Is Cordelia really in love without noticing?
Cordelia, with a resolute gaze, declared, "Love isn't part of the equation for me, and I have no intention of changing that.”Hannah smiled and said, "Of course, you are, but you won't know until you realize it yourself. The hard Cordelia who hated to do anything with a man has been kissed, even aww, how nice."Cordelia frowned and said, "It's not funny; you're mocking me instead of helping me figure out what's wrong with me."Hannah laughed and teased, "You've gotten loveria, a disease that makes one overthink about their lovers." She mocked, "You!”Cordelia was about to respond when suddenly her phone started ringing. She took it, and to her surprise, the name "Benjamin" was on the caller ID.She turned to look at Hannah without a word. Hannah, with a surprised smile, winked at her, saying, "He's calling. Quickly answer, my dear.”Without wasting time, Cordelia answered on loudspeaker, attaching the phone to her ear without saying a word."Oh, you're already awake? At this early t
Soon, the waitress returned, skillfully balancing a tray loaded with Benjamin's order. She placed the Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce before him, accompanied by a generous serving of Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a colorful array of Roasted Vegetables. The tantalizing aroma of the dish filled the air, enticing his taste buds.To complement the meal, she served a tall glass of Mango Tango Juice, its vibrant color adding a refreshing touch to the table. “Enjoy sir.” The waitress said before walking out. Without wasting time, Benjamin started eating. As he continued savoring the delicious flavors, he noticed two people walking in, which made him stunned. Dorothy and Sarah, both looking beautiful.Dorothy was the first to see Benjamin, which left her stunned. "Look, that idiot is also here eating," she remarked.It was at that moment Sarah also looked, and that was when she saw her boss, Benjamin. The smile on her face quickly disappeared; she was stunned."Be.. Be.. Boss Benjamin?"
As Benjamin approached, he noticed smoke rising in the air, a clear sign of a fire burning nearby, perhaps for cooking or warmth. The atmosphere felt serene, with the distant hills adding to the picturesque setting. The surroundings were filled with the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds.Frowning lightly, Benjamin moved closer to the place, wondering who might be living in this secluded countryside spot. He walked slowly towards the hut, his senses heightened as he approached. When he finally reached the clearing, he was amazed at what lay before him. The place seemed like a martial arts haven frozen in time.The ground was marked with the imprints of countless training sessions, and old martial arts training sticks leaned against the hut, weathered but still sturdy. Tires hung from ropes, swaying gently in the breeze. The surrounding trees added to the ambiance, casting shadows that danced across the training ground.To his amazement, upon closer inspectio
The old man turned back, his gaze piercing. "You're persistent, but this is not a challenge you want to take.""Why not?" Benjamin challenged. "Are you afraid of losing to someone younger? Is that it?"The old man shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "It's not about age; it's about experience and wisdom. You lack both.”Benjamin scoffed, "I may lack experience, but I'm not lacking in courage. Let's see if your wisdom can match up to my determination."The old man sighed, recognizing the unyielding spirit before him. "Fine, have it your way. But remember, you asked for it.”As the old man accepted the challenge, he walked towards Benjamin with measured steps. Benjamin, undeterred and ready to prove himself, locked eyes with the seasoned martial artist. He anticipated the upcoming clash, his mind swirling with possible tricks and tactics to gain an advantage. “I must teach him a little lesson.” Benjamin muttered. Bang!” In a burst of energy, Benjamin lunged forward with a decepti
He smiled at the man and said, "Sir, this is a renowned masterpiece by the esteemed artist, Aeliana Celestia. Her work has left an indelible mark on the art world, and this particular piece, titled 'Celestial Reverie,' has garnered acclaim for its enchanting portrayal of a mythical realm."Aeliana Celestia? The man exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment. The name seemed to resonate with some people in the crowd who had heard about this renowned artist before. Whispers of admiration and recognition rippled through the onlookers.Turning to the artist with an intrigued expression, the man sought assurance. "Are you sure? This is really a painting by Aeliana Celestia?”The artist, beaming with pride, nodded confidently. "Absolutely, sir. How could I lie? My old master acquired it by chance, and it has been in our possession. We initially decided not to sell it, but when you mentioned your daughter's love for it, I couldn't resist bringing it out.”The man's disbelief shifted to del
The man frowned, realizing the deception. The surrounding crowd started murmuring, and the artist, cornered, tried to come up with another excuse.All of a sudden, faced with the undeniable truth, the artist panicked and stammered, "No, wait! My master, he's a renowned art collector. He acquired it from the Ephemeral Art Sanctuary."The crowd murmured, unsure of what to believe. The man who intended to buy the painting looked at the artist skeptically. Benjamin, however, wasn't convinced and continued, "You expect us to believe that your master got a priceless painting from a museum and decided to sell it in a market?”He quickly searched the price of the painting which again showed that the price should be around 1 Million Euros. This had exposed the artist totally. Benjamin looked around and saw someone holding water. He took the bottle, opened it, and threw the water on the painting. To everyone's surprise, the colors started fading, revealing the forgery underneath.Gasps and whi
Benjamin didn't know what he was doing, so he slowly sat on the floor, staring at the old man while waiting for him. He sat there for almost half an hour, wondering what the old man was doing that kept him for so long.It was at that moment the old man opened his eyes and looked at Benjamin."Good morning, master. I've been waiting for you for over half an hour," Benjamin got up and said.The old man didn't say a word and asked, "You're here for the training? Are you sure you can?"Benjamin nodded and said, "Of course, master. I'm ready to learn from you, no matter how difficult it is.”The old man got up, looked at Benjamin's clothes, and nodded lightly. "Good, there's no complaining once we start. If you're not serious, it's better you leave and not waste time."Benjamin shook his head and said, "I'm ever ready, master. I'm ready to learn.” Benjamin paused for a while before saying, “But wait, master, when I came, you didn't open your eyes. What if it was someone else who was here
Benjamin remained silent, pondering the old man's words.The old man looked at him and said, "Let's get going. Now, young man, start moving backward only. When you get to the tip there, move backward back here. Do this for about 10 times."Benjamin smiled lightly, thinking it was an easy task. He began moving backward as instructed, confident that he could complete it effortlessly. After completing the task, he approached the old man, saying, "I'm done, master.”The old man shook his head and remarked, "You did everything wrongly. Go and take a look at your steps; they never aligned. Quickly do it well—make sure your steps are straight. Until you get it right, don't stop.”Huh? Benjamin was stunned. Moving backward in a straight line seemed more challenging than he initially thought. He wanted to get it right, but the old man's strict guidance made the task demanding. Determined, he focused on improving his steps.For almost an hour, Benjamin persevered, struggling to align his footpr
The rugged man clenched his fists, his pride warring with his fear. “You can’t be serious,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.Abdelkarim cocked the gun audibly, tilting his head. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Reluctantly, the rugged man lowered himself to his knees, the humiliation evident on his face. His companions followed suit, each moving with visible hesitation. The restaurant’s patrons and staff watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they bore witness to the surreal scene.One of the men reached for Abdelkarim’s shoe, his hand shaking as he wiped at it with his sleeve. Abdelkarim smirked, glancing down at their feeble attempts. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “Put some effort into it.”As the men continued their reluctant task, Abdelkarim’s tone turned colder. “Now, let’s add some respect to the mix. Each of you will address me properly while you’re down there.”The rugged man looked up, his face twisted with fury and shame. “What do you mean?”Abdelkarim leaned in s
The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point
The room went tense as Abdelkarim froze, his gaze darting nervously to the man’s threatening expression. Around them, a few other patrons glanced over.Cipherella’s delicate brows furrowed with concern as she leaned closer to Benjamin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Master, they’re trying to bully him," she said, her eyes darting between Abdelkarim and the rugged man.Benjamin didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the scene, observing every detail—the posture of the men, Abdelkarim’s unease, and the simmering tension in the air. Finally, he nodded slowly and said, "Let’s just watch for now.”"But Master—" Cipherella started, her worry evident."Relax," Benjamin interrupted gently, his tone calm but firm. "Let’s see how he handles himself first. If things go too far, I’ll step in."Cipherella hesitated, but she trusted Benjamin’s judgment. She bit her lip and stayed quiet, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as her eyes returned to Abdelkarim.Meanwhile, Abd
As they entered, Benjamin's gaze swept over the bustling interior of the establishment. The atmosphere was thick with chatter, clinking glasses, and faint music playing in the background. At one side of the room, a group of rugged-looking men occupied a long table. They were loud, drinking and eating heartily, with wisps of smoke curling from the cigarettes and cigars they casually puffed.Their appearances were striking—some had jagged scars running across their cheeks.Others had scarves tied around their heads, their expressions hard and uninviting, with sharp eyes that scanned the room like predators on the lookout. A few wore leather jackets with frayed edges, while others had rugged shirts and boots.Benjamin took note but didn’t linger on them. Instead, he calmly made his way to an unoccupied corner on the other side of the room. He settled into a chair with an air of quiet authority, his face betraying no hint of concern. Cipherella followed closely, her gaze flickering brief
Benjamin settled back onto the couch, gesturing for Cipherella to sit. She listened intently as he recounted the night's events."Cipherella," he began, "I met Abdelkarim yesterday. His boss wasn’t exactly treating him right, and he seemed ready for a change."Abdelkarim shifted uneasily, but Benjamin continued. "We ended up being followed by three of Darnell's men. They tried to corner us, but I convinced them to switch sides and work for me. Abdelkarim here was part of that, and he’s proven he’s willing to take on something bigger.”Cipherella raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “And they just… agreed? Just like that?”Benjamin nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Sometimes all it takes is to show someone what they’re worth. They’d been risking their lives for scraps. Now, they have a reason to be loyal." He glanced at Abdelkarim, who looked both grateful and a little overwhelmed.Cipherella sighed, finally relaxing a bit. “If you trust him, Master, then that’s enough
The men exchanged nervous glances, doubling down on their story despite Darnell's threat. The first man cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Boss, like we said, it was just a routine check. We saw the car following and thought it could be a minor threat, so we stopped to make sure it wasn’t an issue. But they turned around as soon as we approached."The second man nodded quickly. "Exactly, boss. We didn’t think it was worth disturbing you for something so small, figured we could handle it ourselves.”Darnell's gaze remained icy, not buying the excuses. His eyes bored into each one of them, but they held firm, each nodding in agreement, sticking to their story. "We were just looking out for you, boss," the third one added, trying to muster confidence. "Didn’t want to waste your time.”Darnell narrowed his eyes at them one last time, as if weighing the truth of their story. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the tension. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Get back in
The men climbed out of their cars and walked over to Darnell’s vehicle, where he stood waiting, his expression already dark with suspicion. As they approached, he wasted no time.“What’s wrong?” Darnell’s voice cut through the silence, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Where’s the last car?”The men looked at each other, shifting uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We...we don’t know, boss. One minute, they were right behind us, and the next...they weren’t.”Darnell’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want excuses. Give me an answer.”They fumbled for words, but all they could offer was a helpless shrug. Frustrated, Darnell took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Fine. Who was in the last car? Give me their names. Now.”The men stammered for a moment, then rattled off the names of the three who had been in the missing car, exchanging nervous glances as they waited for Darnell's reaction.Darnell narrowed his eyes, his impatience evident. “Call them. Now,” he ordere
As the men disappeared down the road, Abdelkarim turned to Benjamin, a worried crease on his brow. "Do you trust them? What if they tell their boss everything?"Benjamin's expression was unwavering. "They won’t."Abdelkarim’s eyebrows rose, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "How do you know?"Benjamin smirked, a trace of confidence in his eyes. "Because I gave them something Darnell never has: respect. They’ve been doing his dirty work for scraps. Darnell treats them as disposable. But me? I just paid them a month’s worth in minutes and offered them a way out. Right now, loyalty is cheap—but it’s the one thing Darnell can't buy.”Abdelkarim nodded slowly, his gaze steadying with newfound determination. “I’m ready to work for you, Benjamin,” he said with a slight smile. “But... tonight, I don’t have anywhere to stay. I might just end up sleeping in the car.”Benjamin’s expression softened. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “As long as you’re willing to follow m
Benjamin looked at them intently. “How much do you want to be paid?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.The men glanced at each other, hesitating for a moment. Finally, one spoke up, “Every month… pay us double what Darnell does.”The other nodded, adding quickly, “Yeah. 2000 dollars each.”Benjamin smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected them to ask for something outrageous—10,000, even 50,000 dollars a month. Instead, they only wanted a mere double of what Darnell paid them. To someone like him, 2000 dollars was nothing, even if he had to pay them that amount daily.“Deal,” he said without hesitation, nodding once.They stared at him, dumbfounded. “Wait… deal? Just like that?” one of them asked, disbelief evident in his voice.Benjamin shrugged. “2000 dollars a month is nothing to me if you’re loyal and good at what you do.”They exchanged glances, still stunned by his response. "You... you really mean that?" one of them asked, sounding almost hopeful.Benja