Clara spent the rest of the day trying to keep herself busy, but her thoughts kept circling back to Benjamin's words. The idea that someone out there wanted to use her as a weapon against him was terrifying. Yet, there was something in the way Benjamin had spoken—a promise—that made her feel protected despite the storm brewing around them.
In the evening, Clara wandered into the garden. The moonlight bathed the flowers in a silver glow, their delicate petals swaying gently in the breeze. She knelt down by a patch of lilies, their scent grounding her amidst the chaos of her emotions.
"I didn't take you for a gardener," a voice said behind her.
She turned sharply to find Benjamin leaning against the garden's wrought-iron archway, his hands in his pockets. He looked almost out of place, the shadows playing across his sharp features, but his presence brought an odd sense of comfort.
"I needed some air," Clara replied. "And flowers are… calming."
Benjamin walked over, his movements fluid and deliberate. He crouched down beside her, picking a stray leaf off a bloom. "You don't have to stay cooped up in the mansion, you know. I can arrange for you to visit your shop."
Clara shook her head. "It wouldn't feel the same. That life… it feels so far away now."
Benjamin studied her quietly for a moment. "You miss it."
"Of course I do," she admitted, her voice soft. "It was simple. Safe. I never had to think about people trying to hurt me or… use me."
He reached out, his hand brushing against hers. "I'll do everything I can to give you that simplicity back. I promise."
Clara looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of deception, but all she saw was sincerity. She nodded, her chest tightening with unspoken gratitude.
Just as Benjamin opened his mouth to speak again, his phone buzzed. He stood up, his expression instantly shifting to one of sharp focus.
"Excuse me," he said, stepping a few paces away.
Clara watched as his jaw clenched while he listened to whoever was on the other end. His voice, low and commanding, carried snippets of the conversation to her ears: "Tomorrow night… no loose ends… make sure."
When he hung up, Benjamin turned back to her, his face unreadable. "I have to go."
"Is everything okay?" Clara asked, standing up.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "Stay here. Stay safe."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Clara alone in the garden with more questions than answers.