Chapter 168: Stolen Kiss
If it were before, he wouldn't have even thought twice about it.
Whenever any guy interested in Mia called her, he would just dominantly hang up and block them.
He didn't like Mia having too much contact with other men.
But now...
He couldn't do that, and didn't dare to do that.
But watching Benjamin call Mia this late, it really bothered him.
While James was struggling internally, Mia calmed down, turned off the water, and walked out of the bathroom.
Hearing the sound, James lowered his eyelids, hiding his reluctance, and pretended to be generous and unconcerned as he handed the phone to Mia. "You have a call."
Mia understood James well.
Even though he tried hard to hide it from her, seeing how he looked like he wanted to crush her phone, the caller was most likely Benjamin.
She walked over and took it.
Seeing it really was Benjamin, she didn't answer right away.
When James didn't hear her speak, he couldn't help but look up and remind her, "Why aren't you answering? Calling this late, it must be something urgent?"
He really wanted to know what Benjamin wanted with Mia this late at night.
Mia could see right through James. She deliberately pretended not to understand his hint, responded briefly, and walked toward the door with her phone.
"It's noisy outside, not convenient to take the call."
Seeing her walk out, James spoke up to stop her again.
If she went out, how would he know what they were talking about?
He used a really lame excuse.
Mia turned to look at James.
James was trying hard to control his facial expression, not letting Mia discover the anxiety in his heart.
He really minded.
If it was just a simple boss and subordinate relationship, why wouldn't Mia answer the phone in front of him?
What was there that he couldn't hear?
James thought back to a month ago outside Luxe Haven, when Benjamin had clearly expressed his interest in Mia.
At the private room entrance, he had also seen Benjamin get angry because of Mia.
Mia and he had been divorced for almost two months now. Could she and Benjamin really be...
As soon as this thought appeared in his mind, James's heart ached terribly.
Just thinking about Mia being with another man made him want to kill that man.
"James, didn't know you'd stoop to eavesdropping?"
Mia glanced at the empty hallway outside and threw the words back at him with a half-smile.
This left James even more frustrated.
He felt stifled but didn't dare explode.
He had experienced what Mia was like when she turned cold. The peaceful coexistence they had now was precious to him.
He could only watch helplessly as Mia walked outside the hospital room and answered the call.
He strained his ears but couldn't hear what she was saying outside.
He could only stare daggers at the phone in Mia's hand, as if that could somehow hurt Benjamin on the other end.
Mia stood outside, her peripheral vision casually sweeping over James in the room.
Watching him clearly care so much, clearly wanting to snatch her phone like before and assert his ownership.
But he was forcing himself to hold back, not daring to be as domineering as before, just bottling it up.
Seeing James like this, the corners of Mia's lips curved up almost imperceptibly.
She looked away and answered the call.
Benjamin told her he had taken care of things on his end.
She expressed her apology, and Benjamin said it was fine.
The corners of Mia's lips curved into a smile. After relaxing, her attention returned to James in the room.
Glancing over, she saw James looking completely frustrated in the room, and the curve of her lips rose again.
When she smiled, James's expression got even worse.
Mia had intended to be mean - even after ending the call with Benjamin, she would deliberately stay outside longer to torment James.
But when she looked through the glass and saw the fatigue between his brows even as he tried to stay strong.
"Mia?"
Not getting a response, Benjamin's voice rose a bit.
"Sorry, what did you just say?"
Her attention was all on James, so she hadn't caught what Benjamin said.
"It's already very late. It's not safe for you to go home alone. I happen to be near the hospital, I can give you a ride home."
Benjamin patiently repeated himself.
"No need, I'm staying at the hospital tonight, not going home."
Mia replied absentmindedly, casually glancing at James struggling in the room.
Seeing him getting more and more uncomfortable, she said quickly, "Benjamin, it's late, go home and rest."
Without waiting for Benjamin to respond, she hung up directly.
After hanging up, Mia walked back into the room with a normal expression.
Although James held back from asking, the look in his eyes made it seem like she had just cheated on him.
Thinking about how happily she had been chatting and laughing with Benjamin outside, he was insanely jealous.
Mia was speechless inside. She deliberately ignored his obvious desire to know what she and Benjamin had talked about, walked straight to the bed, reached up to turn off the bedside lamp. "Time to sleep."
Her words and actions made James immediately forget about being jealous.
Was she leaving?
So Benjamin had called to come pick her up?
James suddenly moaned in pain.
With the light off, Mia couldn't see James's expression.
Hearing him, she got scared and turned the light back on. "James, what's wrong?"
Seeing his pained expression, her face changed instantly, and she immediately reached to press the call button.
Her raised hand was caught by James.
"James!"
Mia was annoyed at being stopped.
"I'm fine."
James hadn't thought through faking being sick.
He just didn't want her to leave.
But seeing her scared, he—
"I'm not trying to trick you, I just don't want you to leave."
James looked at Mia, his voice very small as he tried to explain.
He hadn't forgotten that she hated deception.
"Let go."
Mia's tone made it impossible to read her emotions.
James couldn't figure out whether she was angry or not.
Under her stare, he slowly released her hand, watching as she pulled back and turned to walk out.
James saw this and wanted to pull her back.
But he only raised his hand, didn't grab her. He watched Mia walk out of the room and leave.
His hand fell back down weakly.
Under the light of the bedside lamp, James lowered his eyelids, looking completely dejected.
Mia left the room, planning to go to the nurses' station to ask for a blanket.
Just as she left the room, her phone rang.
She opened it - it was Benjamin.
"I'm downstairs."
...
As soon as Mia went downstairs, she saw Benjamin's car.
Benjamin saw her and leaned over to open the passenger door.
He was telling her to get in.
Mia walked over and opened the door to get in.
As soon as she got in, the doors locked, and Benjamin's body suddenly leaned toward her.
The car's interior light was off. Benjamin's features were shrouded in the dim glow of the streetlights, his expression unclear.
"Benjamin, are you trying to take our relationship further?"
Mia wasn't panicked.
When Benjamin leaned closer, she asked quite calmly.
Before, Benjamin had always acted like a friend.
She had misunderstood James's feelings for her before, and didn't want to be presumptuous, so she had never thought much about Benjamin's behavior.
But today, this move of his.
It clearly crossed the line.
Benjamin's gaze, appearing too deep in the darkness, fell on Mia's face. Looking at her overly calm expression, "What if I said yes?"
Mia didn't avoid his gaze. With Benjamin, she didn't beat around the bush either.
She really liked Benjamin as a friend and didn't want to lose this friend.
"Benjamin, I just ended a failed marriage a little over a month ago. I'm not planning to start a new relationship anytime soon."
"Even if I do plan to start a new relationship, I wouldn't choose you."
"Why?"
Benjamin's eyes became even more unfathomable because of her calmness.
"Because we're not suitable."
Because it was Benjamin, she spoke very frankly.
"If you're serious about me, I just went through a marriage where we didn't match in status and background, and it ended in complete failure."
"Although I'm somewhat attractive, I don't think someone like me - a divorced woman, and James's ex-wife at that - could marry into the White Family."
"And I don't think you would give up the White Family for me."
Men's ambition for power is innate.
"If you're not serious and just want to have some fun, then I'm even less suitable. I can't afford to play, and I don't want to."
"Although I'm very grateful that you helped me when I was in the most difficult time, I could never repay you with my body."
She had once loved recklessly, without thinking of consequences, and got married.
It ended with her completely wounded and scarred.
Once in a lifetime was enough.
"Benjamin, which type are you?"
Mia asked him softly.
No matter which type he was, there was no possibility between them.
She had already analyzed everything between them clearly.
He thought she didn't understand anything.
But he didn't expect her to see through it all so clearly.
So clearly that he couldn't refute it.
"It's late, go home early. I'm heading up now."
Mia was worried about James upstairs.
She had delayed this long, he might really think she had left.
Benjamin was silent for a while, then sat up.
He unlocked the car door and watched Mia get out and leave.
The moment she got out, Benjamin suddenly asked her, "Mia, is not wanting to accept a new relationship because of James?"
This time, Mia didn't answer him.
She just smiled and waved at him, then turned and walked into the hospital.
It wasn't until her figure disappeared from view that Benjamin grabbed his cigarette pack, pulled one out and lit it.
Mia was right - he was interested in her.
But his interest in her was indeed not enough to make him give up everything in the White Family.
His future wife would definitely be someone who matched his status.
That person would definitely not be Mia.
And Mia's personality would definitely not be willing to be his kept woman.
Benjamin quietly smoked a cigarette, then stubbed it out.
He started the car, but didn't go home - instead he went to a bar.
...
When the hospital room door was pushed open again, James looked up at the sound and saw Mia, who had left and now reappeared.
Watching her walk in, he suppressed his joy and anticipation. "You're not leaving?"
"When did I say I was leaving?"
Mia wasn't leaving, and James was happy inside. Even being called out only made him smile.
Just now he really thought she had left!
It was good that she wasn't leaving.
"Time to sleep."
Mia glanced at him.
"Okay."
James cooperatively closed his eyes.
He really was very drowsy.
He had been forcing himself to stay awake.
"Where are you sleeping?"
He had just closed them, then opened them again.
Before Mia could answer, a nurse gave him the answer.
She brought a blanket.
Mia thanked her and took it, walking toward the rest room inside.
Only then did James remember that these hospital rooms all came with small rest rooms.
Seeing her walk in and lie down on the bed, he was reluctant to close his eyes.
Until Mia reminded him again in a low voice, "Sleep!"
Only then did James close his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
...
After a month, he came to a nightclub again. Benjamin rarely came to places like this, but he had been here before, occasionally coming with friends.
As soon as he sat down, a girl selling drinks walked over.
Before she could speak, Benjamin's gaze swept over her lightly. He had her put down the drinks, gave her a tip, and looked away.
Wenwen clutched the tip, swallowing back the thanks that had reached her lips.
Clearly, he didn't remember her anymore.
But she had been thinking about him day and night for a month because he had saved her.
From the moment Benjamin appeared, Wenwen couldn't take her eyes off him.
Until she was called away. When she came back and searched everywhere, Benjamin was nowhere to be seen.
Looking at the unfinished drinks on the table, Wenwen felt a wave of disappointment.
After this time, who knew when she would see him again.
She clearly knew they were worlds apart, yet she had still fallen for someone impossible at first sight.
Feeling upset, Wenwen lost interest in selling drinks.
She walked somewhat dejectedly toward the break room. Passing by a private room, the door suddenly opened, and a large hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her inside.
Just as she was about to scream, her mouth was covered.
In nightclubs, you often encountered customers with bad intentions.
She had always been very careful to protect herself.
She just wanted to earn enough money quickly so she could leave this place soon.
She never expected to be dragged into a private room. Hot breath brushed against her ear as a hoarse voice asked in her ear, "How much?"
"Let me go, I'm not!"
Wenwen struggled desperately in the man's arms, broken stammering sounds spilling from her mouth.
She was struggling so hard she didn't hear clearly what the man said.
Her hands desperately beat against the arms restraining her, like a wild cat, scratching non-stop.
Tears of fear welled up in her eyes and fell.
She was very scared.
Afraid she would really be violated.
Her tears soaked through the man's large hand, bringing back some of his rationality.
Benjamin breathed heavily and let go. "Leave!"
As soon as his hand loosened, Wenwen immediately tried to rush out the door.
Her hand had just touched the doorknob when, in her panic, her reflexes were a bit slow.
She belatedly realized the voice was familiar.
Wenwen turned around with tear-blurred eyes. Through the slightly opened door, the hallway light came in, and she saw a familiar face.
It was him!
Her hand on the door loosened, and the private room door closed again.
Wenwen sniffed, looking at Benjamin. She had been here for over a month now.
She wasn't unfamiliar with Benjamin's reaction.
He had been drugged by someone.
Seeing him like this, she couldn't just walk away.
But staying meant something, and she knew it clearly in her heart.
Between leaving and staying, before Wenwen's brain made a decision, her hand had already reached out first.
"You chose this yourself!"
The moment she reached out, the last thread in Benjamin's heart completely snapped.
His burning hand grabbed her arm again, pulling her into his embrace.
Click - the private room door locked.
As the world spun, Wenwen was thrown onto the sofa in the private room.
While she was still dizzy, Benjamin's tall body covered hers.
He gripped her chin but avoided her lips.
His kiss fell on the side of her neck.
That night was extremely long.
...
At the hospital, when James woke up again, it was already the next morning.
The moment James opened his eyes, he looked toward the rest room. Not seeing anyone on the bed.
He looked back and saw Mia sleeping with her head on his bed. James's gaze instantly softened.
Enduring the discomfort in his head, James threw back the covers and got up, getting out of bed from the other side.
Just as he was about to pick her up and put her on the bed, seeing her peaceful sleeping face, his movements paused.
His eyes were full of attachment.
How long had it been since he'd been this close to her?
For him now, even being close like this was a luxury.
In the first month after they separated, he could still see her at the company entrance every day.
After that, even seeing her once became difficult.
James couldn't help himself.
He longed too much to be close to her, his heart engaged in an intense internal battle.
In the end, he still couldn't resist his inner desire. He carefully moved closer, his thin lips gently landing on her slightly parted lips—