Chapter 139 Chapter 139
It was late at night by the time they returned to the apartment. Grace was exhausted. After entering, she headed straight upstairs toward the bedroom. Benjamin wanted to follow her, but he was afraid of risking her displeasure, so he stopped in the living room. "Grace." He called her name. When she turned around, he was at a loss for words and simply smiled. "Good night."
Grace gave a stiff half-smile, said nothing, and turned into the bedroom.
Benjamin stood there alone for a moment before heading to the study to call Michael.
Michael lived downstairs and came up immediately upon receiving the call. The study door wasn't fully closed. He knocked lightly twice, pushed it open, and found Benjamin sitting silently behind the desk, smoking.
In the haze of smoke, Benjamin's expression was dark and inscrutable; all traces of the warmth and joy he'd shown with Grace had vanished. Michael dared not look for too long. He stood with his hands clasped before him near the desk. He asked cautiously, "What are your orders?"
Benjamin remained silent for a moment before asking, "What did she say when she met with Vania this afternoon?"
Michael couldn't answer. He'd been seated too far away, and they'd spoken softly. Aside from Vania's outburst when she lost her temper, he hadn't overheard much of their conversation.
Michael dared not conceal the truth and told it as it was. Seeing no reaction from Benjamin, Michael hesitated before adding, "Perhaps I should look into Miss Taylor."
Ever since receiving Vania's call, Grace had visibly changed. She was like a vine on the verge of withering that suddenly absorbed water and burst overnight with renewed vitality. Green life spread gradually from the inconspicuous tendrils, unnoticed until it had permeated every leaf and branch.
If Michael could notice Grace's transformation so clearly, how could Benjamin—who was focused on her—remain oblivious?
Yet Benjamin's response caught Michael off guard. "Never mind. Let's leave it at that for now." His tone was flat, and a faint, self-deceptive smile played at the corners of his lips.
Michael felt a pang of unease but was unsure what to say, so he fell silent.
For two or three days straight, Grace showed no signs of activity, staying cooped up in the apartment. By the weekend, Benjamin couldn't stand it anymore. Over dinner, he asked, "Want to go fishing together tomorrow?"
She shook her head. "Don't feel like it."
Benjamin's brow furrowed slightly. He set down his fork and looked at her, trying again. "How about getting some people together for cards?"
Grace lifted her eyes to meet his and couldn't help but smile. "Occasionally, sure. But I can't keep picking on people.”
Her words amused him. He curved his lips into a soft smile as he looked at her. "But you have to find something to do. You can't just stay cooped up at home."
Grace's eyebrows lifted slightly, hinting at surprise. "Can I just go out whenever I want?"
The question was so direct that it made Benjamin feel awkward. He replied, "I never thought of you as a prisoner." After saying it, he seemed to feel a twinge of guilt and added, "Not now, and never will be."
Grace shrugged it off. After a moment, she asked, "Then can I visit the set tomorrow? Kari's filming there and invited me over.”
Kari was the young starlet dating Vito. They had added each other on WhatsApp during their card game that night and had stayed in touch ever since.
Kari had even sent Grace photos from the set and invited her to visit. Although Grace wasn't interested in Kari or filming, she had to go for the sake of her plans.
Whatever request she made, Benjamin would agree to it. He nodded. "Sure, I'll take you."
The next day, he drove her to the film studio on the outskirts of Seattle to visit Kari on set.
Seeing Benjamin show up with Grace, Kari was flattered. She asked the director for a break and personally escorted them around the set for most of the day.
Grace seemed in high spirits. Before leaving, she asked Kari excitedly, “Can we sneak back into the city tonight? Let's grab dinner together. How about it?"
Kari had a large fan base and was pampered by the entire crew, so she enjoyed considerable freedom. Hearing this, Kari nodded eagerly. "Sure!" Then she turned to Benjamin and asked, "Would you come, Mr. Norman?"
Benjamin had remained silent beside Grace throughout the trip. Glancing at Grace first, he gave a slight nod. "Invite Vito, let's have dinner together."
"Great!" Kari, unaware of the reason, nodded cheerfully. Then she complained, "But Vito's so busy; he never has time for me. I'm afraid I can't get him to come. Maybe you could call him, and give him an order?”
Benjamin gave a faint tug at the corner of his mouth. "Tell him I want him to come."
With that, Vito had to come, whether he liked it or not. But during dinner that night, he kept a sour expression on his face and didn't look pleased at all.
Even when Grace and Kari stepped away to use the restroom, he turned to Benjamin and demanded, "Alex, are you genuinely clueless, or are you just playing dumb? Can't you see this woman has ulterior motives? Who does she think she is? A snake like her chasing after some twenty-something starlet!"
"Yes.” Benjamin remained calm, even nodding slowly. "But as long as she's happy, what does it matter?"
Vito was flabbergasted, staring at him in disbelief for a moment. "Alex, I swear you're possessed by the devil." He couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up, stormed out, and bumped into Grace and Kari at the doorway. Seeing his state, Kari asked in surprise, "Vito, where are you going?"
Vito shot Grace a glare, said nothing, grabbed Kari's wrist, and dragged her out.
Grace neither stopped them nor asked questions. She simply watched them leave before returning to her room with a composed expression. Benjamin was still seated at the table. He looked up and gave her a faint smile. "Come eat."
They both acted as if nothing had happened, eating their meal in silence. Only then did they rise to leave.
He had had a few drinks. When he tried to drive, she stopped him. "I'll drive," she said, stepping forward to open the door and slide into the driver's seat. He stood there for a moment, watching her, before walking around to sit beside her. This was his new car, which was unfamiliar to her. She studied it for a moment before starting the engine.
He remained silent, leaning against the door and watching her. Her hair had grown longer. It was undyed and unstyled, falling smoothly to her shoulders.
"Grace?" he suddenly called softly.
Grace didn't turn her head, only responding, "Hmm?"
He said, "If you want to see Vito in the future, just tell me. There's no need to go through all this trouble.”
"All right," she replied calmly, offering no explanation.
His patience was wearing thin. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Why do you have to do this?"
Grace pursed her lips slightly and answered, “People need something to live for.”
He paused, smiling involuntarily, then asked, "Is your goal to get close to Vito and use that to drive a wedge between us? To make us attack each other?"
It was the classic formula for feuding families in movies and on TV. If she had had more time and hadn't hated Benjamin so intensely, she might have chosen that path.
But she didn't have time to sow discord between them or wait for the Norman family to crumble from within now. Her current actions were merely to confuse Benjamin. Her mission was to ally with Landon in Mexico and expose the Norman family's illegal activities.
It was difficult, but she had no other choice.
Grace nodded slowly. "Benjamin, I won't hide it from you. I can't let go of the past yet. I can only carry it with me, step by step, toward my goal. I don't know where I'll end up, whether I can let go, or when I might.”
Benjamin nodded slowly, too, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That's good. At least you can move forward."
When they arrived home, Benjamin followed Grace upstairs as usual but stopped her just before she entered the bedroom. Drunk, he pushed her hard against the wall and leaned in to trap her with his arms. She tried to struggle, but he murmured, "Don't be afraid. I won't touch you.”
He did as he said. He didn't touch her at all, from top to bottom. He merely used his arms and body to form a cage around her. He stared at her, slowly leaning in and tilting his head inch by inch until his thin lips were almost touching hers. Grace didn't move. She only lowered her eyelids, pressed her lips together slightly, and breathed carefully. He lingered there for a long moment before finally passing her by. His warm breath brushed her cheek and settled by her ear.
"Grace," he murmured softly. "I'll walk with you. Right by your side, always. Until you're ready to let go of the past or reach your goal."
She stiffened slightly and raised her hand to push him away. A cold laugh escaped her lips as she asked, "Benjamin, have you been drinking?"
The disparity in their strength was stark. No matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't budge him. He held her captive in his arms, his body completely still as he lowered his head to look at her.
She stopped struggling and lifted her head to meet his gaze. She sneered. "Alex, I wonder if someone else has taken your place. Hearing such sappy words from you is astonishing! Will you stay with me until I reach my goal? If that's what you want, save yourself the trouble. Just die for me. Once you're dead, all my hatred will be resolved, and I can finally let go of the past."