Chapter 41
"Explain?"
Benjamin flicked his cigarette ash, lowering his eyelids slightly to hide the loneliness within. "Is it necessary?"
Compared to him standing her up, hadn't Evelyn done far more hurtful things?
Samuel saw right through his thoughts, his thin lips curving into a smile again.
"Whether it's necessary is up to you. But I'd say you've probably burned through all the goodwill you built up before. Very likely, she'll avoid you from now on."
Benjamin's jaw tightened more and more. After getting in the car, he immediately headed to the Thomas Villa.
After learning she hadn't returned home, he called Wayne.
"Mr. White," Wayne's tone was very polite, "I've already sent someone to take Ms. Thomas back to her apartment."
"Release that man tomorrow."
"What?" Wayne was surprised.
After such a big incident, Benjamin still wanted to release him?
Could it be that Benjamin was really the one who orchestrated this whole thing?
A chill ran down Wayne's back. He immediately nodded: "Yes, Mr. White, don't worry. I'll definitely handle what you've asked."
After hanging up, Benjamin called Chase.
"Mr. White, I've already sent Ms. Stewart back."
He didn't ask more questions, didn't even respond to Chase, just gave his order directly: "That man will be released tomorrow. Just don't beat him to death."
Chase didn't respond to Benjamin right away. He had seen Evelyn's terrible condition from afar and didn't think Benjamin would let that person go.
"You're not going to let him go to jail?"
"Taking my car keys is one thing, but how would he know where Evelyn was?"
Chase immediately understood: "Don't worry, Mr. White, I'll handle it properly."
When Benjamin hung up, his car had already stopped downstairs from Evelyn's apartment.
He looked up at that window, feeling for the first time an uneasiness about not daring to see her.
She thought he would hurt her, using such despicable methods.
In the apartment, Evelyn stood under the shower.
Warm water fell, filling the bathroom with steam, also blurring that wooden face.
She felt very uncomfortable.
Worried she might faint, she washed briefly, then grabbed a towel and dried herself carelessly.
Since she had gone straight to the bathroom when she got home, she hadn't brought in any clean clothes.
She casually dried her hair a bit, then went into the bedroom to get her undergarments.
As the bath towel slipped, Evelyn suddenly heard a faint sound. Panicked unease flooded her heart, and she instinctively turned to look.
Benjamin stood in the doorway, his eyes suddenly contracting, his gaze falling on her.
He just stood there at the bedroom door, without any reaction.
Evelyn stared at him blankly for several seconds before realizing what was happening.
She quickly turned back around: "Benjamin, what are you doing in my apartment? Get out!"
Her pale face flushed red from the sudden shock.
He looked at her back half-covered by wet hair, his brain not yet recovered, his voice hoarse: "I was worried about you."
As he spoke, his eyes had already moved away from her.
"Get out!" She seemed at a loss for words for a moment.
The door slammed shut as Benjamin backed out.
Evelyn stood there stiffly, still not moving.
Just now, aside from her long hair, she had nothing covering her body.
Benjamin stood outside the door, his breathing irregular.
Her soft, beautiful body flashed clearly in his mind.
Her delicate skin, the soft curves of her chest with their tempting color, her slender legs, and her long hair hanging wet and loose.
It was shameful, but undeniable—what surged through his mind were extremely indecent images.
Evelyn, with her fresh-bathed fragrance, her delicate face carrying an unknowingly seductive charm, her shocked eyes deeply imprinted in his gaze.
It awakened his deeply hidden desire, like a beast trapped in a cage, ready to break free.
He looked down and could see the bulge in his pants.
His Adam's apple rolled up and down, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, sliding down his cheeks, accompanied by a low, hoarse groan.
After Evelyn got dressed, she hesitated for a long while before finally coming out.
She wore a white t-shirt paired with a pale yellow skirt, looking sweet and charming.
She immediately saw Benjamin standing by the window, the sunlight just right, casting a halo around him.
Taking several deep breaths, she didn't know how to start.
Too much had happened today. Her reservations about him made her not want to deal with him at all right now.
Benjamin heard the sound and turned to look at her, his gaze falling directly on her.
Their eyes met. A man and woman alone—it seemed to instantly create an ambiguous atmosphere.
"I'm sorry."
He broke the silence first, though it wasn't clear which matter this apology was for.
Was it for lying to her, for not picking her up, for letting her fall into a trap, or for what he had just seen?
Whichever it was, none of them could be dismissed with a casual "it's okay" after such a light apology.
She poured herself a glass of water and drank half of it before slowly speaking: "Between us, one apology isn't enough. And also..."
Biting her lip, she took several deep breaths before saying it: "If you want to break off the engagement, I can cooperate."
Having experienced the tragedy of her past life, Evelyn didn't want to sink into another emotional quagmire. As for his feelings for her—
If she could be reborn and start over, why couldn't he change?
"Evelyn!"
The voice seemed to squeeze through his clenched teeth, carrying obvious anger.
Facing his restrained gentleness, it was hard for her to be forceful.
Now facing his anger, Evelyn actually calmed down.
"The relationship between us has always been unequal."
"Before, you were chasing after me. Now I regret it. But either way, it's not mutual. We're not meeting each other halfway."
"Since that's the case, neither of us needs to force it. We can explain things clearly to our elders and resolve this matter perfectly."
As for whether he deliberately set her up, Evelyn didn't want to and couldn't pursue it.
She didn't want to face being hurt again, and she had no power to fight against him with all his influence.
In her past life, she thought she loved Matthew with all her courage, but actually, she was only so reckless because of Benjamin's love.
Now she could only face things alone.
"I won't break off the engagement." His stiff voice sounded. "What happened today was an accident. I really didn't expect him to get the keys. But I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Anyone who hurts you, I won't let them go."
An explanation?
But between them, it wasn't just about this one thing.
Evelyn stood in place with downcast eyes without moving. Benjamin had already found the hairdryer, plugged it in, and pulled her to sit on the sofa.
Warm air blew through her hair. It felt comfortable.
So much had happened. Various thoughts flashed through her mind, and at the same time, exhaustion crept over her.
"Don't sleep yet. Rest after lunch."
"Finally remembered me? Or do you have time to comfort me now?"
She didn't want to say it, but feeling the warmth he gave, the image of that innocent girl by his side flashed unbidden in her mind. The words that came out carried a sourness she herself hadn't realized.
"Because of her, you went from not picking me up first to not picking me up at all. Next time, will you just ignore me completely?"