“Hey,” Benjamin waved his hand before Rebecca. Only then she started blinking. “Are you fine?”“Y-Yeah, I”m fine,” Rebecca picked up the glass and sipped on the spicy lemonade. Her eyes, however, stole glances at him. He looked ten times more manly and cooler in this jacket and jeans. The helmet was resting on his thigh. He was spinning the keys around his forefinger and looked completely comfortable and lively. The only thing she didn’t like was his beard. It was eating away most of his looks.Jane, on the other hand, couldn’t look at Benjamin. The last time they met, she had slapped him, after all.After Benjamin sat at their table, the atmosphere slowly but surely changed. Benjamin didn’t say a word, but the male energy made the two women go silent for a little while. He didn’t do anything other than sit in between them, but he seemed dominant for some reason.“You got your job back at Rye’s Pizzas?” asked Rebecca, sporting an awkward smile.He nodded. “How’s your mother doing?”“S
“My real name is…”“Madame,” the waiter intruded into their space, “any more orders?”Rebecca and Jane glared at him.“O-Okay. I’ll come back later,” he walked away without making any sound.Jane turned her head fast and looked at Benjamin. “So, you were saying…”He looked into Rebecca’s eyes. “It’s Benjamin Wolfe. That’s my real name.”A second of silence passed, not counting the noise of the breeze and the sounds of the street.“So much suspense for nothing,” Jane blurted out. “Aren’t both the names almost the same?”Rebecca stayed silent, but she was feeling a lot better now. After all, she was so glad to hear that his real first name was Benjamin, a name which had a special place in her heart, one which she had grown attached to.“Yeah, but…” Benjamin was trying to explain himself.“You don’t need to say more,” Rebecca stopped him. “You must have had your reasons for hiding your family name, so you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t feel like it.”Benjamin didn’t want to tel
“The wider street has many turns and speed bumps because of the schools,” Benjamin stated.“It’s okay. You can enter the wider one,” she said, having no clue she would regret her decision big time.Benjamin happily drove through the wider street, and the many speed bumps made sure her chest kept bumping into his back very many times. Her face flushed into an orange tomato pretty fast. She wanted to cover her chest with her hands, but she was too afraid to let go of him. In the end, she had to bear through everything.After reaching the end of that street, Benjamin squeezed the brake and asked, “Do you want to go through the narrow way?”Rebecca squinted her eyes. If she were to say yes, he would turn the bike and make it go over all the speed bumps again. “No!” she quickly responded in a grudging manner. Forget about getting turned on, she felt so embarrassed right now.“Are you sure?” he asked innocently.“I’m sure. Super sure. Never been more sure about something in my entire life.”
Artur reached the Sterling villa. Kathy escorted him and Luther to a particular room.“I believe this room used to be…” he was saying.“Not even a bouquet or a bag of fruits?” Selena snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”“Haha, I doubt you’d actually eat any of the fruits I bring,” Artur sat on the couch prepared for him. “My father sent his regards. He hopes you recover fast. You know him pretty well, don’t you?”She softly laughed for a second. “Not as well as you might think.”“I heard him once say during one of his drunken speeches that he asked you to spend a night with him and you wanted 1 billion dollars per night. Is that correct? Did that really happen?”“He’s got the number exaggerated, but I did ask him to pay the number I’m sure he wouldn’t.”“Is that so?”“Anyway, I wasn’t expecting you to visit so fast and at this hour to say the least. I’m sure it’s not just to see how I’m doing or to talk about my past with your dad. So, why do you have such interest in my daughter, Artur
Rebecca lay down on the bed, but she couldn’t sleep. Everything she had done that day was still pretty fresh in her mind.She couldn’t believe she had experienced so many positive moments in just one day. Some of the things she only dreamed as a teenager actually came true. She held his hands and walked together. Sat under a tree and ate and talked and laughed together. Though she didn’t get to fish, she didn’t mind that at all. After all, she had experienced enough memorable moments that she wouldn’t be able to forget, probably forever.However, the only thing she regretted was that she couldn’t put her arm around his shoulders in the same way he couldn’t. “I saw him hesitating to put his arm around my shoulders, but I couldn’t react to it. Now, I wish I put my arm around his shoulders. I missed doing such a cool thing.”Though she had dated many men, she had never held their hands or been close with them, so everything that had happened today was kind of a first for her. So, despite
Rodnie warned the upper class students to not treat Lisa and Roshan disrespectfully, and that if anybody crossed the line, they would be immediately expelled.Still and all, one girl tried her luck against Roshan and then got kicked out of the school on the very same day after Roshan complained about her.At the same time, Benjamin paid a visit to the filling station where Nate was working part-time.Seeing Benjamin, Nate called for his friends that were there. Benjamin beat them all and poured petrol over all of them, including Nate. He took out the matchstick he brought, which caused Nate and everyone there to piss in their pants.“If I see you or your friends ever bothering Lisa or another girl for that matter,” Benjamin lit the matchstick, making them cry and sob and beg for their lives. They couldn’t even run away given the state they were in. Running wouldn’t help as petrol kept pumping out of the pipe even now. It was falling on Benjamin’s boots as well, but he didn’t look the
Selena allowed a journalist and critic to enter the villa to give an interview. While she talked about her health and her current and future film projects, she also said, “Sterling family is doing great. Now that my daughter’s bitter husband is gone, our villa is much more peaceful now.”“Can you tell me a bit more about this son-in-law?” the journalist asked.“There’s nothing to tell. He’s always ill-disposed and does not like our family. We couldn’t bear him. My daughter especially…” she wiped her non-existent tear from her eyebrow. “She’s been through hell and is still recovering. It’s scary how the entire family can be thrown into chaos with the arrival of just one bad person.”“Can you tell us his name?”“Trashmi-… Ahem, I mean, Benjamin… something. He’s short and full of shortcomings. He doesn’t comb his hair, doesn’t shave his beard. Heck, he doesn’t even get out of bed until he gets tea delivered to him. He gets all his work done by my daughter and the maids. I still can’t bel
Jacob was talking with Fabio Romano, the one who owned over 500 theater sites across the world. “It’s risky, but if everything goes as planned, the profits will hit heaven. By the way, how are things going between your son and my daughter?”“Remedeus is a soft guy,” replied Fabio, lighting up a cigar, “but your daughter has been testing his temper, it seems. I just hope he doesn’t lash out at her.”“Yeah. When soft guys get angry, they really get angry. Let’s hope they’ll somehow work it.”Jacob received a call. It was from Veronica. “Speak of the devil!” He answered and put the call on speaker.“Dad, I just went out on a date with Remedeus for the fourth time, and he wrote a poem for me.”“Hoho, really?” Jacob chortled and looked at Fabio who smiled back. Even Fabio was surprised because he didn't think his son had it in him.“Yeah, let me read it to you.”“No need, girl. You should keep it to you.”“No. Just listen first, okay?” she insisted. “Veronica, you’re my angel with eyes big
“How are things with your family, brother?” Fiona asked.Selena raised an eyebrow. “You’re in a family that deals with real-estate, so you should already know how we’re doing.”“Haha, I do, but outside information can only be trusted so much,” Fiona responded. “Recently, we’ve worked hard on getting a marriage deal for Fiona. Her fiance owns a reputed sports agency that deals with covering all the popular international sports. He earns hundreds of millions every year, but his father is a tycoon in the alcohol industry. Their net worth is in tens of billions.”“Good for you and your daughter,” Jacob smiled.“By the way, Brother,” Fiona glanced at Veronica and Akash. “What does Veronica’s husband do?”Jacob’s expression slightly changed.Veronica frowned and looked at her mother who was looking back at her with a rather poker face.“He is staying at home for now,” Veronica said openly.“Pfft, he’s jobless?” Riley snorted. “Your taste is so bad, Veronica, not just in terms of finding a pa
Benjamin went to the first floor and waited in the hall until Rebecca left her room.Then he went to her room. The door was locked, but he solidified his energy in the keyhole and opened the door.He entered the room quietly and saw the water bottle on the table next to her desk. It was half-full.Benjamin took out the vial and poured a drop of water into the bottle while saying ‘I love you, Rebecca.’He entered the bathroom and poured a couple of drops in the bathtub while once more uttering the three words ‘I love you, Rebecca.”He was about to come out of the room, but then he stopped and then ended up leaking another drop of water on the pillow, and another on the blanket. “I love you, Rebecca.”“Hopefully, this will help,” he thought.Benjamin then hurriedly left the room and then went to the rooftop. He mixed a few more drops in each of the four water tanks, while saying the words out, “I love you, Rebecca.”He looked at the vial.Three fourths of it was finished.He put the via
Despite Uzza, Rye, and Benjamin living in separate rooms, there were many guest rooms still available in the mighty Sterling villa, the best property on Rachel Hill.So, the families of Jacob’s siblings stayed in those rooms without any issue.But the problem was with the cousins, who were trying to show off. They acted arrogant and haughty with Veronica and even mocked Rebecca for the little hair she had on her head, not even bothering to wonder why exactly her hair was like that.Rebecca didn’t even bother talking to them, or sparing a word with them because she knew how selfish and self-centered these people were.Jacob and Shawn might have forgiven these people, but Rebecca couldn’t just act like nothing ever happened.She didn’t treat them badly, either. She just ignored them and minded her business.However, her cousin sisters got their eyes on Benyamin who was quite good-looking. Her cousin brothers were also unable to avert their eyes from Rye.Rye looked more like an exotic f
So many people started visiting Sterling villa ever since Selena herself had leaked the news of her buying a lot of land and buildings in Aurora Hills.Selena was sitting on the balcony, with Veronica next to her.“Why has the traffic increased so much?” Veronica said, “I’m seeing so many cars come and go recently.”Selena somewhat smiled and sipped on cream coffee. “I wasn’t born rich, Veronica. My relatives didn’t even let my parents into their homes or invite us to their functions because we were poor as church mice.”“Stop joking, Mom,” Veronica smirked with amusement. “You look like a million dollars. I’m sure our relatives’ sons back then would have wanted to marry you.”“You’re not entirely wrong, but they didn’t want to marry me as much as they wanted to mess with me,” Selena said. “I still remember one guy telling me, ‘I may look ugly as hell, but I can show you heaven in bed.’”Veronica went silent in shock. She didn’t think her mother’s beauty would have brought such terrib
Delle was bringing food, three varieties, on a big plate.Rye intercepted and took the plate from her. She brought it to Benjamin and sat by him under the tree.The grass was cool, even though the breeze was warm.“You think I haven’t noticed that you weren’t eating anything since you made that 40-day promise?” Rye said. “You were just acting like you’re eating.”She broke the bread mixed with fruit and brought it closer to his mouth.He didn’t open his mouth.“Do you want me to stop eating just like you are doing?” Rye said.Benjamin, who was staring into the distance, glanced at her. “Is it possible to love and hate at the same time?”Rye pursed her lips together, not quite understanding why he asked such a question. “I was angry with the things you did. I am still angry, but I don’t hate you. So, if you really love someone, I don’t think you can hate them.”“If there is no hatred in his heart, then how is Neel able to do this to me?” Benjamin asked, a hint of pain laced through his
Rebecca and Benyamin had breakfast together.This nearly made Selena’s eyes bleed. She didn’t think she’d live a day like this.Watching them eating happily was like injecting poison into her body.While she loved seeing her daughter happy, she couldn’t spare any mercy on the man who tricked her daughter into marrying him.Even now, she was thinking in her heart, devising plans on how to separate her daughter and her husband.Having lost the mood to eat breakfast, she came to the backyard.Amber was preparing the background setting needed for the interview.“Where’s Kathy?” Selena asked.“S-She’s with Samuel Sehla, ma’am,” Amber hesitantly said.Selena’s gaze turned a little icy, but then she smiled. “I knew Kathy had it in her, but I didn’t think she’d be able to grab the attention of someone like Samuel Sehla.” She looked at Amber. “What about you?”“I-I don’t plan on grabbing anybody’s attention,” Amber quickly replied.“Tsk, tsk,” Selena shook her head. “Try to grab Benyamin’s att
The next morning.Rebecca came out of her room fast and reached the dorms just to check on Benyamin. She found him brushing his teeth with his finger. And he was using salt.“Don’t you have a brush and toothpaste?” Rebecca quickly asked. “You should have asked me then.”“No, I’m fine with this,” Benyamin replied. “The smell of the chemicals in the toothpaste just makes me feel nauseous, so I’m fine with just this sea salt.”“But… will salt be enough?”“It’s enough,” Benyamin gave a thumbs-up. “In fact, I’m worried about you because you’re using that chemical-ridden toothpaste which dullens your brain.”“If they dullen the brain, then why would they promote toothpastes so much on television?”“They will promote everything that will make them money while keeping the people sick, so that they will not be able to think clearly and would rather depend on the government to think for themselves,” Benyamin smiled.“That’s not funny,” Rebecca hissed. “I have to go and brush my teeth. And I’m f
Later that night.Benjamin was out in the garden, sitting under a tree, doing nothing as hours went by.“He’s been like that since dinner,” Rye was watching him from the first floor’s window. “It’s not good.”“What can I say?” Uzza was feeling heavy-hearted. “It feels like the story of Abel and Cain altogether, though in a different way. The brothers that represent the duality of current man. The devil sure knows how to mock us and make us angry. I’m certain now. It’s his plan. He put the sworn brothers against each other.”“But how did he get Shadow?” Rye frowned. “I don’t sense any demonic energy in him.”“Considering Shadow’s abilities, it’s easy for him to hide the demonic energy,” Uzza opined. “He’s a perfect place for demons to hide, though I don’t know how they got hold of him. He must have been caught by surprise. I just hope that this won’t lead to something disastrous.” She was looking at Benjamin. “The longer this goes, the more likely that someone among those is going to b
Veronica brought Akash with her to dinner. Almost everybody was present at the dinner table after a very long time.New tables were arranged because there were more people now.Veronica could see that Akash was not taking his eyes off Benyamin. “Why are you staring at him nonstop?” she asked in a low voice.“He’s tall, handsome, and so fair. Even his hands are so shiny. How’s that possible for a man?” Akash sounded quite envious. “Men are not supposed to look so good-looking, right?”“Mm…” Veronica looked at Benyamin and felt the same. “He does look like a million bucks, but he doesn’t seem to have much muscle on his body. What’s the point of being tall when you don’t have enough muscle? You only look like you have inadequate genes.”“Not every man can be built heavy like the men in your family.”“Haha, you’re right,” Veronica was proud of her brothers and dad because they were tall and big and good-looking. Their jaws alone would melt the gazes of many women, after all.Rye and Benjam