novelxo Chapter 177 How Are You
Chapter 177 How Are You
Paisley was well-prepared.
She spoke softly, "An antique collector in Zistin got the piano."
Zistin...
Benjamin spoke calmly, "Book the quickest flight for me and gather all the information you can on the collector, including details on his family, friends, and company..."
Paisley nodded, "Of course, Mr. Clark. I'll transfer it to your email before you board the plane."
That afternoon, Benjamin flew to Zistin.
He spent a week there before returning to Gredax when spring was in full bloom.
Despite not having adjusted to the time difference yet, he couldn't wait to see Madelyn.
Paisley had already informed him that Madelyn was volunteering at a nearby nursing home.
Benjamin decided to drive there; it was remote and he arrived at half past three.
As he approached the classical building, the sound of a piano echoed from within. And there she was - Madelyn.
She was dressed in white and sitting in front of an old piano, completely engrossed in playing.
She looked as beautiful as she did the first time Benjamin heard her play "Morning Dew" for him.
As he gazed at her, he clenched his fist, noticing subtle differences in her playing.
Despite the old and dilapidated piano she was using, Madelyn lacked the same level of agility and tension in her performance compared to her previous one, leading him to wonder if her foot injury had fully recovered.
After she finished the song, Benjamin whispered her name, "Madelyn!"
Hearing his voice, Madelyn stiffened for a moment.
But when she turned her face, her composure returned. "Mr. Clark?" she replied politely, suggesting that they were nothing more than acquaintances.
Benjamin surveyed the room, noticing many of the elderly people with white hair staring at him curiously.
So, he spoke softly, "Could we talk alone for a moment?"
Later, Madelyn entertained him in the tearoom.
The quaint wooden structure boasted a large floor-to-ceiling window, adorned with an array of glorious small flowers and plants.
Benjamin sat elegantly in his seat.
Madelyn poured him a cup of tea and said lightly, "I'm afraid we don't have any coffee or red wine here. The best we can offer is some black tea. I hope that will suffice." Benjamin didn't come here for the tea, so he didn't mind the lack of options.
Madelyn sat opposite him.
The heat of the black tea separated them.
Benjamin broke the silence, asking, "How have you been?"
Looking down, Madelyn took a sip of black tea before answering, "Not too bad. It's been great."
Suddenly, Benjamin pulled out a letter from his pocket.
Madelyn recognized it as the invitation letter to the Edoford Academy of Music that she had abandoned. How did Benjamin get his hands on it?
He lightly pressed down on the letter with his slender fingers, looking closely at Madelyn.
"Are you still want to study in Edoford?" he asked with concern. "I heard you playing the piano just now. Is your foot still not healed?"
Madelyn lightly touched her injured leg with her fingers.
There... it would never get better!
Despair began to creep up on Madelyn, as she recalled the ill-fated relationship that robbed her of her dreams and dashed all her hopes!
Her foot would never fully heal, and her chance to be the best pianist was now just a distant memory! She no longer needed to go to Edoford, and even she was resigned to the fact that she could never drive again!
However, Benjamin, with not a single scratch on him, sat in stark contrast to Madelyn's plight.
For some reason, Madelyn chose to stay silent.
She still smiled lightly and said, "Thank you for your concern. I don't think I'll be going to Edoford anymore."
She said it casually.
But Benjamin felt a persistent ache in his heart.
Madelyn had said that she didn't want everything, and now he wanted to give her everything, but she didn't want it!
Not wanting to push her any further, Benjamin finished his tea and looked outside at the sunset. He then said softly, "Let me take you home."
He paused before adding, "Your car is still in the repair shop, and it's in bad condition. I will buy you a new car."
Madelyn's grip tightened around the delicate porcelain cup as she tried to hold back her emotions and maintain her composure.
She looked at Benjamin and gave a slight smile, saying, "Mr. Clark, we've broken up. I've taken the break-up fee, moved out, and settled our accounts with Paisley."
"As for your BMW, I don't want it! And I don't need a new car either." She added.
With that, Madelyn stood up and opened the small wooden door, speaking politely and calmly. "I still have a class later, Mr. Clark, please leave now. We don't need to see each other again in the future." She was pushing him away!
Benjamin's gaze was deep.
He searched her face for any sign of the passionate woman who had once sat on his lap, kissed him, and clung to him, pleading for another kiss...
He looked for the Madelyn who used to blush at the sight of him and expressed profound affection every time he touched her...
But he failed!
She was gone, replaced by a cold and emotionless shell!
Benjamin realized that he was the one who had been lost in sweetness all along, and now he was left with nothing.
As Madelyn left, he stood there, deep in thought.
At that moment, Benjamin suddenly thought of Daniel Campbell - had he felt this same way when he had to reform himself?
*
A few days later, Benjamin found Daniel at a social event held in a private room at the Orchid Club.
Daniel was smoking leisurely, eyeing Benjamin with curiosity at seeing him in such a low mood.
Daniel poured a drink for Benjamin slyly, "Benjamin, are you feeling down?"
Benjamin held up the brandy and drank it all in one gulp. "I'm fine!"
Daniel smiled lightly and took out his phone to show Benjamin a photo from his album - a picture of Madelyn when she was 22 years old.
She was asleep on a dining table, looking more innocent than she does now, and the background decoration was not from the Greens' mansion. Benjamin squinted his eyes.
Daniel held a cigarette and eagerly continued, "She also cooked for me back then and waited for me at night. So, we are not special ones! She'll forget about you soon and fall in love with David James. She'll cook for him, tie his tie, and even... get married!"
Daniel smiled lightly, clearly enjoying Benjamin's discomfort. "Do you know that David has already gotten closer to her?"
The words stung like a knife, and Benjamin snapped, launching himself at Daniel.
The private room was filled with well-connected people, witnessing a brutal fight.
The typically reserved Mr. Clark had turned violent!
Grayson Wyatt was also present, pretending to stop the fight, "Daniel, why say those hurtful things? You know that Benjamin is hurting inside!"
Daniel, who had clearly had too much to drink, was no match for Benjamin's physical strength.
He was beaten badly, but even in his pain, he continued to smile.
"This is your retribution, Benjamin!" Daniel spat. "I know I was wrong to mistreat Madelyn, but at least I loved her! If she gave me a chance, I would have given up anything for her. But what about you? You hurt her for no reason at all!" He sneered coldly.
Grayson couldn't bear to listen anymore and sincerely stopped Daniel's speaking.
But Daniel, growing excited and agitated, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said fiercely.
"Do you ever think about Madelyn when you're with Eleanor?" he snarled. "How could Madelyn promise Alexander Clark to go to Edofordian? You fooled her, but she sees you now. And I'm going to enjoy watching you suffer!"
Daniel, determined to continue the fight, was no longer interested in arguing with Benjamin.
The other onlookers recognized that even Benjamin was ready to fight, so they gave up trying to stop the brawl.
They realized that the two men needed this fight to unleash their anger and jealousy.