Chapter 16 Chapter 16
Grace went straight home. She went into the bathroom, filled a large tub with hot water, and got in. Although she had already showered at the villa earlier, she still felt unclean. She scrubbed herself vigorously with the bath towel, nearly peeling off a layer of skin, but the discomfort lingered.
She brushed her teeth countless times, meticulously scrubbing every spot her toothbrush could reach. Finally, she must have cut herself somewhere because the water she spat out was tinged with blood.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was deathly pale. Her eyes were sunken and dark, and her pupils seemed to burn with a wild, vengeful light.
This was not a good sign. She slowly closed her eyes and told herself that she couldn't lose her mind—at least not now. She needed to stay calm.
Resolutely, she tossed the toothbrush aside and hurried out of the bathroom to pack her things in the bedroom.
Adrian was returning today. After being apart for over twenty days, she had no reason to refuse his affection upon his return. However, she couldn't face her husband with a body bearing the marks of another man.
She needed to leave for a few days and wait for the marks to fade.
An excuse would be easy to fabricate: an unexpected work trip for the school or a student facing an emergency elsewhere that required her immediate attention.
Adrian trusted her. Any excuse would suffice; he wouldn't question it.
She packed the essentials for her journey: two changes of clothes, her wallet and ID, and the identical smartphone she'd just ordered online, complete with a new SIM card.
The online purchase had been a convoluted process. She lied to her coworkers, borrowed their computer and account, and used a coworker's name as the recipient, leaving not a single trace of herself.
She was meticulous, determined not to give Benjamin even the slightest opening.
Grace finished packing quickly. Before leaving the house, she looked back at her home.
Adrian would be back in a few hours. If she had chosen to stay, she could have thrown herself into his arms, weeping freely and seeking his help. She could have let him share her pain and despair.
He would, she was certain. He would be her strongest support.
But he would also be dragged into this mess and face endless danger.
What was love?
Was it unreserved devotion or absolute trust?
Was it shouldering all the burdens for his happiness alone, or sharing her pain?
For the first time, Grace didn't know how to choose. She stood in the doorway, clutching her small handbag. After a long moment, she clenched her jaw and walked out resolutely.
Her car remained at school. She hailed a taxi to the other side of the city and checked into an inconspicuous budget hotel. First, she texted Adrian to explain the situation, and then she called the school to request three days off. After handling these matters, she tucked her old phone under the pillow and pulled out the new one she had just bought.
Grace had never been the type of woman to sit idly by.
Modern smartphones function almost like computers, and the internet offers unimaginable convenience. She began investigating everything about Benjamin—his identity, his background, his companies, and any possible connection between him and death row inmate Alex.
By noon, Adrian had texted back. Fresh off the plane, he lamented missing her, but also reminded her to take care of herself.
She wanted to call him but feared that hearing his voice would overwhelm her. Instead, they exchanged brief texts, agreeing to talk that evening.
Every message was intercepted by Benjamin.
The surveillance software ran on a laptop. Too busy to monitor it constantly, Benjamin delegated the task to Michael. As both Benjamin's bodyguard and de facto assistant, Michael filtered through these covert communications daily, selecting the most pertinent information to report to his boss.
Reading the text messages, Michael remarked, "Mr. Norman, how does that woman spin lies so smoothly? It sounds like the truth!"
She was a master liar, telling her fabrications without so much as a flicker of her eyes.
Benjamin curled his lips in a sneer, ignoring Michael's remark. He asked coolly, "Has she stayed inside the hotel the entire time?"
Michael glanced at the computer records and replied, "No, her phone has consistently been at that hotel. She didn't even leave for lunch. She really can hold it in.”
Benjamin nodded slowly. He surmised that she was likely afraid of being spotted by acquaintances, which was why she was staying in the hotel so long.
Still, the woman was cunning—he couldn't afford to be complacent. What desperate measures could she possibly take now? Benjamin found himself stumped.
He slid open a drawer and retrieved a cigarette. He didn't light it, merely pinching it between his fingers.
Michael knew he had a serious craving, but he never indulged. Watching him, Benjamin couldn't resist adding, "Boss, it's not like it's drugs. A couple of puffs won't hurt. ‘Mr. Norman’ didn't touch it before because his health wouldn't allow it, but you're fine.”
Benjamin paused at the remark, gave a faint smile, and casually tossed the cigarette back into the drawer. "Things you shouldn't touch, you shall never touch."
Michael stole a glance at the distinct bite marks on his lips and couldn't help but grumble inwardly: You said that woman was off-limits, but you still touched her, didn't you?
But he dared not voice it.