Benson

Chapter 269: The Accident

Yvonne gently twirled the napkin in her hand, feeling an indescribable bitterness in her heart. Just as she had admitted to herself, in seven years, aside from a few scattered memories, she could hardly feel any love from Benson.

The moments that once made her heart flutter now seemed like illusions, unreal and fleeting.

Even in a sacred place like St. George’s Church, she could only feel a warmth that seemed both real and false, a warmth that would only make her pain more acute when she returned to reality.

She remembered vividly that after returning from St. George’s, every time -they shared an intimate moment, her heart would be filled with disgust

and rejection.

That deep–seated resistance made her unable to bear any physical contact with him.

So, she would always retreat to the bathroom afterward, hiding there for a long time, as if it were the only way to wash away the feelings of nausea and guilt from her heart.

Yvonne knew that all of this wasn’t because she hated him, but because her love for him had withered and died over the long years.

She no longer had any affection for him, and had even developed a deep aversion to everything about him.

She had long since stopped loving Benson, and that dislike naturally -extended to a distaste for all his actions.

Benson understood this as well.

Especially after discovering that Yvonne was the very person he had been searching for all this time, his heart went cold.

He realized that their relationship had reached an irreparable point, and

there was no possibility of starting over.

Yet, despite this, he still refused to face the harsh truth, preferring to immerse himself in self–deception, believing he could somehow win Yvonne’s heart back.

Victoria had specially arranged to go out with Yvonne, and they strolled down the street. Although the sun was shining brightly, warming their bodies, it couldn’t dispel the gloom in their hearts.

Yvonne smiled as she accompanied Victoria, but inside, she felt an overwhelming heaviness.

During lunch, Victoria picked up her utensils and sighed softly, “These past few years have been really hard on you.”

Hearing this, Yvonne felt a pang of sorrow, but she maintained a calm smile on her face.

“Mom… Auntie,” she paused, as if correcting herself, but eventually changed her tone.

Victoria smiled at her, a complex emotion in her eyes that was hard to describe. “You can’t change how you feel, can you? You know, I once said that even if you’re no longer my daughter–in–law, I’ll still consider you my daughter.”

Yvonne felt a warmth in her heart.

“Please don’t feel guilty. If I had been braver back then, maybe things wouldn’t have ended this way.”

“But life doesn’t give us a chance to go back.” Her voice was tinged with bitterness, yet she remained calm. “Whether it’s me or Benson, every choice we made was what we wanted most at the time. There’s no one to

blame. Perhaps, we were just destined to be apart.”

Yvonne’s voice was gentle but firm, as if she had accepted this reality, though deep down, her heart was still bleeding.

Victoria looked at her, feeling even more pity for her.

Victoria knew that Yvonne’s words weren’t an excuse but a true reflection

Chapter 260 The Accident

of her understanding of the hopelessness of their marriage. She was aware that her son Benson had made too many mistakes in this marriage, and those mistakes had ultimately led to their separation.

Three years of indifference and distance–any woman would find it hard to endure.

In a low voice, she said, “Yvonne, Benson grew up the way he did largely because of us, his parents.”

Yvonne was slightly taken aback and looked at Victoria. She had never heard this strong–willed woman admit her own faults so softly.

Victoria continued, “The Taylor family was never a peaceful one. The struggles in a large family never ceased. Did you know? The year our eldest son died young, to avoid another tragedy, Arthur sent me back to my parents‘ home, leaving Benson alone with him. His existence was destined to bear more pressure and expectations.”

Her voice carried deep guilt and regret. “Arthur and I were too busy with work and neglected Benson’s upbringing. We gave him everything material but failed to provide enough love and care. This made him emotionally fragile, and he never really learned how to love.”

Benson understood from a young age that as the heir to the Taylor family, his life was destined to be different. His parents had planned everything for him, from his education to his career, expecting him to be cautious and meticulous at every step.

He learned to restrain his emotions from an early age, to always maintain a smile in public, no matter how much pain he felt inside.

He was the most well–mannered gentleman of high society, meeting every expectation his parents had for him.

However, it was precisely this long–term restraint and suppression that caused Benson’s rebellious feelings to accumulate over time.

Eventually, they exploded in his marriage with Yvonne.

He began to ignore his family, neglect his marital responsibilities, and even disregard his own reputation. He kept mistresses openly, defying the

moral boundaries of the Taylor family.

All of this turned the once–gentle Benson into someone extreme and unrecognizable.

Compared to the restrained and rule–following Benson of the past, he lived more freely and selfishly in recent years.

However, these choices deeply hurt Yvonne.

She was the woman he had once promised to protect for life, but she had now become the victim of his rebellion and indulgence.

One morning, Benson uncharacteristically sought help from his mother Victoria, his eyes filled with an unfamiliar vulnerability.

He said to her, “Mom, do you know that she was like a light, brightening and warming my life?”

Victoria was shocked when she heard this. She knew very well that during that difficult time, Yvonne had given Benson the care and support that even she, as his mother, had never provided.

At that time, Benson’s fragility and helplessness were only understood and comforted by Yvonne, while she and Arthur, preoccupied with their careers, had neglected his emotional needs as a child.

Victoria and her husband had supported each other all their lives, building the Taylor Group into its current glory. But behind their success, she knew they had failed to give their children the attention and love they needed.

She watched Benson grow, saw him change from a sensible child into a man of extreme rebellion, and her heart was filled with complex emotions.

Yvonne listened quietly as Victoria talked about the past, her face calm, though inside, she was churning with emotion.

In a soft voice, she said, “Mom, Benson has his flaws, and so do I. But his character isn’t in question -he’s definitely capable, and I think he’s kind too. His excellence at work is undoubtedly influenced by you and Dad. Nobody is perfect.”

Victoria felt a bit comforted by these words. She understood that, despite

Chapter 209 The Accident

all the pain Yvonne had endured, she was still willing to view Benson objectively, and that gave her some solace.

Seeing Yvonne’s calm demeanor, Victoria felt that she had moved past some of the shadows of her past, and she relaxed a little.

After lunch, Yvonne prepared to head to work.

As they walked out of the restaurant, the sun bathed the street in warmth, though it was somewhat blinding.

Yvonne was about to say goodbye to Victoria when she noticed her suddenly receive a phone call.

Victoria’s face instantly turned pale, and her hand trembled so much that she could barely hold onto her phone.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Yvonne asked urgently, her heart tightening as she rushed to support her.

“Yvonne, Benson… Benson was in a car accident.