Chapter 61 Chapter 61
Adrian alerted the police through the medical staff. When Grace arrived at the hospital, an officer was questioning Adrian about the incident. Upon learning Grace's identity, the two officers exchanged a glance. One of them motioned for Grace to step outside with him. Standing in the hallway, the officer asked, "Ms. Hill, I don't know if your husband is..."
The officer trailed off and tapped his temple before continuing, "Your husband reported that Mr. Benjamin, the CEO of Norman Science, is actually death row inmate Alex. He claims that Benjamin has been threatening and blackmailing you since last September and that this afternoon, he sent men to break into your home, assault your husband, and cut off his right index finger.”
Grace gave a bitter smile, looked up at the young officer, and asked, "Do you believe it? Do you believe an executed man could transform himself and live in this world under another prominent identity?"
The officer was taken aback by her question. He gave a nervous chuckle and avoided a direct answer, only saying, "Sounds like something out of a novel."
"Yes, like a novel." Grace lowered her eyes and murmured softly. After a moment, she looked up at the officer again and said calmly, "Mr. Benjamin does bear a striking resemblance to the executed prisoner, Alex. But whether these two men are one and the same is not something I, or anyone else, can judge rashly. As for Adrian being beaten today, that is true. I was there at the scene. But I don't know if those men are connected to Benjamin.”
The officer studied her and asked, "Where were you earlier?"
Grace answered frankly, "I went to confront Benjamin. I suspected that he ordered the attack on Adrian, so I went to his company to question him."
"Oh?" The officer seemed surprised. “And what was the result?”
"He was in a meeting when I arrived. He said he knew nothing about it." Grace paused before adding, "I don't know if he was telling the truth."
The officer nodded slowly and meticulously recorded the conversation. After having Grace sign the statement, he concluded, “Ms. Hill, we will investigate this case thoroughly. We hope you can go comfort Adrian. He's quite agitated right now.”
Grace nodded in agreement. By then, the officer inside had emerged, glanced over Grace's statement, jotted down her contact information, and left with his colleague. Grace took a few steps toward the door, but didn't enter the room. She stood there quietly, watching Adrian. He had been sitting with his head bowed. Yet, as if sensing her presence, he turned his head to look at her and called her name: "Grace."
Only then did Grace step inside and sit across from him. She gently cradled his hand and studied it for a moment. Then, tears began to fall. Sniffing back a sob, she whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Adrian."
Adrian assumed she was apologizing for his finger. Hearing her words, he lifted her face with his uninjured hand, looked into her eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid, Grace. I've already told the police everything. I've also asked them to protect your parents. Benjamin won't dare do anything more. You have to believe that justice exists in this world."
Grace gave a bitter smile. "Adrian, you're making this far too simple.”
Indeed, Grace was right.
There was no evidence. Benjamin hadn't left them any. Simply claiming that Adrian and Alex were the same person based on their striking resemblance made it seem like Adrian had lost his mind, not just to the police, but to everyone who heard it.
As for Adrian being beaten, the surveillance had been sabotaged beforehand, leaving no footage. The thugs who broke into the house vanished without a trace. With only Adrian's words that Benjamin had ordered the attack and no witnesses or physical evidence, Benjamin never even showed his face. He simply sent his lawyer to settle the matter.
Crucially, even Grace didn't fully corroborate Adrian's story. Furthermore, they had divorced on the day of the incident; she was his ex-wife, not his wife.
She admitted to knowing Benjamin and having contact with him. Adrian, her ex-husband, was convinced that she had divorced him because of Benjamin. On the day of the divorce, she went to Norman Science to confront Benjamin.
All of this was documented by video surveillance footage.
At this point, a more plausible explanation than Adrian's narrative emerged: the emotional entanglement among the three individuals had led to the incident. It was possible that they were acting on Benjamin's instructions, but without solid evidence, even the police were powerless.
The investigating officer looked at Adrian with sympathy. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. "Without solid evidence, we cannot take any action against Mr. Benjamin. That's the way the law works. We will do our utmost to protect every citizen's safety, but we cannot wrongly accuse anyone either.”
Adrian's expression was unexpectedly calm—perhaps it had been this way since learning of Grace's testimony. He wasn't foolish; he simply viewed the world as too bright and beautiful. As he emerged from the police station, he saw Grace waiting outside, but he didn't approach her. He stood there quietly observing her.
The winter sun was blindingly bright. He instinctively squinted and tilted his head slightly as he looked at the black car parked not far behind her. It was Benjamin's car. He had seen it before—the day they left the civil affairs bureau, Benjamin had picked Grace up in that same vehicle.
Grace stepped forward and came to stand before him. "Adrian."
Adrian smiled mockingly and asked softly, "Grace, are you sure this is the right thing to do?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she took a step forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered into his ear, "Adrian, you can choose to hate me and forget me. Or you can choose to keep loving me, stay away from me, escape Benjamin's control, and help me rescue Mom and Dad, too.”
He stood with his hands hanging down and asked her, "And what about you?"
Her arms tightened around his neck as she answered bitterly, "I'll go to hell, kill Benjamin, and make him pay double for everything we've endured."
"Grace." He murmured her name softly and lifted his arms to embrace her. Like a child, he buried his face in her shoulder. Moments later, she felt a damp patch spread across her shoulder. He whispered hoarsely, "I hate myself. I hate my own helplessness. I hate that I couldn't protect you. I hate that I could only watch you get hurt and humiliated.”
"Adrian!" she snapped, forcing him to lift his head. Staring into his eyes, she said, "Maybe you can't protect me, but you can redeem me. Adrian, let your body wander wherever it will, but leave your heart with me, okay? Wait for me at the gates of hell. If I'm still alive, and if you don't despise the filthy version of me, reach out and pull me out. Rescue me from hell, okay?"
The car behind them honked impatiently—Benjamin's last shred of patience.
Grace clenched her jaw, pushed Adrian away resolutely, and turned toward the car. Michael had already stepped out and was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for her. She ducked inside and said coldly, "Let's go."
Benjamin turned toward her, studying her expression with a heavy gaze before sneering, "What? No wailing? I thought you two would be weeping in each other's arms.”
Grace met his gaze coldly and retorted, "Benjamin, don't talk to me like that. You sound like a jealous man. You're here to get revenge, not to fall in love with me."
He was momentarily speechless. His fingers tightened around her chin as he glared at her fiercely for a moment. Suddenly, he broke into a smile and countered, "Grace, are you afraid I'll fall for you, or that you might fall for me one day?"