Chapter 302 You Gave Too Much, I Lack Money
Sophia couldn't help but roll her eyes. The way he said it made it sound like she was sneaking around having an affair.
But he had said this before: "Am I really that embarrassing to be seen with?"
His expression was the same as back then too, with a hint of teasing hidden in his deep eyes.
She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Didn't you refuse to admit you're Benjamin? Why did you come to the White Manor then? Everyone's going to get the wrong idea."
Finnley sighed helplessly, "No choice—you're paying too much, and I need the money. As a stand-in, I need to be professional. Did I show up at the right time just now?"
Sophia fell silent.
His timing had indeed been perfect.
She'd been so angry at Celestia's words earlier that if no one had stopped her, Celestia wouldn't have left in one piece today.
Finnley's lips curved slightly as he looked at the servants around them.
Before coming, he had already investigated Benjamin's background thoroughly.
Although there wasn't much information available online, based on Sophia's description, the legendary Benjamin of the White family not only looked exactly like him but even shared some of the same little habits in daily life.
So he wasn't worried about his identity being exposed.
On the contrary, he felt these were all advantages.
As long as he could win Sophia's favor, he'd have a better chance of bringing her back to the organization in the future.
That's what he thought, but his face showed nothing.
He bowed apologetically to everyone, his tone sincere and firm, "Sorry for worrying you all. I'm back."
That simple "I'm back" brought tears to many eyes.
Since they came to work at the White Manor, Benjamin had never mistreated them. In fact, he even gave them bonuses during holidays.
Some of the servants had even watched Benjamin grow up.
Two years ago, when news came that Benjamin had died after falling into the sea, they grieved for a long time and couldn't move on from their sorrow.
At first, when Sophia said Benjamin wasn't dead, they had held onto a glimmer of hope.
But day after day, two years had passed with no news of Benjamin.
They gradually gave up hope and accepted that Benjamin had truly passed away.
Who could have imagined they'd see Benjamin again in their lifetime!
Seeing everyone's excited yet disbelieving expressions, Sophia couldn't help but feel moved.
She even thought, maybe this isn't so bad.
Initially, she hadn't brought Finnley home—partly because she worried Preston would be upset, and partly because his memory had been tampered with, and she didn't know what task Elijah had assigned him.
If he did something harmful to the White family, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But now, she could only take it one step at a time.
……
Upstairs, Cillian had gotten back from work at three in the morning last night.
He hadn't even showered before collapsing into bed.
He was sleeping soundly when suddenly a scream almost pierced his eardrums, startling him awake and making him sit up in bed.
He nervously looked around but found nothing unusual, thinking he'd just had a nightmare, so he lay back down.
Before he could fall asleep again, more noise came from outside the door, waking him completely.
He jumped out of bed and stormed out, slamming the door.
As he walked downstairs, he roared, "What's all the noise? Can't you all just be quiet?"
Cillian's temper was explosive, like a bomb ready to go off at any moment, especially after Benjamin's death.
He'd changed overnight. He used to be quite playful, but after the funeral, he became increasingly quiet and withdrawn.
Still half-asleep, he walked downstairs yawning and casually glanced down.
One look, and he froze.
His gaze landed on Benjamin, his pupils suddenly contracting, his eyes full of disbelief.
Finnley noticed him too and, thinking of the information he'd investigated, couldn't help but smile.
Cillian—Novaria's top entertainment star, captain of the hottest boy band, with a bright future ahead.
At that moment, Cillian rushed over as fast as he could and asked with a choked voice, "Are you... are you really my second brother?"
Finnley didn't really want to answer this question.
Because even if he told the truth, they probably wouldn't believe him—like Sophia last night.
Thinking this, Finnley raised an eyebrow and nodded at him, "Cillian, I'm back."
This was his first time meeting Cillian, but the name "Cillian" just came out naturally.
Before he could think about it, Cillian suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"Benjamin, you finally came to see us! Do you know what these two years have been like for us? Grandpa fell ill because of you, Sophia cried every day, the whole family fell apart... Why are you only coming back now?"
The more Cillian spoke, the more wronged and sad he felt, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Cillian, who was always so strong, now held Benjamin tightly, crying like a baby, his voice breaking.
Finnley was stunned by this sudden embrace.
He stood there awkwardly, hands frozen in mid-air, his eyelid twitching.
Do the White family people... all express their feelings so directly?
He couldn't handle it.
Finnley turned his head and saw Cillian burying his face in his shoulder, tears sliding down his cheeks, almost dripping onto his newly changed shirt. The vein on his temple throbbed.
He grabbed the back of Cillian's neck and pushed him away with disgust, "Stop crying, you're ugly when you cry. Aren't you supposed to be a celebrity? If your fans see this, they'll unfollow you."
Cillian: ?
After finally reuniting, only to be mocked by Benjamin, Cillian felt even more hurt.
His tears flowed even harder as he stubbornly wiped his face, "I don't care about being a celebrity anymore—wait, why can I touch you?"
He could still feel Benjamin's warmth on his palm.
This realization startled Cillian, his eyes widening in horror.
Finnley rubbed his forehead helplessly, pointed at Cillian, and turned to Sophia, "Is his brain broken?"
Is there even one normal person in the White family?
He couldn't help but wonder why he'd come here in the first place.
Sophia's lips twitched too, thinking: This is your own brother—if you don't understand him, how would I know?
Just then, Cillian suddenly stepped forward, his face full of surprise, and poked Finnley's arm with one finger.
He could actually touch him!
Cillian had an epiphany, "So after people die, it's not like in TV shows where they appear as spirits? This is amazing! I think you could be on a science documentary channel!"
Finnley: "……"
Do I look like a ghost?