Chapter 16
“What did she ask?” Benedict clenched his
eyes shut, his heart aching with the weight of the moment.
“She asked what your wife looks like…”
At that, Benedict broke down, tears flooding his eyes.
He couldn’t fathom how Odette had spent the past ten days–agonizing, relentlessly seeking the truth about his betrayal.
He ended the call, his hands trembling.
Scrolling to the start of Odette‘ s
conversation with Millicent, he found the day
Millicent had told him she’d been rear-
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Never had he imagined that Odette and Millicent’s paths had crossed over something as trivial as a minor traffic accident.
And then, as he read the words Millicent had
used to torment Odette, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
[How’s the sound from the dashcam? Is it better than what you hear in your bed?]
[Benedict gave all his passion to me; have you been in the car with him? Have you been on a mountaintop? In the wilderness?]
An assistant’s call cut through Benedict‘ s
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thoughts, and he answered quickly.
“Mr. Evander, there’s a situation where your wife is being accused of plagiarism. It’s connected to Millicent. The deputy director, who couldn’t get his promotion due to a medical issue, wanted to quit. Millicent reached out to him and pushed him to smear your wife.”
“The hospital has dismissed the deputy
director and released a formal statement.
They’ve included parts of your wife’s paper, some of which had been reviewed multiple times by the director, who has personally vouched for her.”
As the assistant finished, Benedict’s eyes burned with fury.
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Was Millicent trying to destroy herself?
“I’ll send you some documents. Handle the public opinion. I won’t stand by and let anyone tarnish Odette‘ s name or let her be insulted,” Benedict‘ s voice was icy, each word colder than the last.
“Yes, Mr. Evander. But about the lights on the high–rise, people are saying she’s ungrateful and has turned her back on you… Should we control the narrative or explain this?” The assistant‘ s voice was laced with anxiety, his cold sweat making him feel uneasy.
“Just release a statement. Clarify that Odette and I have a misunderstanding. She hasn’t changed her feelings. Anyone who dares speak otherwise, I’ll handle them!”
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“Also, find out where she is; check the airports, hotels, and hospitals!” Benedict‘ s command was sharp and relentless.
“Understood, Mr. Evander.”
As the call ended, Benedict felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion wash over
him.
He turned to the home surveillance footage, hoping to find something, anything, that would give him answers.
He watched as the past ten days unfolded before him. Odette had been preparing quietly, her movements deliberate and precise. Sometimes, she‘ d gaze at the cameras with a cold, unyielding stare as if she were watching him from a distance.
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In one clip, Benedict saw her place something
into the safe, a final act that seemed to close the door on everything.
The password to the safe was set to Benedict‘ s birthday.
With trembling hands, he opened it, and there, lying in the darkness, was a divorce
agreement.
As his eyes skimmed the words on the document, a weight pressed down on his chest, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.
Frantically, he dialed the director’s number. When the call connected, he didn’t hesitate.
“Where has Odette gone? She hasn’t… something’s happened to her, has it?”
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The director sighed, his voice heavy with uncertainty. “Director Clarendon hasn‘ t had any accidents, she… sigh!”
“Speak!” Benedict snapped, his frustration boiling over.
“She said her ideal had always been delayed because of marrying you. So, she’s gone to do what she thinks she should do.”
Benedict‘ s world tilted on its axis. Her ideal.
He remembered now.
In the years he had pursued Odette, she had resisted at first.
She had always dreamed of being like her parents, a doctor without borders, someone who could heal the world and help those in
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need.
But love, love would bind her in ways she hadn’t expected.
It was only after that fateful car accident, the one where she lost her precious womb, that she finally agreed.
