The next morning.The veterinarian had treated the birds and asked who abused them, but Benjamin didn’t have an answer yet.Benjamin didn’t go to the rooftop. The parrots were still resting on his bed. Because their nails and part of their feet were crushed, the veterinarian said, they might never be able to stand, much less walk properly again.Their situation didn’t even let him sleep. He felt guilty because if not for him taming them, they might have left the villa, and they would still be living somewhere happily. But now, their entire life was ruined by his mother-in-law.Yes, Benjamin had overheard the conversations of the maids from a distance and learned what had happened. He didn’t want to use his enhanced sense of hearing to eavesdrop on others in the villa, but the circumstances forced him to.He knew Johnny was the one who caught the birds and beat them and tortured them, but the one who made him do it was Selena.“Not only did you get some men to attack me, you even went
The parrots did show some interest in the parfait, but in the end, they didn’t eat anything. The veterinarian had to come and check up on the birds again.Selena now knew what exactly had happened the previous night, and she then understood the reason why the muffins were so horrible, the worst she had ever eaten. She had to make Johnny personally go and buy the best muffins in the city and then eat them to feel a little better.The word already reached Rebecca through Veronica, but she couldn’t question Benjamin because she was smart enough to realize that Selena probably had something to do with the birds. Moreover, there wasn’t much one could do if family members kept fighting against each other. Whom should she support? She had been seeing this since childhood, so she was thinking of telling Benjamin to control himself until she bought a new house where they could freely live together.While Rebecca was planning a design for her and her husband to wear during the reception, Benjam
The family doctor had come and treated Benjamin, even though the bleeding had stopped by the time he came.Selena was also there. She didn’t want anything serious happening between the husband and wife as they were sitting next to each other. So she stayed in the room to make sure nothing of the sort happened.As the doctor was leaving, he looked at Selena and said, “You may love your son-in-law, but you can’t be calling doctors bastards for not answering your call in the first few rings.”Selena’s face flushed pink as the doctor had said what he wanted and left. Though she felt embarrassed, she was at least glad that her words were taken in a way that would make her daughter feel better about her.However, seeing the wounded parrots resting in the bed was something she didn’t like. Beds were not meant for birds, she thought. If not for Rebecca constantly being in the room, she would have already done something about it.After Benjamin rested on Rebecca’s bed, Rebecca went to the couc
Anous returned to his job. He took the kids to school and then dropped Benjamin, Rebecca, and Veronica at the Powell’s gym.Jane and Donovan were already waiting there.Donovan didn’t look ashamed of what had happened at the birthday party, as he seemed to already put that behind him.“Why do we only get 1 hour?” Jane complained before even entering the gym. “Donovan says we need at least two to three hours to properly train our body under supervision.”“This is like rehabilitating, you know,” replied Rebecca. “Some training without therapy.”After they entered, a tall and handsome black man came to greet them. Both Rebecca and Jane went speechless for a second.“P-Powell?” Jane was shocked. “It’s you?”“Haha,” Powell laughed, putting his hands on his waist. “It’s great to meet friends from college, especially you, Jane.” He offered his hand for a handshake, but she didn’t go with the flow.Jane grabbed Donovan’s arm and said, “This is Donovan, my boyfriend.”“Oh…” Powell’s gaze chang
When Rebecca returned from the gym in her tights, Johnny was watching her from a distance. This was the first time he was seeing her curves, and he couldn’t turn his eyes away.Even though Veronica was also wearing tights, he was always watching her in her bikini, so she didn’t feel any special to him.It was only Rebecca that was his mango just out of reach.He wanted to jump and get hold of the ripening mango as fast as he could so he could have a taste of it.However, he suddenly felt a chill of the underworld, and he soon realized that Benjamin was giving him a death glare.He turned his head and minded his work. (Tsk! This overprotective son-in-law is always right behind her ass. But he’s a nobody, and I will make Rebecca realize that.) As he imagined Rebecca using her delicate arms to stroke him in the most intimate way, the thing in his pants throbbed. He get going far in the fantasies he lost track of time.Meanwhile in Rebecca’s room.She was going for a bath, and Benjamin as
Selena fired all the male butlers and cleaners after giving them the next three months salary, so they didn’t complain and also leaked what happened inside the villa, and she didn’t lose any face, either. Both parties knew that this was done to make Rebecca feel comfortable.While Benjamin had taken Johnny’s body in a car and went out into the city, Selena had removed Benjamin’s bed and all his belongings from Rebecca’s room.When Rebecca told her this wasn’t necessary, she was told to shut-up.“I know you better than you know yourself,” Selena told her. “Right now, it’s not good for a male to be living in your room, even if it’s your husband.”“But… shouldn’t we at least discuss this with him first?” asked Rebecca. “What will he think when he comes back and sees all his stuff moved to another room?”“Let him think whatever he wants,” Selena snorted. Her stomach rumbled again. “Ah, for fuck sake!” she raised her hands and screamed before rushing to the washroom in Rebecca’s room itsel
Sitting on Rebecca’s bed, Jacob looked quite frustrated. For one thing, his wife was sitting next to him and resting her head on his shoulders. He didn’t want to tell her to get up, but at the same time, he had more important things to do. Dealing with Johnny’s body is just a minor part of that.However, what angered him more was seeing his daughter designing a suit right in front of his eyes. “Is this the time to be planning designs?”“The request came from my old friend Evelyn. She wants to surprise her boss, so I need to finish this as fast as possible.”“To her boss? Who the hell is her boss? Some roadside romeo?”“CEO Adam of Conreid Lore.”Jacob went silent for a little while. “You can carry on, but do something about your mother. She's totally out.”“Yeah, so why don’t you just put her down on the bed?”“I’m afraid she’ll wake up if I move. You come and deal with her.”Rebecca sighed and did what Jacob asked of her and succeeded. Jacob didn’t wait another second and slipped out
Rebecca asked Selena about the parrots in the middle of the night, but she said she had no idea about the parrots and told her to ask the maids who also said they didn’t see the parrots.Rebecca knew they were lying, but there was nothing she could do now. Limping around the villa, she looked for the birds herself.However, Benjamin was the one who first found them. They were lying lifeless in the garden, with dog bites on their bodies, on both of them.When Rebecca saw the dead birds, her gut twisted. He silently buried them under the guava tree where the couple mostly played together. She shed tears, but he didn’t. He wanted to break the bones of the dogs, but he felt like he should punish others first if he were to punish the dogs for acting on their instincts.As he was walking away, Rebecca didn’t know what to even say to him. Because of her negligence, the parrots died. She felt sad and helpless. She might be earning millions, but could she bring the birds back to life so she co
“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