Chapter 123 Chapter 123
She didn't watch any further. Instead, she turned around and returned to the bedroom, never to reappear.
Dr. Willie arrived quickly. Upon entering, he headed straight for Benjamin, who raised a hand to stop him. Benjamin said coolly, "Go check on Landon first."
Landon was already contorted with pain. Dr. Willie examined the wound. The bullet had pierced his shoulder, narrowly missing bone and nearly crippling his arm. Such an injury would be best treated at a hospital, but Benjamin's status risked attracting a media frenzy.
Benjamin turned to Dr. Willie and asked gravely, "Can you handle it?”
Dr. Willie hesitated, but Landon forced a smile. "It's just flesh wounds. Stop the bleeding and stitch it up.”
"No big deal," Dr. Willie replied.
Benjamin nodded. "Be careful. Don't leave any complications."
Dr. Willie fetched the medical supplies and prepared to operate on Landon.
Landon asked for a cigarette while sitting there, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain. He casually glanced at the wound, then turned to Benjamin with a playful smile. "Bro, what do you think? If I got a Chinese dragon tattooed right here, wouldn't that look pretty badass?"
Benjamin couldn't help but laugh and scold him, "Go ahead and get whatever you want tattooed!"
After saying that, he got up and called Michael to the upstairs study. The two talked inside for a while. By the time they came out, Landon's surgery was almost over.
Dr. Willie finished stitching up Landon's wound before rushing to treat Benjamin's injury. By the time everything was taken care of, it was well past midnight. Benjamin didn't ask Landon or Dr. Willie to leave. He had them rest in the guest room downstairs while he went upstairs himself.
In the bedroom, Grace seemed completely undisturbed by the events. She was already asleep on her side, occupying only a narrow strip of the large bed.
Benjamin went to the bathroom to wash up. After coming out, he pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. After lying still for a moment, he reached out without hesitation, drew her close, and held her in his arms. Grace didn't struggle. She only asked coldly, "What? You want to do it?"
She had just undergone surgery. Unless he was deranged, he wouldn't engage in intimacy at that moment.
He had no intention of violating her.
Benjamin said nothing; he only held her silently, burying his face in the crook of her neck. After a long while, he finally spoke. "Grace, don't wish for me to die."
She didn't respond, lying still and quiet. After another moment passed, he spoke again. "Let's not drag this out, okay? Consider this life as repayment for what you owed me in a past life. For all the terrible things I've done to you in this lifetime, I'll make it up to you in the next.”
Getting no response, he lifted his head to study her exquisite features. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her temple as he softly called her name: "Grace?"
"Let's settle this life's matters now. No need to drag it into the next reincarnation," she suddenly said.
He stared at her. After a long moment, he replied, "All right. I'll repay you for all the awful things I did to you in the rest of my life. Grace, give me a chance. Give me a chance to make it up to you."
She remained silent for a long time, finally closing her eyes wearily. Benjamin gave a self-deprecating chuckle, released his hold, endured the pain, and moved back to his own spot. He closed his eyes to sleep.
The gunshot had been aimed squarely at Benjamin, intended to take his life. The assailant clearly wouldn't give up easily. Yet, after several days of investigation, no leads had surfaced.
The car used for the ambush belonged to an ordinary resident of the complex. It had somehow been stolen and brazenly driven into the underground garage, waiting for Benjamin's return to strike.
After firing the shot, the assassin fled, abandoning the vehicle in an area devoid of surveillance, and vanished without a trace. Beyond knowing there were at least two assailants, Benjamin had no other leads.
Michael reluctantly reported the situation to Benjamin. Upon hearing the details, Benjamin let out a cold laugh. "That's quite a feat. Without an insider, not even God would believe it."
Michael replied, "But there's been no movement from Vito. According to his inner circle, he's been infatuated with a minor celebrity lately. He's been so preoccupied with chasing women that he's barely showing up to the company.”
Benjamin also doubted Vito's involvement. First, he lacked the nerve. Second, Benjamin had once forced Vito to swear an oath never to harm him in any way. Though Vito was impulsive and reckless, he genuinely adored his cousin and would keep his word.
If it wasn't Vito, then someone else must be responsible. Since the incident occurred just before Benjamin's trip to Mexico, the killer was most likely from that region and aimed to stop Benjamin from going.
Michael had also considered this possibility. He asked Benjamin, "What's the plan for next week?"
Benjamin paused briefly, a faint smile touching his lips. "No change," he replied calmly.
That evening, when he returned to the apartment, he tossed a large file folder to Grace and said with a smile, "Open it up."
Grace, who was curled up on the sofa watching TV, glanced at him. Her expression remained calm as she opened the folder and looked inside. Seeing the various documents and materials proving she was indeed "Grace," she said nothing. She simply packed everything back up and set it aside.
For days now, no matter how he coaxed her, she had remained an emotionless, lifeless shell. Benjamin's patience vanished completely as anger flared anew. He walked over, turned her face to face him forcibly, and demanded, "Grace, is this ever going to end? How long do you plan to give me the silent treatment?"
Grace's expression remained serene as she calmly replied, "Benjamin, I don't want to give you the silent treatment. I simply lack the energy and willpower, whether to seek revenge or to please you. I don't want to do either.”
"You want to be a walking corpse, is that it?"
He sneered, his fingers tightening unconsciously around her jaw as he stared at the face that stirred both love and hate within him.
Her expression remained detached; her eyes reflected only the fury of the man before her.
This sight filled him with helpless rage. In a moment of passion, he was consumed by the urge to destroy her. Without a second thought, he lowered his head and kissed her.
She offered no resistance, not even a refusal, and let him run wild.
He pinned her to the sofa and tore off her clothes in a few frantic motions. Just as he was about to enter her, he felt a pang of reluctance. Panting heavily, he stopped and instead kissed her fiercely, leaving no sensitive spot untouched.
Yet no matter what he did—whether teasing or ravaging—she remained utterly unmoved, lying there silent and still.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally gave up. He lifted his head to glare at her for a moment, then slammed his fist hard into the sofa beside her head. He rose and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
He stayed gone for days. Then, one midday, he suddenly returned and ordered Grace to pack her things and leave with him.
"We're heading south. Bring some clothes." Leaning against the doorway, he appeared calm and collected, with no trace of that night's fury or helplessness remaining.
Grace had little to pack—just a small suitcase. She picked it up and followed Benjamin downstairs. Michael and Landon were waiting in the living room. As they descended the stairs, Michael hurried over to take the suitcase from her, while Landon greeted her with a cheerful smile and called out, "Ms. Hill."
Grace offered no reply, merely glancing at him indifferently before handing the suitcase to Michael. She pulled her coat tighter around her and followed Benjamin out the door and into the car bound for the airport. Somehow, Benjamin had arranged for all her documents to be genuine and valid, allowing them to board the flight without a hitch.
They flew on a private jet straight to a city in Mexico. After landing, they transferred to a helicopter that flew north for nearly two hours before landing outside a small town. Several military-grade SUVs flanked by armed guards were already waiting. The men radiated menace, and one glance told Grace that they were no ordinary individuals.
She knew the Norman family had shady dealings, but she never imagined they'd be connected to Mexican gangsters. The sight stunned her, and she hesitated to step forward.
Benjamin took a few steps before realizing Grace hadn't followed. He paused and turned to face her, seeing the fear in her eyes. He couldn't help but smile wryly. He turned back, took her hand, and whispered, "Don't be afraid."
He led her forward like this. Across the way, an officer had already stepped forward to greet Benjamin. With a smile, he said, "The boss wanted to come greet you himself, but something came up in town. He can't make it for now."
Benjamin nodded faintly and pulled Grace into the lead SUV. The vehicle wound its way along the undulating roads into the small town and finally stopped outside a building perched on elevated ground. Benjamin didn't ask Grace to get out; he told the driver to take her back to her lodgings directly. Benjamin followed the officer a few steps before pausing and turning to Michael, who trailed behind, and said, “You go with her.”
Michael hesitated slightly, but before he could respond, Landon spoke up, "Benjamin, let Michael accompany you. I'll go with Ms. Hill back to her place."
Benjamin glanced at Landon, offered no objection, and gave a slight nod.
Landon then turned back, opened the door, and sat beside Grace to accompany her to her residence. Benjamin owned his own residence here. Its size alone hinted at his considerable standing in the area. Not only were numerous servants inside, but military personnel in uniform also patrolled the perimeter, maintaining strict security.
Even Grace, who was usually composed and calm, couldn't help but feel curious. Benjamin clearly wasn't visiting for the first time, but what other identity allowed him to have his own private residence here? Landon seemed to sense Grace's confusion. After hesitating for a moment, he leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "The Norman family made their fortune through the drug trade here for decades. It wasn't until Benjamin's grandfather became the leader that the family returned to Seattle."
Grace was taken aback—by the revelation that the Norman family originated in Mexico and by Landon's willingness to share this information with her. She remained silent, only lifting her eyes to meet Landon's gaze with quiet intensity.
Noticing her expression, Landon grinned. "Ms. Hill, to be honest, I've always admired you. You're the smartest and strongest woman I've ever met."