Chapter 72

CHAPTER 72 Benjamin came home calm as though he had just gone for a walk outside and nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Seconds later, Elizabeth also came home, and she looked a little frustrated because Benjamin threatened her he would leak the video and image to her family and friends if she were to say anything about his real name to anyone.

Elizabeth was someone who visited rich parties every week. If her friends were to see her working in a pizza hut, they would have something they could always mock her with. Many others might take it differently as well. How could someone like her who changed clothes every week and shoes every other week work as a manager at a pizza store? The pitiful and doubtful gazes they would spare for her would be shameful, to say the least. Elizabeth didn’t want to go through such a humiliating experience.

Moreover, she had repeatedly mocked Benjamin for working at Rye’s Pizzas in front of the Sterling family members. If they were to know that she was working there as a manager, what would they think of her? What would her children think of her? Lisa might not say anything, but Rosha would call her a joke. That was the kind of son he was. He would listen to her when needed but would also argue with her all the time if she asked him to do anything he didn’t like.

Her stomach burned so hard her breath smelled like acid. “No matter what, I must delete that video! I should immediately hire a hacker,” she thought and already began to make the necessary calls. After entering the villa, she noticed Benjamin climbing up the stairs. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you raised your hand and almost hit me. That’s something I can’t overlook.” He looked at her mobile call log and dialed her husband. While she may not be able to directly hurt Benjamin now, Shawn surely could.

After Shawn answered the call, she began speaking in a teary voice. “Darling...” she went to tell a random story she had cooked up on the spot. By the end of it, Shawn assured he would deal with the source of her current trouble, which was none other than Benjamin. After the call ended, she snickered and wiped her fake tears off. “Can’t wait to see Shawn beat his ass.”

Benjamin came to his room and hesitated before opening the door.

Rebecca had just changed her dress. Benjamin stopped at the entrance and walked out immediately. “Sorry.” He was about to close the door, but she told it was okay to come in “You should have knocked at least,” she said, sounding just a little harsh in tone. She had worn a wonderful sparkling blue dress, but Benjamin couldn’t look at her for long.

He kept looking everywhere except at her as he said, “Jane invited me for the birthday party.”

“I know,” she said, sitting in front of the mirror and starting to put on make-up. He wondered why she wasn’t asking if he could come to the party with her. “Uh, isn’t the party at night? Why are you applying cream now?” It was still afternoon, so he asked a valid question. Rebecca, however, didn’t reply.

“Is your ankle fine?” he asked. “You think you can attend the party?” he didn’t think it was a good idea to go to a crowded place as she still couldn’t stand properly for long. “Jane is my best friend. If I can’t even do this much for her, she’ll be really disappointed in me,” replied Rebecca. “By the way, I’m going with Veronica, so you can come in another car.”

Benjamin’s heart slowed down pretty fast. “O-Okay.” In the Sterling family, Veronica was always first when it came to wasting time at parties until Elizabeth joined the ranks.

“But are you sure you don’t need my help when you get in and out of the car?” he asked.

“Thanks, but no. My sister can handle that much, I’m sure.” Benjamin’s shoulders slumped down a bit. He fell on the bed and made no sound anymore. About an hour later, Benjamin woke up. Rebecca was still in front of the mirror doing her hair and makeup, and he wasn’t surprised. She was a perfectionist when it came to presenting herself, and he liked that passion of hers.

Benjamin went for lunch and got stuck in the kitchen with Dorothy who kept trying to prove him she could make curries much tastier than he could. He said he would listen another time, but she stubbornly kept him there until evening. By the time he was out, Rebecca was already gone.

He hurriedly bathed, applied some cream to his face and came to Rebecca’s Porsche that was parked outside.

Ashley came up to him to deliver a small package. She was covering her body properly now, but her gaze was still the same. Her large eyes just needed to look at him to reveal all the hidden desires of her heart. She came a bit too close to give him the package, so Benjamin stepped back and snatched the package. She left while staring at him without blinking. She didn’t smile at all, for she was like a dog in heat, and her priorities were dictated by the lusts of her flesh. The dark-skinned Ashley was indeed tempting, but Benjamin knew better, and so he didn’t even spare her an additional glance this time.

He opened the package, and there was a small invitation card for an auction. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about this auction.” He tossed the box aside and slid the small fashionable card into his pocket. He was wearing a dull navy blue suit as he didn’t want to stand out too much at the party, given his beard would attract a fair amount of attention by itself.

As he started the car, Elizabeth stopped in front of the car and said, “We are coming, too.”

“We’?” The back window was knocked, so he glanced over his shoulder. Both Nolan and Dorothy were standing outside, already yelling at him to open the door. “Ugh...” Benjamin briefly bit his lower lip before opening the doors. Elizabeth sat in the front row, whereas her parents sat in the back row.

“I thought I wouldn’t walk for a month after what happened in the morning,” Nolan said,” but luckily, it was the physician took care of it fast. Otherwise I would have missed a party.”

“What gift you prepared, mom?” Elizabeth asked her mother.

WATER 72 “I’m bringing home-made cooking with me,” Dorothy proudly said. “The birthday boy and her girlfriend, I mean, his girlfriend will cry a river of joy after tasting my dishes!”

“Hahaha, I’m sure they will,” Elizabeth seemed a little excited. There was a small gift box in her lap. “What about you, dad?” “You told me he’s a wrestler, so I bought him a pair of quality hand grippers.” “That’s really thoughtful of you, dad,” Elizabeth said and glanced at Benjamin. “What about you, driver?”

The word ‘driver’ stung a thorn in Benjamin’s heart, but he had a bigger worry. He completely forgot about taking a gift to the party. (How could I forget such an important thing? It’s probably because Dorothy ate my brain in the kitchen! I don’t have much time now. How am I supposed to buy a gift with these three in the car?) “What’s wrong, driver?” Elizabeth leaned forward a little so she could get a better look at his face. “Don’t tell you are not bringing a gift to the party? That’s basic etiquette, isn’t it?”

Benjamin’s heart rate spiked. “W-Well...” He wanted to slap his own two cheeks for putting himself in such a situation. “My gift will show up during the party,” as Elizabeth kept staring, he ended up blurting what was on the top of his mind.

“Ho, it will come during the party, you say?” Elizabeth’s stare tightened. “Are you saying you are going to give a VIP gift? How can you afford that? Oh, wait, you might have asked Rebecca, right? I should have known, but since husbands don’t usually take money from their wives, it didn’t strike my mind quickly. My apologies.” “Kmmpff,” Nolan and Dorothy were holding themselves from laughing out loud. They loved it when their daughter roasted someone, especially if it was the one and only son-in-law of the Sterling family because of whom they had to give up the thought of marrying their son to Rebecca. Benjamin’s expression stiffened as his chest gained redness from rage throbbing in his heart.” Shall I start driving now, Aunt Elizabeth?” he asked without even looking at her. Nolan’s expression fell flat whereas Dorothy looked like she had seen a ghost all of a sudden because this was their first time hearing Benjamin call Elizabeth an aunt. Elizabeth’s face lost some color, but the ample amount of makeup covered it up. “I’ll take the silence as yes,” Benjamin squeezed the accelerator with his foot. Like a bird flying down a slope with its belly almost kissing the ground, the red Porsche swooped down the stone pavement with a posh blend of swiftness and smoothness.