Chapter 114 Chapter 114
Wendy wasn't shy; she was simply stunned into silence.
Her eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before her, and tears streamed down her face. She could no longer bear the humiliation. She spun around and dashed out the door.
Grace shoved Benjamin, urging, "Go after her!"
But Benjamin didn't budge an inch; he was too furious to do anything but strangle the woman himself.
The two of them stood frozen in a standoff while everyone else in the room stood dumbfounded. Landon was the first to recover, quickly rising to his feet and saying, "I'll go take a look."
He called out to two people to chase her out the door.
This sudden, unexpected turn of events put Benjamin in a foul mood, and no one dared joke with him anymore.
Even when someone tried to lighten the mood, the atmosphere remained heavy and never returned to what it had been before.
A long while passed before Landon returned from outside. Benjamin merely gave him a cold glance, not even bothering to ask a question. Instead, Grace called him over and asked, "How is it? Is she okay?"
Even Landon, usually quick-witted, was thrown off by tonight's events. He glanced at Benjamin first before answering Grace, "She's fine. We got her back."
Grace nodded, then turned to look at Benjamin. A mocking smile touched her lips as she said, "Benjamin, whatever she means to you, she sees you as her lover. If you have any shred of humanity left, you should go see her. Even if you want to break up, you owe her an explanation."
Already irritated, Benjamin deliberately raised an eyebrow and asked in feigned surprise, "So you actually care about others?"
She glared at him coldly for a moment, then abruptly stood up and started walking toward the door. But Benjamin grabbed her wrist.
"Sit down," he ordered flatly.
Grace refused to obey, only turning back to face him. Finally, anger flashed across her face as she retorted, "If you won't go, then I'll go see her. That's allowed, isn't it? If you're worried, you can come with me!"
As she spoke, she suddenly grabbed his hand with her free arm, trying to pull him up. "Come on. Come with me. Say a few cold, heartless words to make her give up hope completely. It'll be a good deed."
This was more like that kind Grace.
Seeing her react this way, Benjamin felt somewhat relieved. She was angry with him in front of everyone, yet he wasn't upset. His expression softened as he teased her. "You want me to come along? Wouldn't that be like parading me around?"
Grace stared at him blankly for a moment, then laughed in exasperation. She released his hand and turned to Landon, asking, "Where is she?"
Landon didn't answer immediately. He glanced at Benjamin first. Seeing no sign of objection, he replied, "In the room at the end of the hall."
Grace ordered him curtly, "Take me there."
Landon noticed Benjamin's representative nodding in agreement. He rose and led her out. Only after stepping through the door did he resume his cheerful tone and speak up for Benjamin: "Ms. Hill, please don't be angry with the boss. It isn't his fault. That young lady has been pursuing him all along. He has never been fond of her. We all know he only has eyes for you."
Grace offered no reply, only a faint, cold smile.
Landon, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the awkwardness. He continued to make excuses for Benjamin until they reached the room at the end of the corridor. There, he finally fell silent.
Someone was waiting outside the door. Spotting Landon approaching, they bowed respectfully. Landon turned back to Grace, waiting for her signal. "Ms. Hill?"
Grace knew she couldn't show the slightest hint of urgency. Deliberately feigning hesitation as if weighing her options, she finally motioned Landon aside and whispered, "Tell me the truth—did Benjamin sleep with her or not?"
This question stumped Landon.
First, he hadn't checked with Benjamin yet and didn't know what the other man had said.
Second, Wendy was right there in the room. If Grace asked her, the truth would come out.
A lie doomed to be exposed was better left unsaid.
Landon chuckled awkwardly and replied, "I don't know. I don't share his bed."
Grace said nothing more, simply pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Wendy sat alone in the room, her mind in turmoil. Hearing the door open, she looked up. When she saw Grace enter, her bright, large eyes instantly dimmed.
She’d been chased back by Landon, only to be locked up here again. This high-handed move seemed like Benjamin’s style, but she didn't want to see Grace.
Grace noticed Wendy's disappointment, but she didn't have the energy to acknowledge it. She simply closed and locked the door behind her, then asked bluntly, “Got a phone?”
Wendy froze at the question and blurted out, "What?"
Grace finally couldn't hide her anxiety. She hurried over, sat down in front of Wendy, and demanded, "Is your phone still on you? Get it out."
Wendy was confused by her abruptness and couldn't process it for a moment. She reached into her backpack for her phone and asked, "Ms. Hill, why do you need my phone?"
Grace didn't bother answering. She didn't wait for Wendy to retrieve it. She snatched the backpack, pulled out the phone, and pressed the screen to wake it up. To her frustration, it was locked. “What's the passcode?” she demanded impatiently.
Wendy flushed slightly, hesitated, then answered, "1109."
Grace quickly entered the code to unlock it and immediately dialed Vania's number. She waited anxiously for the ringtone to play. The moment Vania picked up, Grace blurted out, "Vania, it's me, Grace. Listen, Benjamin is no good. You must not marry him.”
"Grace?" Vania sounded utterly shocked. "What are you saying?"
Time was running out. Grace could only warn her friend in the most concise way: "Benjamin is the one who persecuted me. He's a criminal."
As she spoke, Benjamin suddenly pushed open the door and entered. Seeing the phone in Grace's hand, he froze for a moment before his expression darkened.
With a gasp from Wendy, Benjamin seized Grace's wrist from behind. But she clutched the phone tightly, refusing to let go. She shouted into the receiver with all her might, "Benjamin is a murderer! Don't be with him! He's a liar and a bastard!"
Benjamin's face turned ashen with rage. He snatched the phone and threw it across the room. It smashed against the marble floor tiles, shattering into pieces.
Wendy froze in terror on the sofa, staring blankly at Benjamin. Benjamin only turned to look at Grace, his expression unreadable.
Surprisingly calm, Grace slowly sank back onto the sofa and leaned her head against the backrest. She exhaled a long, drawn-out breath. After a moment, she finally looked at Benjamin. A mocking, disdainful smile played on her lips, and her eyes brimmed with defiance. She asked softly, "Didn't see that coming, did you?"