Chapter 129: We Are Both in Disarray
Benjamin set Sophia down and supported her lower back with one arm while raising the other to block a fork flying their way.
The fork clattered irregularly onto the marble floor.
Charlotte frantically grabbed the dishes and tea cups from the coffee table and hurled them at Benjamin and Sophia.
Benjamin's bodyguards reacted swiftly and shielded the couple.
One of the tea cups hit the stair railing, shattered, and sent pieces flying everywhere.
Benjamin drew Sophia's face into his chest just as a shard nicked the back of his hand.
"Quick! Take her away!" Kimberly lost her composure and shouted the order.
Kimberly's bodyguards quickly subdued Charlotte, one grabbing her arms and the other lifting her legs.
Sophia broke free from Benjamin's embrace and grabbed his injured hand.
The fork had sliced through the network of veins on the back of his hand, blood gushing out.
"You're hurt!" Sophia covered his bleeding hand with the palm of her hand anxiously.
Benjamin looked down, his usually deep-set black eyes softening.
Was she worried about him?
"Yes, I'm hurt," he replied, his voice indifferent yet subtly woeful.
The wound was trivial for him, but he was keen to see Sophia's concerned expression.
Sophia's brows furrowed, and her lips tightened, a pale pink from her frustration.
Disaster always ensued whenever Charlotte showed up!
"Madam!" Laura exclaimed suddenly, pointing at Sophia's ankle, "Your foot..."
Benjamin looked down at Sophia's ankle.
It was burnt. The delicate skin blistered, and the areas not blistered were red and swollen.
Benjamin withdrew his hand and lifted Sophia into his arms.
"Get Gabriel here!" he ordered Laura.
"Yes, sir."
Benjamin carried Sophia, his face dark with worry, towards the upstairs master bedroom.
As he held her, any movement of his hand caused more blood to flow. Some seeped into her knitted dress, drops staining the upstairs hallway.
"When did you get burned?" he asked, his deep voice growling like a furious beast.
Sophia thought it must have happened when Charlotte threw the teapot.
Pushing Laura away hadn't saved her from the scalding tea spilling onto her ankle.
"Just now..."
She was too caught up confronting Kimberly and Charlotte to notice the searing pain.
Benjamin's expression darkened even further as he entered the master bedroom and gently set her down on the bed.
Sophia leaned against the headboard while Benjamin sat on the edge and lifted her tender foot onto his lap to examine the burn.
Her skin, usually pale and delicate, highlighted the severity of her injury.
Benjamin questioned her, "Why did you let them go?"
He should have detained them and splashed their faces with scalding water!
Sophia blinked, her long lashes fluttering weakly like the wings of a wounded butterfly.
She didn't want to answer Benjamin's question.
It would only reveal her weakness.
Kimberly and Charlotte had overstepped into their home to harass her, and she should not have let them off so easily, but...
"Because of your mother's belongings?" Benjamin guessed her thoughts when she remained silent.
"You don't know Kimberly. If she can't have what she wants, she'd destroy others' treasured possessions."
If Kimberly indeed held her mother's belongings, Sophia knew they wouldn't have left without destroying them.
She couldn't afford to take that risk.
Benjamin scoffed, "You don't trust me."
He had his ways of retrieving what she wanted from Kimberly, yet she doubted him, preferring to swallow her resentment.
Sophia looked up at him, her eyes dim with despair.
"This is my issue. It has nothing to do with you..."
"I'm your husband!" Benjamin raised his voice. "Your issues are my issues!"
He disliked being shut out by her, her reluctance to give him another chance, to trust him again.
They were supposed to be the closest of companions, destined to support each other through life.
"But you lied to me..." Sophia's eyes reddened, tears brimming.
She breathed deeply, lowering her gaze as a tear fell.
"How can I trust you?" Sophia's voice choked up.
Once, she had imagined a sincere marriage and shared her heart, only to find no support or hope in return.
Just when she had become disillusioned with their marriage and wanted to reclaim her own life, he had deceived her by masquerading as a gigolo.
Maybe to him, she was just a beautiful vase.
She didn't want to be abandoned again.
Benjamin breathed heavily. He raised his hand to wipe her tears but stopped as it was covered in blood.
Not wanting to stain her, he lowered his injured hand.
"Sophia, what can I do to make you believe my feelings for you are genuine now? I really do like you a lot!"
Sophia looked at him with tearful eyes. His words hit her hard, yet she only bit her lip in distress.
"I don't know..."
Knock, knock.
The knock at the door interrupted them.
Benjamin and Sophia exchanged awkward glances.
Sophia raised her hand and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand while Benjamin watched her intensely before covering her with the blanket over her somewhat disheveled appearance.
Once composed, Benjamin spoke detachedly, "Come in."
Gabriel treated Sophia's burns and sighed.
"Mrs. Taylor, you really must take better care of yourself."
He counted on his fingers. This month alone, he had almost weekly visits to Oakleaf Estates.
Sophia nodded, her gaze shifting to Benjamin who stood silently by the bedside.
Blood still oozed from the cut on his hand and dripped slowly onto the floor.
Sophia furrowed her brows and turned back to Gabriel quietly, "Dr. Pierce, he's hurt too."
She pointed at Benjamin's bleeding hand.