As she hurried back to the kitchen to fetch the nachos, she could feel the other patrons' eyes on her, their whispers and laughter cutting through her like a knife. She fought to keep her composure, determined to get through her shift despite the humiliation and abuse. She had no other choice but to endure it for now, hoping that one day she could escape this nightmare and rebuild her life.She returned with a fresh plate of nachos and set it down carefully in front of the men. "Here you go, gentlemen. Fresh and hot."The burly man smirked but didn't say anything. Irene turned to leave when another man at the table called out, "Hey, you got our drinks wrong. I asked for a beer, not this cheap stuff."Irene frowned, remembering clearly that he had ordered what she brought. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll get you a beer right away.”As she reached for the glass, the man slapped her hand away, causing it to spill. "You can't do anything right, can you?" he snarled, standing up and slapping her acr

Benjamin looked up from his phone and smiled back at her. "Great. I’ll be quick."Cordelia nodded and walked over to the bed, sitting down and beginning to dry her hair with another towel. Benjamin got up, grabbed his nightwear, and headed towards the bathroom.As he passed her, he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll be out in a bit," he said softly before disappearing into the bathroom.Soon, Benjamin emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in comfortable nightwear. He smiled at Cordelia as he walked over to the bed, where she was already lying down, looking relaxed and content."All set?" Cordelia asked with a sleepy smile."All set," Benjamin replied, sliding into bed beside her. He pulled the covers up and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into a soft, soothing darkness.Cordelia snuggled close to him, resting her head on his chest. "Thank you for today," she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep. "It was wonderful.""You're wel

The animators quickly set to work, their fingers flying over keyboards and graphic tablets. The room buzzed with a quiet intensity as they skillfully manipulated the digital tools to bring the image to life. Lars watched with a mixture of confusion and anxiety, his eyes darting between the animators and Benjamin.Within 10 minutes, the screen lit up with the projection. The truck image, now larger and clearer, loomed before them. Every detail, from the licence plate to the distinct scratches on the side, matched perfectly with the photograph.Lars' eyes widened in shock and recognition. The image on the screen was unmistakably the truck from his showroom years ago. He swallowed hard, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. He was clearly frightened, understanding that this was no ordinary confrontation.Benjamin leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Do you recognize it now, Mr. Johansen?" he askedLars nodded, his face pale. "Yes, I recognize it. I

Cordelia's smile faded completely, replaced by confusion and sadness. "What do you mean? You're leaving me? To go where exactly?""It's something I have to take care of," Benjamin said gently. "You need to return to the mansion, and I'll be away for a few days. When I'm done, I'll come back."Cordelia's eyes filled with tears. "Why can't I come with you? Why do you have to do this alone? Is it dangerous? What if something happens to you? I don't want to be apart from you, Benjamin. How can you ask me to just go back to the mansion and wait?”Benjamin sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions. "I promise I'll be safe. This is something I need to handle on my own. I need you to trust me and stay safe at the mansion. I love you too much to put you in any danger."Cordelia shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to be away from you. Please, let me stay with you."Benjamin held her tightly, trying to comfort her. "I know it's hard, but I need you to trust me on this.

As Cipherella forwarded the video, they saw the usual hustle and bustle of the showroom. People came in to browse the cars, and workers moved about, attending to their tasks. The camera captured various angles, showing customers discussing with sales staff and mechanics working on vehicles.After a few minutes, a red car drove into the frame and parked in a spot. The driver’s side door opened, and Lars stepped out, wearing a red shirt and a cap matching the color of his car. He adjusted his cap and made his way into the showroom.“There he is,” Benjamin said, eyes fixed on the screen. “That’s Lars.”Lars nodded, “Yes, that’s me. This footage should have what you’re looking for. Keep forwarding, Cipherella.”Cipherella continued to forward the video, eager to see what the rest of the clip revealed.Cipherella continued forwarding the video, the minutes ticking by as they watched the scenes unfold in fast motion. The showroom buzzed with activity, then gradually quieted as the day progr