Chapter 17

Benjamin ended his call, and as Isabelle's voice reached him, his expression darkened slightly. However, he eventually walked over to the group of women. The socialites' gazes followed Benjamin's every move. Jessica couldn't take her eyes off him. His icy demeanor and regal presence were captivating. From the moment she first laid eyes on him, she had fallen hard. She tugged at Mia's sleeve discreetly. Mia, understanding the stakes, patted Jessica's hand reassuringly. As Benjamin came to a stop, Mia turned to Shirley with a smile. "Shirley has always been popular with children. If her and Samuel's baby were still..." "Mom! What are you saying?" Jessica cut Mia off suddenly. Mia realized her slip and immediately stopped speaking. Yet, her words had already achieved their intended effect. "Baby? What baby?" "My goodness! Shirley had a baby?" Mia hurriedly explained, "No, no! I misspoke! I meant Shirley loves children and has a way with them." But who would believe such a weak explanation? Jessica glanced at Isabelle, and as expected, Isabelle's face darkened. Looking at Shirley, Isabelle's cheerful tone vanished. "Ms. Weiss, I'd like to hear your explanation." Shirley's gaze swept over Benjamin's face, noticing his eyes resting on her with coldness, as if the matter did not have anything to do with him. She replied to Isabelle neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Regardless of whether Mrs. Clay and Jayden spoke with intention or not, a woman's chastity cannot lie. "Mrs. Blackwood Senior, I kindly request to have a gynecologist verify my innocence. Otherwise, their careless words will ruin my reputation." A verification like that? Who would dare to go that far? Could it really be that after all these years, Shirley and Samuel had never been intimate? Shirley's calm demeanor and clear, unwavering eyes set off alarm bells in Mia's mind. Sensing trouble, she hastily tried to backtrack. "Shirley, I didn't mean to…" "I believe you." Before anyone could speak further, an elderly woman stepped forward, ready to defend Shirley. However, Isabelle was quicker. Taking Shirley's hand warmly, she smiled and said, "Good girl. I believe you." The elderly woman left speechless was Amelia Whitman, Derek's grandmother. She glared at Isabelle furiously. Isabelle had promised not to compete with her! How was she supposed to explain this to Derek later? Isabelle's expression turned sharp as she declared, "If you truly become Damian's mother, I won't let anyone who sullied your reputation tonight get away with it." Mia's and Jessica's faces went pale as sheets. They never expected things to escalate this far. If Shirley actually married into the Blackwood family and became the lady of the house, what they just said would be seen as an insult to Benjamin himself. The thought alone filled them with dread. Even Shirley was surprised by Isabelle's staunch support. Grateful, she followed her lead. "Thank you, Granny. I promise I won't let you down." What a perfectly timed compliment! Shirley knew how to play her cards. Benjamin sneered. "Ms. Weiss, isn't it a bit early to be calling her 'Granny'?" Isabelle shot him a disapproving look. "Ben, what kind of tone is that?" Jessica, Mia, and the other socialites breathed a collective sigh of relief at Benjamin's obvious disdain. No matter how much Shirley tried to win Isabelle over, what use was it? Without Benjamin's favor, all her efforts were meaningless. Shirley knew Benjamin looked down on her, but she also knew that gaining Isabelle's and Damian's approvals put her halfway to her goal. At that moment, music began to play, and the lights shifted to the dance floor. The gentlemen stepped forward, inviting the ladies to join them. Isabelle handed Damian to an attendant and turned to the crowd with a smile. "Alright! Enough crowding around us old ladies. Go enjoy the dance!" Under everyone's watchful eyes, Shirley was the first to approach Benjamin. She held out her hand gracefully. "Mr. Blackwood, may I have this dance?" Benjamin glanced at her outstretched hand and replied in an icy tone, "I'm not interested." With that, he turned and walked away without a second glance, as if he couldn't bear to stay another moment. Shirley didn't let it faze her. She retracted her hand without a hint of embarrassment, smiled at the elderly ladies, and quietly followed after him. Watching her retreating figure, a socialite scoffed. "She has no shame! Can't she see how much Mr. Blackwood despises her?" The group shared her sentiment. They all looked down on Shirley's persistence. Yet deep down, they couldn't help but admire her audacity. Wasn't she afraid of being humiliated? What they didn't know was that Shirley had no choice. With Mia and her children present, what just happened would inevitably reach Wayne's ears. Time was running out. She had to act quickly. Every second she delayed might put Megan in danger. "Benjamin! Please wait!" Benjamin's long strides made it hard for her to keep up. Lifting her gown, Shirley jogged after him. However, Benjamin didn't stop. He headed straight into the main building and climbed the stairs. "Just ten minutes, Benjamin! Five minutes, even! I promise I won't take much of your time!" Seeing him about to disappear behind a door, Shirley quickened her pace. But just as she reached him, Benjamin suddenly stopped, which caused her to bump into him. Before she could steady herself, he let out a cold, mocking sneer. He must have overheard the others talking. Shirley knew her desperation made her look like a woman throwing herself at him. However, instead of defending herself, she met his gaze earnestly. "Mr. Blackwood, I know you need a wife. Please consider me seriously." Benjamin frowned. "And who told you I need a wife?" "Mr. Blackwood, you may dislike women, but you still allowed Mrs. Blackwood Senior to host this matchmaking event. For someone as decisive as you, starting something means seeing it through to the end." Shirley spoke calmly, "You'll choose someone who satisfies Mrs. Blackwood Senior and, ideally, someone Damian likes. A child needs a warm, complete home. Based on the current situation, I'm your best option." There was no denying she was clever. Benjamin's eyes swept over her. He asked with a sneer, "And what makes you so confident that I'd choose you?" Shirley held her ground. "First, I've already gained your grandmother's and your son's approval. Second, in terms of beauty, I'm among the best in Elderstone. And I can guarantee that my beauty is completely natural, with no enhancements of any kind."