Chapter 291: The Emotional Beast
Benson’s words, like the edge of a merciless blade, severed the last thread of hope in Bella’s heart. Then, he and Claire stepped into the elevator together. As the doors closed, he withdrew his arm from
Claire’s grasp.
Inside the elevator, the atmosphere turned awkward. Claire’s earlier confidence and pride had vanished, replaced by a cautious and uneasy demeanor as she glanced at Benson. She was filled with doubt and insecurity.
A moment ago, she had believed she had a chance when she embraced him and he didn’t push her away. That brief moment of intimacy made her feel an unprecedented joy, thinking she could finally take Yvonne’s place in his heart. But now, Benson’s coldness left her inexplicably dejected.
“Benson, what’s wrong? You were fine just now,” Claire said, her voice tinged with confusion and hurt. She couldn’t understand why he had. suddenly become so distant.
She thought back to when she had hugged him earlier–he hadn’t rejected her. In that moment, she had truly believed she had a
chance. But now, his aloofness cut deep, leaving her feeling insignificant.
Benson looked at Claire, his gaze filled with indifference and finality. His voice was low but resolute; “I don’t like you, and I don’t like being held by you.”
He spoke as if he were discussing something mundane, but the coldness in his tone was like a sharp knife, severing any lingering hope Claire had.
Her face paled instantly. She had hoped to see even the slightest
hesitation in his eyes, a brief softening of his demeanor. But instead, Benson’s expression was so emotionless that it made her shiver.
His eyes betrayed no hesitation or doubt.
Suddenly, Claire felt incredibly small, realizing that she couldn’t even stir the slightest emotional response in him.
Benson turned and walked toward his desk, his movements graceful and composed, as if his rejection had been nothing more than a minor interruption in his workday.
In truth, he had wavered. He had thought that the past was behind him, that he could start fresh. He had considered Claire a suitable choice–she was beautiful, young, and seemingly fit the mold of an ideal partner.”
But when Claire hugged him, he felt an inexplicable sense of suffocation. A shadow loomed over his heart, one he couldn’t ignore.
He tried to convince himself that it was merely a temporary. discomfort, that it would pass with time. But deep down, he knew he
couldn’t deceive himself.
He remembered how it felt when Yvonne hugged him–so different. Her embrace was warm, grounding him in reality. When she looked up at him, there was a mix of dependence and tenderness in her eyes. that always made his heart race.
Every small gesture, every subtle expression from Yvonne filled him. with excitement and desire, making her his entire world.
In contrast, Claire’s embrace felt cold, void of any spark that could
stir his heart.
Benson finally understood that the issue wasn’t with Claire–it was within himself. He couldn’t lie to himself by using someone he didn’t love to fill the emptiness in his heart. He didn’t want to continue a relationship built on false pretenses, nor did he want to deceive
Claire’s feelings.
Claire was Andrew’s sister, not a foolish woman. She quickly sensed Benson’s coldness and detachment. A strong premonition gripped her: Benson wasn’t pushing her away because she wasn’t good. enough, but because he couldn’t let go of Yvonne.
His heart was still held captive by the woman who had already left him.
“Benson, she doesn’t love you. She doesn’t value you,” Claire said, her voice filled with bitterness and resignation. She couldn’t understand why he remained so fixated on a woman who no longer loved him.
Yvonne had divorced him, their relationship was over–why couldn’t
he move on?
Benson heard Claire’s words, and for a moment, something inside. him stirred. But he quickly suppressed that feeling. He turned to look at Claire, his expression calm but resolute.
“Don’t waste your time on me. You should find someone who truly cares for you, not waste your time here,” Benson said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Claire’s heart sank. She was unwilling to give up and followed Benson back to his office, watching him work with a heavy heart.
She tried to soften her voice, even adding a hint of pleading, “Why don’t you give us a chance? Get to know me better, maybe we’re a good match?”
Benson paused for a moment before turning to face Claire, his gaze still devoid of emotion. He looked at her as if she were a stranger, someone inconsequential.
“No need,” he replied, his voice firm and unyielding, leaving Claire with no hope.
Benson knew there was still a knot in his heart, one that was tied to Yvonne. He also knew he couldn’t continue trying to fill this void with someone like Claire. Even though he was upset with Yvonne, event angry at times, he couldn’t lie to himself and accept someone else.
Starting a meaningless relationship just to ward off loneliness wasn’t. his style. He wouldn’t use that as a way to deal with his emptiness.
Claire stood there, tears welling up in her eyes, filled with defeat and frustration. She couldn’t believe it just moments ago, she thought she had a chance. She thought she was finally on the brink of
entering Benson’s heart, becoming a par of his life. But the reality was cruel.
Benson sat in his spacious office, the large room now feeling
unusually empty. His gaze drifted to the papers on his desk, but his thoughts were far away.
He picked up his phone and dialed the internal line. Soon, Joseph entered the room, waiting respectfully for Benson’s instructions.
“Please escort her out,” Benson said quietly, a hint of exhaustion in
his voice.
Joseph nodded and silently exited the office, gently closing the door behind him.
Benson sat alone, silent for a moment. He picked up his phone, his fingers lightly brushing over the screen before stopping at the contact. list.
His hands trembled slightly, as if he were battling with his emotions. He instinctively typed in a series of numbers–numbers that seemed to be etched into his memory, so familiar they felt like they had never
left him.
Benson stared at the familiar name on the screen–Yvonne. He wasn’t sure when it started, but every time he called her, he didn’t need to
scroll through his contacts. He could dial her number without
thinking, as if it had been engraved in his heart, an indelible part of him.
He looked at the name on the screen, his gaze deepening. His finger hovered over the call button, but he couldn’t bring himself to press it.
