Chapter 7

Benedict didn't want to complicate matters any further. "What? Have you changed your mind about giving me the properties? I thought you said Benjamin was worth it."

The provocation worked. Mikaela abandoned her attempt to investigate and continued signing the documents. The only difference was that her eyes were now filled with contempt.

She jeered, "Benedict, I used to think you were someone who never fought for anything. Turns out, you're no different from everyone else. The way you're acting so greedy is absolutely disgusting."

With that, she signed the final agreement.

Benedict didn't respond. He took the documents and went upstairs.

His eyes, once filled with love and later clouded with hurt and sorrow, were now completely devoid of any emotion.

For no apparent reason, Mikaela's heart clenched. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her.

She was about to chase after him and demand an explanation when Benjamin caught her hand and lightly traced his fingertips across her palm.

"Thank you, Mikaela. Since you find him so disgusting, why don't we go out for dinner?"

Daniel and Heidi immediately took the hint. "Well, now that everything's settled, we should get going. You two enjoy some time alone together."

Without giving Mikaela a chance to respond, Benjamin took her by the hand and led her out.

He secretly resolved to make Mikaela his that very night. He was determined to take their relationship to the next level, preferably by getting her pregnant.

That way, Mikaela would have no reason to keep rejecting him. She'd have to make him her husband.

...

In the days that followed, Mikaela was busy accompanying Benjamin on the set of his short drama.

Benedict, meanwhile, kept himself just as busy. First, he submitted the divorce agreement to the courthouse and successfully obtained his divorce certificate. Then, he liquidated the properties and commercial units he'd received and established the Benedict Charity Foundation.

He wanted to give something back to this world and accumulate a little goodwill before leaving.

In his original world, Benedict had parents who loved him dearly. Unfortunately, during a routine medical examination, he'd been diagnosed with an incurable terminal illness. Feeling overwhelmed, he'd rushed out of the house and gotten into a car accident that left both his legs amputated.

His parents had wept endlessly over his condition. They aged rapidly under the strain of their grief.

That was why when the system had approached Benedict, he had agreed without hesitation. If he successfully completed the mission, his wish was to return to his original world with a healthy body.

Unfortunately, he'd fallen just one point short.

Benedict contemplated the fact that he would be returning to a life in which he had little time left and a severely disabled body. So, he put on a pair of sunglasses and a face mask. He began traveling around, taking in the sights.

Being able to run and jump freely was something he cherished more than anything.

And just like that, the final day before his departure arrived.

Benedict had planned to take a sailboat out to sea to watch the seagulls, but he received a call from Mikaela's assistant, Isaac Reed.

Isaac told him that Mikaela wanted him to attend a business dinner to discuss a new movie and potential roles. Since he was leaving that very day, no role mattered to him anymore. Benedict refused without hesitation.

Over the phone, Isaac sounded troubled. "Ms. Jepsen said we should talk to you first before resorting to force. If you refuse to cooperate, I'll have no choice but to..."

Benedict gave a bitter laugh, remembering how he'd been forced to hand over his own script. He also remembered that his first encounter with Mikaela had taken place at a business dinner.

Fine. If this was where their story had begun, then he would let it end in similar fashion. At least that way, it would come full circle.

Benedict pushed open the private dining room door, only to find Benjamin sitting inside alone.

Benjamin taunted, "How much longer are you planning to cling to Mikaela? She's in love with me, not you. Do you have any idea how many different positions we tried last night? We—"

Upon hearing the conversation veer into increasingly explicit territory, Benedict cut him off coldly. "Did you invite me here just to tell me that?"

There was no need to do that. After all, once that night was over, he'd be gone.

"Of course not." Benjamin sneered with a malicious glint in his eyes, resembling a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

He added, "I've decided that I should take matters into my own hands. Instead of waiting for you to step aside, I figured it would be safer to get rid of you myself."

A large man with bulging muscles entered from outside and grabbed Benjamin's wrist. The man's grip appeared gentle, but Benjamin let out a scream of exaggerated agony.

He screeched, "Ah! Please don't do this to me! I won't compete with you anymore, okay? I'll keep my feelings for Mikaela to myself. Please don't let anyone hurt me!"

The next moment, the door burst open. Mikaela stormed in, her eyes bloodshot with fury.

"Let him go!" she demanded.

The man immediately released Benjamin when he recognized Mikaela, the formidable businesswoman who commanded respect throughout the corporate world.

"Mikaela! Thank goodness you came to save me!" Benjamin threw his arms around her and burst into tears. "Benedict invited me out for dinner, and I was actually happy about it. I never imagined he hated me so much that he'd try to destroy me like this..."

Benedict tried to explain himself. "Isaac was the one who told me to come to this dinner..."

Isaac looked genuinely astonished. "I didn't! I only take orders from Ms. Jepsen. I would never arrange something she hadn't instructed me to do."

The warmth in Mikaela's eyes vanished completely. She didn't bother investigating any further. Instead, she glared at Benedict with pure disgust.

She seethed, "Can't you leave Benjamin alone? How could you stoop to doing something so despicable? I warned you before. If you went after Benjamin again, I wouldn't let you get away with it."

She pulled Benjamin tightly into her arms.

Then, she turned to the sleazy man and issued a cold command. "Whatever you were planning to do to him, do it to Benedict instead."