Chapter 449
Confusion crashes through me instantly. “What are you talking about p>
Then it all hits me that he knew the entire time who my father was, “You knew p>
Benji grins immediately. “Bingo p>
“But how p>
“My family and yours go way back p>
“What do you mean?” I ask,
Before he can answer, another door inside the warehouse opens and a woman walks in slowly. She looks to be in her sixties and the moment I see her face, my stomach twists because she has the exact twisted smile as Benji.
“You want answers?” she asks softly, though her eyes are simmering with hatred. “Then let me explain p>
I stare at her shakily. “Who are you p>
“I’m Benjamin’s mother.” She smiles wider. “And I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time p>
“Waiting for what p>
“To kill you, of course… only then will both Benjamin and I find peace p>
A shiver runs through me, and then she begins her story.
“My husband, Jeffery, and Andrew were business rivals. They had been at each other’s throats since Andrew took over Unity Ventures. Jeffery was older, but he used to tell me how Andrew had a sharp, calculating mind, and that made him dangerous. Andrew was young, but the way he did everything to save his family’s company, including stepping on others, terrified even Jeffery, and my husband had been in business for years p>
She pauses for a moment, drawing in a shaky breath before continuing.
“One day, Andrew approached Jeffery and proposed a truce. Jeffery was skeptical about it at first, but eventually he decided to give it a chance. After all, if the merger worked, both companies would benefit even though Unity Ventures had already fallen. My husband was excited. He truly believed that with his experience and Andrew’s mind, it wouldn’t take long before both companies reached greater heights. He trusted him… But Andrew betrayed him. He stabbed him in the back p>
I shake my head immediately whispering, “No,” but Benji’s mom ignores her and continues
“Andrew took the proposal Jeffery created and claimed it as his own. Then he turned around and accused Jeffery of stealing from him p>
“That’s not true,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “From everything I’ve heard, my father wasn’t a thief p>
Benji’s mother lets out a cold scoff. “You have no idea what kind of convincing snake your father was p>
She takes another breath before continuing.
“That accusation destroyed us. Andrew ruined our family by falsifying everything. There was a huge scandal and conveniently, Andrew walked away with his reputation untouched while ours was dragged through the mud. Partners started pulling out. Investors disappeared one by one and within months, we lost everything. We were drowning in debt and Jeffery…” Her voice cracks slightly. “Jeffery fell apart watching everything we built get ripped away from us p>
I feel myself tremble even as she continues, unable to accept what she’s saying.
“I started working extra shifts while Jeffery tried desperately to keep us afloat. That’s when he started borrowing money from dangerous people because they were the only ones willing to help him… What he didn’t realize was that taking those loans would destroy us completely p>
She clasps her hands together tightly.
“He tried rebuilding the company, but our reputation was already ruined. Nobody wanted to work with us anymore and soon those men started demanding their money back, except…” Her lips tremble slightly. “There was no money left p>
The warehouse feels colder with every word and I shiver as my instincts tell me that the worst is yet to come.
“My salary alone couldn’t cover millions in debt,” she continues quietly. “At first it was just threatening phone calls. Then it escalated. One day they cornered me while I was leaving work and broke my hand as a warning to Jeffery… We thought that was the worst they could, but we were wrong p>
Benji slowly takes over when his mother’s breathing becomes uneven. “One day I was home alone with my four-year-old sister when the men my father owed money to showed up. They were looking for him, and when they realized he wasn’t there… They beat me nearly to death before they took turns raping me p>
My breathe catches and for a second I forget to breathe while Benji stares somewhere far away now, like he’s no longer in the warehouse.
“By the time they were done, they thought I was dead, so they turned to my sister.” His jaw tightens painfully. “I watched them helplessly as they did the same thing to my little sister while I couldn’t move or do anything to help her… By the time they were done, She was staring at me lifelessly p>
Horror fills me as I imagine what he went through. What his little sister went through. I don’t even have to ask to know that that night still haunts him.
Benji’s mother takes over again, tears now streaming down her face.
“I came home and found my daughter dead and my son barely alive.” Her voice shakes violently. “Even the doctors told me it was a miracle Benji survived… Benji stayed in a coma for weeks and by the time he woke up, his father was already dead. They shot Jeffery while he was leaving the hospital one night. I buried my husband and daughter alone while my son fought for his life p>