Chapter 177
He turned around then, looking down at Charlotte with the air of a gentleman appraising some kind of trophy.
"Coming back to me is your only option."
Hearing Benjamin's condescending tone, Charlotte let out a mocking laugh.
She stared at him hard, her eyes ice-cold. "Benjamin, are you done?"
"What? Finally coming to your senses?"
At this moment, Benjamin was completely drunk on his fantasies of fame and status, a smile spreading across his face.
But before he could finish speaking, the young woman let out a cold snort, enunciating each word: "In your dreams."
"You—!"
Benjamin's smile froze completely, then was replaced by rage. "Charlotte, don't be so ungrateful!"
"You think I really won't touch you?"
"Once Alexander's dead, let's see who can protect you then!"
The instant those words left his mouth, something came flying at his face.
'Smack!' Benjamin's head snapped to the side, a huge red mark instantly blooming on his cheek.
The pain made his eyes go wide with disbelief.
He touched his burning face, clenching his jaw. "You dare hit me!"
"Get out. Get OUT!"
Charlotte glared at the man before her through gritted teeth, her eyes full of murderous intent.
Benjamin looked at her disheveled hair and completely unhinged appearance, seeming frightened himself, his expression changing.
He ground his molars, growling with false bravado.
"You... Charlotte, just you wait! I'll make you wish you were dead!" Seeing him still daring to threaten her, Charlotte's patience finally ran out. Just as she was about to teach this man a proper lesson, a sharp female voice suddenly pierced her ears.
"Stop it! Charlotte, what do you think you're doing?!" Chloe came running over in her high heels, her face showing perfectly calibrated panic and anger.
When she saw the injury on Benjamin's face, she turned on Charlotte even more viciously.
"You've gone too far! Alexander is still in the ER fighting for his life, and you're out here attacking Benjamin! Do you have any respect for the Harris family at all? What has the Harris family ever done to you?!"
Her voice wasn't exactly quiet, causing several Harris family branch members observing nearby to slowly turn and look, their eyes full of disapproval.
Hearing her accusations, Charlotte let out a cold laugh, her gaze growing even sharper.
Chloe felt her skin crawl under that stare, but kept up her bravado.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong? You're nothing but an ungrateful woman!"
Hearing those words, Charlotte finally snapped. She charged forward.
Before anyone could react, she grabbed the other woman by the throat and slowly lifted her .
"What did you say? Say it again."
"Ugh—"
Chloe's eyes went wide with terror. Feeling the air in her lungs running out, she instinctively clawed at Charlotte's hand, but it was useless—it wouldn't budge.
Gradually, Chloe's face turned the color of liver, her eyes starting to roll back.
Benjamin finally snapped out of it, his expression changing. "Charlotte! Let her go!"
Seeing him about to rush over, Charlotte shot him an icy glare, her eyes full of cold killing intent.
Instantly, Benjamin froze under her gaze.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the entire hallway solidified, everyone's attention focused on them.
Charlotte swept her eyes over everyone present, then fixed her gaze on the struggling Chloe, her own eyes bloodshot, speaking each word deliberately.
"The operation at the West Side chemical plant—were you the one who leaked it to Richard?"
At those words, everyone's expression shifted slightly.
Chloe's brain was already going blank from oxygen deprivation, but she still shook her head frantically.
"No... it wasn't..."
Seeing her still refusing to admit it, fury surged in Charlotte's chest, her hand tightening around the woman's throat.
"Chloe, do you really think I won't kill you?"
"I'm asking you one last time—was it you or not?!"
"I..." Chloe was terrified now, her body trembling uncontrollably. She looked desperately at Benjamin, pleading for help. "Benjamin... help me... I don't want to die..."
Seeing this, Benjamin couldn't hold back anymore and roared, "Charlotte! Enough! Do you really want to cause a death in the hospital?"
"If you kill her, you'll definitely go to prison!"
But Charlotte showed no reaction, just kept staring darkly at Chloe, her hand locked around her throat.
It was as if she wouldn't stop until she got a clear answer!
Seeing her completely ignore him, Benjamin's expression darkened further. He lowered his voice and roared, "Charlotte, if you don't let her go right now, I'll have security throw you out!"
"Alexander is still in the ER—do you really want to make this completely irreparable?!"
Finally, Charlotte's eyes flickered, glancing at him.
"Are you threatening me?"
"I—"
"Who is Chloe Johnson?"
A serious voice entered everyone's ears. Several police officers in uniform stood not far away, their expressions stern and professional.
"We've received information that Ms. Chloe Johnson is suspected of involvement in a kidnapping case. She needs to come with us to the station for questioning."
Hearing this, Charlotte's eyes darkened, then she casually flung the woman away.
Chloe couldn't keep her balance and stumbled, falling on her rear.
She clutched her throat, coughing violently, but the terror in her eyes only grew more intense.
"No, no, how could..."
The Harris family members present were also stunned, seemingly unable to believe what they were hearing.
"What? A kidnapping case?"
"What's going on?"
Benjamin was stunned too, but seeing Chloe backing away with fear written all over her face, he immediately stepped forward, blocking her.
"Officers, there must be some mistake. She's been with me the whole time—how could she possibly be involved in any kidnapping?"
"Sir, please don't obstruct our law enforcement."
The lead female officer maintained a strictly professional demeanor. "Since we're here to bring her in, we naturally have evidence. Please cooperate."
At this moment, Chloe's face had gone deathly pale.
She didn't care how disheveled she looked now—she scrambled up from the floor and grabbed Benjamin's sleeve.
"Benjamin, I didn't, I really didn't—they must have the wrong person..."
Benjamin was getting annoyed by her clamoring, but he still suppressed his irritation and spoke politely to the police.
"Officers, she's part of the Harris family. This is a serious matter. Regardless, shouldn't we at least wait for a lawyer to arrive?"
He was trying to use the Harris family's influence to pressure them, but unfortunately, the police weren't having it. Their expressions grew even more serious as they opened a file they'd brought with them.