Chapter 83
Benjamin's gaze seemed like a silent question, yet also like a cold death sentence.
Jeremy had been pampered his whole life. Even as a playboy with a bad reputation, no one had ever dared to show off in front of him. Now, with Benjamin's attitude carrying a hint of murderous intent, Jeremy's anger was also provoked.
"This is the Martinez family's territory. You don't get to threaten people here!"
Benjamin ignored him and turned his gaze to Zachary instead.
"Zachary, what do you say? Should we check for the birthmark or not?"
He gently patted Evelyn's back, as if ready to pull down her dress at any moment to let everyone see whether she had a birthmark.
But now, the crowd had completely lost its earlier enthusiasm for watching the drama unfold.
If they actually saw Evelyn's birthmark, they'd probably lose their eyes. No one wanted to pay that price.
Zachary stood there, the smile on his face visibly crumbling.
After nearly half a minute of silence, he finally spoke: "If there's something to discuss, let's go upstairs to the study."
As he spoke, he made a "please" gesture, clearly softening his stance.
Unfortunately, Benjamin wasn't buying it.
"The Martinez family's study seems easy to enter but hard to leave, doesn't it? You just tried to take my fiancée there. What exactly are you hiding?"
"I'm a timid person. I don't dare go."
There wasn't a trace of fear on his face. He simply wasn't giving Zachary any chance to apologize privately. He wanted to make this a big deal!
Zachary seemed not to have expected Benjamin to give him no face at all. His hand gripping the cane trembled slightly.
"This matter involves Ms. Thomas's reputation," sweat had already formed on his forehead, "we should sit down and discuss it properly..."
"Now you're thinking about her reputation? When you forcefully tried to take her away just now, did you think about the impact on her?"
When it came to matters concerning Evelyn, Benjamin wouldn't back down.
She had basically figured out what the Martinez family wanted to do by taking her away.
Definitely nothing good, who knows what dirty things might happen?
If they could confirm she had sexual relations with Jeremy, it would enable a marriage alliance between the Thomas family and the Martinez family - that would be the best outcome. But at the very least, breaking off her engagement with Benjamin was definitely the goal.
As for who was plotting this whole thing behind the scenes, the answer was almost obvious.
To openly make a move against her like this - were they certain the Thomas family wouldn't care about her?
As a chill crept into her heart, her grip on Benjamin's shirt tightened even more.
He held her waist with one hand, his palm silently comforting her.
Zachary watched their stubborn appearance, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.
But when he met Benjamin's gaze, his heart suddenly went cold.
He was old, and the Martinez family truly had no worthy successors.
If only he could be twenty years younger...
His eyes, clouded by age, filled with sadness in that moment.
The next second, he seemed to make up his mind.
"Jeremy, apologize!"
"Fine!"
Jeremy agreed and was about to act when he realized what Zachary had actually said.
The smug expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by surprise, followed by dissatisfaction.
"Grandpa, what are you saying? Why should I apologize to a woman? She's clearly the shameless one..."
Feeling Benjamin's fierce gaze, Zachary sighed at his own old age while also being frustrated that his descendants were not only incompetent but couldn't even read the current situation.
Zachary raised his cane and struck the back of Jeremy's right knee: "Apologize!"
The blow wasn't light. Jeremy's knee buckled, and he dropped to one knee.
"Grandpa!"
"Spreading rumors about Mr. White's fiancée and deceiving your elders - apologize! Otherwise, the Martinez family won't acknowledge you as our descendant!"
Jeremy had no real abilities.
The only reason he thrived in Emerald City was through his family's influence.
No matter what, he couldn't afford to lose the Martinez family's protection.
Though Jeremy was unhappy, under Zachary's pressure, he gritted his teeth and apologized in a voice like a mosquito's buzz.
"Sorry."
"What does 'sorry' mean?" Benjamin's voice was light but carried an undeniable authority. "Don't you know how to apologize properly?"
"You're going too far!"
"Is this the Martinez family's sincerity? It seems the Martinez family isn't very anxious about that bank loan after all."
Benjamin's casual tone hid a threat. Others might not fully understand, but from Zachary's changed expression, they could tell this loan was urgent for the Martinez family.
Zachary struck with his cane again, forcing Jeremy, who was trying to stand, completely to his knees: "Apologize!"
Zachary's tone was so severe that everyone else in the hall felt chills hearing it.
Now, Jeremy didn't dare continue making trouble and could only say through gritted teeth: "I'm sorry!"
Seeing Jeremy's resentful and unwilling appearance, Benjamin was about to say something when Evelyn spoke up.
"Jeremy should apologize, but I won't accept it. So whether he apologizes or not doesn't matter anymore - it's not sincere anyway."
She and the Martinez family were now enemies for good.
When they chose to cooperate with Matthew, there was no possibility of reconciliation.
Why bother with Jeremy's kind of apology?
Benjamin looked down at Evelyn. Her eyes showed no sign of her earlier tears, but he could clearly feel the grievance in them.
He rubbed her head, his voice gentle.
"We still need to teach them a lesson."
"We've already apologized. What more do you want?" Zachary's face looked terrible.
Today, the Martinez family's dignity had been completely trampled by Benjamin. Was Benjamin still not willing to let the Martinez family go?
Benjamin ignored Zachary and looked at the quiet crowd around them.
"So many people earlier said Evelyn was involved with another man, as if you'd all seen it with your own eyes."
"Now, shouldn't you all say something?"
His expression was calm, but wherever his gaze swept, everyone instinctively took a step back.
"If so many people can't speak, then you might as well not need your tongues."
The crowd was frightened, and even Evelyn was a bit stunned. Was Benjamin really going to be this violent?
She looked up at Benjamin. He wasn't looking at her, but his hand patting and comforting her never stopped.
"If you want to keep your tongues, apologize properly."
Even the Martinez family couldn't gain any advantage in front of him - who else would dare to act superior?
Immediately, people lined up to apologize to Evelyn one by one.
Evelyn knew they actually had no interest in the truth. They just wanted to see the once-spoiled rich girl trampled into the mud.
So she just looked at each person calmly, without any extra reaction.
Until—
A friend beside Violet was about to go apologize when Violet grabbed her: "You can't go."
"Violet..."
Violet bit her lip and looked at Benjamin: "It's wrong that they spread rumors. I can apologize for passing along false information, but she dirtied my dress. Shouldn't she apologize too?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the stained area on her shoulder.
Violet looked pitiful and wronged.
Unfortunately, Benjamin didn't even glance at Violet. His tone was even more coldly indifferent: "If you want to force her to apologize, you need to be more capable than I. Do you think the Bailey family can back up your behavior?"
Violet's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe he would say such a thing.
"You're... bullying people with your power?"