Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Without hesitation, Mateo dragged her toward the lounge where Benjamin was.
Benjamin was discussing an international business deal with some officials. He called Liam over because he wanted the latter to provide some objective opinions as his future-son-law and heir.
However, Liam refused to offer any comment during the discussion, regardless of how many meaningful looks Benjamin threw at him. He was absent-minded all the way.
Benjamin’s face was icy. He raised his teacup, intending to smash it on Liam’s head.
“Say something!”
Liam stood rooted to the spot, and didn’t even move his head away. The teacup hit him squarely on the head, and the wound started to bleed.
Despite that, he said calmly and expressionlessly, ‘It’s your call, Mr. Jenkins. I’ll support you unconditionally.”
“Humph! Unconditionally?” Benjamin glared at him, furious. He said icily, “Mr. Waddell wants us to help him eliminate the ruffians at Southsand. Can you do that?”
“If you need me to do it, I won’t say no,” Liam replied, his composure unruffled. No one could tell what he was feeling.
Grayson Waddell looked at Liam, and nodded with satisfaction. “Ben, you’ve got a lot of foster sons, but I prefer Liam best. No wonder you picked him as your future son-in-law. I’m sure he won’t have any problems inheriting your work.”
“Quit praising him. Out of everyone, I despise him the most. Benjamin glared disdainfully at Liam. “He won my heart in the past, but he’s getting more rebellious lately. He gets hostile easily, as if someone’s forcing his hand. I’m sure he won’t obey me and is trying to get rid of me.”
“How could you say that? He looks honest and loyal. He’s even bold enough to do what Noah does. He’s risking his life, isn’t he?’
“That’s different. Whether he can do it or not is another story.” Benjamin cleared his throat. “Liam. Since Mr. Waddell prefers you, I’ll let you take charge of settling Southsand. If you can, I’ll see you as my biological son and let you manage the whole fort. If you can’t…
Benjamin’s eyes grew fierce.
“Kill yourself for your mistakes!”
“Sure,” Liam promised in a heartbeat. “I’ll accept this task in front of Mr. Waddell,
“That’s great! I believe our cooperation will be successful. It’s getting late. I’ll go now since I need to attend to something else.” Since Grayson had gotten what he wanted, he didn’t have to linger at that dangerous place.
That place was a fort, which was no different than Southsand. It was an area separated by ruffians. However, one of the parties was oppressing the other.
Since the superiors had no power to settle both parties, they could only use that method to make them fight against each other.
After working together with Benjamin, Grayson would let Benjamin bear all the risks. His superiors supported the notion secretly. Hence, Grayson met Benjamin in private, as if he were meeting his friend.
When Grayson was gone, Benjamin threw a handkerchief on Liam’s head. He grabbed another cup of tea and sipped it leisurely. “That’s all for business. Shouldn’t we talk about our private affairs now?”
“I don’t understand you. Mr. Jenkins, please clarify,” Liam replied indifferently. He used the handkerchief to cover his injured forehead.
“I heard you’ve secretly sent out a team to a barbarian tribe to rescue a woman. You even burned that tribe down, didn’t you?” Benjamin asked slowly.
“Yes, you’re right,” Liam admitted candidly.
Liam wasn’t surprised that the incident had reached Benjamin so quickly.
“You know that woman. She’s a very good friend of mine in Beach City,” he said calmly.
“Of course I know her!” Benjamin snorted. “She was the first who could escape from me. Plus, she took away that rebel Joanne. I haven’t settled this with her yet, but I didn’t expect her to be bold enough to come to my territory again.”
“She came to attend my wedding with Gem. If you’re offended, I’ll make her leave right away.” Liam finally looked agitated, worried Benjamin might do anything to Flossie.
He had experienced many outrageous things while staying at the fort, and had developed a different mindset. Before, he might have been a straightforward and bright person. He believed that the world was a wonderful place.
Lately, all he saw was crimes, indifference, and cruelty. If it was possible, he wanted to see the world end. No one expected that he wished the world would be a peaceful place.
He had become one with the people he spent his time with. After staying in this environment for a long time, he became unkind and was unscrupulous enough to achieve his goal.
He thought that his heart had turned cold and emotionless until Flossie reappeared. When he saw her get hurt and was roasted over the fire, his heart broke. He wanted to slaughter everyone, including Benjamin.
‘Don’t drive her away just yet. Isn’t she the woman you care about the most?” Benjamin looked at Liam sarcastically. “You met your old lover again. Shouldn’t you pour your heart out for her? Can you bear to see her go?
“It’s boring if you say that, Mr. Jenkins. Romance isn’t the only thing between men and women. My relationship with her isn’t as what you guys imagine,” Liam said. He was standing against Benjamin for the first time, ignoring the consequences.
As the one involved, he knew very well what kind of relationship he had with Flossie. Benjamin’s words were humiliating, and Liam couldn’t allow anyone to humiliate her.
“Did I hear you wrong? You’re arguing with me for a woman?” Benjamin’s face turned cold as he abruptly got to his feet.
He fished out a whip that he always had with him, and swung it at Liam. The whip instantly circled Liam’s neck. Then, he pressed Liam harshly on the tea table.
“If you want to rebel, you should see if the time is right. You’ve been acting obediently for so long, but you want to rebel now? Do you think you can break away from my control?” he snarled.
“Ugh…!” Caught by the whip, Liam couldn’t breathe. His face flushed, and he couldn’t speak.
“I should’ve beaten you up and killed you back then. It’s a pity I couldn’t because my silly daughter cared so much about you,” Benjamin went on.
He tightened the whip around Liam’s neck, his eyes gleaming cruelly.
“I kept you with me and made you do all those dirty and inhumane things to turn you as ruthless as me. Then, you can take my place. I thought I did a good job-but your true colors resurfaced when that woman reappeared. You’re still the same rich spoiled brat who only thinks of romance. I fucking wasted my time!”
“Ack…ugh!” Liam’s flushed face had turned purple-he was dying.
He had exhausted himself to break free, but failed. His current situation was no different.
Perhaps he had been too naive. To Benjamin, his existence was trivial. It would be a piece of cake for Benjamin to kill him.
As Liam was dying, someone suddenly pushed open the door of the lounge. Amber rushed inside, panic-stricken.
“Dad! What are you doing?” Amber threw herself at Liam, who was pressed against the tea table. Crying, she begged Benjamin, “Just talk it out! Don’t hurt Liam… Let him go now!”
Only then did Benjamin put away his whip. He glared condescendingly at Liam. “Remember. You get to live because of Gem.”
“Ack… Ugh!” Liam rubbed his neck, which was almost broken, and took deep breaths. He held the edge of the tea table to support himself. “Thank you for showing me mercy and letting me live, Mr. Jenkins.”
“Humph! Stop thanking me. You should thank your future wife instead,” Benjamin said, his tone overbearing and disdainful.
On the surface, he did that to punish Liam for being rude to him. In truth, he wanted to put Liam down and make the latter recognize his identity. Then, Liam would be nice to Amber.
“Dad, I told you, this is between Liam and me. We’ll handle it well. Don’t meddle.” Amber supported the unsteady Liam and looked resentfully at her father.
She was not a fool, and she knew why Benjamin suddenly punished Liam. He wanted to seek justice for her, but she wasn’t grateful toward him.
She had finally gotten closer to Liam-but with such a scene, he would grow further away from her.
“You’ll handle it?” Benjamin flew into a rage. “He carried another woman home in front of you! Did you dare to object? You’re my daughter. I need to save face, even if you don’t want to!”
Everyone in Goldshire knew that Benjamin only had one daughter, whom he doted on. He tried his best to find a good husband for her. Unexpectedly, she fell for a delicate wimp like Liam.
Benjamin exhausted a lot of effort to train Liam to make the latter capable enough to inherit his post, and had seen some results lately.
Liam and Amber could now get married smoothly. Unexpectedly, Flossie suddenly came and reawakened Benjamin’s wits. He knew he should be vigilant toward Liam.