Chapter 148 Chapter 148
Benjamin didn't respond immediately, as if he hadn't quite understood her. His sharp brows lifted slightly as he stared at her blankly.
Grace sneered, "Are you so happy you've gone dumb?"
He had always wanted her to be pregnant, to bear him a child and bind them together forever.
To this end, he had coaxed and deceived her, resorting to ridiculous methods like puncturing condoms with needles.
He should have been overjoyed, yet his heart felt strangely hollow. Joy was buried beneath an inexplicable dread, struggling to surface but finding no escape.
He saw no trace of joy in her eyes. Her gaze held an eerie light, utterly devoid of love.
He had never understood more clearly that she would never feel any emotion for him, not in the past and certainly not in the future.
For the first time in his life, Benjamin felt hopeless.
A man like him—who had killed and set fires—had never known fear.
Yet now, he trembled with terror.
He reached out, seized her wrist, and pulled her close. "Don't do anything foolish, Grace," he said. "No matter how much you hate me, take it out on me. Don't harm the child."
She raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Ultimately, Mrs. Meyer couldn't be saved. The sound of her niece's sobs drifted from the hospital room. Grace didn't go in; she stood quietly in the doorway instead. Afraid she might do something reckless, Benjamin held her wrist tightly, not daring to let go. He murmured, "Come back with me first. Someone will handle things here.”
Grace didn't refuse. She actually followed him back to the apartment.
Benjamin watched over her every minute. Only at night, when she was sound asleep, did he dare sit on the sofa and light two cigarettes to steady his nerves.
By the third night, exhaustion left him barely able to speak. Alarmed, Michael gently urged, "If you can't manage, bring Ms. Hill's parents here. Having them with her would surely lift her spirits."
Benjamin had considered bringing Grace's parents back and reuniting the family. But he dared not, afraid Grace would see it as a way to pressure her and trigger an extreme reaction.
He had promised her that no matter what, he would never harm her parents. That was her sanctuary, and he dared not touch it, not even slightly.
Benjamin's lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile. "Don't provoke her anymore. Who knows what she might do if pushed too far?"
Michael's mouth moved, but the words stayed unspoken.
Truthfully, he wanted to ask Benjamin, "Ms. Hill's pregnancy has just begun. If you kept guarding her day and night like this, when would you ever get to see her give birth?”
“Besides, there's so much to handle at the company, and General Danjo in Mexico needs attention, too. Even if you were Superman, you couldn't split yourself into three."
By the fourth day, the Meyer family's funeral services had finally concluded. Mrs. Meyer's niece came specifically to thank Grace.
She and her husband stood in the small lobby outside the elevator, bowing repeatedly and thanking Grace.
Grace inquired about their future plans. The niece replied, "We'll return to our small town."
Grace nodded slightly. "If you ever need help, please let me know. I'll do my best to help."
The couple exchanged a glance before stammering, "Actually, we have something else we need your help with. Yesterday, the police notified us that the driver who hit Wendy has been apprehended. Last night, the driver's family came to see us, wanting to settle this privately. We don't understand these matters and have never been through anything like this. Could you give us some advice?"
Grace was taken aback and turned to look at Benjamin, who sat silently beside her. His expression remained unreadable as he replied, "This constitutes a criminal offense. It's not something you can simply settle privately. However, if the other party provides compensation and gains the victim's family's forgiveness, it could lead to a more lenient sentence."
They nodded, seeming to grasp the concept only partially. "I see."
Benjamin added, "You'll need to discuss this yourselves. No one else can decide for you.”
They were deeply grateful to Benjamin for arranging the funeral service. After hearing his words, they thanked him again before leaving.
Grace saw them to the elevator. Only after it descended did she turn to Benjamin and ask, "Who did you find to take the fall for you this time?"
Benjamin looked at her for a moment, then suddenly pulled his lips into a smile. "Grace, it's true that I've committed many murders in the past, and I can't guarantee that I won't do it again. But I didn't arrange for Wendy to be hit by a car. Whether you believe me or not, that's the truth. I have no reason to lie to you. I already have enough blood on my hands. Her life wouldn't make a difference either way."
What a candid murderer. She snorted, saying nothing.
As if reading her thoughts, a sudden realization dawned on him. He gave a mocking laugh and leaned back against the wall behind him. "Grace," he asked. "Do you know how you got pregnant? Because I punctured every condom I used beforehand. Not just one hole, either—multiple punctures. I did it all to make sure you'd conceive as quickly as possible.”
Her expression darkened further as she stood there, staring at him coldly.
“Hate me?” He smiled faintly and continued. “Grace, tell me. If I hadn't watched you every minute, if I'd given you the chance to choose for yourself, would you have kept this child or rushed straight to the hospital for an abortion?”
"Abortion." She answered without hesitation, her cold laughter turning accusatory. "Why would I bring a bastard into this world?"
The word "bastard" made Benjamin's eyes darken, but he quickly smiled again. “See? You would have chosen to abort this child. You just never got the chance. So why should I tolerate Wendy giving birth to hers? Yes, I slept with her, but it was consensual. I didn't force her.”
“Afterwards, I made it clear that I didn't want the child and gave her the pills. But she threw them up behind my back. She insisted on carrying the child to term and gave birth. Why should I fulfill her wishes?”
“Did she tell you that she only wanted the child because she was reluctant and promised never to bother me again?" he asked with a faint, cold smile. His words were ruthless and merciless. "Do you really believe that? Would this child truly have no connection to me whatsoever? If that were the case, she could have gone into labor alone in secret. Why did she have to let me know? Grace, if you trust her, let me tell you this: I only want your child. Once you give birth, I'll leave you alone. I’ll never bother you again. Do you believe me?"
Grace felt a chill grip her heart and was unable to utter a single word in reply. She knew he was twisting the truth and was wrong, yet she couldn't find the words to counter him. After several attempts, she finally managed to whisper, “Benjamin, you're shameless.”
"Not just shameless. I'm despicable."
Benjamin suddenly realized that he and Wendy were no different, both trying to use a child to bind someone who didn't love them. He gave a self-mocking smile and reached out to brush the stray strands of hair from her cheek. His fingertips lightly traced her pale cheek as he murmured, "Grace, let's get married. The child in your womb will be the sole heir of the Norman family. It won't be a bastard."
Grace had anticipated Benjamin proposing, but not so soon. "Marriage?" She looked up at him, surprisingly composed. "How? Do we sneak off to register, or will you throw me a grand wedding?"
"What do you want?" he countered. "Whatever you desire, I'll give it to you."
"A wedding. The bigger, the better," she replied calmly.
“Fine.” He agreed, studying her before tentatively adding, "Would you like me to bring your parents here? If they knew you were alive—"
"I've been dead for years!" Grace cut him off sharply. The intensity of her words startled her. She paused to regain her composure before continuing.
"Their daughter died long ago in France alongside her husband, Adrian. Benjamin, have you forgotten? The woman who lives now has nothing to do with them. Let's not disturb their life anymore."
Benjamin nodded slowly.
The so-called wedding was merely her act of revenge. But what did it matter?
If she wanted revenge, let her have it, as long as it made her happy.
"You can have whatever you want. Just don't touch this child." He pulled her into his arms, his hand resting on her flat abdomen. He spoke slowly and deliberately into her ear: "Grace, this child is the last shred of humanity I have left. Don't destroy it."
Grace stiffened slightly before replying, "All right."
He no longer watched her around the clock and even let her go shopping with Vania. Bodyguards still followed behind them, but, unlike before, they kept their distance and never approached to disturb them.
Grace held up a dress for Vania to see and asked, "How do I look in this?"
Vania couldn't fathom how Grace could remain so calm at a time like this. She gave it a quick glance, nodded, and replied, "Fine. You've got the figure for it. You'd look good even wrapped in a bedsheet."
Grace smiled, took the dress into the fitting room, and, after closing the door, looked around inside. Instead of rushing to change, she first fished her phone out of her bag. It was Wendy's phone. Grace never imagined that this device would become so crucial to her one day.
She turned it on and saw the message Nathan had sent: Job done. Everything's back where it belongs.
Feeling slightly relieved, Grace replied: Thanks. Delete all chat records. Don't contact me again.
Nathan was clearly glued to his phone and replied almost instantly. Ms. Hill, is there anything else I can do for you?
Delete the records. Don't reply to me. Don't contact me in any way. Remember that. Grace replied, then paused before adding, I'll contact you if needed. After waiting ten seconds, Nathan simply replied, Got it. Grace pursed her lips, deleted all records from her phone, turned it off, and tucked it into a hidden pocket of her leather bag. Only then did she try on the dress.
She changed and stepped out, casually glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Spotting the bodyguard stationed outside the store entrance, she finally gave Vania the Meyer residence address. She made Vania repeat it to confirm that she had memorized it. Then, she instructed, "The items are in the junk pile at the stairwell corner. You’ll have to look for them yourself. It’s a file folder. Be careful when you go—don't let anyone see you. Don't look at what's inside. Just keep it safe for me.”
Vania felt nervous but nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s safe. As long as I'm here, it's safe."
"No need." Grace gave a faint smile, her eyes holding an unusual gleam. "If Benjamin asks for it, just give it to him. Don't resist him."
Vania was baffled. How could she hand over something she had retrieved with such caution? Grace spoke as if Benjamin's demand were inevitable. Vania looked at Grace in confusion, but Grace offered no explanation. She only said, "Don't ask why. Just do as I say.”