Chapter 152 Chapter 152
Benjamin paused for a moment before answering. "Grace, I have no emotional attachment to them. Killing him would mean nothing to me."
He wasn't trying to fool her. Had Grace truly met with misfortune earlier, he would have killed Old Norman in a fit of rage. Even though Grace was safe now, his anger burned fiercely. Anyone who dared to touch his woman or child would pay the price, even if it turned out to be a false alarm.
He drove Grace to a safe location first—just two blocks away, a small house facing the street. Benjamin parked by the curb but didn't get out. He handed her a set of keys and said, "Stay here. Don't wander off. I'll pick you up once I've handled this."
Grace nodded in agreement. As she turned to get out, Benjamin called after her. She looked back and saw him staring at her with a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Don't hurt the baby," he said.
Truth be told, Grace had considered it moments ago.
She had just narrowly escaped death. The shock had caused her to fall, and miscarriage would have been entirely plausible.
If the baby were lost now, Old Norman would be to blame.
But she hadn't expected Benjamin to plead with her like this. Did he have a premonition? Or had he spotted some flaw? Grace couldn't guess, and her mood grew more complicated. Pressing her lips together, she replied coldly, "Benjamin, are you out of your mind? Saying such ridiculous things!"
Benjamin smiled but said nothing more. He watched her get out of the car and enter the house before turning his vehicle back toward the apartment. Old Norman hadn't left yet. Sitting in the downstairs living room, he learned that no one had been found in the upstairs study. Furious, he slammed his cane hard against the floorboards and roared, "Search! A living person can hide anywhere!"
After finally breaking down the study door, they found it empty. Old Norman, his men, and even Michael—who had personally escorted Grace inside—were momentarily stunned. Old Norman was a shrewd man. Seeing Michael's expression, he knew something was amiss in the study. He was determined to eliminate Grace, even if it meant confronting Benjamin directly. If he failed this time, he might never get another chance. Old Norman ordered his men to drag Michael over and force him to kneel before him. In an icy voice, he demanded, "Michael, tell me the truth. Where is she?"
Vito rushed over to plead with his grandfather. But before he could finish calling out, "Grandpa," Old Norman cracked his cane down on Vito. "Get out!" he roared. "This doesn't concern you!"
Old Norman turned back to Michael, who was now kneeling before him, beaten and covered in wounds. He snorted. "Michael, your loyalty pleases me. I haven't raised you for twenty years in vain! But you should also understand that woman is a curse. She'll destroy Benjamin! What is loyalty? It isn't about letting Benjamin do whatever he wants. Loyalty is knowing what truly benefits him!"
Before he could finish, a soft chuckle echoed from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Benjamin standing there with a faint, ambiguous smile. He had returned unnoticed. He addressed Old Norman, "Grandpa, perhaps you should explain what truly benefits me."
Old Norman hadn't expected him back so soon. Yet, judging by his expression, Old Norman knew today's plan had utterly failed. He braced his walking stick in front of him, fixing his cold eyes on Benjamin. His face was stern and silent.
Benjamin curved his lips into a smile again and stepped inside at a leisurely pace. He walked to the staircase, glanced at the study door in the distance, and turned back to Old Norman. With a light chuckle, he asked, "Killing my wife and child—that would be what's best for me, wouldn't it, Grandpa? Is that what you meant?”
"You bastard!" Old Norman roared in fury.
Benjamin smiled indifferently and walked toward Old Norman. He appeared far too composed, catching everyone off guard. Only when he drew his pistol did alarm spread and reactions begin.
The assassin who had come with Old Norman reacted fastest, but Michael had already locked onto him. Before the assassin could draw his weapon, Michael lunged forward.
In the blink of an eye, Benjamin's gun was pressed against Old Norman's forehead. The others were only a split second behind, but they dared not move. The next second, several men burst in from outside, guns drawn. “Boss!”
One henchman spotted the assassin, who was pinned to the floor by Michael and still struggling. The henchman kicked the man hard in the head, cocked his own gun, and shoved the barrel straight into the man's mouth. Only then did he turn to Benjamin and ask, "Boss, what do we do? Kill him?"
The situation had reversed; everything was now under his control. Benjamin finally withdrew the gun from Old Norman's forehead and sat down leisurely on the nearby sofa. He didn't answer his subordinate's question, but instead gazed coldly at Old Norman and asked, "Grandpa, what do you think?"
Old Norman's beard trembled with rage as he shouted, "You beast!"
Benjamin tugged at the corner of his mouth and asked, "This man was brought in from elsewhere, wasn't he? Specifically hired to kill my wife and child?" The assassin's appearance and demeanor were unusual, and even the gun he held was different from the others'. Benjamin had never seen him around Old Norman before, suggesting that he was a professional brought in from outside. Without turning his head, he gave a cruel smile and ordered indifferently, "Kill him. Save my grandpa some money.”
The words had barely left his mouth when a gunshot rang out. The assassin didn't have time to struggle before a bullet blew his head apart. Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere. Michael and Glasses remained unflinching, but Vito beside them turned deathly pale.
Shielded by his grandfather and cousin since childhood, Vito had dabbled in Seattle's high society—but only in the typical, superficial pursuits of privileged heirs. He had never glimpsed the dark underbelly of the Norman family, let alone witnessed such a brutal execution.
Benjamin merely added, "Grandpa, I promised I'll ensure you depart with dignity. If you target those I care about, I must target those you care about.”
Vito was still trembling when he was yanked and tossed onto the coffee table in front of Benjamin, waiting for his orders. Seeing this, Old Norman was both shocked and furious. His body shook so violently that he could barely stay seated. He hissed, "You monster! He's your cousin!"
Vito froze with the gun barrel less than a foot from his temple. One command from the man before him and he would end up like the assassin Old Norman had hired, with his brains splattered across the floor. Vito was the one who had alerted Benjamin, yet now Benjamin was seeking revenge on him for Old Norman's actions. Slowly, Vito lifted his head and stared straight at Benjamin. Despite his efforts, his eyes reddened, and in a trembling voice, he called out, "Benjamin."
Benjamin didn't answer, only pursed his lips slightly and stared at Vito coldly.
"Enough." Old Norman sighed deeply and leaned on his cane as he rose unsteadily. "I raised a monster myself. I can't blame anyone else. I'm leaving. I'll never set foot in Seattle again. Benjamin, if you can kill your own cousin, you'll meet a miserable end someday!" With that, he didn't even glance back at Vito, simply shuffling away step by step with his cane.
As he departed, the men he'd brought followed him out. Soon, only Benjamin's men remained in the room, aside from the immobilized assassin and Vito, who was still being held at gunpoint. Vito trembled and huddled over the coffee table. His eyes were red as he stared at Benjamin. Benjamin glanced at Vito, raised a hand to signal to lower the gun, and said, "Get up. Look at yourself."
Vito froze for a moment before realizing that Benjamin hadn't truly intended to kill him. He exhaled in relief, scrambled to his feet, and, though he wanted to complain, lacked the courage to do so. He stood there with his head bowed, unable to speak.
Benjamin gave a faint smile. "I'm sparing you today as thanks for delivering the message. Go back now. Keep an eye on grandpa. If this happens again, I wouldn't show mercy even if you were my own cousin. Grandpa was right—I am a monster."
Terrified that Benjamin might change his mind, Vito dared not utter a word. He bowed his head and hurried away. As soon as he left, Benjamin turned his cold gaze back to Michael. Before Michael could speak, Benjamin lowered his head and whispered, "The men downstairs let them in. I wasn't prepared."
Benjamin had anticipated Old Norman's men infiltrating the downstairs security. Otherwise, Old Norman wouldn't have gotten in so easily. Before Benjamin could give orders, his men had already gone downstairs. Moments later, they returned and reported, "It was the head of downstairs security. He left with Old Norman. Should we go after him?"
With things already this far gone, chasing after Old Norman to kill him would be pointless. Benjamin said, "Forget it. Clean this place up. Replace all the downstairs security. Investigate thoroughly. Don't let anyone slip in."
He rose from the sofa, glanced at Michael, and said coolly, "Go tend to your wounds yourself."
He took his gun and left without calling for an escort. He drove alone to pick up Grace.
There was only one set of keys for the house, and Benjamin had already given them to Grace. Fearing he might startle her by knocking suddenly, Benjamin called first: "I'm outside. Come open the door."
Moments later, Grace unlocked the door from inside. She was still wearing the pajamas she had fled in, and she was wearing slippers on her feet. Leaning against the door in the evening sunlight, she stood there, momentarily stunning Benjamin. He stared at her blankly shortly before smiling. "Let's go. We're going out to eat."
She asked no questions, only glancing down at her attire before looking up at him. "Like this?"
"Uh, let's buy some clothes first," he replied.
He took her shopping before dinner. After dinner, they didn't return to the apartment or the house where she had been hiding. Instead, they went to an ordinary hotel.
Whether because of today's events or his own illusion, her attitude toward him seemed slightly improved. Though she was still cool, her words no longer carried a hint of mockery.
After checking in, Benjamin took the key card and led Grace upstairs. "We'll stay out tonight."
Grace guessed that something had happened to the apartment, rendering it temporarily uninhabitable. She wasn't one to question everything, but knowing whether they could return to live there now was crucial to her. She simply nodded. After a moment, she asked, "So, when can we go back?"
Benjamin seemed slightly surprised. He glanced back at her and couldn't help but smile. "What? You want to go back?"
She didn't want to return to that place at all. However, if they moved out of the apartment, her chances of getting the USB drive would be even slimmer. Grace remained expressionless, not even looking at Benjamin. She replied calmly, "After all, it's safer there. I don't want to get killed one day.”
He assumed she was still frightened by the events. His pace slowed slightly as he reached out and took her hand, interlacing their fingers. His voice was firm. "Nothing like today will ever happen again."
Grace instinctively tried to pull her hand back. After struggling several times without success, she gave up. She said, "That would be best."
The suite was spacious and bright, yet there was only one bed positioned in the center of the bedroom. Grace saw that Benjamin had no intention of sleeping on the floor or sofa. She simply said, "I'm tired. I want to rest early."
She was in the midst of an intense sleep phase, needing ten hours of sleep a day, even when idle, let alone after today's harrowing ordeal. Benjamin couldn't help but smile. He casually tossed his jacket onto the sofa and asked, "Would you like me to run your bath?"
"No, thank you," she declined promptly, heading into the bathroom to shower. When she emerged, she found him still sitting outside, watching TV. After hesitating for a moment, she added, "If you want to shower, do it sooner rather than later. Don't wait until I'm asleep to make a mess."
Benjamin immediately got up to shower.
Grace stood there until she heard the water running in the bathroom, then hurried over to the sofa. She picked up Benjamin's phone from the coffee table and dialed Landon's number. The phone rang twice before being answered. Landon's voice was warm as he asked, "What’s up?”
"It's me," Grace replied in a low voice. "Can you look into something for me? When did Benjamin return from recuperating in Spain?”
Landon’s demeanor shifted instantly; his playful tone was replaced by seriousness. "Two years ago."
“I need the exact date,” Grace said.
"I'll have to look it up."
Landon paused, then asked, "What do you need it for?"
Grace didn't want to share everything with Landon. She simply replied, "I need it."
Landon didn't mind her secrecy. He asked, "How should I contact you once I find it? Do I have to call this number again?”