NovelEnglishThere was a plum blossom tree in the police station's courtyard. It filled the air with a sweet fragrance.
Benjamin stood under the tree, glancing at Caleb, who was staring at him from the side. "I don't know Brodie, and | didn't orchestrate the incident.”
"What about Ryan Madden?"
Grace held his gaze as she questioned, "It just happened to be the Eastwood property's construction site, and the contractor is Ryan. You know him.
"Besides, everyone knows that Jessica is the investor. What's your relationship with her?"
Brodie had been right. Benjamin had indeed met Ryan once.
When Benjamin had gone to see Jessica the other day, he hadn't left immediately. Instead, he had parked his car in the distance and watched Ryan
sneak out suspiciously.
At that time, Ryan had been extremely alarmed when Benjamin stopped him. "You ..."
Benjamin had opened a pack of cigarettes and handed him two, warning, "I'm watching you. Don't do something you shouldn't."
Perhaps Brodie had witnessed their interaction.
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In hindsight, Benjamin had been unexpectedly outwitted. It seemed that Brodie had had his eye on him all along.
Now, that had created a misunderstanding that Benjamin couldn't easily clarify.
Benjamin turned to the side as he responded, "The Hawkins and Quine families are influential and respectable in Pamore. | do have spersonal
ties with Jessica; | won't deny that.
"But that doesn't mean that | orchestrated the kidnapping. Grace, | don't need to harm you, and | won't."
"Then, can you guarantee that Jessica isn't behind it either?" asked Grace.
Benjamin opened his mouth, but ultimately, he couldn't provide an answer.
"You can't?" Grace chuckled.
"Benjamin, you can't even be honest withfrom the beginning to the end.
"As far as | know, the Hawkinses and the Quines aren't close enough for you to give out billions of dollars to Jessica just like that. What on earth is
going on between the two of you?"
Despite her questioning tone, Benjamin sensed a hint of jealousy. A smile formed on his face at the thought of it. Just as he was about to explain,
Grace cut him off.
"Whatever. | don't want to know. | just know that if Xander hadn't cto my rescue in time, | would have died because of her."
After that, Grace turned to walk away. But Benjamin grabbed her wrist and promised, "I'll find out the truth and clear things up with you."
"No need. I'd rather not have met you in the first place.”
Benjamin's heart sank at once. He felt the warmth slip away from his palm while an unprecedented panic crept up on him. Had Grace discovered
something?
Just then, Xander cout of the police station and saw them.
He stood still, watching as Grace left Benjamin without hesitation. When she spotted him, she halted in her tracks, and a trace of panic flashed across
her face.
"Xander ..."
Xander reached out to help her up the steps, brushing off the fallen plum blossoms on her shoulder. "I told you not to callby my full name."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmGrace felt helpless that he still remembered this conversation from so long ago.
"Just now, |..."
"It's fine. You should talk to him anyway."
On the side, Caleb stood with his arms crossed. As he watched the two of them, his expression turned to one of shock. "Wait, hold on. The two of you
... What's going on? What did | miss?"
Meanwhile, Luke couldn't contain his laughter.
Grace shot him a glare. "What are you laughing at?"
It was then that Caleb fumed. "You two got together!"
His voice was loud, attracting a number of looks from people around them. Grace hurriedly covered his mouth and hushed him. "Quiet down."
"So it's true! Gracie, why didn't you tellsuch big news?"
Xander stood aside as he watched them banter, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
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