Chapter 52
Brian's comment both showed how good Benjamin was to Freya and revealed how little Evelyn knew about Benjamin.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she secretly pinched Benjamin's waist.
She knew she shouldn't throw a little tantrum, and even less should she take it out on him.
But she just felt unhappy.
He didn't mind, though. His arm around her gently patted her back in a comforting gesture.
"That apartment was left to her by Soren."
"How is that possible?" Freya froze for a second. "Benjamin, didn't you say you were worried I'd work late and couldn't get back to the dorm, so..."
At this point, she suddenly covered her mouth, as if realizing something.
But Freya's look toward Evelyn showed unease.
To others, it seemed like Freya hadn't realized Benjamin was trying to appease Evelyn and had blurted out the truth.
Then Benjamin spoke calmly.
"Soren was worried you'd be corrupted by money, so he didn't want you to know he had prepared everything for you."
"What?"
He didn't explain further, but looked down at Evelyn: "Do you want to stay and hang out, or go home?"
She glanced at Freya and placed her hand on his arm: "Teach me to throw darts."
She had no interest in bullying Freya, but she also wanted Freya to know that Benjamin already had a girlfriend.
Besides, Evelyn needed to try to fit into Benjamin's social circle.
"Okay."
His hand landed on her shoulder, turning her to face the dartboard, then he took her hand to teach her how to throw.
"Keep your hand steady and aim at the target."
Evelyn's wrist flicked, the dart shot out, and hit the bullseye.
With smiles and coaxing, the atmosphere between Evelyn and Benjamin was quite harmonious.
But the expressions on the faces of others in the private room looked a bit strange.
Since when did Evelyn and Benjamin get along so well?
Could those online reports actually be true?
However...
When Evelyn and Benjamin walked out of The Velvet Mirage, Evelyn pushed his arm away.
"I drove here."
Benjamin paused, then reached out to grab her wrist and pulled her back into his arms.
"Are you angry?"
"Isn't it obvious enough?"
She didn't hide it, forcing a smile as she poked his chest: "You told me you were at a business dinner, but you were actually bringing Freya to meet people?"
"I was so clueless today, interrupting your good time. Of course, I should go back by myself."
With that, she huffed delicately, looking completely like someone acting spoiled.
He held her and chuckled softly: "Are you punishing me or me? Today I didn't want you to come, I just thought you wouldn't want to."
Evelyn never got along with his friends, and every time they ended up parting on bad terms.
After all, his relationship with Evelyn had always been tense, so Evelyn was even less pleasant with his friends.
"I don't care what you think, I care what I think!" Evelyn's expression grew fiercer. "Your private gatherings with friends, I want to be part of them too!"
Then Evelyn felt she was being too domineering, so she added: "The kind where bringing your partner is allowed."
Looking at the pouting Evelyn in his arms, Benjamin's heart softened, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
He simply scooped her up in his arms.
"What are you doing!" His sudden action startled her, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't worry, I won't drop you." Benjamin held her very steadily.
"Who knows? You also said there was nothing between you and Freya, but you personally picked her up to bring to The Velvet Mirage."
Evelyn suddenly understood why women were so particular about the passenger seat.
Just thinking about him having someone else sit in that seat made her upset.
"I don't want to ride in your car!"
He paused, seemingly not expecting this reaction from her, then gently explained.
"Brian and the others are old acquaintances of Soren's. Everyone finally got together and wanted to meet Freya. So they can help Freya out if anything comes up later."
A perfectly reasonable explanation, but what did it have to do with her?
That wasn't even the point!
She was still angry, especially as he continued carrying her toward his car.
"I said I don't want to ride in your car. Don't you understand?"
Benjamin frowned. He set her down on the hood, his hands on either side of her, his forehead against hers.
"What are you making a fuss about?"
"You think I'm making a fuss?"
The sudden wave of grievance made tears spring to her eyes, and then she couldn't hold them back anymore as tears fell one by one.
Men could never handle women crying.
Especially their own woman. Seeing Evelyn looking so wronged and pitiful, Benjamin felt a sharp pain in his chest.
His brow furrowed tightly as he reached out to wipe her tears, but she turned her head away.
"Didn't you say I was making a fuss? Then why do you care?"
Evelyn's tearful questioning made his heart feel soft and sour.
"I was wrong to say that." He pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back. "It won't happen again."
The more someone comforted her, the more wronged she felt.
Evelyn thought she should stop crying, but she couldn't help it and instead cried in his arms.
"How could you let her sit in the passenger seat?"
"Didn't you say to let Chase handle everything related to her?"
"Why did you personally pick her up?"
Each of Evelyn's questions carried a tone of acting spoiled, all her accusations showing her displeasure, yet they made Benjamin's lips curve up slightly.
He lowered his head to kiss away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Trust me, this is the last time."
After he comforted her for a while, Evelyn calmed down and realized how dramatic she had just been.
She raised her hand to wipe her tears and said quietly, "I was being unreasonable. It's actually fine."
Benjamin picked her up again, but didn't get in the car.
"Where are we going?"
"To drive your car."
Evelyn's face flushed, but her fingers gripped his clothes tightly: "Driving your car is fine."
In the end, he drove her car back to the villa.
This...
Such a small thing, but being taken to heart by someone felt really good.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Evelyn's phone rang.
[Do you really believe there's nothing between them?]
It was a message from Sophia.
Always haunting her.
Benjamin and Freya were definitely innocent, but having someone whispering in her ear every day, Evelyn couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as Evelyn said, "Last time Orson set me up, how did you handle it?"
When she didn't get his answer, she immediately realized something.
"Don't tell me you didn't do anything?"
"He's Sophia's brother."
Before, she had not only fought with Benjamin countless times over Matthew, but also asked him to take care of the Brown family.
It had given him psychological trauma.
"I want to deal with the Brown family. Will you help me?"
Evelyn's finger lightly tapped the phone screen: "He framed me for having an affair with another man, just to ruin my reputation. That kind of person deserves a harsh lesson. Besides, the Brown family should have gone bankrupt long ago."
Evelyn's cold tone clearly showed there was no problem.
Benjamin glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed: "Evelyn, I told you, you don't need to make me believe you by..."
"In your eyes, am I such a good person who repays evil with kindness?"
She cut him off directly: "They set me up like that, they deserve what's coming to them."