Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Grace hadn't expected Adrian to trace it back to Benjamin. Though her entire body was tense, her voice remained calm. "Adrian, calm down. Where are you? I'll come find you right now."
He didn't answer, but pressed her further. "Tell me what's going on, Grace. Is he the guy you met at school?”
"Adrian, where are you?" Grace fought to control her emotions and added, "If you keep making these wild accusations, I'm going to get angry."
Adrian replied, "I'm downstairs at the Norman Science headquarters."
This answer made Grace's heart race. She was terrified that he might act impulsively and do something reckless. Her colleagues in the office were already glancing at her, but she couldn't care less now. She pleaded urgently, "Don't do anything rash, okay? Wait for me. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we meet."
But he didn't respond. He just hung up.
When she tried calling again, he didn't pick up. Grace felt panic rising within her. She drove to the Norman Science headquarters and found Adrian's car parked below, but he wasn't around. She frantically dialed his phone, which went unanswered at first. When it finally connected, Michael's voice came through. His tone was cold. Before she could speak, he said, "Ms. Hill, Adrian is with Mr. Norman."
For a few seconds, Grace felt her heart stop. She opened her mouth but couldn't speak. After a moment, she managed a hoarse whisper. "Don't do anything to him."
Michael added, "Mr. Norman requests your presence as well."
Grace had been inside the Norman Science Building before when she came to rescue Nathan. Returning now felt like a lifetime had passed. The secretary in the president's office had changed. She must have been instructed in advance because she was standing by the elevator, respectfully escorting Grace to the president's office.
The door was wide and electric. After announcing Grace's arrival, the secretary opened the door for her and invited her inside before remaining outside.
The office was immense, almost desolately spacious. Benjamin and the others were seated in the lounge area. Benjamin was sunk deep into a sofa; Michael stood behind him; and Adrian sat facing away from the door, flanked by two burly men in black suits.
“Grace!” Adrain turned, spotted her, and cried out urgently. He attempted to rise from his chair. But the moment he shifted, the two men forced him back down. Benjamin frowned slightly and muttered, "Noisy." One of the men immediately pulled a roll of duct tape from his pocket and sealed Adrian's mouth shut.
Grace forced herself to remain calm as she stepped forward. Seeing that Adrian only had some redness and swelling on his face with no other obvious injuries, the knot in her stomach eased slightly. She turned to Benjamin, her tone as gentle as possible. "Can we let him go now?"
Benjamin's lips curved into a faint smile as he replied, "Grace, get this straight. He came to my office like a rabid dog, trying to attack me. My bodyguard only temporarily restrained him. I didn't detain him."
Her eyebrows shot up in indignation. "He attacked you? Then why are all the injuries on him?"
"Yes, he attacked me." Benjamin chuckled softly and added, "But he couldn't beat me."
Adrian let out an angry growl, struggling fiercely. However, he was pinned down by two men in black and couldn't move. Seeing him like this, Grace fought to suppress the emotions welling up inside her. She looked at Benjamin and said, "Let him go, Benjamin.”
The smile slowly faded from Benjamin's face. After a long moment, he suddenly twisted his lips into a sneer. “Fine, I'll let him go. But will he listen to you and leave quietly?"
Grace didn't answer. She simply walked to Adrian's side, crouched down, and placed her hands on his knees. Her voice was soft and gentle. "Adrian, let's leave this place, okay?" Her eyes brimmed with tears and her gaze was pleading. "Whatever it is, we can talk outside. No matter what you ask, I'll tell you. Just come with me first, okay?"
His eyes reddened, too. Finally ceasing his struggle, he nodded.
The two bodyguards looked at Benjamin simultaneously. Seeing him nod, they released their grip on Adrian. Grace hurried forward, tore off the tape over his mouth, helped him up from the chair, and walked out with him.
Their arms were linked, their bodies leaned into each other, and their steps were almost perfectly synchronized. The sight made Benjamin feel very uncomfortable. Just as they neared the doorway, he suddenly called out, "Grace." Seeing both figures freeze at the entrance, he couldn't help but smile. Pausing for a moment, he drawled, "Come find me tonight. I want you."
"Bastard!" Adrian whipped around and lunged back to punch Benjamin. Startled, Grace threw her arms around his waist from behind and held him back, pleading, "Adrian, leave with me. Please.”
Adrian tried several times to shake her off, but she clung to him. He could only point at Benjamin and curse, "Bastard!"
A murderous intent flickered in Benjamin's eyes. He narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "Adrian, you'd better not point your finger at me."
"Adrian!" Grace could no longer hold back her sobs. She clung to his waist, pressed her face against his back, and cried, "Adrian, please come with me. Stop this scene. I feel so humiliated. Spare me some dignity, will you?"
Adrian froze for a moment before turning around and pulling her into his arms. His voice was rough as he replied, "Fine. I'll go with you." They walked out together in silence until they reached the exterior of the Norman Science Building. Only then did he steady her shoulders, fix his gaze on her, and say, "Grace, tell me the truth. Don't treat me like a fool anymore. What you're doing isn't love. Deception hurts worse than any other kind of pain.”
At this point, she had to give him an explanation. Grace looked up at him, finally gritting her teeth. "Fine. I'll tell you."
She drove his car home. In the living room, she recounted everything from the first time she met Benjamin, laying out the entire story for Adrian. His reaction shifted from shock to rage, his emotions spiraling toward uncontrollable fury. He gripped her shoulders tightly. "Why did you hide this from me? Why didn't you go to the police?"
Her expression, however, was calm. She countered, "How could I report it? Tell them that Alex isn't dead, that he changed his identity and became Benjamin? Who would believe that? Where's the evidence?"
"Then why didn't you tell me!" he roared.
She couldn't help but smile bitterly. “Tell you so you could go after him? Adrian, even if it's just for today, I'd rather you hate me forever than tell you any of this. You have no idea how terrifying he is.”
Rage consumed Adrian's reason. He roared in fury, leaping up and kicking over the coffee table. "I don't believe it! I refuse to believe that a criminal can cover everything up! Call the police! Grace, we're going to the police!"