Chapter 33
At Benjamin’s words, Rebekah fell silent
When they had married, the Forresters had treated her like dirt-all except for Grandpa Forrester. To save Benjamin from any trouble, she had suggested they keep the marriage a secret and forgo a wedding. Feeling guilty, Grandpa Forrester had called her into his study and given her the family heirloom, a traditional jade locket.
“My dear child,” he had said, “you’ve been wronged. From now on, you have me to protect you in this family. Just promise me one thing: that you will never, ever divorce Benjamin p>
Grandpa Forrester was the only person in the family who had ever been kind to her. Deeply moved, she had readily agreed. After Shawn was born, she had passed the locket on to him.
The wind whistling through the half-open car window snapped Rebekah back to the present. When she made that promise, she hadn’t known that her entire marriage was a lie fabricated by Benjamin. Now, covered in scars, how could she continue to suffer for the sake of a hollow promise?
A bitter smile touched her lips. “I’ll explain things to Grandpa,” she said quietly.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by Benjamin’s low, mocking voice. “So you were just acting. This is the only trick you know p>
Rebekah frowned, not understanding what he meant.
After a beat, Benjamin scoffed, his voice dripping with disgust. “You’re just planning to play the victim in front of my grandfather, hoping he’ll take your side. The truth is, you can’t bear to give up the title of Mrs. Forrester or the power that comes with it. Why else would you bother explaining anything to him p>
“Rebekah, these games of yours only make me despise you more p>
Benjamin’s voice was ice, and Rebekah could only offer a bitter laugh in response. She was leaving anyway; she was too tired to even bother explaining herself anymore.
When she didn’t reply, Benjamin’s voice turned threatening. “I’ll say it again: break it off with that pretty boy and come crawling back to me, and I might pretend this never happened. You’re a cripple. Without the Forrester name, let’s see who in The Capital would dare to give you a chance p>
The line went dead.
Rebekah lowered the phone, the color draining from her face. She had never imagined Benjamin would use his power to crush her, to make it impossible for her to survive in the city. It was laughable that it had taken her eight years to see the man for who he truly was.
She stared out the window, lost in a long, heavy silence, until a deep, cool voice broke through her thoughts.
“Rebekah, are you okay p>
Her pale lips parted, but she just shook her head. “It’s nothing.” Jensen had already done so much for her. This was her battle with Benjamin, and she had to fight it alone.
“Alright, then p>
He said nothing more, but he didn’t miss the haunted look in her eyes. He narrowed his own, a flicker of cold, ruthless fury passing through them. As long as he was here no one would ever hurt her again.
Back at the apartment building, Rebekah and Jensen stepped out of the elevator together.
She took a moment to compose herself. “Thank you for everything today p>
She expected a polite dismissal, but instead, Jensen looked down at ker, a playful glint in his eyes. “And how
do you plan on thanking me, Rebekah?” he asked, his voice a low, suggestive murmur.
The question caught her off guard. “I… given my current situation, I can’t afford to buy you a gift, but I p>
“Why don’t you cook me dinner, and we’ll call it even?” he cut in smoothly, a smile playing on his lips. He sat down on her sofa, his silver hair catching the light.
“Huh?” Rebekah looked up, her gaze colliding with his, and her heart skipped a beat. “Cook p>
Jensen pointed toward the window at the end of the hall, where the sky outside was pitch black. “It’s late,” he said simply. “And I’m hungry p>
His straightforwardness made her laugh. When she first found him abroad, he had been full of a feral anger, like a lone wolf ready to tear its prey apart. As she got to know him, he had softened, but still carried the art of a large watchful canine. This was the first time he had ever asked for something so directly.
“There are some groceries in the fridge. I guess you can sample my cooking.” A small smile touched her lips as she unlocked her door.
Jensen raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her gentle expression, suppressing the dark tide of emotion rising within him.