The bustling activity echoed through the corridors of Block E1 as its residents, with the exception of Valerie and Benjamin, embarked on the task of loading their cherished household possessions onto the waiting truck.Opting for swift action over protesting at the Fort Valley Marketing Gallery, they hastened their departure to mitigate the potential threat of a second attack.Simultaneously, Holden Sinclair's sleek black Mercedes-S-Class sedan raced at a brisk pace through the labyrinthine streets of the E1 block.Looking out of his car window, Heldon said sadly to his assistant."It's disheartening to witness," he remarked. "Their actions won't just precipitate a sharp decline in property values but also besmirch the esteemed reputation of Fort Valley."Seated behind the wheel, his assistant could only offer a sympathetic smile and utter, "It's undeniably disheartening for someone of your perfectionist caliber, Master Sinclair. Nonetheless, I genuinely hope you can rectify the situa
Benjamin remained silent, opting to patiently wait for Holden to conclude his business.As Valerie arrived with a tray bearing two sizable glasses of juice and some snacks, she was somewhat taken aback witnessing the typically authoritative Sinclair revealing a more emotional side.Waving his hand, Benjamin signaled for Valerie to refrain from approaching any further. After all, Holden was a man of considerable stature, and the prospect of his tears being witnessed by a woman would undoubtedly lead to profound embarrassment.Valerie nodded understandingly and promptly retreated to the kitchen, deftly portraying the semblance of having witnessed nothing at all.Five minutes later, Holden Sinclair finally finished his business. He stopped crying and started trying to wipe away all the tears on his face.In a composed gesture, Benjamin handed the middle-aged man a napkin, casually stating, "This must offer a bit of solace, don't you think?"Holden nodded, "Well, I apologize for having to
Benjamin interlocked his fingers, patiently waiting for Holden to respond. Wiping his sweaty face, Holden inquired, "I can't deny it. Everything you said is true. Yet, I've never shared this secret with anyone, not even my wife. How did you uncover it?"With a smile, Benjamin responded simply, "I discerned it from the expression in your eyes, Mr. Sinclair.""Just from that?" Holden sought confirmation.Benjamin only nodded his head in response.Holden released a long exhale. Honestly, he never fully believed that the reason given by Benjamin was the truth. Instead, he had his own speculation — that Benjamin obtained information about his illness from the doctor, either through theft or bribery.He glanced over at the young man and inquired, "Sure. If some miraculous twist of fate lets you peek into all the hidden corners of my life through my eyes, then go ahead. But, I'm just puzzled, why spill it all out right here?"Heldon pressed on, "Before this, you extended an invitation for m
Benjamin offered a faint smile and requested, "Enough of this. There's no need to go any further."Holden acquiesced, lifting his head from the floor, yet remaining in his kneeling posture."You should dial the number on this business card," Benjamin instructed, extending a pristine piece of card to Holden. "Her name is Aria. She serves as my party secretary. Once you're back home, it's imperative to promptly report your membership to her."Holden nodded in compliance."You may depart now, Mr. Sinclair. There's no further business to discuss here," Benjamin commanded, waving his arm dismissively."Understood, Master." Heldon straightened himself, a profound bow marking his respect for Benjamin. "Beginning this very moment, I'm at your beck and call, ready to heed your every command. Please, feel free to reach out whenever assistance is required, no matter the nature of the task."A satisfied smile played on Benjamin's lips. "Produce the results I'm looking for, and I'll ensure a stead
Slipping his phone away, Benjamin turned to Valerie with a touch of regret. "Looks like I'll be arriving home late tonight," he mentioned.Confused, Valerie furrowed her forehead, perplexed. "What's happening, Ben? We were just planning a quiet night with dinner and jazz music without any neighbors around. Why are you canceling all that so abruptly now?"Benjamin shook his head, responding with concern, "I have a client who needs urgent treatment tonight. Otherwise, he might not see the sun tomorrow. I hope you understand."It was evident that Valerie felt disappointed with Benjamin's choice. However, upon hearing that his work was related to someone's life, she refrained from making any comments."You should come home right after finishing your work, alright?" Valerie pleaded with hope in her eyes. "I'll still prepare dinner and a bottle of good wine for us. Tonight is the only chance we have to enjoy some quiet time without neighbors. Make sure this little celebration isn't postpon
At 7:10 pm, the protesters began their march.It started with a speech from E1's most famous public figure, Jeffrey Collins, a furniture businessman with hundreds of branches across the state.Using a megaphone, he spoke loudly, "This dirty company, Platinum Estate, has done a sneaky business to deceive us all. As you all must be aware, the car explosion was probably a deliberate conspiracy by them to get us to let go of all our properties at a ridiculously low price!""We can't sue them through legal channels - this dirty company has bribed the judge to favor them!""However, we stand here to take back what is rightfully ours. First of all, use polite and gentle means. But, if even that doesn't work, we must use our own means!"Finishing his speech to the protesters, Jeffrey smiled broadly as his oration received full support from the 700-plus people in front of him."We have to burn this building down! Leave nothing behind!" someone shouted."Destroy everything those bastards have!
Beyond Joshua's limited vision, Benjamin had landed in the building's courtyard with remarkable ease, devoid of any injuries.Benjamin let out a soft sigh while expressing, "Well, this is a tad more painful than I had envisioned."To emerge unscathed during his free fall from the third floor of the building, Benjamin amassed a substantial amount of Qi energy on the soles of his feet and calves to mitigate the impact.Nevertheless, even with his anticipation, the residual effect of the resulting pain lingered, though extremely minor.Thinking that he merely needed to acclimate to this sensation, Benjamin lifted his gaze towards the crowd of people outside the building gate.Among them, he discerned small flames emanating from dozens of Molotov cocktails.With mere seconds ticking away, the imminent danger loomed larger—gasoline-filled glass bottles, poised to be hurled, threatened to unleash a devastating inferno upon the distinguished Platinum Estate Co. building and all its occupants
Benjamin did not take his eyes off the beautiful figure. A sight like this was too much to waste, right?Instead, he quickly said, "My bad, totally my fault. I might've run a bit behind, but fingers crossed the grub's still warm and you're still cool enough to let me through the door."Valerie flashed a smile. The silhouette appeared incredibly elegant in a plain red dress, showcasing her slender shoulders. Her lips had a glossy sheen, courtesy of a not-so-fashionable lip balm. Brown eyes gazed with a subtle hint of mystery.No matter how you size her up, she's a stunner!In that instant, Valerie spoke up, "I've mentioned before that my door is forever open to Benjamin Frost. And even now, I stand by that principle."Smiling, Benjamin finally stepped into the house.Unexpectedly, Valerie immediately put her hand on Benjamin's arm."What are you up to?" Benjamin inquired, puzzled.Valerie just stuck out her tongue without answering anything.Walking up to the dining room, Benjamin saw