Cordelia turned to face him, her eyes searching his for any sign of doubt. "But what if it's too much?" she asked hesitantly, her heart laid bare before him. "What if I'm not strong enough?"Benjamin's gaze softened, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You are the strongest person I know," he whispered. "You've faced challenges that would break most people, and yet here you are, still standing.”Cordelia's breath caught in her throat, her heart swelling with emotion at his words. "And what about you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What if I'm not enough to save you from your own demons?"Benjamin's expression softened, his fingers gently tracing the contours of her face. "You already have," he murmured. "You've brought light into the darkest corners of my soul, chased away the shadows that once haunted me.”Cordelia looked at Benjamin with a smile, without a word, she reached up and pulled him into a fierce, passionate kiss. Her lips were insistent, hot and d
Benjamin chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Are you sure you want me to leave?" he teased, pulling her closer.Cordelia smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "Maybe not just yet," she whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. The intensity of their earlier moment returned, but there was a tender, lingering sweetness to it now.They stayed like that for a few more minutes, wrapped in each other’s warmth, before Cordelia finally sighed. "Okay, now you really should go," she said softly, though she made no move to get off him.Benjamin nodded, understanding. "Alright," he said, giving her one last kiss. "But I'll be back early tomorrow."Cordelia smiled, sliding off him and helping him gather his clothes. "I'll be waiting," she said, watching as he dressed. Benjamin left after that. Getting into his room, Benjamin didn’t go to sleep. Instead, he opened his laptop and began searching for beautiful proposal rings for his girlfriend. He scrolled through countless images
The driver turned to Benjamin just as he was about to step out. "Sir, may I come in as well?"Benjamin paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, follow us. It won't take long."The driver smiled gratefully and quickly got out of the car, joining Benjamin and Helen as they walked toward the entrance of the jewelry store.The three of them entered the store, the luxurious interior immediately drawing their attention. Sparkling displays of diamonds, gold, and other precious gems lined the walls. As Benjamin, Helen, and the driver entered the opulent jewelry store, a well-dressed sales associate promptly approached them. Her smile was professional and welcoming."Good morning, sir. How may we assist you today?" she asked, her eyes briefly flickering over the group before settling on Benjamin, who exuded an air of quiet authority.Benjamin returned her smile politely. "Good morning. I'm looking for an engagement ring. Something unique and exquisite."The associate's eyes lit up at the prosp
"It's me," Benjamin replied, stepping forward.The cashier frowned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Please choose another ring from our general display area, not from the private viewing section."Benjamin's brows furrowed in confusion and annoyance. "Why? She was the one who sent us there," he said, pointing to the sales associate who had assisted him.The cashier glanced at the associate and then back at Benjamin. "Don't you know the rings there are expensive? Does he look like someone who can afford it?" she remarked dismissively. Benjamin's eyes hardened, and he stood taller. "Is this how you treat your customers? Judging their ability to pay based on your own instincts?”Helen and the driver exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable with the situation but ready to support Benjamin.The cashier looked slightly taken aback by Benjamin's response but held her ground. "It's company policy to ensure—"Benjamin cut her off, his voice firm and unwavering. "Your company policy should i
Sensing Cordelia's lack of interest, Rose switched topics, trying to find something that might engage her niece. "Or maybe we could look at some accessories? A new handbag, perhaps? You can never have too many handbags.” Cordelia forced a small smile, trying to muster some enthusiasm for Rose's sake. "Sure, let's look at handbags." As they moved from store to store, Rose kept up a steady stream of chatter, suggesting items and asking for Cordelia's opinion. Despite her efforts, Cordelia's responses remained subdued, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. "So, how about we get some lunch after this? There's that new café everyone has been talking about. We could grab a bite and maybe a coffee," Rose suggested, trying to lighten the mood. Cordelia nodded absently. "That sounds fine." Meanwhile, a sleek black car pulled up to the side of the mall, its tinted windows concealing the identities of the passengers inside. Three men sat inside, each wearing black face masks that hid their feature
"Good, bring it," Benjamin said, taking a seat.Rakshasha retrieved a newspaper from a nearby table and handed it to Benjamin. The newspaper looked extremely old, its yellowed pages brittle and edges frayed. It was more than 8 years old, and its age showed in every crease and tear.Benjamin unfolded the paper carefully, revealing a headline that read: "Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Winslow Family CEO and Wife." The accompanying photograph depicted a horrific scene: a car, utterly crushed, with a large truck looming ominously in the background. The truck's registration number, partially obscured by the wreckage but still legible, read: "TRK-45829.”"Write down the truck's registration number," Benjamin instructed the team, ensuring everyone had the critical detail documented."Finally, we have the truck number," Benjamin said with a note of relief. "We need to check its registration."Cipherella looked up from her computer. "Master, I can check the database for all registered numbers
Parker provided his details, and Benjamin swiftly transferred the money. "Check your account," Benjamin instructed.After a moment, Parker's voice came back, astonished. "I got it. Five thousand dollars. Alright, I'll help you. Let me check the records now."A few minutes later, Helen's phone rang again. She quickly answered, and Parker's voice came through, now respectful and cooperative."Helen, it's Parker. I checked the records. The car from the Winslow accident is still here, archived in the back section of the lot.Benjamin took the phone from Helen again. "Mr. Parker, is it possible for us to come and take the vehicle?"Parker sighed. "I'm afraid that's impossible. No outsider is allowed to come and take a look, let alone take the vehicle. It's against the regulations."Benjamin frowned but kept his tone calm. "Is there any way around this? We really need to examine that car."Parker hesitated. "I understand, but the rules are strict. There's no way I can authorize that.”Benja
As he finished, a sense of relief washed over him. The hard part was over, and he could now report back with the vital information needed. Meanwhile, back at the base, Benjamin was pacing around the room, his mind consumed with anticipation and impatience. With each step, he mentally urged Parker to hurry with his task, knowing that time was of the essence in their investigation. Helen observed Benjamin's restless demeanor and finally spoke up. "What will you use the VIN number for, Benjamin?” Stopping in his tracks, Benjamin turned to face her, his expression focused. "The VIN number is crucial. It will help us trace the car's manufacture and gather important details about its history. With that information, we can piece together the puzzle of what happened and who may have been involved." Helen nodded, understanding the significance of the VIN number in their investigation. "I see. So, it's like a key that unlocks vital information about the car's origins and past.” "Exactly,"