Chapter 122 Chapter 122
Benjamin lowered his head and pulled a cigarette and a lighter out of his pocket. With practiced ease, he snapped one off, put it between his lips, and lit it. He took a deep drag before looking up at Grace again. He pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile and said, "Grace, I'm sorry."
Her hands, which were resting on the table, clenched into tight fists, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She clenched her jaw so tightly that she could barely speak. After several attempts, she managed to ask, "So, what do you want to do? Tie me up and force me to have an abortion? Or beat me until I miscarry?"
Through the swirling smoke, Benjamin's expression remained inscrutable; however, a faint, indifferent smile played at his lips. He countered, "What else? Make you carry this child to term, a constant reminder that it's the fruit of your love with Adrian? Grace, you don't know me at all. Whatever I desire must be mine alone—wholly and completely mine, including you and the child you bear."
She felt trapped in ice, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. After a long moment, she managed to say, "I'll give this child away. Pretend I never gave birth to it. Is that acceptable?"
"Give it to whom? Adrian?" He laughed mockingly. “And before that? Did I watch your belly swell with another man's child? Grace, you overestimate me. I fear the day I won't be able to resist cutting open your belly with a knife, ripping out the child, and killing it.”
A cruel smile played at the corners of his lips. Grace's eyes widened, her pupils reflecting endless terror. She could barely form a complete sentence. "You're insane, Alex. You're completely insane."
Benjamin said nothing. He took a final drag of his cigarette, crushed the butt directly onto the tabletop, and pulled another cigarette from the pack, which he lit. After a long moment, he spoke again. “Grace, Get the surgery."
"No! Never!" Grace rose furiously, bracing her hands on the table as if that could steady her. Staring at him intently, she said, "Alex, I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you to cut open my belly and remove this child with a knife!”
Benjamin glanced up at Grace, then pulled his lips into a smile. "Don't say things you'll regret. You know I couldn't bring myself to harm you."
He held the cigarette between his lips, fished his phone out of his pocket, and pulled up a video to show her. It showed an empty room resembling a hospital ward. A young man was sitting propped up in bed reading a newspaper. The camera angle was from above, and with his head bowed, his face was partially obscured. Yet, just from the silhouette, Grace recognized that it was Adrian.
Sure enough, someone called out to him in Spanish: "Miguel!" He lifted his head at the sound, revealing features that were strikingly similar to Adrian's yet distinctly different. They were clearly visible in the frame. A young woman who looked like a nurse entered the room and asked gently, "How are you feeling today? Still headache?”
The man curved his lips into a faint smile and replied, "Much better."
The video ended abruptly there, the frame freezing on the man's gentle smile. Grace stood rooted to the spot, her entire body as stiff as stone, tears flooding out like a burst dam. She looked up at Benjamin, her voice choked to near silence. "You're going to use him to blackmail me again, aren't you?"
The cigarette burned down to the filter between his fingers, yet he seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed on her. His eyes were unreadable. After a long moment, he replied softly, "Only one of them can stay. Either you have an abortion, and we pretend this never happened. Or I kill Adrian and claim this child as my own."
Grace's body trembled violently. Slowly, the tremors ceased. The fire of rage in her eyes gradually extinguished, replaced by a deadly stillness and numbness. Yet the tears continued to flow unceasingly. She looked at him and suddenly curled her lips into a faint smile. "Alex," she said calmly, "you're going to hell."
He didn't fear retribution. Even if it truly existed, it wouldn't be the first time he'd faced it. Benjamin smiled, flicked his cigarette butt away, and stood up. "Grace," he said. "Think about it. Give me your answer tomorrow."
He started walking out but paused after two steps. He turned back to her and smiled faintly. "Don't do anything foolish. If anything happens to you, I won't let Adrian off the hook either.”
"No need to think about it anymore," Grace said softly. "I choose Adrian."
His smile froze for a moment before stretching into a wide, mocking grin. He nodded. "Fine. Get ready. I'll pick you up tomorrow."
The next morning, he drove to pick her up and took her to a private clinic.
She didn't utter a word the entire journey. She got in the car, got out, followed the nurses through various tests, and walked into the operating room.
Benjamin paced the corridor, his face dark and grim. He chain-smoked, flicking cigarette butts one after another. A nurse, unable to bear the sight, approached him to remind him not to smoke. She called out, "Sir," but then froze at his terrifying glare and was unable to say anything else. After an unknown amount of time, a doctor finally emerged from the operating room with an impassive expression. "The procedure is complete, but the patient requires rest. She may leave once her condition is stable."
The doctor left, and silence returned to the corridor. Benjamin stood frozen for a moment before discarding his cigarette and opening the door. Grace had been moved from the operating table and now lay still on an empty bed beside it, her eyes closed and her breathing silent.
Benjamin approached and stood at her bedside, looking down at her pale, colorless face. After a moment, he slowly extended a finger and gently touched her cheek.
It was ice-cold; so cold that Benjamin's finger trembled slightly.
Yet she slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, her gaze devoid of emotion.
That gaze sent a chill through his heart. He stared at her blankly, then clenched his jaw, bent down, and lifted her from the bed. "Grace," he said. "Let's go home."
Grace didn't speak or resist. She let him carry her, quietly closing her eyes.
Benjamin didn't take her back to the villa, though. Instead, he took her directly to the apartment where he usually lived.
He carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed.
She remained utterly silent. This stillness threatened to drive him mad. He would have preferred her to cry, fight, or struggle with him—anything but this numb, lifeless quiet.
He pulled her up from the bed, gripped her shoulders tightly, and stared at her. His voice was harsh. “Grace, forget this. You want children? I'll give you children. We'll have plenty in the future. You can have as many as you want!"
She met his gaze calmly. After a long moment, she slowly said, "All right. I'll give you children. However many you want, I'll give you."
Benjamin recognized the sarcasm in her words. Raging with fury and despair, he shoved her back onto the bed, then stormed out and slammed the door behind him.
Michael was downstairs when he saw Benjamin storm out. Startled, Michael jumped up and followed him, asking, "Mr. Norman, are you going out?"
"Get lost! Don't follow me!" Benjamin snapped, grabbing his car keys and storming out. But he had nowhere to go. After recklessly driving around the city a few times, he received a call from Landon. Landon seemed completely unaware of the situation and invited him out for drinks. "Ben, Isabella said a few students came by the other day. They're absolutely clean. Let's go have some fun."
Benjamin felt he could go anywhere now as long as he didn't have to go back and face Grace.
He turned the car around and headed for Garma.
As dusk fell, Landon was waiting outside. Spotting him, Landon rushed over, grinning. "Come on. I just called Isabella. Those girls are all here. You can pick the best one first.”
Benjamin said nothing, only giving him a cold, dismissive glance.
But Landon seemed oblivious and unafraid. He grinned as he grabbed Benjamin’s arm and pulled him toward their usual private room. There were no other friends inside—just fine wine and beautiful women waiting. Yet Benjamin felt no interest in these girls, each of whom had her own kind of beauty. He downed a large glass of wine without waiting for them to approach and pointed toward the door. “All of you, get out.”
Landon chuckled and waved his hand toward the exit, signaling the girls to leave.
In the blink of an eye, the private room emptied. Landon picked up the bottle to refill Benjamin's glass. He carefully studied Benjamin before tentatively asking, "Did you have another falling out with Ms. Hill?"
Only Michael knew about Benjamin pressuring Grace to terminate her pregnancy. The others remained unaware, and Benjamin had no intention of sharing that information.
He merely gave Landon a faint glance in response, saying nothing. Landon urged, "No offense, but Ms. Hill is stubborn. Why not just placate her a bit? There's no need to pick a real fight. You might end up hurting the relationship.”
Relationship? Had there ever been a relationship between him and Grace? Benjamin sneered, "Shut up. Either drink quietly, or get out."
Landon obediently fell silent.
Drinking while holding a grudge was the quickest way to get drunk, especially since Benjamin hadn't eaten. After only half a bottle of whiskey, he was already feeling the effects.
But he had good habits—he never caused trouble when he was drunk. He just flopped back on the sofa, frowning as he massaged his temples.
Seeing this, Landon stopped drinking, too. He pulled a cigarette from the pack beside him and lit it, but then he remembered that Benjamin hated it when people smoked. He quickly stubbed it out. Unexpectedly, Benjamin reached out and beckoned to him. Landon froze, unsure of what Benjamin wanted. He just stared blankly at him.
"Cigarette," Benjamin spat out the word impatiently.
Landon froze for a second before quickly pulling out a cigarette and handing it to Benjamin. Seeing Benjamin bring it to his lips, Landon leaned in to light it for him.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "How come you're smoking now?"
Benjamin didn't answer. He tilted his head back, exhaling a puff of smoke with practiced ease. Then he suddenly asked Landon, "When do you think a woman hates you the most?"
Landon gave a sly, suggestive grin. "When you can't satisfy her in bed?"
Seeing Benjamin's expression darken, Landon quickly dropped his playful tone. After a moment of serious thought, he replied, "I think with women, this whole love-hate thing doesn't last long. She loves you one moment, turns her back, and it's gone. She hates you, but if you sweet-talk her for a few days, that hatred fades away.”
The words seemed to hold some truth. Benjamin puffed on his cigarette, saying nothing.
Landon urged again, "Head home early. If you came out here after arguing with Ms. Hill, don't spend the night out. Otherwise, it'll be impossible to explain later."
Benjamin sat up straight.
Seeing his state, Landon chuckled softly twice and helped him out of the car. Both men were drunk, and their steps were unsteady. The manager, noticing their condition, quickly called for someone to drive them home. Instead of getting into his own car, Landon helped Benjamin into the vehicle and drove him home first.
Traffic was relatively smooth, and the car drove straight into the underground garage beneath Benjamin's apartment building.
Landon got out first, then turned back to help Benjamin. Just as Benjamin stepped out, and Landon was about to close the door, Landon's gaze caught a shadow reflected on the window glass. His expression suddenly changed drastically. Without a second thought, he shoved Benjamin aside.
Immediately after, a muffled gunshot echoed, accompanied by the screech of tires as a nearby car suddenly roared to life. A pistol emerged from the passenger-side window, and its black muzzle fired several shots at Benjamin before the car sped out of the garage.
Landon kept Benjamin pinned against the car for cover. Only after the black car vanished did Landon release Benjamin, urgently asking, "Benjamin, are you okay?"
Benjamin had only been grazed in the arm by a bullet, but the shock had sobered him completely. He replied coldly, "I'm fine."
Landon let out an "Okay," but he couldn't help hissing sharply when cold air stung his wound. Benjamin turned at the sound and his expression darkened slightly when he saw the gaping hole in Landon's shoulder. He quickly turned back to steady Landon and examine the wound. Seeing that it was only a clean entry and exit wound that didn't hit any vital areas, he relaxed a little.
Security personnel rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Benjamin injured, they paled with shock. However, Benjamin remained impassive, only instructing, "Clean this up," before helping Landon upstairs. Michael, who had already been informed, met them at the elevator entrance. He helped Benjamin carry Landon into the apartment and said, "I've called Dr. Willie. He'll be here shortly."
Benjamin nodded and instructed Michael to stop Landon's bleeding. Benjamin sat down on the sofa, removed his jacket, and examined the wound on his arm. Though the bullet had only grazed him, the wound was already bloody.
He glanced at it, his brow furrowing slightly. He hastily tied his shirt around the wound and waited for Dr. Willie to arrive and treat it.
As if sensing something, he looked up toward the stairwell and saw that Grace had emerged from the bedroom. She was now wearing cotton pajamas, and her face was still as pale as when he left. She stood silently on the stairs, looking down at him.
For reasons he couldn't fathom, Benjamin found himself lifting the corners of his mouth in a faint smile. "Disappointed, huh?" he asked.
She studied him for a moment before slowly nodding. "Yes," she murmured softly. "Very disappointed."