The following days were filled with an unsettling calm. Benjamin kept his distance, and Clara was left to navigate the silence that had settled between them. The mansion, once grand and filled with life, now felt like a prison. Clara's thoughts constantly swirled around Benjamin's words: We'll see about that. What did he mean by it? Was this just another test? Or was it a warning?
One evening, as Clara walked through the garden, she overheard a conversation between Benjamin and one of his men. The words were barely audible, but Clara could catch the tension in Benjamin's voice.
"…It's time to find out if she's truly trustworthy," Benjamin's voice was firm, but there was something almost...soft beneath the command. "I'm giving her a choice. The truth, or she'll be left to fend for herself."
Clara's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't known Benjamin would do this—give her a choice. But the weight of that choice was heavy. If she told him the truth, would it be enough to prove her loyalty? Or was it just another test in a game she didn't understand?
The next morning, Benjamin summoned her to his office. He sat behind his desk, his face stoic and unreadable. Clara stood before him, nervous but resolute.
"I've been thinking," Benjamin began, his eyes locking onto hers. "You've been honest with me... for the most part. But I need to know if you're fully committed to this. I'm offering you a chance."
Clara frowned. "A chance for what?"
"To prove your loyalty," he said, his tone hard. "Tell me the truth. What are you hiding? What don't I know?"
Clara's heart raced as she weighed her options. This was the moment. The choice she would have to make would determine everything. She took a deep breath and spoke, her voice steady.
"There's nothing more to hide," she said, looking him in the eye. "I've told you everything I know. There is no conspiracy, no hidden agenda. Just... just me."
Benjamin studied her for a long moment. For a second, Clara thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—a hint of softness, perhaps even relief. But it was gone before she could be sure.
"Very well," Benjamin said, his voice quiet but resolute. "I'll take you at your word. But know this, Clara: if you're lying, I won't hesitate to make you regret it."
Clara nodded, a weight lifting off her shoulders. For now, she had passed his test.