In the Lap of Luxury

Grace's black eyes were very bright, and there was a firm resolve in them that no one else had. She looked at Benjamin, who let go of her guiltily. "I did hide things from you in the past, but I've never done that since we got divorced. Although it's late, I'm sure you know how I feel about you."

"That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about before we got married."

Benjamin swayed, and he pressed his lips together tightly. He didn't speak for a long time. "What?"

Grace hadn't wanted to expose him. In fact, she had initially planned on just treating him like a stranger if they met. Since Benjamin insisted on pestering her, she didn't want to be taken for a fool.

"If you had admitted it yourself, I would've still admired your guts as a man, even though it's late. But it seems that you don't even have the courage to admit it." Grace spoke slowly, watching as Benjamin's expression turned gradually darker.

"Does your older brother, Alexander, know that you married me in his stead?"

Benjamin turned as white as a sheet.

So, she knew all about it.

How had she found out?

After a long time, he spoke with difficulty. "You met him?"

Grace didn't answer directly. "Don't you think that you owe me an explanation at this point? You knew that the person I was looking for was Alexander, not you.

"Not only did you fail to tell me, but you even pretended to be him and married me. You made me slave away like a housekeeper for your family, and you wasted my youth!

"Was it fun, Benjamin?" Grace walked closer to him with every word.

He retreated backward. He didn't dare to meet her eyes.

Being exposed felt even worse than he had expected. He felt lightheaded, and his vision seemed to be turning black. His heart grew heavier.

"You knew about everything, but you just watched me sink deeper and deeper. You trapped me in Pamore to be your secretary and slave away for your family for so many years! Don't you feel even a shred of guilt toward me?"

Grace became more and more emotional as she spoke. Her raised voice startled the people passing by, and they all began to look over.

Benjamin took a deep breath. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to a corner.

"I already told you. I love you, just like you love Alexander. When you love someone, you'll do anything to keep them by your side. What have I done wrong?" Grace was flabbergasted.

She shook her head. "Because of you, I no longer love Alexander. I don't even know how he is right now.

"Benjamin, you made a fool out of

me. You pretended to be someone else for so many years and married me. What right do you have to meddle in my affairs? What @ght do you have to appear in front of me?"

The words she had hidden deep in her heart spilled out of her.

Her eyes filled with angry tears for the years that she had wasted; they were tears of hate and resentment.

Benjamin's breathing slowed. "I was.

wrong. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were from the Lewis family. If I had known, I wouldn't have kept you in Pamore." Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He seemed to be trying to protest his innocence.

Grace laughed out of sheer anger. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"You still don't know what you did wrong. Even if I wasn't the heiress of the Lewis family, you shouldn't have lied to me!

"Nobody should become a tool for someone else! No one should be the tool to satisfy your personal desires, Mr. Hawkins!"

"Then, what should I have done? You thought that was Alexander. You were so devoted and so determined to follow him, but now you've fallen in love with Xander. If Alexander were to find out about this, he would hate you too."

Even though Grace knew the truth, Benjamin knew that she still didn't know that Shawn was Alexander.

That was his only saving grace.

Grace swayed. His confident and aggrieved tone made her feel that she had done something wrong.