Chapter 124 Chapter 124
The garden was empty except for the silhouettes of patrol officers moving back and forth beyond the waist-high shrubs in the twilight. Ignoring Landon's flattery, Grace strolled over to a swing set and sat down. After rocking gently twice, she looked up at him again. "I looked into the Norman family before," she said. “Weren’t they long-established in Seattle? How did they end up leaving?”
"They were indeed long-established in Seattle, a prominent family at that," Landon replied with a smile. He stood beside Grace, took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued at a leisurely pace. "But the Norman family has all sorts of people—businessmen, politicians, and, of course, those involved in organized crime."
Grace wasn't from Seattle, and even Adrian had only stayed to work there because he had studied there. She'd never heard these old stories from years past and couldn't help but ask, "What happened next?"
Landon nodded and smiled. "Then, decades ago, the Norman family's leader and his children died in a plane crash. With such a large family, everyone wanted to inherit the family fortune. There was infighting among the family members, and their enemies sought revenge. The Norman family fell into decline overnight. It wasn't until Benjamin’s grandfather brought capital back from Mexico that the family slowly recovered, and he became the new leader.” Later, he paused deliberately before continuing, “The Norman family's business expanded significantly. Gradually, they managed to conceal everything that happened here.”
Grace nodded slowly, seemingly engrossed in the story. After a moment, she suddenly asked, "How do you know all this in such detail?"
Landon chuckled softly and replied, "Because I'm the boss' trusted subordinate."
Grace's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. “Then why are you telling me all this?”
Landon's smile remained, though it now held an added layer of ambiguity. "Because you’re the boss' woman. If he brought you here, it means he never intends to let you go."
Grace recognized the hidden meaning in his words. She lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "Hmm, and then?"
“Then? Since you can't escape, you might as well live well." Landon flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground and crushed it under his toe. He chuckled. “Besides, with the boss doting on you like this, what could you possibly want that you can't have? Even if you wanted his life, it wouldn't be difficult to take it. Wouldn't you agree?"
Grace replied nonchalantly, "That's putting it rather dramatically. At the very least, if I wanted Benjamin's life, he wouldn't give it to me."
"Then your approach is wrong. You don't cut down a tree by chopping its branches—you have to strike at the root." Landon grinned carefree, winked at Grace, and teased, "Ms. Hill, someone as clever as you—if you put your mind to it—there's nothing you can't accomplish."
The conversation trailed off as a servant approached, inviting them to dinner. Grace said nothing, merely rising from the swing and looking at Landon. Landon smiled, bent down, and extended his hand in a gesture of invitation. "Come on, Ms. Hill. We can talk over dinner. Truth be told, I'm not very familiar with this place either. Most of what I know comes from hearsay—who knows if it's true?”
Grace's response was quick and measured. "Whether it's true or not, it's better than me stumbling around in the dark."
As they walked and chatted, their conversation turned to local customs and folklore by the time they reached the dining table. Landon was a gifted storyteller who deliberately selected the most intriguing tales. These tales drew smiles from Grace and even a suppressed chuckle from the maid standing nearby. Yet he remained dead serious. "Ms. Hill, I swear I'm not lying. General Danjo really is afraid of his wife. Everyone knows it. Ask her yourself if you don't believe me."
He pointed at the maid beside them. "Go on, tell her. Isn't General Danjo terrified of his wife?"
The maid could only cover her mouth and giggle.
Landon grinned, too, then turned to Grace. "Ms. Hill, let me tell you—when you meet the general's wife tomorrow, you'd better learn a thing or two from her. Learn how to manage a man and get our boss wrapped around your finger. Make him dare not disobey. That's skill, you know?"
Before he could finish, Benjamin walked in from outside, catching the latter part of the conversation. He casually asked, "What kind of skill?"
Landon turned at the sound and gave Benjamin a dry chuckle. He replied, "Just chatting with Ms. Hill about General Danjo's wife. I said General Danjo is afraid of his wife, but Ms. Hill doesn't believe me. Tell her—was I pulling Ms. Hill's leg? Is General Danjo really afraid of his wife?"
Benjamin didn't want Landon discussing this with Grace. He glanced up at her. Though she kept her eyes lowered, her expression wasn't as cold and distant as before. A flicker of joy touched his heart, and he replied, "General Danjo and his wife truly have a deep bond. She's the daughter of a local tribal chieftain. Back then, she defied her family's opposition to marry Danjo when he was penniless. Danjo swore an oath then—he'd never betray her for the rest of his life."
Grace remained expressionless, silently eating her food. However, Landon couldn't help but slap the table and exclaim, "That's why they say there are two kinds of people who are most precious in this world: women who endure hardship alongside a man and men who stay faithful to a woman through wealth and prosperity."
His offhand remark caused the room to fall silent. Noticing everyone staring at him, Landon froze, then gave an awkward chuckle and hastily explained, "Don't look at me—I didn't come up with that. I read it online.”
Benjamin offered a faint smile and asked, "Have you finished your meal?"
Landon had been so absorbed in talking that he’d barely touched his food. At Benjamin’s prompting, however, he pushed his bowl aside, stood up, and said cheerfully, "I’m already full. I was just about to go for a walk.” He reached out to Michael, who was standing by the door, and added, "Come on, show me around."
Michael glanced at Benjamin, who gave no indication of objection, and followed Landon out.
Benjamin waved to the maid, who withdrew silently. The dining room was left with only Benjamin and Grace. Benjamin sat down across from Grace, glanced at her a couple of times, and asked casually, "Do you like the food here?"
Grace stopped using her fork and answered crisply, "No."
He hadn't expected such a direct answer, pausing slightly before smiling wryly. "Just bear with it for a few days. Once we've handled matters here, we'll leave."
She said nothing more, nor did she ask what business he needed to attend to. She simply ate a couple more bites in silence.
Benjamin looked at her and tentatively suggested, "Would you like to go out for a walk, too? The city has some nice scenery.”
"No, thank you," she declined flatly, her tone calm. "I'm tired. I'd like to rest early."
Grace rose and went upstairs. By the time she emerged from her shower, Benjamin had already lain down on the bed. He had come in from outside.
He must have bathed elsewhere because his body was still damp. He lifted the cool quilt and lay down beside her, making no further move. The night passed without incident. When Grace woke up the next morning, she realized that she had fallen asleep in Benjamin's embrace.
His arm lay loosely around her waist. At the slightest movement, his eyes snapped open and his arm tightened around her.
They were both still half-asleep, their eyes hazy with drowsiness. They stared at each other blankly for a moment before realizing what had happened. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her gaze and reached out to push his arm away. He paused, then yielded to her touch and released her.
A faint smile played at his lips as he rolled off the bed. He headed straight for the bathroom and took a quick cold shower before going downstairs for breakfast. Michael and Landon were already up and sitting in the living room downstairs. Seeing Benjamin come down the stairs with a spring in his step, Landon flashed a mischievous grin. He gave Michael a knowing wink and whispered, "Look. Now that's what you call well-rested."
A while later, Grace finally came downstairs, fully dressed, and joined them for breakfast. After breakfast, Benjamin was ready to head out again. This time, he took Michael and Landon with him, leaving Grace alone in the house. He was gone all day, returning only in the evening to pick Grace up for General Danjo's dinner party.
Grace followed him out to the car. They drove through the small town and stopped outside a mansion. Benjamin got out first, then turned back to offer Grace his hand. She hesitated briefly before taking his hand and letting him help her out of the car. He held her hand as he led her inside.
The small dinner was held in the flower-filled courtyard. General Danjo and his wife came out personally to greet Benjamin and Grace. The general's wife, whose features were unremarkable, wore a gentle smile. She greeted Grace in English with a peculiar accent: "Hello, Grace."
Grace replied politely, "Hello, ma'am."