One night stand with my president(chapter 397)

 

Chapter 397: Can You Lie to Me Just Once?

It was quite a coincidence.

This construction team usually worked exclusively in Mugroaton.

But their only flight in the last year just happened to be to Daltoria.

And they were hired by Benjamin.

So it was hard not to link their trip to Daltoria with Benjamin.

Benjamin thought of many things, but the construction team was the one thing he overlooked.

Alberto's eyes lit up.

"You're saying Adeline could very well be in Daltoria?"

"Yes." Harrison stood up. "I'm going to Daltoria now."

"I'll go with you."

Harrison paused before replying, "You stay in Mugroaton and continue searching."

Isaac and Gracie had each taken their teams to other places.

Someone needed to stay here in Mugroaton.

After all, this is Benjamin's hometown.

So it's just as likely that Adeline is being hidden here.

"That works," Alberto said, rising and patting Harrison's shoulder. "Be safe."

"Don't worry," Harrison said.

Until Adeline was safe, he wouldn't allow himself to fall.

After Benjamin went upstairs with his phone, Adeline was restless.

If she could get her hands on Benjamin's phone, she could contact someone.

Footsteps echoed up the stairs.

Adeline instinctively turned her head.

It was Benjamin, coming back down from the second floor.

His face looked grim.

Before Adeline could figure out what was going on, Benjamin had already reached her, grabbing her arm roughly.

"What are you doing?"

Adeline recoiled from his touch, trying to shake him off, but Benjamin, a strong man when serious, wasn't easy to push away.

He held her arm tightly, taking deep breaths.

He had just been furious because he realized that Harrison and Adeline truly loved each other.

They cared for one another deeply.

And that made him jealous-jealous enough to lose his mind.

Even though Adeline was just a substitute in his eyes, he couldn't bear seeing her so deeply connected to another man.

He wanted her heart and soul to belong only to him.

He had intended to vent his anger on her, but the moment he saw her face, he couldn't bring himself to get mad.

With a sense of defeat, he released her arm.

It hurt Adeline, but what worried her more was that Benjamin might snap and do something worse. She cautiously stood and took a few steps back, her hand reaching for a nearby vase.

She'd been holding herself together, not letting herself lose control, because she knew it would only drain her energy, and might even end up hurting herself.

But if Benjamin dared to force himself on her, she wouldn't hold back.

Benjamin noticed her movements.

He gave a bitter laugh. "I told you I wouldn't force you. Relax."

Then, it seemed like all his strength left him, and he slumped against the couch, muttering, "How could I ever hurt you?"

Adeline was speechless.

He said he couldn't hurt her, yet here he was, forcing her to stay, not letting her leave. Wasn't that already hurting her?

Still, seeing him like this, the phone call earlier must ve really gotten to him.

Adeline thought, "Who has called him? Was it Harrison?"

Just thinking about him made Adeline's heart ache: She missed him so badly.

She was so sick of Benjamin's face.

"You really hate me, don't you?" Benjamin seemed to read her mind from the expression on her face. "But do you know? I gave up my own brother for you."

"Enough!" Adeline couldn't take it anymore. 

"You locked me up here. Don't act like you've made some great sacrifice for me. It's disgusting."

"Why won't you understand me? I really don't get it..."

"I'm the one who doesn't get it."

Adeline was too tired to argue with him any longer. She turned and headed upstairs.

But Benjamin grabbed her arm again.

"Adeline, please..."

His voice was desperate, his eyes full of broken hopelessness.

"Can you lie to me, just once?" he begged. 

"Just once, please."

Adeline frowned.

She turned to face Benjamin, a flicker of something different in her eyes.

She said, "Alright."

Benjamin didn't expect Adeline to actually agree.

He was overjoyed.

As she went back to her room to change, he opened a bottle of aged red wine and started playing Whitney's favorite music.

Meanwhile, Adeline returned to her room and

pulled out a white dress from the closet.

After changing, she stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself.

In the white dress, she looked more like Whitney.

She didn't agree to Benjamin's request out of sympathy, and she wasn't moved by his so-called "deep love."

She was looking for an opportunity, an opportunity to get her hands on Benjamin's phone.

If things went well, she might even escape with the phone.

To do that, she had to suppress her disgust and play along with him.

After mentally preparing herself, Adeline left the room and went downstairs.

The living room was empty except for Benjamin.

He was pouring red wine into a glass.

When he heard footsteps, he looked up and locked eyes with Adeline.

For a moment, he froze, almost dropping the glass.

His eyes didn't leave her, his eyelids heavy, lips trembling slightly.

"Whitney.." he whispered.

Adeline, not a professional actress and full of reluctance towards Benjamin, forced a smile.

But Benjamin didn't mind.

After all, this Adeline, much warmer than the cold one who always spoke sharply to him, felt closer to Whitney.

He knew, deep down, that Adeline wasn't Whitney.

But instead of her lying to him, it was more about him getting her to play along so he could trick himself.

As Adeline descended the stairs, Benjamin set the glass down and moved toward her, reaching out to take her hand.

Instinctively, she pulled away.

But once she did, she realized she couldn't keep resisting like this.

Or she couldn't deceive Benjamin and get his phone.

But it was an automatic reflex.

Luckily, Benjamin wasn't angry.

He raised his hand, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, smiling softly. 

"Whitney, you're angry with me again."

Adeline tugged at her lips, a faint, forced smile.

"I know. The house you wanted, I prepared it too late... but now it's finished, isn't it? You can stay here as long as you want..."