Chapter 58 Who Is the Owner of That Number?
Without thinking, Rachel darted forward and shoved Benjamin away.
Benjamin reacted quickly, sensing danger. He was caught off guard when Rachel suddenly charged at him.
Instinctively, he pulled Rachel into his arms. As the liquid was about to fall on them, he swiftly turned, losing his balance and falling to the ground.
His broad fingers protected her head.
The liquid hit the ground, evaporating instantly with a piercing sound and producing grayish-white gas.
Some of the splashed liquid landed on Rachel's coat, burning and dissolving it rapidly.
It was high-concentration sulfuric acid!
"Quick, take it off!" Benjamin shouted, already tugging at her coat.
Rachel immediately helped to remove the coat and threw it aside.
High-concentration sulfuric acid has strong corrosive and adhesive properties. If it stuck to her inner clothes, it would be a minor issue compared to skin burns.
As the man tried to pour the remaining sulfuric acid on them, Billy and Mike, who were ahead, turned back and ran over.
Mike quickly knocked the glass bottle out of his hand, and Billy kicked him in the waist. As the man fell, they pinned his arms behind his back and pressed a knee into him. "What do you think you're doing?"
Mike looked at the liquid on the ground, astonished. "Sulfuric acid. Mrs. Martinez, are you okay? Did any of it get on you?"
If she was injured, it would be their fault.
They had walked ahead to give Benjamin and Rachel some privacy for their conversation.
Rachel said, "I'm fine," but her gaze remained on the hissing sulfuric acid on the ground, filled with lingering fear. She couldn't imagine if it had splashed on her face.
That fear enveloped her like a silent, overwhelming force.
Suddenly, a strong, dry hand grabbed her arm, replacing the fear with a warmth that flowed into her heart.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Benjamin asked.
Rachel snapped out of it and shook her head gently. Using his support, she stood up, but a slight pain came from her ankle.
She frowned, looking down to see several small cuts on her delicate skin, with tiny drops of blood.
She had scraped her ankle on the cement when she fell, causing abrasions.
Her knee also hurt.
Benjamin noticed and frowned, looking at Mike. "Can you take him to the police station? I'll take her to the hospital to treat her injuries. We'll come by later."
"No problem."
Billy and Mike took the tall, thin man to the car and headed to the police station.
Rachel said, "I can go by myself. You're the victim; the police need your statement."
"It's not urgent. The police will interrogate him, and the two of them are witnesses. You're also a victim."
Benjamin let go of her hand, picked up her fallen bag, opened the car door, and pulled out a black coat for her.
"Put it on," he said calmly.
Against the winter cold, Rachel wore only a tan turtleneck beneath the coat he'd lent her that rainy night.
Seeing he was only wearing a shirt, Rachel hesitated. "I'm fine. You wear it."
Benjamin didn't argue. He simply handed her the coat. "My car tires are flat. We'll take a cab to the hospital."
He took out his phone, noticing a missed call from nearly an hour ago. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "You called me around seven; was there something you needed?"
Rachel paused, sensing his probing nature. He was too perceptive. She could make up a reason for the call, but what about the bodyguards? She couldn't explain it.
Benjamin's sharp eyes seemed to see through her. This feeling wasn't pleasant. No matter what excuse she made, Benjamin would see through it. So, why waste the effort?
"I know you want to ask how I knew, but I can't say. I have no ill intentions towards you. I acted today because your life was at risk."
Her eyes were calm, and she said sincerely.
Benjamin couldn't find any sign of deceit in her expression. "What about last time?"
Rachel hesitated, recalling the text warning her about Benjamin not drinking the wine. She realized that the mysterious number had sent her dozens of messages. Most were about her. Only these two involved Benjamin.
She had chosen Benjamin to handle her divorce case because of that text. But why? What was the pattern? Who was behind the number? It was a number with no traceable information.
She couldn't understand it. Under Benjamin's gaze, she pressed down her unanswered questions.
She changed the subject. "You're my lawyer. I paid a high fee. I can't let your reputation be tarnished before the case even starts. Besides, you helped me that day."
A perfect shift. He'd asked how she knew, and she'd answered with why she acted.
Benjamin looked at her. Since she didn't want to say, he let it go, pushing aside his doubts and confusion.
Rachel feared more questions and changed the subject. "Do you know those two men? Are they together?"
"No," Benjamin replied calmly. "The thinner one is from another case."
Rachel smirked. "You have a lot of enemies."
"Yes, more than friends."
"The cab's here."
He helped Rachel to the curb, got into the cab, and headed to the hospital.
Her pants irritated the abrasions on her ankle, intensifying the pain. She rolled up her pant leg.
At the hospital, as soon as she stepped out, her pant leg fell, rubbing against the abrasions again. Her knee hurt too, possibly from similar abrasions. She didn't check.
Benjamin noticed her discomfort. Carefully, he rolled up her pant leg and assisted her in.
Rachel was already seated on a bench when Benjamin went to register her information.
Her phone buzzed with a text notification. She had tossed her bag aside when she rushed to push Benjamin, and now it was scratched. The twenty-thousand-dollar bag was ruined.
[Nancy spent over an hour on the balcony last night, intentionally catching a cold to get Steven's attention. After you left Stargaze Gallery, she fainted and Carol called an ambulance. She's in the ER now, contacting Steven.]