Chapter 542 Are You So Interested in My Personal Affairs?
"Ms. Miller is truly a formidable woman, managing two conglomerates. Admirable," Benjamin commented.
"You're too kind, Mr. Harrington," Sarah replied, her smile barely concealing the chill of nerves that crept over her body. "It's all thanks to my colleagues."
Although her smile was proper, her fingernails dug deep into the palm of her hand where no one could see. Only the physical pain of her own skin breaking could calm the turmoil within her.
"Still new in town, I didn't have much to offer." Benjamin's inscrutable eyes were deep, leaving one to wonder his sincerity. "Just a token of my esteem, I hope Ms. Miller won't disdain it."
He gestured, and his assistant took two steps forward, placing a gift box on the coffee table. Though its contents were unknown, the packaging alone was high-class, befitting the Harrington family's reputation.
Sarah glanced at the box briefly before looking away.
"You're too generous, Mr. Harrington," she said, her voice trembling subtly as her fingers twisted tighter in her palm.
She was afraid of losing her composure under the watchful gaze of others, afraid she might rush towards him to embrace him or loudly demand answers: Where did he come from? Could he be Antonio?
Even though intellectually Sarah could distinctly feel the differences between them, the man sitting before her exuded a palpable aggression. If the business world were compared to a pack of competing wolves, Benjamin would certainly be the wolf standing tall and proud among his peers, ready to display his superiority and confidence at any given moment, commanding respect and a touch of fear.
Yet Antonio was different...
Sarah's mind wandered back to Antonio's tenderness and strength, recalling how he often went out of his way to bring a smile to her face with gestures completely unlike his usual demeanor.
Yet, despite his occasional jerk-like behavior, she couldn't shake the longing to have him back by her side.
Benjamin scrutinized the woman in front of him with a concealed curiosity, his eyes flickering with emotions that were hard to decipher. Although she maintained a good front, Benjamin could tell she was occasionally distracted.
"Ms. Miller, have we met before?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Their first meeting the day before had left Sarah behaving oddly. Originally, he had thought she was just shaken by his reputation, but now it seemed there was more to it.
Sarah hesitated, surprised by his directness. Gathering her courage, she met his gaze and asked, "This is the first time I have met you, Mr. Harrington. I was just curious... Were you living abroad up until now?"
Benjamin furrowed his brow at her question.
He certainly wasn't about to share his bout of amnesia after a car accident with a stranger; neither would his father use something as trivial as 'living abroad' as a lie.
"Of course, I've only recently returned to the States," he replied.
Sarah remembered James and the others mentioning this fact, but hearing it from Benjamin himself brought an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
She nodded subconsciously. "Indeed, Mr. Harrington's strategic prowess is impressive. To comprehend the domestic situation and achieve such remarkable success in such a short time is admirable.
"Your relationship with... your fiancée seems quite strong. Have you been together for a long time?"
The man across from her looked a bit startled, causing Sarah to panic internally, yet she managed to explain with a smile, "Mr. Harrington is quite the mystery, as everyone says. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity. If it's something you'd rather not discuss, please disregard my question."
Sarah silently berated herself for her lack of tact; inquiring about such private matters so directly violated social etiquette norms.
Benjamin's attractive fingers tapped a rhythm on his knee.
Unfazed by her question, he replied, "Yes, we've been childhood friends since we were young. You could say we're childhood sweethearts."
Sarah hadn't expected him to answer at all.
Upon hearing that, her heart skipped a beat with a sudden pang of pain.
Should she give up now?
He really wasn't Antonio.
How could Antonio possibly stand before her, nonchalantly discussing his exploits with other women?
Benjamin caught every shade of emotion passing through Sarah’s eyes.
For some reason, this woman's moods were infectious, and the complexity that shone in her eyes almost threw Benjamin's own heartbeat out of rhythm, like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
This uncontrollable feeling was irritating.
Benjamin lowered the leg he had been resting on the knee of the other and reached up to touch the scar at the corner of his eye, his expression souring. "Why is Ms. Miller so interested in my personal affairs?"
Sarah's smile was tinged with bitterness as she apologized, "I'm sorry..."
She hadn't meant to speak out, but she felt that her earlier comment had been somewhat impolite, and biting her lip, she added, "I was just reminded of... my husband. It was rude of me."
'Husband?'
Benjamin remembered hearing from Isabella that Sarah's husband had passed away.
For some reason, his displeasure deepened, and he sniffed disdainfully.
"Ms. Miller certainly has a striking talent for association." His tone held an absolute arrogance, scorn, and a superiority that looked down on everything from on high.
Sarah's hands, which were hanging at her sides, clenched tightly, "I’m sorry…"
"It's of no consequence."
Benjamin frowned and glanced at her, suddenly finding the whole conversation dull when his gaze drifted to Sarah's wrist. He raised an eyebrow. "At the party yesterday, I noticed Ms. Miller's bracelet was quite exquisite. Could you tell me the brand, if it's not too much trouble?"
Sarah's head shot up, her heart suddenly kindling with hope.
'He is asking about her bracelet... Could it be because…'
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