1 Gifts
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I married my fiancé’s best man
Chapter 10
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When I arrived home, I flopped onto the bed. Suddenly, an eerie noise echoed from behind me. I bolted upright and there stood Benjamin, clutching a belt in his grasp, offering it to me, with both hands, almost reverently. With a pitiful expression, he‘ croaked, “Darling, punish me if it will make you feel better.”
My heart sank, and tears welled up in my eyes. “So, you genuinely think I’m just a shallow woman?”
Benjamin sprang to his feet and enveloped me in a hug, his fingers gently brushing against the rim of my tear–stained eyes. “Of course not. That’s the last thing on my mind.”
I peered at him and inquired, “Then why did you utter such words about me?”
Benjamin hesitated for a moment before stammering an awkward explanation. “I was frustrated that you were seeing Lucas, so I, um, I wanted to break you two up. But I failed to drop a hint because you just wouldn’t get it. You’d rather quit your job than be without him. In a burst of frustration, I blurted those hurtful words… I regretted them the instant they left my lips, I really did! Honestly, I wish you were that kind of gold digger. Then I could parade all my wealth in front of you, and you’d finally see me. I didn’t resent you. I just tried to avoid facing the fact that you didn’t choose me.”
Through my tears, I managed a smile and hugged his neck,
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drawing a conclusion. “Benjamin, it seems you’ve had a crush on me all along.”
The next time Lucas and I crossed paths was at the mall. I was on a shopping spree with my pal, browsing through baby and maternity sections.
Lucas stood at a distance, his gaze locked on me for what felt like an eternity. It wasn’t until I acknowledged his presence that he ambled over, casting a blank stare at my burgeoning belly, and murmured, “All those misunderstandings between us were just a joke, right? How did you end up pregnant with another guy’s baby?”
I cradled my stomach tenderly and regarded him with caution.
His eyes slowly lost their luster, then he fixed me with a pain–stricken expression. His lips parted as if to speak.
However, before he could utter another word, my friend beside me pulled my arm to leave as soon as possible and said, “Come
let’s go. He seems crazy. Don’t let him hurt you!”
on,
When our baby turned a month old, Benjamin broke the news that Lucas had passed away.
I was momentarily stunned and inquired, “How did it happen?”
Benjamin, cradling our daughter, explained, “Lucas had invested heavily in real estate. But the market tanked, causing his capital chain to snap. After his company went belly–up, he got hooked on gambling and amassed a mountain of debts. So,
Chapter 10
he leaped from the unfinished 18th floor of the Blunt Group, only to miss the air cushion and meet his end instantly.”
I recalled Lucas‘ vow when we were together, and a chill ran down my spine. “Darling, let’s do more charity work in the future,” I suggested.
Benjamin, still rocking our daughter in his arms, smiled and concurred.
“Absolutely, it’s also good for our precious little one,” he said.
Later that night, a chill wind swept through.
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Jessica wrapped her arms tightly around herself and overheard a conversation about Lucas‘ demise. A sneering grin played on her lips as she muttered under her breath, “Loser.”
A drunkard nearby slapped her and shouted incoherently, “Bitch, how dare you call me a loser?”
Soon, her sobs echoed through the narrow alley.
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