Chapter 299

Chapter 299

Alfonso.

Benjamin didn't say the full name, but these few sentences had already caused an uproar in the pavilion.

All color drained from Vivienne's face, leaving it deathly pale.

She retreated in terror, glaring venomously at Benjamin. She never expected he would choose to expose everything in front of Arabella in such a confrontational way.

For the first time, genuine shock registered in Arabella's blue eyes.

She knitted her brows.

The Scott family tragedy from years ago had sent shockwaves through the business world—she'd heard about it.

And the name Alfonso had recently been tied to several serious criminal cases in international news. Arabella couldn't have been unaware of it.

What Alfonso had done no longer represented business rivalry but a blatant disregard for law and humanity.

"You're saying... he's the fugitive on the run?"

Arabella's voice remained steady, yet held a hint of tension.

"Yes, Ms. Pearl."

Sophie stepped out, standing shoulder to shoulder with Benjamin.

Her gaze was icy, fixed straight on the man who had completely covered himself.

"We demand he remove his disguise immediately!"

A chill settled over the pavilion.

All eyes converged on the man called "Vance," the pressure heavy.

"Enough."

Just then, Arabella spoke up.

She walked to the center of the group, taking on a mediating role.

"Mr. Brown, Ms. Scott."

Her gaze swept over Benjamin and Sophie, with the poise and grace befitting royalty.

"I fully understand your feelings and respect the accusations you've raised. However, this is the Monaco Palace, and everything hinges on evidence."

"Here, every guest enjoys equal respect. Until I see concrete evidence, I cannot compel this gentleman to remove his coverings based solely on your one-sided claims."

Arabella's words completely stonewalled Benjamin and Sophie. Her airtight reasoning also made Alfonso's eyes flash with a glint of light from his corner.

He had found a way to break the stalemate!

Just as Benjamin was about to say something more, Alfonso suddenly let out a desperate roar and rushed toward the edge of the pavilion, with one foot already on the railing, half his body leaning out.

Below, several giant crocodiles were immediately disturbed, slowly swimming toward him, their eyes above the water surface glinting with a cold, predatory light.

Vivienne gave a short, sharp cry.

"Stop him!" Arabella's face paled as she shouted sternly.

The guards rushed to intervene.

"Don't come a step closer!"

Alfonso roared like a madman, his eyes hidden in shadow, fixed on Benjamin and Arabella, filled with a manic determination.

"Mr. Brown has sheer force—one word from him can condemn me!"

"Since Ms. Pearl values evidence, then I'll use my own worthless life as the final evidence!"

He looked down at the crocodiles slowly gathering below, his face twisting into a distorted smile.

"Today, I'll jump down in front of everyone! If I'm torn to pieces, then I deserve it! If I survive, then please, Ms. Pearl, vindicate me!"

He was using his own life to hold the royal family's reputation hostage.

He was betting that the noble Arabella would never dare let her afternoon tea party turn into a gruesome public suicide.

Arabella's expression darkened with rage.

If her guest really jumped into the crocodile pool at her palace, dead or alive, it would be an irreversible international scandal!

"Enough! Get down this instant!"

Arabella's voice was filled with uncontrollable fury, but at this moment, that fury could only be directed at the instigators who had instigated the confrontation.

She whipped around toward Benjamin and Sophie, her eyes ice-cold and piercing.

"Is this the result you wanted? To drive an innocent man to suicide in my palace?"

Without waiting for Benjamin and Sophie to answer, she immediately ordered the guards, her voice like ice.

"Take him inside! Get a psychologist here immediately!"

The guards carefully approached and ""helped" Alfonso down from the railing.

He collapsed to the ground as if exhausted, letting out muffled, racking sobs.

Benjamin and Sophie's expressions grew grim.

They had lost today's battle.

Defeated by Alfonso's ruthless insanity, and lost to the royal family's impeccable rules of "propriety."

"We overstepped, Ms. Pearl."

Sophie bowed slightly, bringing the frustrating confrontation to an end.

On the way out of the palace, Sophie had a heavy heart.

They'd been so close to tearing off Alfonso's mask, yet he had lied his way out...

Just then, her phone buzzed.

An unfamiliar local Monaco number.

Sophie paused briefly, then answered the call.

"Sophie?"

On the other end was a soft, familiar voice.

It was Frank.

Sophie froze, instinctively glancing at Benjamin beside her before asking into the phone in a low voice, "Frank? How did you..."

"I'm in Monaco."

Frank sounded travel-weary.

"There are some things I must give you in person. Can we get together?"

Sophie's heart raced.

Benjamin's gaze had already turned toward her, and the atmosphere in the car turned frigid, the air pressure frighteningly low.

"There are some things I want to talk to you in private."

Frank added.

Just the two of us?

Sophie gripped her phone and went silent.

She knew what Benjamin was thinking, but what Frank brought might be the final chance to take down Vivienne.

She was about to explain when she saw Benjamin shaking his head.

He said nothing, only telling her with his eyes that he was fine and that the important matter came first.

Though deep in those eyes, surging anger and unwillingness were suppressed, more than that was a a firm decision to trust her.

Sophie's heart melted, and she softly agreed into the phone.

After she hung up, the silence in the car was deafening.

Finally, Sophie broke the silence, her voice sounding a bit dry: "He should be... here about the manuscript."

"I know."

Benjamin forced the words out, then turned to look at the rapidly retreating street scene outside the window.

Only his clenched jaw gave away his turmoil.

Seeing him like this, Sophie's heart tightened. She moved closer, softening her voice to comfort him: "Benjamin, don't be this way. I'm just discussing business with him, I promise..."

Before she could finish, her wrist was suddenly gripped by a tremendous force.

Benjamin abruptly turned around, pulled her entire body into his arms, and pressed her firmly against the car door. The small space inside the car instantly filled with a dangerous intensity.

"I know." Deep in his eyes surged possessiveness. "But I'm still not okay with this."

Before Sophie could speak again, he lowered his head fiercely and blocked all her words with a kiss. This kiss was full of aggression—forceful, domineering, as if to devour her completely, to thoroughly eliminate any trace of anyone else that might have touched her.

The kiss left Sophie breathless, her hands pressed against his chest, but he restrained her even more forcefully.

After a long while, just as she was about to lose her breath, Benjamin finally released her slightly, his voice low and husky.

"Sophie, you belong to me."

"Only mine."