Chapter 119 Chapter 119
Distracted all day, Wendy couldn't focus in evening study hall and left early for home.
As soon as she reached the apartment building, she saw Benjamin's car parked on the side of the road.
She froze for a moment, surprised and delighted. She almost ran toward it but then remembered last night's incident. Deliberately ignoring the car, she walked past it.
She expected the car to slowly follow her or for Benjamin to roll down the window and call out to her. But, to her surprise, even after she walked several meters past, the car remained parked there, motionless.
Frustrated and annoyed, Wendy's temper flared. She turned back, raised her hand, and knocked on the car window.
The window slid down slowly, revealing Benjamin's handsome yet impassive face.
His lips were pressed together slightly. He said nothing, only raising his eyes to meet hers.
Wendy had been seething with anger, but it had somehow transformed into hurt. She bit her lip and asked, "Weren't you here to find me?"
Benjamin merely tilted his head toward the car interior and said flatly, "Get in."
She didn't want to obey him like this, but finally she walked around the front of the car, opened the passenger door, and slid inside.
However, she wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. She asked coldly, "What did you want?"
Benjamin offered no explanation about last night. He simply handed her a phone. It was the latest model, just released, that many people were still trying to get their hands on. Before she could register surprise, he added, "Everything's copied over. But I changed the number. You'll have to tell your friends yourself."
She froze, puzzled. "Why did you change my phone number?"
Benjamin replied, "Someone's tracing that number. It's too much trouble for you to have it."
Wendy wasn't stupid. She understood immediately.
Grace had used her phone to call Miss Taylor yesterday. Miss Taylor wouldn't let it go and would trace the number back to her.
Maybe he didn't want to involve her in this mess. Wendy tried to make excuses for Benjamin but then felt hurt and retorted, "I didn't make that call! Whoever did it should be held accountable. What does it have to do with me?"
Benjamin didn't respond. He merely tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "If anyone contacts you asking about the old number, just say you never used it."
Wendy lowered her head and remained silent for a long moment before suddenly asking, "Are you really going to get engaged to Miss Taylor?"
Benjamin replied, "It was an arrangement from home. But the engagement is off now."
"Off?" Wendy gasped. She had completely forgotten the sadness and anger she had felt when Isabella first told her about Benjamin's engagement. Hesitating, she asked again, "Was it because of what Ms. Hill said?"
Benjamin answered, "No, it's because I found Grace."
Wendy was stunned. While her heart ached, she also felt inexplicably moved.
He loved Grace deeply, even though she had deceived him, framed him, and still regarded him as an enemy.
She wanted to smile and wish him well, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't manage a smile.
Wendy lowered her head, sniffed hard, and finally said, "I wish you happiness."
Benjamin fell silent and reached out to ruffle her hair, murmuring, "We agreed long ago—don't fall in love with me."
"I didn't fall in love with you!" Wendy protested, her eyes red. But, seeing the half-smile in his eyes, she knew she couldn't deceive herself anymore. Clenching her jaw, she threw her arms around Benjamin's neck and asked, "If I'd met you sooner, would you have fallen for me?"
Benjamin didn't answer. After a moment, he gently patted her back and said softly, "Wendy, let go. Don't talk like a child."
"I won't!" She no longer cared about appearances or pretending to wish him happiness. She cried out, "I'm not a child! Why can't you love me? Ms. Hill doesn't cherish or love you at all. She's always hated you. Why are you so foolish, insisting on loving her?"
Why love Grace? Benjamin himself had no answer. Yet, Wendy had unwittingly spoken the truth. Grace didn't love him at all.
Even if she slept with him or agreed to marry him, it would be for other reasons.
Benjamin's face darkened. He pushed Wendy away and said coldly, "Get out."
His expression was so grim that Wendy felt a sudden wave of fear wash over her. She also felt ashamed of the things she'd blurted out in her panic. Tears welled up instantly. Without a word, she turned, opened the car door, and ran out.
Benjamin had no desire to comfort her and felt irritated toward her.
He drove straight back to Grace's villa. It wasn't late, but Grace had already gone to bed, showing no intention of waiting for him.
Feeling irritated, he considered forcing himself on her. But when he pinned her soft body beneath his, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he gritted his teeth and demanded, "How can you sleep so soundly? Not even curious if I'll get engaged to your friend tomorrow?"
Grace smiled, her answer unwavering. "You won't."
Benjamin snorted, speaking out of spite. “Why?”
"I wasn't sure before, but seeing you like this...now I am." She giggled and gently patted his cheek. Then, she leaned in to brush his lips, coaxing him like a child. “All right, stop sulking. Come on, tell me—how did you fool that silly girl, Vania?"
He felt annoyed yet helpless against her. Rolling off her and leaning against the headboard, he asked, "How did you know I tricked her?"
She sat up halfway and snuggled closer to him under the covers. Smirking triumphantly, she replied, "Because she's stubborn. She never fears threats or arguments—only deception works. She hasn't come looking for me, so clearly she still doesn't know I'm in your hands. I'm curious how you fooled her. Did you grit your teeth and claim not to know me?"
She was so sharp. Trapped here and cut off from any outside news, her guesses still matched reality almost perfectly. Benjamin didn't know whether to be annoyed or proud of her. He turned his head to look into her bright, clear eyes and found himself speechless.
From his expression alone, Grace knew her guesses were spot on.
In high spirits, she laughed and flopped back, propping her head up to watch him. "Let me guess what happened next. How was the engagement called off? Is Wendy's phone still in your possession?”
Benjamin nodded with interest. "Yes, it is. Go on.”
"Hmm, that's exactly it. Vania couldn't reach me through that number, so she had to come back to you. But you insisted that you didn't know me. Then what? Someone as shameless as you would definitely seize the chance to play the victim and turn the tables. Since we can't trust each other, this engagement can't stand!"
Her guess was almost spot-on. Benjamin stared at her intently, then lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers. He sighed. "Grace, you really are a little devil."
"You flattered me." She just smiled. After a moment, she asked, "But what about Wendy? Vania will track her down through the phone number sooner or later. You can't kill the girl just to silence her over this, can you? She seems stubborn, too. Are you going to sell your body to appease her?”
The words stung, and Benjamin couldn't help but reach out and pinch her waist. He growled, "You little brat! Finding new ways to insult me?"
She laughed and dodged, then countered with her own hands.
Their bodies pressed together in a playful struggle. In the blink of an eye, Benjamin's body changed. He lifted his leg to pin her down, breathing heavily and growling softly, "Stop it!"
Grace deliberately raised her knee to brush against his sensitive spot. Biting her lip, she said, "Judging by that reaction, you didn't sell your body today."
Benjamin was both furious and exasperated. He reached to pin her leg, but his hand slid up her thigh as he gritted his teeth. "You're asking for trouble. Weren't you satisfied this morning?"
She laughed and struggled, flipping him over with a forceful twist. Now straddling him, she looked down at him. "Alex, I told you—if you make me happy, I'll let you have your way."
When Grace set her mind to delighting someone, she could bring endless joy. He wasn't new to losing himself in her, but never like this. She didn't just receive; she demanded and pursued him.
The next day was the weekend, which was supposed to be Benjamin's engagement day. After two days of indulgence, however, he slept late into the afternoon, a rare occurrence. Grace, however, slept even more soundly than he did, curled up like a cat in his arms. When he stirred, she wrinkled her delicate brow and murmured with her eyes closed, "Don't move. Let me sleep a little longer."
Benjamin really did lie back down, letting her sleep in his embrace.
The room was quiet, but suddenly, his phone on the bedside table rang. Fearing he would wake her, Benjamin reached out to grab it. But when he saw the caller ID, he hesitated, glancing down at Grace in his arms. She was still lying there with her eyes closed. Yet, as if she had seen the number herself, she said lazily, "It must be Vania. Answer it quickly. She won’t stop calling if you don’t pick up.”
Benjamin froze for a moment, then couldn't help but smile. Leaning down, he pressed a firm kiss to her lips and murmured softly, "You little devil!"