Benjamin's Heirloom Ring

My New Lover

Valerie expressed her surprise. "Call him Benjamin or Mr. Frost, please," she requested.

Nathan couldn't care less; he turned to the girl and inquired, "Ms. Morgan, what's the deal with you embracing someone as trash as him?"

"Don't get me wrong about Benjamin. He's not trash," Valerie shot back promptly. "He's my new lover."

"The hell?!"

It was like snow falling in broad daylight for Nathan! 

He'd been attempting to woo Valerie with his vast wealth for ages. His endeavors had a whiff of desperation. He'd gone to the lengths of dangling tens of millions of dollars to aid her company in its hour of crisis.

Yet, all his endeavors ended in vain. Valerie consistently rebuffed him without so much as a blink.

In his frustration, Nathan shifted his attention to Diane, the second most stunning woman in Regal Hill.

With just a glimpse of his wealth, Diane swiftly succumbed to his allure, falling into his arms effortlessly.

Diane's ex, Benjamin Frost, was just a worthless loser who couldn't provide her with a darn thing. A flower like Diane deserved way better than that.

Yet, almost like the heavens were pulling a prank, Valerie out of the blue chose Benjamin as her new beau.

Nathan found this fact utterly intolerable!

He held back no more; he took a step forward and unleashed a punch on Benjamin with all the strength he could muster.

He didn't give a damn if his actions stirred up a scene or anything; he just wanted to put an end to the young man right there and then.

The impact landed!

CRACK!

The impact was unexpected!

Just in the blink of an eye, Nathan's eyes widened as pain shot through his right hand, coursing through his entire body. He staggered back a few steps, letting out a scream of agony.

"Goddamnit, my fingers!"

Nathan raised his hand in horror, witnessing four broken fingers with bones protruding and blood gushing out.

He hadn't punched a human face; instead, his fist collided with a concrete wall! His initial anticipation was for Benjamin to crumple with a broken nose and unconsciousness, but it seemed fate had flipped the script.

Nathan started to gaze at Benjamin in sheer disbelief, his body trembling uncontrollably with terror and fear.

"Who the hell are you?" He stammered.

Benjamin's brows furrowed as he pointed at himself, a bemused expression on his face. 

"Me?" he queried. "I'm the stuff of legend when it comes to being a lousy husband in this town. Can you believe you haven't heard of me? Well, brace yourself and guard those delicate ears of yours. Yours truly, Benjamin Frost!"

Nathan's anxiety flared up, a hint of hysteria in his tone. "No! It's not that simple!" he exclaimed. "You're not your run-of-the-mill human! Your visage is as unyielding as stone!"

Valerie chimed in, coming to Benjamin's defense. "Hard as a rock? I beg to differ. It's not Benjamin's face that's chiseled from stone; it's your hands that seem as delicate as paper!"

Faced with such insults, Nathan became very embarrassed and angry at the same time.

"Honey, just pay them no mind. Let's go, we need to get your hand checked at the hospital. Forget about this auction; you look seriously unwell," Diane said, genuine concern etching her face.

Nathan shot Diane a sharp look, channeling his anger.

"Forget about this auction and heading to the hospital? Are you out of your mind?" he said. "My father is gravely ill, and he requires some of the herbs set to be auctioned today. Without them, he might not make it to see us tie the knot next week."

Diane found herself somewhat taken aback. Her newly betrothed had never displayed this kind of demeanor before.

"Sorry, I had no idea..." she murmured apologetically.

"Nonsense, you should've been able to figure out why I was so insistent on attending this auction," Nathan continued, his frustration unabated. "Get on the line with the auction committee and inform them that Nathan Grave requires immediate attention here."

"But..."

"Just do what I say!" Nathan snapped at her.

Diane extended her hand, but Nathan remained unresponsive. He rose to his feet with only his own assistance.

Before leaving, the man gave Benjamin a hateful look.

He threatened, "You're cheating! There must be some shaman's talisman involved, making your body as tough as rock. Just wait; I'll return with an antidote talisman, and we'll see how things unfold."

Benjamin simply shrugged, nonchalantly remarking, "Do as you please. I'll be here, waiting for your return."

Spitting on the floor, Nathan finally left with Diane.

Valerie turned to Benjamin, a triumphant smile gracing her face. "How did I do as your ally, huh?"

"Very good," Benjamin chuckled. "Those two, especially Nathan, are getting some well-deserved lessons."

"I agree. An asshole like Nathan should be tortured regularly so that he can experience his treatment of others," Valerie responded. "Speaking of which, we're probably out of seats by now. Let's not delay any longer. Come on, we need to get into the auction hall right away!"

Benjamin nodded in acknowledgment. Considering the recent incident, their chances of securing prime seats in the theater were dwindling. Any further delay, and they might find themselves relegated to the back with no seats left.

While walking, Valerie continued to hold Benjamin's arm. Unwilling to let go even for just a moment, making even Benjamin himself astonished.

"Are you planning to keep holding onto me like this and let everyone jump to the wrong conclusions about us, Valerie?" Benjamin questioned finally.

The girl realized and immediately released her embrace on Benjamin's arm.

Her cheeks tinged with embarrassment, she responded, "Apologies, I totally forgot."

Valerie was lying. She never really forgot that her arms had been wrapped around Benjamin all this time. She just did not want to let him go. Embracing Benjamin's arm, she felt more comfortable and safe. The man had a burly body, it seemed like he could protect her from any threats.

Regrettably, Valerie didn't dare to carry on with the charade after Benjamin had caught her red-handed.

Upon reaching the entrance of the auction hall, they purchased tickets for two seats, each priced at $200.

The waitress at the counter flashed a smile and remarked, "You two are quite fortunate. These are the last two tickets available, and you snagged them just in time."

Benjamin and Valerie looked at each other for a moment.

Valerie inquired of the waitress, "Did Nathan Grave and Diane Leuwis secure tickets for the event as well?"

The waitress shook her head. "No, they haven't."

"Oh, thank you..."

Valerie glanced at Benjamin and remarked, "Well, looks like fate's on our side. The last two tickets are ours, so Nathan and Diane won't be making it to this auction after all."

Benjamin offered a knowing smile, sharing his perspective, "I wouldn't be too sure about that. Nathan's not just any guy – he's the top heir of the Grave family and the big shot behind Dominic Inc. His sway is pretty substantial. Plus, he mentioned his old man's ailing and in need of the auction's meds. Nathan will go to great lengths to snag a seat."

Valerie realized the truth of Benjamin's words, but she hoped that Timeless House Center would still maintain its integrity here.

Stepping into the auction hall, Benjamin and Valerie were met with a spectacle beyond the ordinary.