Chapter 36 Benjamin's Coat
Rachel was caught off guard. Rain splattered against the car window, blurring her view, but Benjamin's striking and aloof face remained vividly clear.
Not the slightest bit blurred.
Even on a rainy day, he didn't appear the least bit dimmed, as if there was always light shining just for him.
Benjamin tapped on the car window, signaling her to get out.
Rachel snapped back to reality, turned on her car's hazard lights, and got out.
She didn't have an umbrella in the car, so she raised her hand, intending to block the rain with it. But before she could lift her hand, the cold raindrops didn't fall on her face as expected.
Looking up, she saw a black umbrella held over her head.
She froze, her gaze falling on Benjamin's shoulder, which was exposed to the rain.
The streetlights were dim, and a light mist hung in the air.
Everything around was hazy.
Rachel was about to greet him, but his calm, low voice cut her off, "Take pictures for evidence, call the police, and notify the insurance company."
"Okay."
Rachel closed her mouth, swallowed her words, and nodded. She took out her phone and snapped several pictures from different angles of the point where their cars had collided.
Benjamin was, after all, a lawyer, and his personality didn't seem like the type to settle things privately just because they were acquaintances.
After they each made their phone calls, Rachel asked, "Should we wait here for the police and the insurance company?"
"It's not safe here. Let's move to the side of the road," Benjamin said.
"Alright."
Rachel nodded and walked under the umbrella with him to the side of the road. Through the rain, she looked at the two cars that were now intimately connected and cleared her throat to break the silence.
"Sorry, Mr. Wright. It was an accident; I got distracted."
She had been driving for nearly ten years without any accidents or even minor scrapes. She never expected her first accident to be rear-ending Benjamin's car.
"Unless something unexpected happens, you're fully responsible."
Benjamin wore a black diamond Omega watch on his wrist. His long fingers, with their distinct joints, held the umbrella handle steadily. His cool tone was unhurried.
Rachel let out an awkward laugh, "I know."
The cold wind of the rainy night was biting. She had dressed lightly today because it was a busy and important day for her first exhibition, prioritizing appearance over warmth.
She wore a champagne-colored suit, with a skirt that fell below her knees.
As they spoke, the rain seemed to get heavier, and the wind stronger.
Rachel sniffled and shivered, rubbing her cold fingers together.
She asked, "Why are you out so late?"
"Working late," Benjamin replied casually. "And you?"
Rachel thought for a moment, trying to find the right words, but eventually gave up, "Catching a cheater."
Benjamin glanced at her, "Did you catch him?"
"Sort of," she said. "He went to the house he bought for his mistress."
"Keep the evidence."
"Got it."
Silence fell between them again, the only sound the patter of the rain, creating a symphony for the rainy night.
Waiting was always long and awkward.
After a while, Benjamin broke the silence, "I found two people who are close to Heather. Whether they are involved in Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal activities is still under investigation."
Rachel was slightly taken aback, "Who are they?"
"Maya Reyes, the wife of the Reyes family head, and Dorothy Hall, the mistress of the Banks family head."
Rachel was stunned.
Maya and Dorothy had been mentioned in an anonymous text message.
She hadn't had the chance to investigate them yet.
She didn't expect Benjamin to find out.
She frowned, "They're shareholders in Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal operations. They met at a gold digger training class."
They had something in common.
They all gained their status by marrying up.
And they were quite successful. Except for Heather, the other two had driven away their husbands' former wives.
Although the Martinez family was still controlled by Maeve, the family head Gavin's heart was entirely with Heather.
It seemed this gold digger training class was something remarkable.
Not to be underestimated.
"You knew?"
"I just found out a few days ago. But I haven't found evidence that they're shareholders," Rachel said. "However, I did find part of the financial records and a business plan for the illegal operations. But it's only half."
Benjamin said, "Send it to me."
"Alright."
Rachel sent him the photos she had taken. Just then, the police arrived. They walked to the cars and were asked to show their licenses.
"Sorry, I don't have my license with me. It's in my other car. This one was a last-minute decision. Can you check my digital license?"
The officer checked the vehicle information, "This isn't your car?"
"No, it's my husband's."
Rachel answered while flexing her stiff fingers and pulling up her digital license on her phone.
The rain had intensified, and the wind was biting. Her pants were soaked, and her nose and ears were red from the cold.
Benjamin's sharp, cold gaze fell on her face, then slowly moved to her slightly trembling shoulders.
Her usually fierce face now looked pitifully fragile, yet she tried to appear strong.
He frowned, "Don't you have another coat?"
Rachel was taken aback, then forced a smile, "I was indoors all day, so I didn't wear anything heavy."
Benjamin didn't say anything. After the officer checked her license, he handed her the umbrella and took off his coat, giving it to her.
"They'll need time to process, and the insurance company isn't here yet. You should wear this for now."
The winter night's rain and wind, along with his voice, were cold.
But Rachel could feel the warmth from his coat spreading to her cold hands.
She opened her mouth, feeling a bit lost.
But Benjamin had already turned to open his car door, retrieving his license for the officer, and took the umbrella back from her. He calmly explained the incident to the officer.
Benjamin's coat had a faint cedar scent, a smell she wasn't unfamiliar with. She had noticed it several times when she met him before.
She hesitated for a moment but didn't overthink it. She was cold, and the warmth from the coat was much needed.
She said, "Thank you," and put the coat on.
At 5'6", she was tall, but the coat was still large and loose on her.
The warmth quickly enveloped her, and her hands, which had been numb from the cold, began to regain feeling. Her jacket no longer let the wind in.
The police assigned responsibility to Rachel. The insurance company arrived, and after some discussions and signing the accident report, the police and insurance representatives left.
Rachel apologized again, "Mr. Wright, I'm sorry for taking up your time today. And thank you."
Despite the rain, he had held the umbrella and actively communicated with the police.
If it had been anyone else's car she hit, especially in this weather, she couldn't imagine how much worse it would have been.
"No need."
Benjamin replied coolly.
Rachel pursed her lips, looking down at his coat. The hem was soaked.
She felt bad and said sincerely, "Thank you, really. I'm not just being polite, especially with this coat."
From the moment of the crash to resolving everything, over an hour had passed.
His coat had been on her for nearly forty to fifty minutes, and the warmth was fading. The biting cold was seeping in from all directions, making her shiver.
"If you don't mind, I can take this coat to be dry cleaned and return it to you."
Benjamin's eyes flashed with surprise. He was about to refuse but changed his mind, "As you wish."