None of them were fools.

They knew exactly how important Mrs. Bennett had been to Dylan.

In the past, whenever they tried visiting her, Dylan had stationed security guards outside her residence and refused to allow them near.

If he could go that far to protect her, how could he possibly miss her surgery?

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Bruce’s face darkened. "Where is Dylan?"

His tone carried the weight of an interrogation rather than a question.

"Dylan is overseas," Elise replied evenly. "There was an issue involving a key international project, so he flew out to handle it personally. He’s already been informed about Grandma’s passing and is on his way back."

At her answer, Bruce glanced toward Ella. The couple exchanged a knowing look.

Ella stepped forward first, adopting the righteous posture of an elder delivering judgment.

"Your grandmother was already at such an advanced age. Before scheduling surgery, you younger people should have discussed it with the rest of us." Her voice sharpened. "Instead, you insisted on doing things your own way. Fine. But if you were going to proceed with surgery, the least Dylan could have done was stay here and watch over her personally. Now she’s dead, and he isn’t even here. Clearly, he never cared about his grandmother as much as everyone thought."

Elise met her gaze without flinching.

"The risk assessment for the surgery was favorable. The outcome was an accident, not negligence. Dylan’s trip overseas concerns company matters."

Her voice remained steady.

"If you have questions, you can ask him yourself after he returns. But right now, Grandma has barely passed away. Show some respect. Put aside your schemes for once and let her leave this world in peace."

The words struck a nerve. Bruce’s face flushed with fury.

"Who do you think you are?" he roared, stepping forward and jabbing a finger toward her face. "How dare you speak to your elders like that?"

His voice echoed through the corridor.

"If you and Dylan hadn’t stubbornly insisted on this surgery, my mother would still be alive today! Now she’s dead, and all you have to say is that it was an accident?"

His eyes blazed with accusation.

"That was a human life!"

Everyone froze.

Then he delivered the accusation he had clearly been preparing from the moment he arrived.

"I have every reason to suspect that you and Dylan conspired together to murder my mother!"