Semua Bab Opening My Eyes to Reality: Bab 721 - Bab 730

The reddish-brown manes of the horses whipped in the wind. Atop one of them sat a man in a light gray shirt, sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing the clean lines of his wrists.Walking forward, Cheryl's steps faltered. It was him—Benjamin.She didn't know what the rider on the white horse next to him had said, but she saw Benjamin turn his head slightly in response. Sunlight fell on Benjamin's slightly raised jawline, and even the shadow on his profile exuded a masculine beauty.Cheryl should've quietly backed away, but her feet felt like they had been nailed to the ground. Benjamin must've sensed something, because he suddenly turned in her direction. The moment their eyes met, she could clearly see the shift in his expression—from confusion to realization.In one fluid motion, he dismounted and handed the reins to the man next to him, Bradley Zimmerman.Bradley arched an eyebrow at him and chuckled. "Isn't that your assistant? Oh, wait—former assistant. She jump

"You're awake?" a deep voice sounded beside Cheryl. She jerked her head around and saw Benjamin sitting in an armchair by the bed, a half-burned cigarette pinched between his fingers, his gaze fixed on her.The look in his eyes was complicated. There was worry, frustration, and a hint of obsession she couldn't quite decipher. It felt like an airtight net trapping her completely.The terror from the horseback ride earlier surged back all at once—the lingering warmth of his breath on her neck, him demanding her to break up, the ever-increasing speed of the horse, and the suffocating sensation she felt right before succumbing to the darkness. Every scene replayed vividly in her mind.She sat up abruptly. The sudden movement made her head spin, but the dizziness was nothing compared to the wave of anger and humiliation that surged through her."You make me sick, Benjamin." Her voice was rough from just waking up, but it also carried an icy chill.Benjamin stalked over to the bedside

Cheryl's heart dropped, and a chill rushed through her body, from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.From the look in Benjamin's eyes right then, she knew he wasn't joking. He really did intend to threaten her with such despicable means.She glared at him. "Benjamin, if you dare lay a finger on him, I swear I won't let you get away with it.""Won't let me get away with it?"A taunting chortle escaped him. He leaned in close to her ear, speaking in a low, chilling whisper. "Do you really think you have the power to accomplish that here in Grendale?"The warmth of his breath mingled with his familiar cologne, but right now, it only made Cheryl shudder in disgust.It was true Benjamin was just a lawyer, but any seasoned lawyer had a few shady tricks up his sleeve. And beyond that, he was still the son of the Zimmerman family. In Grendale, the Zimmermans were old money—a century-old name that carried prestige. They might not be able to control the entire city, but they c

With no time to prepare a gift tailored to Theodore himself, Cheryl could only try to win favor with his wife. When she drove past a mall, she stopped by to buy a bottle of a globally limited-edition perfume as a present.…Meanwhile, Lucille had also arrived at the Belmere. She had arranged to meet with Marcel there to discuss the contract renewal. To prepare, she had even made a trip home beforehand to pick out an expensive outfit from Cheryl's wardrobe.Wearing white snakeskin stilettos and a designer suit as she walked into Grendale's most expensive restaurant, Lucille instantly felt like a different person. It was as if she had leaped across class lines and successfully squeezed her way into the upper circles of high society.No wonder everyone wanted to be rich. The feeling really was intoxicating.When she reached the reserved private room, Marcel was already sitting inside. He wasn't alone, though—there were three or four unfamiliar men seated with him.Seeing her walk in

The words had just left Lucille's lips when Marcel raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.Another crisp smack sounded—this time even louder than when Lucille had slapped him earlier. Lucille staggered from the blow, and a thin trail of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth."Now you're sorry? Too late!"Marcel jabbed his finger at Lucille, his spit flying as he yelled, "You dare hit me? If I don't beat you into submission today, then I'm not Marcel Ballas!"Lucille was both in pain and infuriated, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know what to do. Marcel, the old bastard, was clearly not going to let her go. Terrified, tears streamed down her face. If only she had listened to Cheryl back then.But it was all too late now.Instinctively, her gaze darted to the corner of the table. Her phone had slipped out of her bag in the scuffle earlier, and the screen was still lit. She stopped crying, and while Marcel was still screaming and ranting—and the man hol