Chapter 398: Get Him Drunk
Earlier, Benjamin had been speaking to Adeline in Oriantonian.
His Oriantonian wasn't perfect-there was a noticeable accent-but it was clear enough to understand.
However, this time, Benjamin was speaking the language of Mugroaton.
Adeline thought it might be because she was pretending to be Whitney.
Although Whitney was of Oriantonian descent, she had immigrated to Mugroaton with her parents when she was young.
So, when she communicated with Benjamin, it was likely in the Mugroaton language.
Luckily, the Mugroaton language was quite similar to Yewhaina, so Adeline was able to communicate with him without much difficulty.
"Whitney, do you like this house?" Benjamin asked.
Adeline forced a smile and replied, "I really like it. Thank you."
Benjamin beamed like a child, clearly delighted.
He didn't take her hand again, but instead grabbed her wrist and gently led her to the couch.
On the coffee table in front of them were two glasses of red wine.
Benjamin picked up one of them and handed it to Adeline.
"Whitney, this bottle of red wine was made in the year you were born," he said with a smile.
"I've kept it for all these years... and now, finally, I can share it with you."
He picked up the other glass, clinked it lightly with hers, and then downed the contents in one go.
Adeline didn't want to drink too much; getting drunk could ruin her plans.
Though she had a decent tolerance, she didn't want to take any risks.
So, she just took a small sip.
"Whitney, why aren't you drinking more? Don't you like it?" Benjamin asked eagerly.
Adeline casually replied, "I don't really like the taste."
She hadn't expected that as soon as she said that, Benjamin's expression would darken, and then, in a sudden outburst, he slapped himself across the face.
The sound of the slap startled Adeline.
After hitting himself, Benjamin didn't stop.
He kept slapping his face, several times in a row until his face was visibly swollen.
It seemed like he didn't even feel the pain, only looking at Adeline with a deep sense of guilt.
"It's my fault... Sorry that the wine I picked isn't to your taste."
Adeline stared at his bruised face, unable to muster a smile.
She thought, "What kind of dynamic have Benjamin and Whitney had, exactly?"
After a moment of thought, she said, "It's
fine. Even though I don't like it, if you enjoy it, you should drink more. I'd be happy if that makes you happy."
"Really?" Benjamin's face lit up with excitement.
"Whitney, you'll really be happy?"
"Yes," Adeline said with a soft smile, pouring Benjamin another glass of wine. "As long as I'm happy, you'll be happy too, right?"
"Yes, Whitney, you really do understand me. The one thing I've always wanted in life is for you to be happy..." Benjamin drained his glass again.
Adeline thought to herself that if she could get Benjamin drunk, maybe that would give her a chance.
So, she kept pouring him more wine.
Of course, she didn't just pour the wine; she also tried to engage him in conversation.
She didn't know what had gone on between him and Whitney, so she just started the conversation.
"Do you remember that year when I had my birthday...?" or "Do you remember that time we went out to have fun...?"
Once she started the topic, Benjamin would take over, and the floodgates of his memories would open.
Benjamin said, "Of course I remember. That year for your birthday, the company encountered an emergency, and I couldn't get away. By the time I arrived, your birthday party had ended. You were really mad at me, but you forgave me later. Whitney, I know that even when you're angry, you can't stay mad for long. Oh, and I remember, you looked so beautiful that day. You were wearing the pearl necklace I gave you, it suited you perfectly."
He added, "That time we went out to have fun, it was my fault I didn't check the weather. We were rowing when it started to rain, and you were scared, hiding in my arms. Then the rain kept getting worse, so I took off my shirt to shield us from the rain, but it didn't help. When we got back, we both had fevers. You were so mad, you didn't want to go out with me again after that."
Benjamin rambled on, and Adeline only needed to chime in occasionally.
While he was lost in his memories, he didn't notice how many glasses of wine Adeline had poured him, and he drank them all.
Slowly, the bottle was empty.
Benjamin's face was now clearly showing signs of drunkenness.
"Whitney.." He gazed at her with longing eyes.
"You really came back to me. I'm so happy. Stay with me forever. Don't leave me again, okay?"
"Okay," Adeline responded flatly.
Benjamin laughed in delight, reaching out to embrace her, but Adeline subtly blocked him and . said, "The wine's finished. Let's get another bottle."
"Do you want more?" Benjamin asked.
"Don't you?" Adeline feigned hurt. "But I still want to talk to you."
"Of course I do!" Benjamin quickly responded. "If you want me to drink, I'll drink."
Adeline let out a sigh of relief.
She had to keep him drinking. She wasn't trying to get him completely unconscious, but she definitely needed him a little tipsy and weak.
"Jessica," Adeline called out.
The maid, Jessica, hurried over at the sound.
"Miss, is there something you need?"
"Bring two more bottles of red wine," Adeline ordered.
Jessica glanced at Benjamin. Seeing that he didn't object, she replied, "Alright."
Soon, Jessica returned with two more bottles and opened them for them.
Adeline continued pouring wine for Benjamin.
Then she listened to him reminisce.
Honestly, if she and Benjamin were normal friends, she might have found these stories moving.
She could tell from his words that he and Whitney had really been happy back then.
But the thought of Benjamin using her as a
substitute made any feelings of warmth vanish in an instant.
So, she became a ruthless wine-pouring machine.
By the time the two bottles were almost finished, Adeline had Jessica bring a few more bottles.
Benjamin kept drinking, and with each glass, he seemed to get even more drunk.
In the end, he was so drunk he couldn't even form coherent words and slumped sideways on the couch.
Adeline gently called out to him twice.
He didn't respond, his breathing steady-he was clearly asleep now.
Adeline immediately began searching his entire body.
But she didn't find his phone.
It seemed likely that his phone was left upstairs in his room.
Without a second thought, Adeline turned and rushed upstairs.
Benjamin's bodyguards were outside, and aside from the two maids and the chef, the house was empty.
If she didn't call out, they wouldn't come in.
Now that Benjamin was drunk, this was her best chance to grab his phone and contact the outside world.
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