Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Benjamin's expression went blank again as he followed the two bodyguards into the car.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up to the gates of the Buckner estate. Benjamin climbed out, his long strides carrying him straight toward the entrance.

Before he even made it inside, he spotted Emory standing on the top floor — and Sophia and Alice bound on either side of him.

When Sophia saw Benjamin approaching, her face stayed completely still, like she was looking at a stranger she had never met.

Alice, on the other hand, erupted in a frenzy. But with something stuffed in her mouth, all she could do was grunt and moan — not a single real sound got out.

Benjamin stopped and looked up at Emory. "Mr. Buckner, what's all this about?"

"The men who picked you up already explained it." Emory spread his hands and gestured to the two women beside him. "Pick one. You can only take one with you. The other stays here with me."

"So, Mr. White — you enjoying this little game?"

The corner of Benjamin's mouth curved up slightly. His face wore a smile, but his eyes were ice cold. "Fine. I choose Ms. Baker."

"That was fast." Emory raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to think it over, Mr. White? Ms. Brown here is your wife — legally speaking. You'd really leave her behind just like that?"

"She's just my wife." The words came out like he was forcing them through clenched teeth, as if even acknowledging that title embarrassed him.

The moment Emory said pick one, whatever hope Sophia had left died completely.

She didn't know why this choice was being forced, but she didn't need to think twice to know Benjamin's answer.

No matter the time, no matter the place, no matter how big or small the decision — Benjamin's answer would always be Alice.

He'd made it plain: she was just his wife. Two people tied together by a marriage contract, nothing more. Alice was the one he truly loved.

"I see," Emory said. "I thought after all these years of marriage, Mr. White might feel something for Ms. Brown. I never expected you to cut her loose so easily — so cleanly."

He smiled and went on. "Though I should be upfront about one thing — I don't keep useless people around. If Mr. White won't take Ms. Brown with him, I'll dispose of her like trash."

"Like this, for instance."

Without warning, Emory shoved Sophia toward the edge of the rooftop. She stumbled forward, half her body lurching out over the ledge and into open air.

Emory grinned, easy and careless. "One more push and Ms. Brown is gone. Still want to walk out of here with Ms. Baker, Mr. White?"

"I've already made my choice. Let Alice go."

There wasn't a trace of concern for Sophia in Benjamin's voice — only worry for Alice.

Emory took that in, then waved at the guards behind him, signaling them to bring both Sophia and Alice down.

By this point, Sophia felt nothing. Before any of this happened, she had only known that the Buckner family had reach across the entire industry and real power in this city.

What she never expected was that Emory could be this reckless with a human life — this completely unreasonable.

And she never imagined that one day her fate would end up in Benjamin's hands.

Just when Sophia had given up entirely, Emory ordered his men to cut her loose and bring her to Benjamin's side.

Alice panicked the moment she saw it. She fought to get to Benjamin, but Emory's guards hoisted her up and carried her off.

"I do love breaking up a happy couple," Emory said, the amusement clear in his voice. "You chose Ms. Baker, Mr. White — so I'm going to make sure that doesn't work out for you."

He paused, then added lightly, "Hand over the navigation rights to Aegis Sea within three days. Otherwise, you'll never see Ms. Baker again."

With that, Emory turned and walked back into the estate. His guards escorted Sophia and Benjamin off the Buckner property.

Only then did the tight knot of dread in Sophia's chest finally start to loosen.

As Benjamin turned to leave, Sophia spoke up. "You're really just going to walk away? Alice is still in there."

She had never liked Alice — but a life was still a life.

"We leave now. Emory won't hurt her."

Benjamin said it like he had no doubt. He pulled Sophia into the car before she could respond and started the engine.

Thirty minutes later, they reached the tarmac. Nicholas and Ethan spotted Sophia and jogged over.

"What happened to you? Did someone kidnap you?" Nicholas's face was tight with worry.

Ethan looked past him to Benjamin. "Benjamin, what's going on?"

"Get on the plane first. It's not safe here."

Benjamin was already boarding before anyone could respond. Sophia and the others followed without hesitation. In under ten minutes, the private jet was rolling down the runway, heading back home.

Once they were clear of the Buckner family's territory, the tension in Benjamin's face finally eased. He walked to the mini fridge, grabbed a bottle of cold water, and set it in front of Sophia.

"It's over. You're safe. Emory's people can't reach us here."

Sophia didn't touch the water. She frowned and asked, "What did you mean earlier when you said Emory wouldn't hurt Alice? Are you actually planning to hand over the navigation rights to Aegis Sea?"

"No."

He answered without hesitation, without so much as a flicker of concern for Alice.

"But if you don't, and Emory actually goes after her —"

"He won't." Benjamin's voice was steady. The look he gave her was unusually direct.

"The Baker family works for the Buckners. They're his people. He won't touch his own. Alice was planted next to me as a corporate spy — he's not going to throw away a piece that useful."

A few short sentences and Sophia's entire understanding of the situation came apart. It took her several seconds to collect herself enough to ask:

"What exactly is going on?"

Benjamin looked at her for a long moment, then let out a quiet breath. "I didn't want to drag you into this. But you're already in it, so there's no point keeping you in the dark."

"Long before your grandfather's falling-out with Xander, the Baker family had already been moving most of their assets overseas. By then, they had already pledged themselves to the Buckners — they were the Buckner family's people."

"Xander seducing Cressida and getting her killed wasn't an accident. The Brown family was rising fast back then, and the Buckner family didn't tolerate rivals. They couldn't allow any family under their influence to grow strong enough to challenge them."