Chapter 206: At Fault
"Hey, did Benjamin hit you up?"
"Brad, how'd you know? Did he reach out to you?"
"Yeah, he asked me earlier if I knew where Mia was. I didn't spill. Honestly, if you hadn't posted that pic, he might not have found her so fast."
"I don't know if what I did was right. I kinda wanted Benjamin to see it. After all these years, Mia and Benjamin need some closure. Benjamin owes Mia an explanation. And if Mia's gonna move on, Benjamin's gotta step up. I don't want Mia stuck between hope and despair. I can overlook the five years she wasted, but I don't want her wasting her whole life on Benjamin. He ain't worth it, and Mia deserves better."
"I just got off the phone with Benjamin. He's super emotional. He might show up in the next few days. Keep an eye on Mia. If anything goes down, hit me up immediately. Don't try to handle it all solo. And Mia, she needs to have a real talk with Benjamin. Whether he gives her an explanation or not, she needs to figure it out for herself. At the very least, she needs to know what she really wants, so she doesn't get all mixed up later. Starting over is gonna be tough."
"Okay, I'll be careful and talk to Mia."
"Good girl, did you miss me?"
Why does he always ask that? He knows I can't say it out loud.
Blushing, I whispered that I missed him and told him to come back soon.
A woman off-camera on his side laughed and said something I couldn't quite catch, but it sounded like she said Brad was good at sweet-talking girls and that it was cute.
Brad was sweet-talking me in front of someone else, and it was a woman? That didn't sit right.
That voice sounded weirdly familiar. I couldn't place it, but I told myself it was probably one of Brad's colleagues and not to overthink it.
After hanging up with Brad, a strong sense of unease hit me.
What was this damn gut feeling trying to tell me?
Revealing Mia's whereabouts to Benjamin was my idea. I wanted Mia and Benjamin to have a face-to-face and break up on good terms.
Only then could Mia fully let go, say goodbye to the past, and start fresh.
I've seen it clearly over this period. Mia seemed calm on the surface, like everything was back to normal. But every night when I woke up, I saw her wide awake, her eyes getting darker and sadder, more desperate each day.
I thought she was waiting for Benjamin to give her an explanation. She wanted to escape from him but also hoped for him. Loving someone so deeply and then letting go was unimaginable pain. But being hurt so deeply, continuing was impossible.
This had left Mia stuck in limbo.
So, I needed to give her a push.
As expected, on the fourth evening after the heavy rain, Benjamin showed up.
The sunset that day was especially beautiful.
I was standing at the community gate, waiting for Mia to go out for dinner.
Just before 5:30, Mia showed up in a pink dress with Yancy.
I walked over, looking at Mia's pink dress, then at Yancy's matching shirt, and smirked, "Did you two plan to wear matching outfits?"
Mia, embarrassed, tried to pinch my waist, but I dodged. Yancy grinned, flashing those perfect white teeth, and said happily, "I was wearing white, but when I saw Mia in pink, I went out and bought this to match."
"Mia, what are you doing?" An angry shout suddenly cut through the air, startling everyone.
Mia's face went pale, her small body swaying, and the calm in her eyes shattered instantly.
I closed my eyes. What was meant to come had come.
Benjamin appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed Mia's wrist and pulled her to his side, glaring at Yancy like a wolf. "Mia, is this why you blocked me and haven't come home for two months?"
I was so mad I wanted to slap Benjamin!
Mia's already pale face turned even more ashen after hearing his words. She forced a sad smile, looking up at the Benjamin she had foolishly loved for years, her eyes filled with such disappointment that Benjamin couldn't bear to look and turned his head away.
She pulled her wrist back and rubbed it, speaking softly, "Not everyone is like you."
Benjamin, looking somewhat embarrassed, softened his tone. "That wasn't my intention. I can explain it to you. Mia, can we talk?"
Yancy exchanged a glance with me, silently confirming Benjamin's identity. I nodded to him.
"No need. We all have plans tonight. Whatever you want to say, say it here. They're all my friends; there's nothing you can't say in front of them."
"Mia, why make a scene? Can't we talk privately? Do you have to embarrass me like this?" Benjamin said, his face darkening with frustration.
Benjamin was in the wrong, yet he was still so aggressive.
Mia laughed coldly, her smile beautiful but icy.
Benjamin's words shattered the last bit of hope Mia had for him.
"If you don't want to talk, then I'm leaving. Goodbye forever." Mia said, walking away with such determination that it surprised me.
Maybe only when you were completely heartbroken could you leave so resolutely.
Mia finally understood that.
"Don't go." Benjamin chased after her, trying to grab her hand, but Yancy blocked him.
Benjamin, who had always had things go his way, was infuriated when Yancy blocked him. He glared at Yancy coldly. "What business is it of yours when I'm talking to my wife? If you don't want trouble, get lost."
Yancy, unfazed, stepped closer, shielding Mia behind him like a wall, protecting her completely.
Despite being a few years younger than Benjamin, Yancy's presence was not inferior; in fact, it seemed even better.
"Your wife? Show me the marriage certificate or the wedding ring. You don't have either, do you? So why are you calling her your wife? Who gave you that right?"
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Yancy wasn't afraid of Benjamin and seemed quite responsible.
Benjamin's face turned dark, his fists clenched tightly, and the cold light in his eyes could freeze someone. Despite this, he held back and didn't make a move.
Because Yancy was right; he had nothing to show.
He was in the wrong.
The so-called "wife" was just an excuse he used to shut others up when he needed.
"I'm here to see Mia. Move aside." Benjamin closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
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