Victoria yawned and tried to end this topic. "Understood. Don't worry. I cherish my life more than anyone else.""Do you like the things I gifted you?""I was unwell and slept through the day. I haven't checked them out. I'll let you know after I do.""Unwell?"She nodded. "Yes. I caught a cold from the breeze last night. I've never had that since I was ten. But after falling into the ocean, I started falling sick easily."I slept the whole day today because I was feeling sick. Solomon didn't believe me and insisted I was lying."Solomon didn't know she almost died, but Sebastian knew.Unlike Jackalyn, he had a conscience. When dealing with people like him, it would be best to trigger his guilty conscience and use it to her advantage."Please rest well, Ms. Victoria. I'll ensure those who shouldn't appear here never do."Then, he left. She knew he most probably was going to pay Solomon a visit. Another fight might ensue between them, and their conflict would only worsen.Solo
Wendy led Victoria and Silas around the entrance and came to a side door.Seeing how excited she was as she pointed at a hole, Victoria almost punched her out of anger. "That's the secret passage you mentioned? A doggie door?"Wendy was gleeful. "I thought it'd be gone after so many years. What a pleasant surprise! It's like they've kept it here just for us!"Victoria thought she was being ridiculous and almost cursed out loud."No freaking way! I'm not going through a doggie door!" Silas said out loud what she was thinking.Wendy tried to gloss over it. "It's not a doggie door. It's a secret passage!"I used to access the manor through it when Jackalyn first arrived here. Her looks were heavenly when she was young. Now, she's just cruel and wicked."A great man knows when to yield. Victoria, you want to meet Benjamin, don't you?"She looked from one to another. "I'll go in anyway. It's really nothing. Come, I'll show you the way!"With that, she lay flat on the ground and wri
Benjamin's body shuddered, like electricity flowed through him, and his eyes flew open.He lowered his eyes to look at the culprit, who was pressing down on him and stimulating his senses. His brows furrowed.Damn it! He was still mad at her, but he was now aroused. Since when had his Adam's apple become so sensitive?Victoria noticed his gaze and looked up. "Not going to pretend you're asleep anymore?"A naughty smile played on her lips, and she looked smug.Noticing his frustration, she slowly moved her gaze downward. Then, she abruptly flipped his blanket aside.She blinked innocently and looked not in the least surprised at what she saw. Her eyes were sparkling and full of smiles.Unable to hold in her laughter, she burst out laughing. "I see you're aroused."The look in her eyes fueled the desire burning within him.Putting on a straight face, he sat up as though nothing had happened. He calmly pulled the blanket over himself and hid that giveaway part of his body. Then,
Benjamin kissed with all his might like he was punishing her.Victoria thought she hadn't done anything wrong, and he didn't have the right to do so. He was such a hypocrite!Her eyes widened with fury, and she struggled to pull out of the kiss.Seeing how reluctant she was, he thought of Sebastian—a perfect man, commended by everyone in the clan.Jealousy took over Benjamin. He kissed harder, and Victoria started feeling out of breath. She struggled harder than ever and even bit his lips.Hissing in pain, he hugged her tighter as he continued kissing her. The more she struggled, the angrier he felt. He held her firmly and thwarted her intentions of breaking free.However, she was the type who was open to persuasion but not to coercion. And it wasn't like her to not put up a fight. They started grappling with each other.In the end, Benjamin won out. He pushed her onto the bed and accidentally caused her to land on the wound Solomon left on her.She yelped in pain. As she shift
Victoria was shocked when she heard Benjamin mentioning Jackalyn. She immediately turned around and studied his expression.He was looking at her gently. But deep inside his eyes, there was the coldness and killing intent that had yet to subside from his mention of Jackalyn.When he asked that question, he meant it and truly seemed oblivious to what had happened.She was evidently disappointed. She thought he might've remembered something.From her expression, he knew he was right. "Why did she harm you? Was it because of me?"She couldn't bear to stress him out. So, she denied, "Not really. You'll learn the truth when you … Have you applied the medicine?"She had initially wanted to say he would know all about it after he recovered his memories. But then, she changed her mind and thought that was no longer important.Although he forgot what they had experienced together, he still loved her. She was pleased to learn that. She could feel his love even though he didn't remember he
"How would you rate me?" Leaning on his chest, Victoria looked up at Benjamin tenderly.Despite having a provocative smile, she looked innocent and was really foxy.He felt his blood gushing within him, and his lower abdomen seemed like it was on fire. The fire spread to every part of his body and consumed even his ability to think and be sensible. He said nothing.Propping himself up with his elbows, he nudged backward. Then, he lay flat on his back, gazing at her while constantly gulping. It was like he was giving her permission to do whatever she wanted.Amused, she chuckled. She wouldn't let him get his way that easily, for sure.Laying on top of him, she moved her fingers upward like she was playing a piano. They reached his Adam's apple, and she traced a circle around it."You haven't rated my performance yet," she said softly, almost coquettishly.She continued, "I still remember how distant you were to women when we first knew each other. You were 30 years old then, yet
Realizing that Benjamin was still standing where he was, Victoria giggled.She rested her head on her palms and looked like she was mesmerized. "How I wish to be the water dripping off the ends of your hair."With a flirty look, she pointed at him. She started tracing the course the water droplet would take as it ran down his body."I can then roll off your chin to your Adam's apple, your chest, your abdominal muscles, and …" Her finger shifted downward until it was pointing at his crotch.He hadn't completely calmed down yet, and what she did ignited his desires again. He was aroused.Like a playboy who teased a lady, Victoria laughed out loud. "Do you need to take another shower, Benjamin?"Was she an average woman? If anything, she was a perverted one! No, that wasn't it, too. She was a seductress.Benjamin felt resigned. "You aren't behaving the slightest bit like a woman.""How could I bed you if I were the same as the other women? Do you not like it?"Did he not like it?
Veins bulged on Benjamin's forehead. He threw the blanket aside and headed for the bathroom.However, Victoria grabbed his hand. "Do you need my help?"When she looked at him, her eyes sparkled like they held a million stars.His lips curved upward involuntarily. Like the sun rising over the horizon, his cold face lit up.Pressing his lips together tightly, he let out a low hum. Unable to suppress a smile, he returned to the bed.…Over half an hour later, Victoria lay on the bed and stared at Benjamin, who was massaging her hands for her.This time, her hands were aching like never before. Her arms ached, too.She was here to demand an answer from him because she was grumpy about the bride selection.She intentionally wore this nightgown. As his punishment, she would intrigue him but not let him do what he wanted.She recalled arguing with him a while ago. How did it end up as it always would—that she'd help him overcome his urge?She cursed herself for having no willpower
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