Chapter 156

Chapter 156

I can't keep wasting time in Solstice. I have to get home as soon as possible and find out for myself what Benjamin is hiding from me.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Benjamin's number.

He picked up after three rings.

"Ophelia?" Benjamin's low, husky voice came through the speaker, carrying that familiar tenderness and warmth. "Why are you calling me at this hour? It should be afternoon there in Solstice, right? Aren't you with your grandfather?"

Hearing his affectionate tone, just like always, my nose suddenly stung.

"Just finished lunch, back in my room resting." I tried to keep my voice calm. "What about you? Did you take your medication on time today? Does your stomach still hurt?"

"I did. Gray watches me like a hawk every day." He let out a soft laugh, his voice tinged with laziness. "My stomach's fine. With you not home, all I do is review documents and sleep. I've been very good."

The more casually he spoke, the stronger that unease in my chest grew.

"Benjamin." I gripped my phone tighter, my knuckles turning white. "Are you hiding something from me?"

The line went quiet for a second.

"Why would you suddenly ask that?" His tone remained steady, not a ripple of emotion. "Did something happen in Solstice? Is Mr. White giving you a hard time?"

"No." I took a deep breath, pushing down the panic rising in my chest. "I just feel like you've been acting strange lately. If you're really dealing with some kind of trouble, or if something's wrong with your health, you have to tell me. Don't you dare shoulder it alone."

"Silly girl." He sighed softly, his voice gentle. "What could possibly be wrong? The Wilson Group is running smoothly, and I eat my meals and take my medicine on time every day. Don't overthink it. Just spend time with your grandfather in Solstice, finish what you need to do, and come home. I'll pick you up at the airport."

His answer was airtight, perfect like a script he'd prepared in advance.

But the more perfect it was, the more afraid I became. He was too good at masking his emotions. As long as he didn't want to talk, I couldn't pry his mouth open.

"Okay, I understand." I didn't press further. As soon as I hung up, I immediately opened a flight booking app and reserved a ticket to Harbor City for tomorrow morning.

Whatever plans Sawyer had, I had to leave tomorrow.

That night, I slept restlessly, my dreams filled with images of Benjamin covered in blood.

The next morning, I quickly washed up and packed my luggage. When I pulled open the drawer to get my passport and visa, my movements froze.

The drawer was empty.

My heart sank. I immediately searched through my bag and suitcase, even checking under the bed and in the closet.

Nothing. My passport, visa, and ID card—all gone without a trace.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Yesterday when I got my phone back, the documents had been sitting right there in the drawer. The manor's security was airtight—not even a fly could get in, much less a thief.

The only explanation was that someone in the manor had taken them.

Face dark, I pulled open my door, ready to confront Sawyer and demand answers. Mia happened to be walking past.

She wore a tailored professional outfit, holding an itinerary in her hands. Seeing me with my suitcase, her face showed no surprise whatsoever.

"Ms. White, are you heading out?" Mia inclined her head slightly, her tone respectful yet coldly businesslike.

"Where are my documents?" I looked at her coldly, cutting straight to the point. "Don't tell me we had a break-in."

Mia pushed up her rimless glasses, her expression calm. "Ms. White, Mr. White said that since you rarely visit Solstice, and the medical equipment exhibition opens tomorrow, he hopes you can attend with him. As for your documents, he's already secured them for safekeeping. Once the exhibition ends, they'll naturally be returned to you."

I laughed bitterly.

'Secured for safekeeping'? 'Attend the exhibition'? This was clearly house arrest in disguise! He'd anticipated I'd rush back home, so he'd had someone hide my documents ahead of time, completely cutting off my escape route.

"What if I insist on leaving today?" I stared at Mia, my gaze sharp.

"Ms. White, without your documents, you won't even make it through airport security." Mia's tone remained steady, neither servile nor arrogant. "Mr. White is doing this for your own good. Mr. Brooks will also be attending the exhibition tomorrow. He hopes you two can have more opportunities to interact."

I gripped the suitcase handle so tightly my nails nearly dug into my palm.

For the sake of pushing me together with Francis, for the sake of tearing me away from Benjamin, Sawyer had resorted to tactics like this. On Solstice soil, in his private manor, without documents, I was completely trapped.

Fighting back would do no good—it would only enrage Sawyer and make my confinement even tighter.

I took a deep breath, released the suitcase handle, and looked at Mia coldly.

"Fine. I'll stay." I gritted my teeth, forcing out each word. "Go tell Grandfather that I'll attend tomorrow's exhibition on time."

The next day, Suncrest City International Exhibition Center.

The venue buzzed with voices, gathering Europe's top medical equipment manufacturers. I wore a sharply tailored black professional suit, pushing Sawyer's wheelchair through the exhibition halls. Francis followed alongside, playing the role of half-guide.

At the core exhibition area, Sawyer raised his hand slightly, signaling a stop. A group of European business magnates quickly gathered around us.

"Gentlemen." Sawyer began in fluent Solstice, then switched to English. "Allow me to formally introduce my granddaughter, Ophelia. Starting today, she will serve as the sole heir of the White Group family, with full authority to represent me in handling all related business matters in Europe."

His announcement was met with a round of applause and congratulations.

I maintained a polished smile, accepting business cards one by one, while my heart kept sinking. He was making a unilateral decision, putting me on the spot publicly. Francis smiled beside me, deflecting several drinks on my behalf, his eyes showing a natural familiarity, as if we were already bound together in a business partnership.

The exhibition continued until afternoon. As soon as it ended, I excused myself claiming I felt unwell, avoided Francis, and headed straight for the underground parking garage.

I had to find a way to leave, to go to the embassy and get replacement documents so I could return home.

But I'd barely reached the exit when four burly European bodyguards in black suits blocked my path like a wall.

"Ms. White, Mr. White has instructed us to escort you back to the manor." The lead bodyguard spoke in broken Chinese, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I noticed the telltale bulges at their waists and knew forcing my way through would be futile.

Back at the manor, I was directly "escorted" to a guest room in the deepest part of the second floor. The door was locked from the outside. The landline in the room had its cord cut. My phone still hadn't been returned.

I was under house arrest.