Chapter 14 Whispers in the Garden
The tour wasn't over yet; Ben insisted on showing me the outdoor expanses, as if parading the estate's beauty would somehow bind me to this twisted arrangement. We stepped out through the French doors of the sunroom, the morning air crisp and scented with dew-kissed grass. The mansion loomed behind us, its brick and glass facade glowing warmly in the sunlight, but my thoughts were elsewhere, on Alexander's parting glance, that flicker of heat that promised more stolen moments.
"Come on, there's more to this place than stuffy rooms," Ben said, his arm brushing mine in a possessive gesture that felt forced.
He led me down a flagstone path that wound through the immediate gardens, the same ones that had hosted our sham wedding yesterday. The space was immense, easily spanning several acres, a symphony of natural splendor meticulously curated. Hedges trimmed into geometric shapes bordered beds of vibrant flowers, roses in shades of crimson and blush, lilies standing tall like sentinels, and borders of lavender releasing their soothing aroma with every breeze. In the distance, the lake shimmered under the sun, its surface dotted with lily pads and the occasional ripple from hidden fish. Willows trailed their branches into the water, creating secluded nooks where one could hide from the world.
A few servants dotted the landscape: a groundskeeper in overalls tending to a flowerbed, his shears snipping with rhythmic precision; a maid carrying a basket of linens across the lawn, her steps quick and unobtrusive. They were sparse, perhaps no more than a dozen in total for the entire estate, giving the place an air of intimate seclusion rather than bustling activity.
As we strolled, Ben picked up his family narrative, his voice a mix of casual disdain and calculated revelation.
"Like I was saying, Mom's marriage to Alexander was all about me, she wants to give me a better life. I kept my mother’s maiden name because I don’t want to bear his name. He should go get himself a son if he needs one. She was no fool, saw his wealth as a lifeline. And him? He likes 'em mature, experienced. Mom looked damn good for her age; people thought they were contemporaries. No creepy vibes there." He kicked at a pebble on the path, sending it skittering into the grass. "But after the accident... poof. Gone. I stuck around because cutting off the money train would be stupid, and letting my mum's effort and sacrifice go to waste. Alexander's got the empire, real estate, investments, you name it."
We veered toward a rose arbor, the blooms heavy and fragrant, petals littering the ground like confetti from yesterday's ceremony. The gazebo stood nearby, its white lattice still adorned with wilting garlands. Memories of the vows, hollow words exchanged under watchful eyes, flashed through my mind, and Alexander's stare throughout the ceremony, but they paled against the visceral recall of Alexander's eye undressing me all through the ceremony.
Ben stopped to pluck a rose, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it aside.
"The board seat was the clincher for me. Alexander promised it once I tied the knot, saying it showed 'maturity.' That's why you're here, Maddie. My golden ticket. Without this marriage, I'm just the spoiled stepson leeching off his fortune." His laugh was bitter, echoing across the garden. "But don't get me wrong, I hate the bastard. Don't trust him one bit. And now he's eyeing you like fresh meat. Seriously, stay clear. He's got skeletons in his closet that could bury us all, I know why I’m repeating myself."
His words were a transparent ploy, dripping with manipulation to turn me against Alexander. I could see the calculation in his eyes, the way he watched for my reaction. But I knew better; Alexander had already known the marriage's falsity, his low voice murmuring it against my skin as we tangled in the sheets. Keeping that secret felt like holding a loaded gun, powerful, dangerous.
"Tell me more about the accident," I prompted, steering the conversation as we wandered deeper into the garden. Paths branched off toward orchards heavy with ripening fruit, apples and pears bending branches low, and a small brook that fed into the lake, its banks lined with ferns and wildflowers. The natural beauty was breathtaking, a far cry from the urban grit I'd known before this arrangement.
Ben shrugged, but his jaw tightened.
"Official report: slippery roads, lost control. But come on, Mom was a pro driver. And Alexander? He benefited big time. Inherited her little shares, consolidated power. I think he knows more than he lets on. Dangerous, like I said. Hiding God knows what, shady deals, maybe worse." He glanced at me sidelong, his tone shifting to faux concern. "Just watch yourself around him. Those stares? Not innocent."
We reached the lake's edge, the water lapping gently at a wooden dock where a rowboat bobbed lazily. Swans glided across the surface, their white feathers pristine against the blue. The estate's vastness stretched around us, fields of wildflowers swaying in the wind, wooded trails disappearing into the horizon. It was a paradise, but one laced with thorns.
Ben turned to face me fully, his expression serious.
"Look, this marriage is business. You can have your fun on the side, someone to fuck, whatever. But keep it quiet. I can't risk the board finding out, or Alexander sniffing around. We divorce in a year as agreed, a clean split, and everyone's happy."
I nodded, biting back a retort. He had no idea my "fun" had already begun with the very man he despised. The irony burned sweetly in my chest.
As the sun climbed higher, we looped back toward the mansion, the tour winding down. Ben yawned dramatically, stretching his arms.
"Alright, that's the grand reveal. I'm beat, had a long night with some pretty girls. You know, celebrating properly." He winked, clearly expecting jealousy to flare in my eyes.
Instead, I smiled serenely, the ache from my own long night with Alexander a private triumph.
"Sounds exhausting. Enjoy your rest."
We parted at the foyer, heading to our separate rooms.