Chapter 41 She Is Mine, Back off
Watching Chase's carefree exit, Benjamin chuckled coldly.
'Perfect. Chase, you just kissed your bonus for next month goodbye.' Benjamin thought to himself.
"Sophia, work's all that matters to me. I don't care who drops off the documents," he explained.
Sophia's lips curled into a brief smile that vanished almost instantly.
She didn't say anything, just watched him quietly.
If Benjamin looked closely, he could see the amusement in her eyes.
But Benjamin, with his head down, was too busy plotting how to convince Sophia to notice. "If you don't believe me, I can pull up the security footage from the 56th floor."
He always did things his own way and never felt the need to explain himself.
But Sophia was different. She was his wife, and being married meant he had to be honest with her. It was the basic duty of a husband.
He rubbed his temples in frustration, thinking he really sucked at explaining things to people.
The next second, he felt Sophia's soft, delicate body in his arms.
Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his waist, her cheek nuzzling gently against his chest. "Alright, I believe you."
"Even if you don't explain, I'd still believe you," Sophia said, lifting her face from his chest, her eyes sparkling. "Because you're my husband. If I don't trust you, who else would I trust?"
Meeting Sophia's clear eyes, Benjamin suddenly felt a wave of relief, his tightly pressed lips curving slightly.
The anxiety he had felt was instantly soothed.
He wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on her fluffy hair, a small smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with undisguised joy.
Being trusted unconditionally felt wonderful.
He liked it a lot.
That evening, when Benjamin and Sophia got home, they found the couch filled with people.
Preston sat at the head, with Amelia, Alaric, Cillian, and Celestia beside him.
As they walked in, everyone turned to look at them.
Feeling the weight of several pairs of eyes, Sophia hid behind Benjamin.
Benjamin gently patted her shoulder, comforting her softly, "Don't worry, I'm here."
"Grandpa, Alaric, Cillian, Celestia."
Amelia was completely ignored by Benjamin, her delicate face turning sour instantly.
She was fuming inside but couldn't say a word.
She hadn't expected Benjamin to disregard her so blatantly!
Preston nodded and spoke to Sophia in a low voice, "Sophia, come over here to me."
Sophia glanced at Benjamin, who nodded, and she quickly walked over.
Preston's cold face softened instantly. "Sophia, did you have fun at the company with Benjamin today?"
"Yes," Sophia replied with a smile.
Despite a minor incident, it hadn't affected her mood at all.
Preston's smile deepened. "That's good. If Benjamin ever upsets you, you can tell me or Alaric. We'll take care of him."
Sophia nodded obediently.
She took Benjamin's hand, her eyes twinkling like stars. "My husband would never want to upset me, right, honey?"
"Right," Benjamin said, glancing at Sophia, a brief smile playing on his lips. Though fleeting, Preston and Alaric noticed it.
Alaric silently marveled. Benjamin had always been cold and distant, never showing such tenderness to any woman before. It seemed Preston had made the right decision this time.
Clearing his throat, Alaric asked Sophia, "Sophia, when do you think Benjamin's poison can be completely cured?"
Sophia bit her lip and shook her head, "I'm not sure. I need a lab to extract samples of the toxin from his body."
Alaric's eyes widened in surprise, "You can do that?"
Alaric was an expert in this field. He had his own lab and medical team, specifically set up to research the toxin in Benjamin's body, but they had made no progress over the years.
Hearing Sophia's words, joy flashed in Alaric's eyes.
Sophia nodded with a shy smile, "I've studied a bit. My teacher was a friend of Dr. Martinez's, so I have some knowledge in this area, though I'm not as skilled as Dr. Martinez."
Elijah's medical expertise was nationally recognized, and few could match his level in the country.
Alaric's perception of Sophia was once again refreshed.
He stood up from the couch, excitement evident on his face, "Sophia, I have a lab. You're welcome to use it anytime. As long as you can cure Benjamin, you can have whatever you need."
The toxin in Benjamin's body had always been Alaric's worry.
He had studied medicine specifically to heal Benjamin.
Many people thought he was foolish to give up his inheritance, but he had never wanted to take over the White Group.
Sophia's eyes lit up. She had been struggling to find a suitable lab, and Alaric's offer was a godsend. "Thank you, Alaric. Can I visit your lab tomorrow?"
Sophia looked up, her eyes bright and clear, filled with unhidden joy.
Alaric saw pure sincerity in her eyes. He nodded solemnly, "Of course."
Watching their interaction, Benjamin felt a twinge of jealousy.
He stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Sophia's shoulders and pulling her close, silently asserting his claim.
His cold gaze seemed to say, "She's mine. Back off."
Alaric paused, then chuckled softly. He walked over, patted Benjamin on the shoulder, and left.
Before he turned away, Sophia noticed the tears in Alaric's eyes.
Outside the villa, Alaric wiped his eyes.
Benjamin had grown up. He now had someone he wanted to protect.
After Alaric left, Benjamin raised an eyebrow, looking at Sophia with a hint of resentment, as if to say, "How could you ignore me for another man?"
Sophia smiled and hugged his strong waist, "Honey, are you jealous of Alaric?"
Benjamin was taken aback.
He instinctively wanted to deny it, but then he met Sophia's clear, bright eyes. His throat tightened, and he hugged her tighter, responding softly, "Maybe a little."