He swallowed, his hands tightening slightly on the wheel, and then quickly nodded. “Alright, ma’am,” he said, trying to regain composure. “We’ll head there.” Cordelia shifted closer and gently rested her head on Benjamin’s lap, her eyes slowly closing. The exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her. Benjamin adjusted slightly, one hand settling around her shoulder, holding her steady and protective, making sure she was comfortable. She relaxed almost instantly. He pulled out his phone with his free hand and began swiping absently, not really seeing anything on the screen. Then his thoughts drifted. Now that I know who was behind the murder of Cordelia’s parents… how do I even go about it? The question weighed heavily on him. Power alone wouldn’t be enough. Timing mattered. Precision mattered. And above all — Cordelia had to be protected from the fallout. Benjamin’s jaw tightened slightly as he locked his phone and closed his eyes, keeping his breathing slow and even while s

Benjamin’s expression hardened, resolve set deep in his eyes. “That’s why I returned,” he said calmly. “And why things are about to change.”The butler found his voice again, though it came out low and shaken. “So… what is the next step?” he asked. “Are you reporting this to the police? And… does Cordelia know about any of this?”Benjamin shook his head slowly.“She doesn’t know anything,” he said firmly. “And I’m not reporting this to the police.”The butler looked at him, troubled. “Then how—”“I’ll handle everything,” Benjamin cut in calmly. “My own way.”With that, he turned around without another word and walked back toward the house.When Benjamin walked back into the room, Cordelia was already awake, stretching beneath the covers. The moment she saw him, her face brightened. She sat up and reached for him, wrapping her arms around his waist.“Good morning,” she murmured.Benjamin leaned down, and they kissed softly, familiar and unhurried.After a moment, he rested his forehead

About an hour later, the car finally slowed… then came to a complete stop. The engine was turned off. Jacob’s heart skipped. The door beside him opened, cold air brushing his face. Hands gripped his arm again and pulled him out. “Careful,” Jacob muttered instinctively, his voice hoarse. “Where are we?” No answer. They guided him forward. His shoes scraped against the floor as he was led through what felt like a corridor, then another door opened. The air inside was cooler, heavier. “Sit.” Jacob was pushed down onto a chair. It creaked softly under his weight. Moments later, he heard footsteps moving away, then stopping right in front of him. A calm, amused voice spoke. “Jacob Halden.” Jacob stiffened. Benjamin sat directly in front of him, relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, a wide, unsettling smile on his face. A pistol rested loosely in his hand, as though it were nothing more than an accessory. Behind him stood Rakshasha, arms folded, flanked by severa

Jacob’s lips trembled. He swallowed again, his voice barely steady as he answered.“I… I knew it wouldn’t stay buried forever,” he admitted hoarsely. “Things like that—things that big—they don’t disappear. They wait.”He clenched his hands together, knuckles white.“Daniel Winslow was powerful. His wife too. Even after their deaths, their shadows were everywhere. I kept telling myself it was safe, that enough years had passed… but deep down, I knew someone would come asking questions one day.”He looked up at Benjamin, fear naked in his eyes.“So when I heard people were digging, I panicked,” Jacob continued. “I didn’t want to fight—I wanted to know how close they were. How much they knew. I was trying to protect myself.”Benjamin’s smile faded.He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, the pistol now lying calmly between his fingers.“Why did you kill them?” he asked quietly.The room felt colder.Jacob said nothing.His eyes dropped to the floor, his jaw tightening. Second

A sudden jolt of clarity hit him.The brakes.Jacob’s eyes widened in panic. With shaking legs, he slammed his foot down on the brake pedal.Nothing.The car didn’t slow.His heart lurched violently.“No—no, no!” he gasped, stomping the brakes again. Harder. Again. Again.Still nothing.The speedometer kept climbing as the highway rushed toward him like a tunnel of light and shadow.“What the—what the fuck?” Jacob cried, his voice breaking. “Oh my God… oh my God!”He pumped the brakes desperately, his whole body trembling now.“They’re not working—why aren’t they working?!” he shouted, panic fully taking over.His mind spiraled.The water.The dizziness.The heat.The timing.Benjamin’s calm voice echoed in his head, crystal clear now:You are going to die… but not directly now.Jacob’s breath came out in ragged sobs.“Benjamin…” he whispered hoarsely, terror flooding his face. “You did this… didn’t you?”His vision doubled again. The road twisted. His hands slipped on the steering wh