Chapter 4

Caroline hurriedly stepped out of the bathtub and she put on her bathrobe. She walked toward the door, opened it, and saw Ben standing with a few servants, including Flo. As she had suspected, her intuition was correct.

"Have you finished bathing?" Ben asked gently.

"Why were you about to open the door earlier? I wasn’t even done bathing."

"I'm sorry. But I didn’t actually come in, did I?"

She couldn’t be angry with Ben since he had saved her life. Besides, he had already apologized for his boldness. It wasn’t a big deal.

"If you needed help, I could have accompanied you during your bath," Ben said with a smile and a playful wink at Caroline.

"What do you mean, Mr. Charles?" Caroline asked.

"Caroline, please don’t be mad at me. I only meant well and had no intention of disrespecting you." Ben raised both hands in apology, explaining that his comment was just a joke.

Caroline turned away from Ben and sat on the bed. Unexpectedly, Ben followed her, and their eyes met briefly.

"Forgive me, Caroline. It was just a joke," Ben said, kneeling before her in apology.

She immediately told him to stand up, especially since some of the servants were still in her room and could see this awkward display.

"What are you doing, Mr. Charles? Stand up. Don’t act like this," Caroline said, holding Ben’s strong hands.

Instead of standing up, Ben gazed at Caroline intensely. She returned the look. His eyes were so beautiful, she thought to herself, marveling at how handsome the man before her was.

Ben reached for her ankle, causing her to flinch. He then instructed Flo to fetch an ointment for her injury from the doctor. Flo promptly brought it to Ben.

"Such smooth skin shouldn’t have even the slightest blemish," Ben said, opening the ointment and gently applying it to the bruise on her ankle.

The cool sensation of the ointment on her skin made her shiver slightly. Caroline watched Ben closely as he carefully treated her wound.

"You’re very meticulous when treating someone’s injury," Caroline said, mustering the courage to speak.

"Only for you, not for anyone else," Ben replied with a wide smile.

Flo and the other servants couldn’t help but notice the closeness between Caroline and Ben. They smiled and teased their employer, making Caroline feel embarrassed.

When Ben was about to apply the ointment to the back of Caroline’s neck, she quickly pulled away. However, Ben had no ill intentions.

"I’m just applying this ointment to your neck. I mean no harm. Like always, my behavior toward you will never be inappropriate," Ben assured her, standing by her side.

Caroline relented and allowed Ben to approach. He carefully applied the ointment to the back of her neck.

"Caroline, why do you have to endure such a fate?" Ben asked softly.

"I don’t know. Perhaps it’s my destiny," she replied.

After finishing, Ben prepared to leave, instructing the servants to take good care of Caroline.

"I want all of you to serve Caroline well in this room. Ensure that nothing bad happens to her. If anything does, I’ll personally break your necks as punishment for your carelessness!" Ben said before leaving.

"Yes, sir," the servants responded, bowing in fear. Caroline, too, was startled by his harsh words.

‘Isn’t Ben being a bit too much?’ she thought.

***

"Mr. Charles, we’ve obtained information about Caroline—her home address, husband, and background," one of Ben’s subordinates said, handing him photos and documents about Caroline.

"So, it’s true that she’s married?" Ben said, examining one of the papers.

"Yes, sir."

Ben gestured for his subordinate to leave. Alone, he focused on a photograph that caught his attention. It showed a couple kissing passionately—Caroline and her husband, Johan. A surge of jealousy burned within Ben.

"Caroline Margareth," Ben muttered with a wide smile, admiring her beauty in the photo.

With the information he needed, Ben planned his next move: to get closer to Caroline and separate her from her husband. He saw this as an opportunity to win her over and vowed to treat her like a queen in a palace of luxury.

***

Caroline heard a knock on her door and walked over to open it. There stood Ben, looking at her intently. His scent was intoxicating, and the black shirt he wore accentuated his strong presence.

"What brings you here, Mr. Charles?" Caroline asked softly, cautious not to offend him.

"Don’t call me Mr. Charles. Just call me Ben, so we can be closer," he replied, stepping toward her.

Caroline invited him in, though she felt a little uneasy. Despite her fear, she remained polite, knowing that Ben had helped her.

"Are you still afraid of me, Caroline?" Ben asked, his gaze penetrating hers.

Caroline took a few steps back, but Ben moved forward, eventually cornering her against the wall.

"Don’t be afraid of me," he whispered softly, leaning closer to her face. "I won’t hurt you."

"Why did you follow me here, Mr. Charles?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Ben placed a hand behind her head, preventing her from pulling away. His smile was both charming and disarming.

"I want to be close to you and protect you from anyone who intends to harm you," Ben said, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Caroline, overwhelmed and unsure of his intentions, hesitated. Was this another lie from a man with a sweet tongue? She didn’t want to be deceived again.

"Stay away from me, sir. I’m not worthy to be by your side," she said, pushing him gently.

Instead of anger, Ben pulled Caroline closer, eliminating the space between them. They locked eyes for a moment. She acknowledged his striking features—a chiseled nose, piercing hazel eyes, and a strong jawline. What woman wouldn't want to be close to Ben?"

"You’re perfect for me, Caroline. Don’t distance yourself from me anymore."

"What do you mean? I don’t understand," she said, confused.

Ben lifted her chin and leaned in, his lips softly meeting hers.