Chapter 9 Chapter 9

Grace went straight home. She went into the bathroom, filled a large tub with hot water, and got in. Although she had already showered at the villa earlier, she still felt unclean. She scrubbed herself vigorously with the bath towel, nearly peeling off a layer of skin, but the discomfort lingered.

She brushed her teeth countless times, meticulously scrubbing every spot her toothbrush could reach. Finally, she must have cut herself somewhere because the water she spat out was tinged with blood.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was deathly pale. Her eyes were sunken and dark, and her pupils seemed to burn with a wild, vengeful light.

This was not a good sign. She slowly closed her eyes and told herself that she couldn't lose her mind—at least not now. She needed to stay calm.

Resolutely, she tossed the toothbrush aside and hurried out of the bathroom to pack her things in the bedroom.

Adrian was returning today. After being apart for over twenty days, she had no reason to refuse his affection upon his return. However, she couldn't face her husband with a body bearing the marks of another man.

She needed to leave for a few days and wait for the marks to fade.

An excuse would be easy to fabricate: an unexpected work trip for the school or a student facing an emergency elsewhere that required her immediate attention.

Adrian trusted her. Any excuse would suffice; he wouldn't question it.

She packed the essentials for her journey: two changes of clothes, her wallet and ID, and the identical smartphone she'd just ordered online, complete with a new SIM card.

The online purchase had been a convoluted process. She lied to her coworkers, borrowed their computer and account, and used a coworker's name as the recipient, leaving not a single trace of herself.

She was meticulous, determined not to give Benjamin even the slightest opening.

Grace finished packing quickly. Before leaving the house, she looked back at her home.

Adrian would be back in a few hours. If she had chosen to stay, she could have thrown herself into his arms, weeping freely and seeking his help. She could have let him share her pain and despair.

He would, she was certain. He would be her strongest support.

But he would also be dragged into this mess and face endless danger.

What was love?

Was it unreserved devotion or absolute trust?

Was it shouldering all the burdens for his happiness alone, or sharing her pain?

For the first time, Grace didn't know how to choose. She stood in the doorway, clutching her small handbag. After a long moment, she clenched her jaw and walked out resolutely.

Her car remained at school. She hailed a taxi to the other side of the city and checked into an inconspicuous budget hotel. First, she texted Adrian to explain the situation, and then she called the school to request three days off. After handling these matters, she tucked her old phone under the pillow and pulled out the new one she had just bought.

Grace had never been the type of woman to sit idly by.

Modern smartphones function almost like computers, and the internet offers unimaginable convenience. She began investigating everything about Benjamin—his identity, his background, his companies, and any possible connection between him and death row inmate Alex.

By noon, Adrian had texted back. Fresh off the plane, he lamented missing her, but also reminded her to take care of herself.

She wanted to call him but feared that hearing his voice would overwhelm her. Instead, they exchanged brief texts, agreeing to talk that evening.

Every message was intercepted by Benjamin.

The surveillance software ran on a laptop. Too busy to monitor it constantly, Benjamin delegated the task to Michael. As both Benjamin's bodyguard and de facto assistant, Michael filtered through these covert communications daily, selecting the most pertinent information to report to his boss.

Reading the text messages, Michael remarked, "Mr. Norman, how does that woman spin lies so smoothly? It sounds like the truth!"

She was a master liar, telling her fabrications without so much as a flicker of her eyes.

Benjamin curled his lips in a sneer, ignoring Michael's remark. He asked coolly, "Has she stayed inside the hotel the entire time?"

Michael glanced at the computer records and replied, "No, her phone has consistently been at that hotel. She didn't even leave for lunch. She really can hold it in.”

Benjamin nodded slowly. He surmised that she was likely afraid of being spotted by acquaintances, which was why she was staying in the hotel so long.

Still, the woman was cunning—he couldn't afford to be complacent. What desperate measures could she possibly take now? Benjamin found himself stumped.

He slid open a drawer and retrieved a cigarette. He didn't light it, merely pinching it between his fingers.

Michael knew he had a serious craving, but he never indulged. Watching him, Benjamin couldn't resist adding, "Boss, it's not like it's drugs. A couple of puffs won't hurt. ‘Mr. Norman’ didn't touch it before because his health wouldn't allow it, but you're fine.”

Benjamin paused at the remark, gave a faint smile, and casually tossed the cigarette back into the drawer. "Things you shouldn't touch, you shall never touch."

Michael stole a glance at the distinct bite marks on his lips and couldn't help but grumble inwardly: You said that woman was off-limits, but you still touched her, didn't you?

But he dared not voice it.

Grace had holed up in the hotel all day yet uncovered little, even less than Officer Meyer had previously provided. She only confirmed Benjamin’s existence and that his company, Norman Science, operated across multiple industries while maintaining a low profile and rarely making headlines online.

That evening, she called Adrian as promised before heading out to grab something to eat. There was a fast-food restaurant right downstairs from the hotel. She opted for takeout and was waiting for her order when she suddenly heard someone call out, “Ms. Catherine!” She turned around and saw the boy she had rescued from Benjamin. His name was Nathan.

He seemed to have just returned from a delivery; he was wearing a thick coat and carrying a large delivery box. Seeing her, he looked genuinely surprised and delighted. With a bright smile, he asked, "Ms. Catherine! What are you doing here?"

Grace was also somewhat surprised. She had moved specifically to be far from home and school, to avoid running into anyone she knew. Yet here she was, encountering Nathan. She felt tense for a moment, but she regained her composure quickly. She pointed to the pickup window to indicate that she was waiting for her order and then asked him, somewhat surprised, "You work here?"

He had previously worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant in Benjamin's company district, so this location shouldn't have been his usual spot.

"I just transferred over. I was at the main branch before. This is a branch location,” Nathan explained, grinning. "Ms. Catherine, you don't need to come get your food yourself anymore. Just give me a call, and I'll bring it over.”

Grace smiled without responding, her hand slipping into her coat pocket to grip her phone tightly. She was wary of the phone, fearing it might still be listening in, yet she dared not discard it for fear that Benjamin would notice. Her order number was already being called at the pickup counter. She grabbed her meal box and prepared to leave. Seeing Nathan about to escort her out, she said, "You go back to work. No need to mind me.”

Nathan agreed but still escorted her out.

As she watched him stand there as if he intended to see her off, Grace felt uneasy. She didn't want him to know that she lived upstairs. With no other choice, she walked under his gaze, carrying the takeout box, and took a stroll around the block before returning to the hotel.

On Michael's monitor, the small green dot representing Grace's location had made a square-ish loop. Completely baffled, he grabbed his laptop and sought out Benjamin. "Mr. Norman, take a look at this. This woman has me completely confused. Could she possibly be out for a stroll right now?"

Benjamin had just wrapped up a meeting where he'd argued with several veteran shareholders, who'd worked with his father, for hours about profit distribution. His temples were throbbing. Hearing Michael's question, he paused, then asked, "What?"

Michael placed the laptop in front of Benjamin and opened the recording. "This leisurely pace looks like a stroll, doesn't it?"

Benjamin studied it for a moment, gently massaging his temples as he murmured, "Send someone to her place. See what she's doing."

Michael nodded and started to leave, but Benjamin called him back. After a moment, he added, "Never mind. I'll go myself.”

Michael froze and studied him cautiously. After hesitating for a moment, he urged, "Mr. Norman, why waste your energy on this woman? Just kill her outright. If that's not satisfying enough, wipe out her entire family.”

Benjamin lifted his eyes to meet Michael's, his expression cool. "Michael, what are you implying?"

Michael was afraid of him, but he couldn't stand by and watch their boss make a mistake. Scratching his head nervously, he replied cautiously, "Mr. Norman, you said that woman brings misfortune. We shouldn't touch her..."

Benjamin remained silent for a long moment. Michael waited until he was on the verge of losing his patience before hearing him say flatly, "Michael, I'm cursed too. And killing her outright? Where's the fun in that?"

With that, he stood up and walked out first. Michael froze for a short moment before scrambling to follow. He drove him to the budget hotel, parked below, and asked again, "Mr. Norman, do you want me to come with you?"

Benjamin's expression remained impassive. "No need."

Michael stole a glance at him, hesitated, and then tentatively asked, "Should I wait here?"

Benjamin, who was about to exit the car, paused at the question. He turned to Michael and said coldly, "Yes."

He went upstairs and knocked on Grace's door. Faint television sounds drifted from inside. She answered from inside. After a moment, footsteps approached the door, but it didn't open immediately. Instead, a voice called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Benjamin," he replied indifferently.

Silence fell inside. He found himself smiling as he stood by the door, waiting for it to open. Moments later, however, the footsteps behind the door began retreating again, as if she had retreated back into the room.

He couldn't help but snort. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. The ringtone echoed through the room. She didn't dare reject the call and answered it.

He sneered at her, "Grace, you didn't think that just because we slept together, I'd go easy on you, did you?"

She remained calm, replying softly, "Mr. Norman, you misunderstand. I simply thought that, even after sleeping with you, we weren't close enough for me to answer the door in my pajamas. Please wait patiently while I change."

Her response caught him off guard. Stunned, he hung up and waited outside the door.

Inside the room, however, Grace wasn't changing clothes at all. She was hiding the newly purchased phone. Though she had spoken calmly, her heart was racing. At first, she stuffed the phone under her pillow, but that spot felt too unsafe. She pulled it out and tucked it under the mattress instead. As she rose to open the door, a sudden wave of unease washed over her, so she kicked the phone under the bed.

This commotion delayed her. By the time she had calmed her heartbeat and opened the door for Benjamin, his impatience was clearly visible. Yet a faint, mocking smile played at the corners of his lips as he quipped, "Could it be that Ms. Catherine took advantage of these precious minutes to apply a light touch of makeup?"