C78 She Left

Ben remained seated at the dining table long after his parents had left. The once lively dining room felt unbearably silent, and for the first time in years, he experienced something he had rarely allowed himself to feel. Regret.

His father's words echoed repeatedly in his mind. "You've disappointed me." "Your sister left because of you." "Samantha is no longer yours." He lowered his head and clenched his fists. Everything had changed within a single morning. His parents no longer trusted him. Sarah had chosen to leave for England because she could no longer face him. Even Samantha had agreed to marry him only for Monica's future and the reputation of the Wood family.There was no love left in her eyes. Only responsibility.

Ben slowly closed his eyes. Would Samantha ever forgive him? Would she ever trust him again after learning that he had drugged her during the Year-End Celebration? His father had even separated their bedrooms. The distance between them had become more than just a wall. It had become an entire lifetime.

For a brief moment, guilt filled his heart. If only he had admitted the truth earlier... Perhaps things wouldn't have reached this point. But his pride had always been stronger than his conscience. Instead of confessing, he had chosen to lie. Again. And again. Until those lies finally caught up with him. His expression gradually darkened.

Then another face appeared in his mind. Mike. Everything had started changing after Mike appeared. He had lost Samantha. His parents compared him with Mike. Even Sarah admired Mike and his friends. Ben's regret slowly transformed into resentment. His eyes turned bloodshot. "Mike..." He muttered through clenched teeth. "This is all because of you." "I'll make sure you pay for everything." The hatred in his eyes returned once more.

However, despite his anger, he knew now wasn't the time to act recklessly. His family's trust had to be rebuilt first. Otherwise, he would lose everything. His gaze slowly shifted toward the staircase. Monica. His daughter had unknowingly become his only chance of repairing his relationship with the family. Yet instead of feeling warmth, irritation surfaced inside him. "If only Samantha had given me a son..." He whispered bitterly. "...everything would have been much easier."

Upstairs, Samantha quietly returned to the bedroom she had been sharing with Ben. She closed the door behind her before taking a deep breath. The conversation she had just overheard had completely shattered the little hope she still carried. There was no misunderstanding. Ben had truly drugged her. Just like he had attempted to drug Mike in France. The methods were almost identical.

The only difference was that months ago, she had been the victim. Her eyes drifted toward Monica, who was peacefully sleeping in her crib. The little girl had grown so quickly over the past few weeks. She no longer cried as often and had started recognizing familiar faces.

A faint smile appeared on Samantha's lips. "My precious daughter..." She gently stroked Monica's tiny hand before opening the wardrobe. One by one, she folded her clothes and placed them inside a suitcase. She wasn't leaving the mansion. She was simply moving into the bedroom Kelvin had prepared for her. A room where she could finally breathe without constantly remembering the lies that had surrounded her marriage.

Downstairs, Kelvin had already lost all interest in going to work. The confrontation had exhausted him emotionally. He remained in his study for nearly half an hour, staring out the window while replaying every word that had been spoken. Eventually, he stood up. No matter how disappointed he felt, the company still needed him. With a weary sigh, he picked up his briefcase and left for Wood Corporation. Meanwhile, Ben also prepared to leave. He couldn't bear staying inside a house where everyone looked at him with disappointment. Perhaps burying himself in work would help him escape his thoughts.

At the entrance of Wood IT Company, I arrived just as Chris was leaning casually against the front gate. Unlike his usual formal appearance, today he wore a black T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of dark sunglasses. The moment he spotted me, he waved enthusiastically. "Brother!" "You're finally here." He removed his sunglasses and grinned. "You look exhausted." I chuckled. "I should be asking you the same question."

Before either of us could continue, another familiar figure approached. Alicia. She looked beautiful as always, dressed in a light blue blouse and black skirt, her long hair flowing naturally over her shoulders. She smiled brightly. "Good morning, brothers." "Morning," Chris and I replied together.

The moment Alicia looked at Chris, a playful smile appeared on her face. "So..." She folded her arms. "Should I start calling you 'Mr. Chris' now that you've officially become a man?" Chris nearly choked. "Please don't remind me." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I was drugged that night, remember?" Alicia laughed "But you still did it."

A wave of guilt suddenly washed over me. That drink had originally been meant for me. Chris had simply become the unintended victim. Trying to lighten the mood, I smiled. "So..." "Sarah didn't blame you?" Chris sighed. "She didn't exactly blame me..." "But she's disappointed." I couldn't help teasing him. "And you also took her first time."

I laughed. "Brother, trouble really loves following you around." Even Alicia couldn't hold back her laughter. Chris pointed at me. "Don't laugh too much." He smirked. "Soon it'll be your turn." I blinked. "What?" "You and Laura." He shrugged casually. "Don't tell me the two of you haven't already talked about it."

Heat immediately rose to my face. "W-What are you talking about?" Chris burst into laughter. "I knew it!" "Look at your face!" "You're definitely planning something." Even Alicia covered her mouth to hide her smile. I quickly changed the subject. "Forget about me." "Did you tell Sarah that you told us about what happened?"

Chris's smile disappeared instantly. "I did." He lowered his head. "I texted her yesterday." "She said she was disappointed that I shared the secret she trusted me with." He sighed deeply. "I think I ruined everything." Alicia nodded thoughtfully. "What were you expecting?"

She smiled gently instead of teasing him. "Things like that are deeply personal." "Many women dream of sharing such an important moment only with the person they will marry." "To Sarah, it wasn't simply a secret." "It was something precious." I nodded in agreement. "Laura told me something similar." Chris immediately looked at me again. "See?" "I told you!" "You two are already discussing these things."

I rolled my eyes while Alicia quietly pretended not to hear them. Although she maintained a calm expression, her heart wasn't nearly as composed. Mike speaking so naturally about Laura reminded her once again that he already belonged to someone else. She quickly buried those thoughts before anyone noticed.

Instead, she focused on helping Chris. "Did you reply after she said she was disappointed?" Chris nodded. "I sent her a good morning message today." "She read it..." "...but never replied." Alicia thought for a moment. "Have you tried calling her?" "Sometimes hearing someone's voice makes apologizing much easier than sending messages." Chris's eyes lit up. "You're right!"

Without hesitation, he dialed Sarah's number. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer. He looked defeated. "See?" "She's ignoring me." Alicia smiled encouragingly. "Call again." "Don't give up that easily." Chris took a deep breath before pressing the call button once more. This time, after several rings... The call connected.

"H-Hello..." Sarah's soft voice came through the speaker. The noisy sounds of an airport echoed in the background. Chris immediately straightened. "Sarah!" "Are you alright?" "I wanted to apologize." "Can we meet and talk?" Alicia quietly gave him a thumbs-up. For a brief second, Chris smiled. Then Sarah answered. "Now isn't a good time." "I'm at the airport." "My flight leaves in about five minutes."

Chris froze. "Airport?" "Where are you going?" "Back to the UK." His heart sank. "Are... are you leaving because I told my friends about us?" "I'm really sorry." "They kept asking." "I didn't know how to refuse." Sarah remained silent for a moment before replying softly. "I won't lie..." "I was disappointed." "But that's not why I'm leaving." "A lot has happened." "I just need some time to think." She paused briefly. "Goodbye, Chris." "It was nice meeting you..." "...and your friends."

Before Chris could say another word, the call ended. He stared blankly at his phone. His shoulders slowly slumped. "She's really gone..." He whispered. "I actually disappointed her." "And now..." "...I don't even know how to make things right."