Chapter 111 Chapter 111
As everyone knew, Benjamin never smoked. But Alex was different. He used to be a street thug who was always seen with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
He quit smoking, never taking a single drag, not even during his most frustrating moments.
Yet, he couldn't forget her. He knew she never belonged to him and that she hated him, but he still couldn't let go.
She wasn't a cigarette; she was his drug.
Benjamin felt resentment and frustration, but more than anything, he felt helpless and powerless. His face remained calm as he fixed his gaze on her and asked softly, "And then?"
Grace didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, she suddenly said, "Alex, I'm really tired. Let's just let each other go. As long as you don't bother us, I promise I'll never use that thing again. Go be with Benjamin in peace and forget everything else."
Benjamin chuckled softly and asked, "Where are the things you packed up?"
"In a safe place. You won't find them," Grace replied. She paused, then added, "I mailed them to the person I trust most."
"Hmm, and you agreed to check in at set times. If she didn't hear from you, she'd send them out, right?” Benjamin scoffed, his mocking gaze fixed on her. "Grace, tell me—who is this person you trust most? Is she Vania?"
Grace froze, realizing why Benjamin had tracked her down. She hadn't left any traces. Before leaving for Canada, she tossed that phone in an airport bathroom and shredded Vania's ID and bank cards before throwing them in the trash. Moreover, she and Vania hadn't been in frequent contact—hardly ever, in fact. How had he found her through Vania?
Her expression shifted slightly, but Adrian beside her couldn't hold back. He snapped, "What did you do to Vania?"
Benjamin smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on Grace. "You can guess."
Grace knew Vania's temperament. She would never betray herself, even under duress. Her face darkened as she forced back the panic rising within her. Her voice was low and threatening. "Don't you dare touch her. She's different from us. Her father is powerful. If you cross her, he won't let you off the hook."
"That’s right. She is indeed different from you." Benjamin nodded slowly and pulled a photograph from his pocket to show Grace. It depicted a couple in an intimate embrace, clearly sharing a special bond. "She's my current girlfriend. Soon, she'll be my fiancée. Then she'll become my wife." He smiled softly and asked Grace, "I believe all of this is God's plan. Don't you?"
Grace staggered slightly, and Adrian quickly reached around to steady her, gripping her hand tightly.
A cold smile flickered across Benjamin's lips. He rose from the sofa and stepped closer to Grace. His voice was laced with mockery. "Are you sure you mailed the package to Vania? Because she never received it. Which courier service did you use? Maybe you should file a complaint.”
Grace couldn't answer. Not a single word came out.
"Is the story falling apart?" he asked, watching her like she was a prey. “Grace, you’re so clever. But why treat me like a fool? Did you really think I'd let Robert keep my files? Would you? What about those shady deals Norman Science is involved in? What could you possibly know?"
He'd already closed the distance to her. Adrian couldn't let him get near Grace. Without a second thought, he stepped forward and blocked Benjamin's path. "Bastard!" he cursed, swinging his fist toward Benjamin's face. Benjamin gave a faint, cold smile. He tilted his head slightly to dodge the punch, then raised his hand to block Adrian's arm. Seizing the opportunity, Benjamin yanked Adrian's arm sideways with such speed that it was almost impossible to follow. Adrian stumbled forward and crashed to the ground.
Grace gasped, instinctively rushing to Adrian's aid. However, Benjamin grabbed her arm and pulled her forcefully in front of him. Seeing this, Adrian charged forward again, furious. "Let her go!" he roared.
Benjamin didn't even glance at him. He simply raised his foot and sent Adrian flying with a single kick. He lowered his head to look at Grace. "Feeling protective already?"
Grace struggled, but Benjamin's grip was tightened, making it impossible for her to break free. Glancing anxiously at the beaten Adrian, she turned back to Benjamin and pleaded, "This is between us. Don't drag others into it, okay?"
"Others?" Benjamin's eyes blazed with fury, and a cold smile curled his lips as he sneered.
"You mean Adrian? How could he be ‘others’? Isn't he your lover? Grace, tell me—who drugged the water? Who rescued you? Your heart belongs to him. How can you call him "others"?
He dragged Grace by the arm and calmly beat Adrian until his head was split open. The blows were brutal and relentless, clearly intended to kill. Yet Adrian was stubborn, rising again and again, only to be knocked down repeatedly until he finally collapsed, unable to get up.
Grace watched, her heart breaking. Seeing Adrian lying there, his life hanging in the balance, she could no longer hold back. With a fierce bite, she sank her teeth into Benjamin's wrist.
Benjamin stiffened but refused to let go. He didn't shake her off. Instead, he leaned closer, his words deliberate. "Bite harder, Grace. Only then will I know this isn't a dream."
Hearing this, Grace couldn't bite down any harder. She slowly released her grip and lifted her head to stare at him in disbelief. "Alex, you're a pervert."
"That's right. I am a pervert," he replied with a smile. He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. "I'm perverted enough to sleep in the bed you slept in and inhale the scent you left on your pillow. How could I not be a pervert?"
Seeing the terror spread across her face, his smile only grew brighter. He asked softly, "Grace, tell me. What were you doing back then? Were you in bed with Adrian? Did he make you happy?"
"Pervert.” She couldn't find any other words and only repeated it.
Benjamin smiled faintly and murmured, "That's not perverted enough. I'm going to do something even more perverted."
With that, he grabbed Grace and dragged her inside, tossing her onto the sofa. He pinned her down with his leg, seized her wrists, pulled them above her head, and ripped at her clothes with his other hand.
His intent was clear. Terrified and panicked, Grace glanced frantically at the unconscious Adrian in the distance. She struggled desperately and cried out, "No, Alex, let me go!"
"Save your tears. They're useless," he replied coldly. Without hesitation, he tore her clothes apart and stripped her. Her struggles were futile. In despair, she stopped, tears streaming down her face, and begged, "Alex, please. Don't do this in front of him."
His movements paused. He lifted his eyes to meet hers. "You'd go mad, would you?"
"Yes." She answered through her tears.
He gave a faint, almost mocking smile. "But did you ever consider that when you lunged to kill me? When you followed Adrian? That I might go mad, too?"
"But you said you loved me. You love me." She was frantic. She looked at him helplessly and begged for the last shred of his humanity. "Alex, don't you remember? You said you loved me. If you ever loved me, you wouldn't do this to me."
"Love?" He chuckled bitterly, his eyes slowly reddening. He asked hoarsely, "What is love? Grace, you never taught me."