As long as they got married, Roxy couldn't believe that Benjamin could remain indifferent if he had to face such a beauty like her every night.Who did they think Roxy was? How could those mediocre women from the outside world be on par with Roxy?As long as they were lawfully wedded, Benjamin would be devoted to her sooner or later.Roxy was confident in herself.Benjamin looked at Roxy, whose self-confidence was through the roof. However, his heart was thinking about Victoria instead.When he recalled her words that she would marry another man, his icy expression worsened.That woman might really just do that.Such a thought somehow popped into Benjamin's mind, and he placed the coffee mug on the table irritably.He asked, "Who among all of you could stop me if I decide to leave now?"Roxy was speechless.Benjamin knew of the Hughes clan's existence and had even brought other people in successfully. That meant he had already acquired the secrets of the Hughes clan.He was
Benjamin's icy demeanor faded when he imagined Victoria's expression when she was drawing the smiley face.Such a mischievous person.But at the same time, another voice sounded within Benjamin's heart.She had placed the food by the window.If he had not come to this room and had not followed her clues to go to the window, would she have just ditched him and left like this?Will, who was also in the room, looked at Benjamin who was leaning against the window with the note in his hand.Benjamin was smiling with his brows relaxed in one moment and frowning as if he were angry the next moment.Will was once again baffled.He called, "Sir."Benjamin looked at Will.His gaze was sharp. Even Will couldn't help but cower under his scrutiny.Benjamin did not say anything.He folded the note and kept it before saying, "Go get the shopkeeper to come up."Will backed out of the room.He felt that Benjamin had something to ask him earlier, but ultimately decided to keep it to himsel
Victoria was stunned and asked, "By groom selection, is what you're talking about the same as what I have in mind?"Lena nodded and replied awkwardly, "It's to find you a husband. You can take your pick from any man from the Hughes clan that's of age."She continued, "But you'll have to get married and have a baby as soon as possible. They think that you're my daughter, and I would never leave again if you stayed here."Victoria asked, "Did they not suspect a thing? You told them that I'm your daughter and they believed it? Don't we need a maternity test or something?"Lena replied, "How could there be any mistaking it when the child came out from the mother's womb? In the Hughes clan, they would usually only do a paternity test."Victoria gave it some thought and asked, "Would you be in trouble if we don't do so?"Lena answered, "This is the unanimous decision of the few elders. According to the rules in the Hughes clan, the decisions of the clan elders are final."Even if you
Lena had been busy the entire day. It was only now that she recalled Victoria had gone out early in the morning to look for Benjamin.She asked, "Did you meet Benjamin Harper? How did your conversation go? Can he remember you now?"Lena paused for a moment before continuing, "According to the rules, Benjamin isn't eligible because he's not from the Hughes clan. But he currently holds the biggest secret of the Hughes clan, it'll decide the fate of the clan."Nobody would oppose him even if he insists on marrying you, let alone joining the groom selection."If you can keep him in the Hughes clan, those people might just offer you to him instead. That's the reason why the Bennett family is now trying their best to butter him up."She continued, "We've been back here for two days already, but Jackalyn and the others did not come causing trouble for us."That's because Benjamin Harper had accused her of her crimes, and the elders have locked Jackalyn up just to ease his anger."Victo
It was extremely quiet during the night.Suddenly, the sound of things being thrown around could be heard from Jackalyn's home.She asked, "When are you letting me out?"Sebastian was sitting in front of her. He was still wearing the same attire as the one he wore when he parted ways with Lena.Sebastian lost the friendly smile on his face when he was facing Jackalyn.He sneered, "You're still thinking of going out? If it weren't for you, Benjamin Harper wouldn't have known about the Hughes clan."He wouldn't have found us here, and the Hughes clan's secret wouldn't have been acquired by him."You're deserving of this punishment! Since things have come to this, we can only follow Benjamin Harper's wishes. You'll stay here as long as this matter has not been settled!"He continued, "If you called me over just to get you out of here, I'll tell you that it's impossible to do so! You don't need to call for my father, he can't make that decision, either!"Jackalyn's face was colore
Jackalyn had a vicious glint in her eyes. She barked with intense hatred, "How dare you!"Seeing that the situation was not in their favor, Silas immediately stood before Victoria.However, Victoria didn't seem scared or worried in the least. Instead, she nudged him aside. Flicking her hair, she stared at Jackalyn like she was looking at a fool.Jackalyn hit the roof. Pointing at Victoria, she wanted to instruct Sebastian to finish her off.But she was outraged, and no words came out of her open mouth. Her body felt stiff and was trembling all over.She looked like she would pass out anytime. Victoria noticed that and burst out laughing."Who told you I sneaked out? Are you stupid? How could I have found this place if I had to move stealthily?"Still smiling, she looked at Sebastian meaningfully. "Will you kill me, Mr. Veron?"He noticed she looked unperturbed, and her pretty eyes were like two glimmering pools of water.He smiled and shook his head. "No, I won't. You're the d
Sebastian's expression turned cold as he looked at Victoria.She was standing only inches away from him and immediately detected the change in his emotions. That topic was his Achilles' heel, just like Benjamin was to her.Their gazes met. Sebastian stepped further away from her."I won't tell you, Ms. Victoria. There are some matters that you're better off not knowing about."It sounded like a reminder and a warning.Victoria asked, "It's not the first time Jackalyn has threatened you, right? Do you want to be under the control of such a jerk for the rest of your life?"You'll have to risk it to change the situation. She's counting on you to help her son out. She's the one asking you for a favor!""You're one to keep grudges. Do you not hate me? Aren't you going to pay me back for what I've done?"She averted her gaze. "You were forced to do that, no? If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have survived."Victoria had fallen into the ocean because of Jackalyn, and Sebastia
After Victoria fled the scene, she waited near the door. Sebastian casually strode out from the main entrance before long.He walked swiftly, but the hem of his shirt was still. He carried himself like a true nobleman. As the wind played with his hair, his dashing features looked gentle and compassionate.Victoria occasionally watched period dramas. After meeting Sebastian, she now thought the male leads' bearings in those dramas were just as awful as those in cringy action movies.He was a perfect gentleman, second to none. She would never believe he was wicked like Jackalyn, who deserved the worst kind of death. The face was the index of the mind, and he didn't look like a villain."That was fast, Mr. Veron." Victoria was in a good mood. She had just beaten up someone she had longed to beat and vented her resentment.When she saw him, she walked out with Silas following behind.Sebastian pointed at the carriage. Smiling, he gestured for her to go first. His smile was mesmerizin
Victoria saw that Benjamin wasn't looking like he was kidding at all. She placed both of her hands on his chest and turned her head away when he leaned in to kiss her.She then pushed him away hard and changed the topic by saying, "I heard that Solomon was beaten up in his own house last night."Benjamin chuckled lowly and said, "There's no use changing the topic."As he was talking, he arched his neck and pressed his lips near Victoria's ear.Victoria's ears, especially her helix, were extremely sensitive. She subconsciously pulled her hands back and covered her ears with her palms.Benjamin took the chance to wrap his arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her close to him. His face was close to hers.Victoria could feel Benjamin's burning desire as she was pressed down onto his lap. She now knew better than to struggle.This was just shooting herself in the foot!It wasn't that she didn't know what he was like, but she just had to stir him up.Victoria felt uneasy when she
Victoria used her other hand to support her cheek as she blinked.She said, "How could someone who dislikes wasting words and unnecessary chatter nag endlessly over just a small wound?"Benjamin coldly asked, "Are you complaining that I'm long-winded and annoying now?"He looked aggrieved, as if he would be angry if Victoria were to answer "yes".Victoria laughed out loud again and replied, "I'm not!"She used her finger to poke at Benjamin's cheek.She was smiling when she asked, "Are you madly in love with me, Benjamin?"Benjamin looked at Victoria seriously as he crouched by her legs.If it was before this, he would've nodded and replied "of course" without hesitation. But now …Benjamin couldn't be as confident and sure when he recalled Wendy's previous words.Victoria didn't think much of it and took Benjamin's silence as affirmation.She continued, "I'm thinking that you're definitely madly in love with me. That is why you're so heartbroken and reacted abnormally even
"Where are we heading to now, Ben and Mrs. B? Why are the people here so weird? Why are they dressed up as if they're in a period drama?"What is this place? Why are the both of you here?"Yves was back to his lively self as soon as he got into the carriage. He started asking endless questions."You regained your memories now, Ben? I knew you'd never forget about Mrs. B no matter what. Even if you did, you'd definitely remember everything as soon as you saw Mrs. B!"Yves gushed on. It took him a good while to realize that Benjamin's expression had changed. Even the atmosphere in the carriage became strange.He asked, "Did I say something wrong?"Wendy laughed dryly and replied, "He's not as deeply in love with Victoria as you think he is. He didn't remember anything."Yves laughed awkwardly before pursing his lips.He started to butter Victoria up."How did you know Ben is here, Mrs. B? How did you find—"Victoria pursed her lips and glanced at Gwen who was driving in the fro
Yves stared at Anna. She started out mumbling, and her voice grew louder toward the end.He looked confused. "Ben, Mrs. B, what is she talking about?"He was sure she was speaking the same language but couldn't, for the life of him, understand what she meant.Upon listening to Anna, Wendy immediately felt she was too quick to agree to Yves' request because of the money. She wanted to push him aside.However, he was in a sorry state with his limp. His face was visibly thinner than before, and his eyes weren't as bright as they used to be. She found herself sympathizing with him.Victoria pressed her lips together, and her brows creased further.Benjamin turned to Silas. "Go and get Asher!"Anna didn't dial back on her arrogance. "Great idea. I'm looking for him, too."There was a horse race today, yet he locked me up in that cabin! I have a score to settle with him!"Victoria recalled Asher leaving the stables urgently during the day and had a hunch about what happened."If yo
Yves looked up with teary eyes and could vaguely make out Benjamin's sour face.He rubbed his eyes with all his might. Benjamin's face slowly became clear to him as his vision cleared."It's really you, Ben! Oh, Ben!"He was pleasantly surprised, as though he finally had someone to rely on. He teared up in excitement.The next moment, he became aggrieved again. He was just like a three-year-old who was bullied by a stray cat.He cried, "You're here, Ben. Why didn't you ask someone to look for me? You've no idea what I've experienced."I've been locked away in that shabby cabin and almost lost it. I miss you so freaking much!"Benjamin looked less sour now. He took out his handkerchief that he brought along wherever he went.He passed it to Yves, who had tears and snot all over his face. "Clean up. You're a grownup man, you know. Look at you."With one hand taking the handkerchief, Yves clung onto Victoria with the other.Benjamin stared at his hand that was holding onto her.
Asher felt his heart shatter. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I've already gifted it to someone else!"The person in charge felt his heart ache, too. "I wanted to inform you when you arrived, but you told me to talk to you after the race."You've always said that horse has a character and that you like it, no? I never expected you to give it away."Who did you give it to? Could you, perhaps, buy it back from him?"Asher was dispirited. "I can't."He waved it off and continued, "Forget about it. It belongs to someone else now."I'd been obliging to its every wish for all the time it had been here. Still, it never obeyed me."It's intelligent and chooses its own master. I can't tame it. It's no better than an average horse to me."Tell those who witnessed that incident that they shouldn't talk about it to anyone. You may leave."The person in charge glanced at him. Bowing, he acknowledged the instruction he received and left.Asher looked toward Sebastian and sighed dejectedly
Silas and Wendy immediately hurried over in excitement when they heard they were going to split the winnings.Wendy, who wasn't the best in maths, counted gleefully, "We bet one thousand gold coins. As the odds are at one to 246, we'll get … ten thousand, 200 thousand … 244600 gold coins. Am I right?"She surprised herself when she said that out loud. She and Silas exchanged glances and started hopping about in delight.That was a lot of gold coins! They were rich!"Ten percent of 244600 gold coins would amount to roughly 24 thousand gold coins, so 20 percent would make it about 50 thousand. Victoria—"Silas and Wendy were already dizzy. Turning to them, Victoria instructed, "Give us a moment, and take Onyx with you.""You …" Silas looked at her suspiciously. Was she planning to keep all the money to herself?She gave him a warning glare, and he and Wendy obediently led Onyx away.They shouldn't offend their moneybag right now.Victoria looked at Asher. "That's over 240 thousa
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. It was a teenager who was around 15 years old. Not bothering to keep up his image, he sat on the floor and clung to Sebastian's leg.Besides him, many others were standing around Sebastian. They all looked at Sebastian pitifully.Asher loudly asked the one kneeling, "Just look at you, Troy Lancaster! What happened to your enthusiasm?"It's only a meager sum. Do you really have to react this way?"Troy Lancaster? He was the Lancaster family's youngest son, Sebastian's younger maternal cousin.Victoria had a photographic memory. She saw his name when she skimmed through the log book earlier.He had bet 500 silver coins, which wasn't the least of all. It wasn't a hefty sum either, considering who he was.The Lancasters had very conflicting approaches in his upbringing. His mother pampered him, while his father was very strict toward him because he thought he was spoiled.Judging from his reaction, he must've been greedy and impulsivel
Once Roxy left, several women with ill intentions who criticized Victoria earlier became uneasy. They came up with excuses and left one after another.As the drama ended, everyone calmed down. Some were listless, while some were feeling down.There were also a few who approached Victoria, among whom were mainly men. They earnestly introduced themselves.Benjamin scanned the men who surrounded Victoria and somehow felt betrayed. Glowering, he seemed about to fly off the handle.His glare was too harsh, and many retreated after a short exchange with Victoria. She studied those who resolutely remained beside her.Compared to people from the outside world, the clan members had less desire for material possessions.Those who stood their ground didn't feel displeased at losing a hefty sum in the bet. They also withstood the pressure Benjamin's glare exuded.It was fair to say they were the best among the best.They were from decent families and had been receiving proper education sin