Chapter 148
Rebekah didn’t return to the Forrester Estate until that afternoon. The moment she walked in, Benjamin grabbed her by the shoulders, frantically checking her for injuries.
“Are you all right p>
Rebekah instinctively flinched away from his touch, but when she looked up, she saw genuine worry in his eyes. For a fleeting moment, she was transported back to a time when he would fuss over her like this whenever she was sick or hurt.
She quickly snapped back to the present. “I’m fine p>
Shawn, sitting in the living room, watched her with contempt. *Why is she acting like that? She’s just trying to make Dad worry about her. Aunt Candice has been through way more than her p>
“Mommy, where were you last night?” Shawn asked with childish innocence. “And why did you change your clothes p>
His question drew Benjamin’s attention to her outfit. His expression hardened, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the stairs. “Come with me p>
“Let go of me! I can walk myself p>
She struggled, but he was too strong. He dragged her into the bedroom and shut the door. He advanced on her, his hands reaching for the buttons of her dress.
A jolt of terror shot through her. She scrambled backward, her legs tangling, and fell hard to the floor.
“Hiss!” A sharp pain flared where her arm, already bruised, hit the ground.
Benjamin didn’t seem to notice. “What happened after Sienna took you? Are you still… clean?” he demanded, his voice obsessive as he knelt over her, fumbling with her clothes.
The color drained from Rebekah’s face. She fought him wildly, then leaned in and bit down hard on his arm. He cried out in pain and shoved her away.
Rebekah clutched her dress to her chest, scrambling backward until she hit the wall. The chaotic memories of the warehouse flooded. her mind, a roaring in her ears that drowned out Benjamin’s voice. Tears streamed from her eyes, hot and uncontrollable.
“Rebekah p>
Benjamin had been about to yell at her, but her broken state gave him pause. He froze. “What’s wrong with you p>
“Don’t come near me! Get away!” she whispered, her eyes vacant.
His mind exploded. *Did she… last night, was she He couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought.
He lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders. “Rebekah, look at me! Did they hurt you yesterday p>
His touch sent a fresh wave of panic through her. “Let me go! Let go! Get away p>
In her struggles, she bit him again, harder this time. He winced but didn’t pull away, afraid of hurting her further. *Sienna!* he thought with venomous rage. *I will never forgive her p>
Once Rebekah calmed down, she was helped back to her bed. The moment she was alone, her expression cleared. The breakdown had been an act.
She knew Benjamin too well. If she simply asked for a divorce, he would refuse. But he was a hypocrite. Like most men of his stature, he couldn’t tolerate a wife who had been “defiled.” Today’s performance was designed to keep him from forcing himself on her again, but more importantly it was a prelude. At th upcoming school gala, she would use this to force him to grant her a divorce.
The Griffin Group’s collapse was swift and brutal. While they were being battered
by the social media scandal, they also faced a coordinated attack from the Hawthorne and Forrester Groups.
The day before the company officially declared bankruptcy, Candice’s father, desperate, sent her to plead with Benjamin.
Candice arrived at the Forrester Group headquarters, a familiar path. The receptionist greeted her warmly, “Me Forrester is in a meeting right now, Ms. Fletcher. You can wait for him in his office p>