Evelyn nodded, feeling a bit relieved that her son had a chance. She then asked, "What about relationships?”Cordelia shook her head and explained, "I remember when I was in Senior High, I liked someone, but that was all. It all stopped at once. I stopped liking the guy and didn't bother making him aware. Since then, I've never been in a relationship. I really don't want to be in one. I just want to live my peaceful life alone forever."Evelyn shook her head and advised, "My dear, you aren't a kid. You must create a family sometime. If I may ask, how old are you?""I'm 27, aunt," Cordelia replied."Oh, my son is 24, meaning you're three years older than him. Even if so, you both are a good match," Evelyn remarked.Benjamin was stunned hearing his mom say it straightforward. He raised his head and took a look at Benjamin.Cordelia raised her head, glancing at Benjamin before looking away and shaking her head, saying, "No, Auntie, you're wrong. Let's take an example. If I'm in a relatio
As the dance tutorial played on the TV, Benjamin led Cordelia through the following steps. They started with a simple sway to get in sync with the music. Benjamin then guided Cordelia through some basic footwork, twirls, and gentle spins, all following the instructions on the screen.As the dance progressed, Benjamin held Cordelia's hand, occasionally bringing her closer. Following a move from the tutorial, he gently placed his hand on her waist, and Cordelia blushed, feeling the warmth of the moment.Benjamin tried to lighten the atmosphere with conversation, attempting to draw Cordelia out of her shyness."You know, dancing is all about expressing yourself," he said with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about the steps; just let go and enjoy the moment.”During a more intimate step, the tutorial suggested a closer embrace. Benjamin hesitated for a moment, looking into Cordelia's eyes, and then smoothly wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. Cordelia's heart raced, fee
As soon as they stepped outside, it began raining. It seemed like it was already drizzling, and then suddenly, it started raining heavily."Oh God, why now? I'll be so drenched," she said.The rain poured down heavily, turning the quiet night into a symphony of raindrops hitting the ground.The coldness of the rain mixed with the cool night air, seeping through any exposed skin and sending shivers down Cordelia's spine. "It's raining hard now; I think you can't leave," Benjamin said.Cordelia shook her head and said, "Let's try; I guess I can still leave."Benjamin nodded, and they both took a step.Boom! The thunder rumbled instantly. Praaw! The thunder kept rumbling."Oh my God," Cordelia screamed lightly and hugged Benjamin, "let's get inside; I'm afraid of these things," she said.Benjamin chuckled, and they both walked back inside.Getting inside, they both sat down. Cordelia looked worried, checking the time."Hey, I don't think you should leave. Why not spend the night with me
Benjamin stood there, a mix of surprise and delight on his face. "You're cooking?”Cordelia nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, but not something great, I came here and found out there are a lot of things that can cook different dishes, so I decided to do something good for breakfast.""That's great," Benjamin smiled and asked, "So what are you cooking?"Cordelia replied, "It's a surprise, but it'll be ready in just two minutes.”Benjamin took a seat. “I'll wait then.” he saidIn two minutes, the kitchen filled with the rich aroma of a delicious breakfast. Cordelia emerged holding a tray with a beautifully arranged breakfast. There were pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruits, and a steaming cup of coffee."Surprise!" Cordelia said with a grin, presenting the tray to Benjamin. "I hope you like it."Benjamin was genuinely surprised and impressed. "Wow, this looks amazing! You're not just good at cooking, but you've also made it a feast. Thank you, Cordelia.”Cordelia smiled and s
Benjamin had smiled and said, "You know, you always also looked beautiful; it's not a compliment, it's a fact." He said. Cordelia rounded her eye and said, "Thank you, let's leave now."Upon getting outside, Benjamin threw the keys at her, stating, "You drive my Audi, and I'll be your passenger."Cordelia, without a word, opened the driver's seat and sat down. Benjamin joined as the passenger.Within an hour, they arrived at the campus. Cordelia parked outside, opened the door, and stepped out. Irene and a few others, seeing her in a different car, remarked, "That's Madam Cordelia. She's driving another car?"One person commented, "Madam is rich; she just changed her car." Another questioned, "Why is she teaching if she's so rich?”Irene clarified, "Come on, don't you guys know? She's not even paid; she doesn't take payment. She's just trying out things." Someone expressed admiration, saying, "Wow, I admire her."As they all watched Cordelia, the passenger gate suddenly opened, revea
Then came a more direct jab, "This car should cost nothing less than $200,000. Do you even have $2,000?" Laughter erupted again, the group reveling in their collective skepticism and dismissing Benjamin's claim with a blend of amusement and mockery.Irene, seizing the opportunity to escalate the mockery, stepped forward with a disdainful smirk. "Shameless doesn't even begin to cover it," she sneered, her words dripping with scorn. "Claiming Ms. Winslow's car as your own? You must be running on a new level of delusion, Benjamin. Maybe you should focus on reality instead of constructing these pathetic fantasies." The crowd, fueled by Irene's cutting remarks, intensified their laughter and jeers, further amplifying the humiliation aimed at Benjamin.Benjamin shook his head and smiled; he didn't have to bother about these people. Regardless of their mockery, he knew they looked down on him, and nothing would change that perception.Just then, at that moment, someone in the group exclaim
A wave of excitement swept through the hall, and thunderous applause filled the air as the students welcomed the news of the upcoming games.The sports teacher continued, "This is how we'll play the games. Today, it's going to be between ourselves here. It's going to be a competition between departments, so every department, your headteacher will guide you on what to do." After a pause, he added, "For now, in every department, please group yourselves quickly.”The announcement set off a flurry of activity as students began to organize themselves into their respective department groups, eager to participate in the upcoming competitions. Within the span of 30 minutes, the hall transformed into a dynamic sea of organized chaos. Students swiftly grouped themselves according to their departments, creating an impressive array of around 30 neatly arranged teams.Amid the buzz and excitement, the noise level in the hall surged as students animatedly discussed strategies, exchanged playful b
Everyone was quiet hearing Cordelia's question, their attention fully captured by the cold expression on her face."I won't want to repeat myself again. What is going on here?" she asked.A nervous gulp echoed in the room before one lady got up and confessed, "Ms. Winslow, it's all because of Irene. She was the one who came in to say you gave Benjamin a lift, and Benjamin is claiming the car is his, which made all of us laugh at him.”"You fool!" Irene muttered under her breath, shooting a disapproving glare at the girl who had spoken up.Cordelia turned her gaze toward Benjamin, who, surprisingly, didn't seem bothered by the situation. After observing him for a moment, she redirected her attention to Irene and asked, "Irene Azuka, is that true?" The room held its breath, awaiting Irene's response.Irene got up and said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Winslow. It won't happen again."Cordelia continued to stare at her and sternly remarked, "I thought I warned you guys the other time about mocking ea
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