Benjamin thought Jacqueline, as someone outside the mafia, was quite intriguing, and her naive concern for him was charming. However, when it became too intense, it made him annoyed.
Jacqueline remained bowed, perhaps feeling uneasy about Benjamin's slightly harsh demeanor.
Leaning against the sofa, Benjamin closed his eyes, recalling memories he had always kept hidden. A girl with sun-kissed hair and turquoise eyes smiled at him.
Opening his eyes, he immediately saw Jane, who was unlike what he remembered, in behavior, words, and... her smile. Benjamin couldn't find the image of the little girl he had always anticipated in Jane.
Would time change everything? Benjamin wondered.
Perhaps the difference lay in intentions. That little girl just wanted to be his friend, while Jacqueline wanted something else from him.
But even so, Benjamin still believed Jane was the only one, whether she was an 8-year-old girl or a grown woman, she was still the only one.
Jacqueline shouldn't be treated like this; an angel should be treated with the utmost gentleness, Benjamin thought.
"Why? Why do you feel the need to apologize?" Benjamin gently spoke.
Jacqueline, surprised, raised her head, carefully assessing Benjamin's attitude, "What do you mean?"
Benjamin stood up from the sofa and approached her, wiping away the tears lingering in her eyes. It was then that Jacqueline realized she had been on the verge of tears due to her worry.
"You worried about me, why do you need to apologize? Jane, I'm sorry for being rude to you. From the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate your concern for me," Benjamin comforted her.
Benjamin just wanted Jacqueline not to be sad anymore, but for her, he had flipped some emotional switch, and he was the first one to do so.
Jacqueline secretly touched her left chest, where her heart was, feeling its pounding rhythm.
"It's late, let's go to bed," Benjamin said as he tucked her stray hair behind her ear.
Jacqueline nodded and stood up, wanting to assist Benjamin back to bed, but his earlier words made her hesitate. She felt her help was unnecessary for a mafia don.
Nevertheless, she didn't leave; Jacqueline followed Benjamin until he got into bed, so she could assist him whenever needed.
Sitting on his bed, Benjamin smiled as he realized she wanted to help but didn't want to inconvenience him. He said, "You can go to your room."
"Tomorrow... I don't want to ride horses," Jacqueline remembered what the doctor said and made a cautious suggestion. "Why don't we go to the aquarium? It's suitable for couples. I also really want to go there. What do you think?"
But she didn't get Benjamin's answer; he was still staring at her.
"Please," Jacqueline pleaded.
"Jane, come next to me," he said.
She couldn't guess his motive, but her feet followed his word.
Benjamin signaled for her to bend closer to him when the distance between them was only a few inches, "You can close your eyes."
Jacqueline complied and felt him place something around her neck, followed by a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight, my Jane," Benjamin whispered in her ear, his breath making her ear tingle.
"You too... goodnight... thanks for the gift," she stammered. Benjamin's intimate gesture left her mind in a whirlwind. It couldn't clear enough space to guide her feet in the right direction, and she bumped into the nightstand. Luckily, she managed to catch herself in time.
Embarrassed, Jacqueline rushed out of the room after muttering an apology.
Back in her own room, Jacqueline's heart still pounded.
"You're crazy, Jane, you're having strange feelings for Benjamin, and it's alarming," Jacqueline muttered, realizing where her strange feelings came from but unable to resolve them.
Jacqueline touched the necklace that Benjamin had given her. Going to the only mirror in the room, she examined her new gift through it.
The chain was made of silver, with a turquoise pendant on it. Jacqueline was delighted to see the pendant matched her eye color.
She wondered where Benjamin had gotten it.
Suddenly, Jacqueline sensed the smell of blood in the air, vague but unmistakable, and she didn't doubt her sense of smell.
She checked her body and discovered she smelled it from the hand holding the necklace.
Jacqueline hesitated, bringing the necklace closer to her nose. A few seconds later, her face filled with horror as she distinctly smelled blood on Benjamin's gift.
She covered her mouth, preventing herself from screaming, and then removed the necklace from her neck. She wanted to throw it away out the window immediately but feared what Benjamin would do if he found out.
She placed it in the drawer and vowed to herself never to touch it again.
Benjamin's words echoed in her mind, 'You know who I am, right?' Of course, she knew; he was a mafia don.
Jacqueline sat dazed on the bed, still unable to shake off the shock. There was a knock on the door, and she heard Helena's voice, "Lady, it's too late. Are you okay? Do you need my help?"
"Oh, no, thank you, I'll go to bed right away," she replied.
"Take care of yourself; we have to leave early tomorrow," Helena reminded her before leaving.
After changing into yellow pajamas with cartoon duck patterns, Jacqueline lay down on the bed. But despite her efforts, she couldn't sleep, though there were no disturbing thoughts.
Jacqueline felt a strange sensation burning inside her, and she couldn't explain it.
Tonight, Benjamin had given her emotions a roller coaster ride. He made her drop her guard with sweet words and then scared her with a surprise gift.
She wondered if he was intentionally threatening her with that gift.
She could only fall asleep after quietly sneaking down to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of cold water.
The next morning, Jacqueline went downstairs 15 minutes later than usual. Benjamin had been up early, watching the financial news.
Seeing Benjamin, Jacqueline hesitated. Unable to make contact with him, so she went into the kitchen to find something to do, anything to relieve her tension.
Helena had instructed her on how to make Benjamin's favorite tea. Through what Helena introduced, she was astonished to learn the sky-high price of a gram of tea.
In her first attempt, Helena poured out the tea immediately.
"You don't control the water amount and the water's temperature well," Helena gave her a serious critique.
It's crazy, she thought. She felt the tea tasted fine.
The second time then the third time, her tea was still not accepted by Helena. Her serious comments made her feel like she had the palate of a cow.
"Sorry, I don't think I'm ready to make tea for him this morning," Jacqueline said. "But I can help you set up the table."
She still wasn't ready to step out into the living room to face Benjamin, even though it would happen during their breakfast.