Benson

Chapter 19 Preplanned

City lights flickered through the car windows as Marcus drove and parked outside Yvonne’s building

As Marcus was about to say goodbye, he noticed Yvonne looking at her phone, the screen displaying the beach photos he had posted on Facebook. In the photos, Yvonne was smiling brightly, looking like a carefree princess.

A complex emotion surged within Marcus. He knew his actions were somewhat selfish, but at the time, he just wanted to express his affection for Yvonne and the competitive pressure he felt at the party.

“Yvonne, I’m sorry. I had some selfish motives,” Marcus said apologetically. “At the party, I wasn’t the only one interested in you, so I posted those photos on purpose. If it bothers you, I’ll delete them right away.”

Yvonne looked up, her eyes showing a hint of hesitation.

She understood Marcus’s feelings, but her precarious marital situation made her cautious.

Her relationship with Benson was already on the brink, and she didn’t want to give him any excuse or drag Marcus into trouble.

Just as Yvonne was thinking of the right way to respond, a notification popped up on her phone–Benson had liked Marcus’s post. This simple action felt like a stone cast into a calm lake, causing ripples.

Although Yvonne’s expression remained unchanged, her emotions were complex

Noticing Yvonne’s silence and conflict, Marcus felt a wave of panic. “I’ll delete it right now, Yvonne. I don’t want to cause you any trouble”

Yvonne snapped out of her thoughts, forcing a smile to lighten the mood. “It’s okay, you don’t need to delete it.” Her voice was calm, but inside she felt Turmoil

Outside, the streets were peaceful, and the sunlight through the curtains brought warmth. Benson’s recent silence had surprised her, but also gave her a sense of relief.

She thought Benson was only bluffing about not wanting a divorce and expected him to proceed with the paperwork soon to give Mary her rightful place. However, Benson seemed to have pushed the matter aside, making Yvonne wonder what his silence meant. Was he planning a bigger storm, or had he decided to let her go?

Yvonne chose not to speculate, preferring to enjoy the rare tranquility.

On Friday night, the city’s noise gradually subsided, but Yvonne’s mind was tense due to urgent work matters.

It wasn’t until 8 PM that she finished her tasks and drove to the Winstead family’s old house to visit her long–unseen mother.

While driving, Yvonne checked her phone and saw several missed calls from the old house. Anxiety surged within her, and she sped up

Arriving at the old house, the night was deep, and the trees swayed in the wind, making rustling sounds. Yvonne opened the door to find the house quiet, with only the dim light of the living room on

She asked the maid about her mother and learned that her mother had gone out in the afternoon, saying she was loolding for the brooch and hadn’t returned, and couldn’t be reached by phone.

Yvonne’s heart sank. Since her father’s death, her mother’s mental state had been unstable, sometimes becoming extremely anxious over small matters. “The brooch! Isn’t it still with Benson?” Yvonne thought..

Yvonne quickly checked Mary’s Facebook. Sure enough, Mary had worn the brooch at a recent product launch, glowing in the photos with the brooch sparking under the lights.

Anger surged within Yvonne. She realized her mother must have helplessness.

the photo and gone out to find it. Her eyes reddened with a mix of fury and

Benson’s words echoed in her mind: “I don’t have patience. You better behave.”

Yvonne finally understood. The like on Marcus’s Facebook post was a silent warning from Benson. He was using the brooch, a precious keepsake left by her father, as a pawn to threaten her, causing unprecedented betrayal and pain

Talding a deep breath, Yvonne tried to calm herself. Anger and sadness wouldn’t help now. The most important thing was to find her mother. She couldn’t let her mother get hurt because of her issues.

For years, Yvonne’s mother, Hannah, had been stable, cared for meticulously by the household staff in a comfortable environment.

However, tonight’s weather forecast wasn’t favorable.

Although the forecasted sleet hadn’t fallen, the rain continued, adding a bone–chilling cold to the night.

After receiving the mald’s call, Yvonne felt a wave of unease. She knew her mother could become extremely anxious over small matters.

She quickly drove to the hilltop cemetery where her father rested.

Sure enough, she found her mother drenched by the rain, standing in front of her father’s grave, muttering, “Why did you give the brooch to someone

Yvonne’s heart ached at her mother’s words, Imowing she was lost in memories. She approached gently, comforting her, “Moin, let’s go home, okay?

The brooch is at home. You forgot.”

But Hannah seemed not to hear, continuing, “Yvonne, your father was murdered.‘

Yvonne’s heart tightened, recalling the tragedy years ago.

Years ago, her father had learned of a plot against the Taylor family. The influential Taylor family had many enemies. In a crisis, Yvonne’s father helped the Taylors, saving them.

But his actions didn’t go unnoticed by those platting against the Taylors. They saw him as a threat, and on a dark night, revenge came. A carefully planned “accident” took his life.

Since then, Hannah had carried this heavy past, living in a world overshadowed by it.

Fighting back tears, Yvonne gently persuaded, “Morn, let’s go home, okay?”

On the way home, Hannah kept murmuring about the brooch being her treasure, Yvonne felt a mix of helplessness and pain.

Her mother’s fragile mental state couldn’t handle more stress. She needed to solve the brooch issue quickly.

After taking her mother to the hospital, dawn was breaking. Yvonne sat alone on a hospital bench, her heart heavy with mixed emotions

She knew she had to resolve the brooch issue to prevent her mother’s mental state from deteriorating further

Taking a deep breath, she dialed Benson’s number.