The Handsome CEO Is My Husband
Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 67

After hearing Adeline would not be attending dinner with him and his father, Benjamin was happy. He was so happy that he almost skipped to the front door.

’She messed up big time,’ Benjamin thought, excited to hear what Adeline’s punishment would be.

It was long overdue that Adeline received a punishment for how cocky she was becoming. Acting like he would fall without her. Benjamin knew she was plotting to take his spot. He didn’t trust Adeline as far as he could throw her. If he wasn’t careful, his sister was going to stab him in the back.

"I’m here!" Benjamin called to his father. "The favourite child has arrived. Father?"

Benjamin’s excitement didn’t die over no one greeting him by the door. His father never was there waiting for him but he was so excited that he forgot about it.

Benjamin went in search of his father who had to be fuming over Adeline not listening and if Liam did not show up then it was all over for Adeline.

"Why does he want that boy?" Benjamin wondered, seeing no need to keep begging to have Liam come around. "Why won’t he use my children?"

Benjamin didn’t understand why his father was so interested in Liam. Liam was yet to show public support and Benjamin was ready to bet his favourite car that Liam was never going to join hands with them. It was most likely Adeline’s fault.

Everyone and their children fell in line except for her son. It wasn’t a simple coincidence.

Benjamin finally stumbled upon his father near his home office. "Father-"

"It’s too late for you to be so loud," Vance stopped Benjamin before he could get a headache. "You’re late."

Benjamin checked his watch. "I am five minutes early and Adeline isn’t here."

"I raised you to be at least thirty minutes earlier than the time you were invited for and don’t tell me about your sister when I am speaking about you. Sit," Vance said, his back still turned to Benjamin.

Benjamin frowned. Adeline was the one who didn’t come yet it felt like he was about to be scolded.

Benjamin sat down like his father wanted and waited for Vance to speak first.

"Haven’t I raised you that family comes first?" Vance asked.

"You did. Family is the most important thing in the world. Without the Smiths, who am I?" Benjamin replied.

"You would be nothing without me. I made you," Vance said, turning around to face Benjamin. "All that you have is thanks to me. Truthfully, you’re all worthless. You need me."

Benjamin didn’t understand his father’s insults. His father limited what they could do even now at their grown age so it wasn’t like they could branch off and be without him. If anyone stepped out of line there had always been a punishment so why now was he being insulted?

"Your sister has decided to work on her marriage with Nathan which is why she couldn’t be here-"

"She should have brought him here. Wait!" Benjamin yelled, ducking the award his father picked up to throw at him. He forgot one simple rule which was to never interrupt his father. How could he be so stupid? "I’m sorry. I was careless and rude."

Vance had another award in his hand to throw at Benjamin but he couldn’t. Benjamin needed to keep his face without any wounds because he had to be in front of a few crowds soon. "Stand up."

Benjamin was overcome with fear. How had it turned to this? He knew what was coming after the few times he had slipped up in the past. His father wouldn’t go for the face. "I’m sorry for cutting you off. I shouldn’t have done it."

"You and your sister are losing everything I taught you. I have to deal with it before it gets out of hand. Adeline should be here," Vance said as he stepped away from his desk to search for a stick. It was always useful to discipline the two.

The stick never had to be used as long as his children behaved. It was up to them to decide if they wanted to take the beating.

"She should be good at focusing on you and her marriage at the same time so it doesn’t come to her having to miss dinner with me. She’s losing her touch," Vance said, disappointed with Adeline.

After disciplining her a few times, Adeline had become perfect since she knew the consequences and did not want to face them again.

"She must be in her head since she has the Sterlings on her side. I need to straighten her out before she bends and breaks," said Vance.

Vance picked up the stick he had wrapped with a red trap. He wanted them to be fearful of the colour red when they were younger. As soon as they got a glimpse of red they knew to behave. Their younger days were better since they were so easy to scare into behaving.

"How is your wife and children, Benjamin?" Vance asked, looking over to his son. Benjamin showed his fear too easily which wasn’t good for his position.

"They are good. They are looking forward to when next you’ll invite them over. My family is always ready to come to your side," Benjamin replied.

"Good," Vance said, starting to make his way to Benjamin. "What are you trembling for?" He asked, setting the stick down on his desk. "I just wanted to get a better look at you. You need to take care of yourself so you always look good in pictures. I made a handsome man," he patted Benjamin’s face,

Benjamin flinched when his father touched his face but relaxed when he went back around to his chair. Of course, his father wasn’t going to do something to him when Adeline was the one who screwed up.

"You did. Everyone always says how lucky I was to have your looks. You should see how they react when I show pictures of you when you were younger," Benjamin said, hoping a few compliments would change his father’s mood.

"Don’t try to kiss my ass. You’re not good at it. Have you gone to see Liam like I told you to do?" Vance asked, taking a seat while Benjamin remained standing.

"I tried to but he doesn’t accept my appointments and to go outside his home to beg to be let in is something a Smith shouldn’t do," said Benjamin.

"Hmm. Wasn’t Julia close to that wife of his? Why don’t you send her to speak to Liam?"

Benjamin didn’t think it was a good idea. Had Vance spent more time around Julia then he would understand why it wasn’t good to send her. It wasn’t a family secret that Liam didn’t like Julia anymore.

Still, Benjamin replied, "I will tell her to approach Veronica. That wife of Liam is something strange. Why did she have to pull a stunt like that now when it’s crucial for all of us to be on our best behaviour? I was hoping she wouldn’t wake up. She’s fighting hard to stay in our family."

Benjamin attempted to sit down but after the look his father gave him, he decided to remain standing. "It’s a bit unusual that Adeline hasn’t gotten rid of Veronica yet. Either she has started to like her or she cannot control her son. Adeline isn’t as perfect as she prides herself to be. She didn’t send the gifts you told her to, so I had to offer money."

This was news to Vance. Not meeting him tonight was one thing but to not be doing her other jobs was something he could not ignore.

"Perhaps I have been letting her do too much work for you. There is a lot of work on her plate and I’m surprised she’s lasted so long without any mistakes. You can’t always depend on Adeline," Vance said, needing Benjamin to start acting on his own. "Without me and your sister, you are nothing."

It hurt Benjamin to hear his father say this. It was always that without his father he was nothing but now it included Adeline.

"I don’t need Adeline. I never did and never will. Her helping me has made her think I am beneath her-"

"You are," Vance said, surprised Benjamin didn’t already know this. "What made you think you were above her? I am curious. The way you think has always been interesting so please, enlighten me on how you got to that conclusion."

"I don’t understand. You’re pushing me instead of her. Making her do all that work for me. If you don’t think I am better than her then why pick me?" Benjamin asked, confused by his father’s intentions.

"Simple. You’re easier to control than your sister. I need to be careful with how much I give to certain people or they’ll turn around and bite me. I give her enough so she can stay in place and have her help you. If I could trust her a little bit more then I wouldn’t have much use for you," Vance revealed.