Chapter 123: Belated Devotion

Sophia wasn't new to sitting on Benjamin's lap.

Before she knew Lucas and Benjamin were the same person, after their intimate moments, she would always ask Lucas to hold her and kiss her.

Sitting on Lucas' lap, held gently in his arms, she felt treasured as if she were the most precious person in the world.

With one arm, Benjamin easily encircled her slender waist and drew her into his embrace.

It had been nearly ten days since he was last able to hold his wife openly.

It was absurd when he thought about it.

Overcome with emotion, Benjamin buried his head in the warm, fragrant nape of her neck, tightening his hold unconsciously.

Feeling his warm breath on her neck, Sophia stiffened.

Her attention drifted away from the computer screen.

Mabel was still watching.

Why was he holding her so tightly?

On the screen, Mabel saw how close they were and covered her mouth with a pleased smile.

"Benjamin said you've been busy painting and haven't had time to see me. I thought you two might have had a quarrel."

Sophia flashed a smile towards the camera and lifted her delicate hand to grasp the tightening grip around her waist.

She discreetly pinched the back of his hand, hoping to break free from his overly familiar touch.

His hands were becoming too bold!

"Grandma, why would we quarrel?" Benjamin said casually, taking advantage of Sophia's reluctance to contradict him in front of Mabel.

He was determined to make up for all the hugs and kisses he had missed over the last ten days.

As he spoke, he turned her chin and kissed her rosy cheek, right in front of Mabel.

Sophia's eyes widened.

Her gaze was fierce as she glared sideways at Benjamin.

Angry as she was, she could only curse him inwardly.

She didn't want to upset Mabel.

Benjamin gave a doting smile, his eyes filled with audacity.

He turned back to the screen, "See, we're fine."

Mabel laughed joyously, "I'm glad to hear that."

Sophia was too annoyed to speak.

She pinched Benjamin's strong thigh hard, but his muscles were too firm, and she only ended up hurting herself.

Knowing she was trying to pinch him, which felt more like a tickle, he worried she might hurt her own fingers instead.

His other hand took hold of her restless one, intertwining their fingers gently but firmly.

After chatting a bit more with Mabel, who was about to go for a check-up, Benjamin finally said, "Grandma, it's getting late here, and we need to rest. Once we finish our current projects, Sophia and I will fly out to Valoria to see you."

Mabel nodded, "Maybe you two can go on a honeymoon again."

Benjamin glanced at Sophia in his arms and agreed with a smile, "Sure."

Honeymoon?

The word made Sophia inwardly sneer.

They hadn't even had their first honeymoon.

She remembered how, right after they got married, she had selected a travel plan for them, and they decided to go to an island for their honeymoon.

However, she waited for him at the airport for two hours, and he called just before the flight to say he was tied up with a merger and told her to travel alone!

Back then, deeply in love and feeling aggrieved, she had pretended to be the understanding wife and told him it was fine and that his work was more important.

She spent that "honeymoon" alone, staring at the sea in a foreign country for half a month, feeling utterly lonely.

Benjamin closed his computer, still holding Sophia tightly in his embrace and gently caressing her cheek.

He loved kissing her and leaned closer with a soft chuckle, teasing, "Want a kiss?"

Sophia's expression turned icy in an instant.

Benjamin, puzzled by her sudden change of mood, asked, "What's wrong? Weren't we just fine?"

He had invited her into the study, and she had willingly come and sat with him.

Why was she showing such displeasure now?

Sophia swatted his hand away, stood up from his lap, and turned to leave.

Benjamin, unwilling to let her go so easily, caught her wrist and pulled her back, demanding, "What did I do now to upset you?"

Sophia's mocking, cold laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it.

How dare he ask such a question?

"Benjamin, did we ever have a honeymoon?"

She wasn't one to dwell on the past, but thinking about how lonely and ridiculous her solo "honeymoon" was, she couldn't keep the resentment at bay.

Seeing her angry and aggrieved face, Benjamin suddenly remembered the planned honeymoon trip from when they first got married.

Amidst a whirlwind of business expansions and a major merger, he had completely forgotten about their honeymoon.

The reminder came too late, just as he was supposed to leave for their honeymoon.

By then, it was too late to make it, and he thought it best she enjoyed the trip alone.

His intentions were good, albeit negligent.

Benjamin looked down, his gaze distant.

He didn't regret his decisions.

Dwelling on the past served no purpose.

"Sophia, we didn't have a honeymoon, but this time, we can definitely go together," he said, focusing on the future, hoping to make amends.

Sophia scoffed, trembling with anger, her every fiber rejecting him.

"I don't want to!"