"You need to listen to me! Please, you need to!" Rita screeched the moment Ben stepped into the house the next morning. She practically threw herself at him, trying to flood his ears with her lies before he could breathe.
"She left you for a guy she barely knows! Don't listen to anything she says," Rita whined, her voice shaking as she tried to manipulate him.
Ella stood behind her closed door, hearing every word but staying perfectly still. She wanted to see Ben's choice without influence.
Ben grumbled loudly, rolling his shoulders back. "Hey, woman… I just got back, and the only way you can welcome me is with noise?"
He rubbed his forehead, frustrated. "I think it's time you leave. I've had enough."
Rita froze, stunned.
"And you—talking about Ella. What happened to her? Is she back?" Ben asked suddenly, his tone shifting as panic crept into his voice.
He marched to Ella's door.
Before he could knock, she opened it.
"Ella…" he muttered.
She didn't let him finish. She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him deeply and desperately, letting all the pain and longing melt into the moment.
"I've missed you, Ben," she whispered, cupping his cheeks as she stared into his eyes.
Then she muttered, "You're right. He's not good enough for me."
Ben's entire body tensed. His heart skipped. Those words burned into him, reigniting something he had tried to suffocate.
He swallowed hard. "What happened, Ella? I thought you praised him. Said he could never hurt you."
"Yes, I did," Ella muttered. "He never gave me a reason to doubt him. You can't blame me for trusting him. Besides…" She held his hands tightly. "You pushed me into this mess."
She sniffed, stepping back. "But if you don't want me, I'll leave."
Ben groaned, running his hand down his face. "I wish I could, Ella. I wish… but I've moved on with Rita."
Rita nearly choked on air when she heard that.
"Me?" she muttered, stunned.
Filled with excitement, she rushed toward him with a wide smile. "Oh baby, I love you," she said, kissing him right in front of Ella.
"I told you he's mine," she whispered wickedly as she dragged him toward her room.
The door closed.
Then—
"Get off me!" Ben barked, shoving her hands away.
Rita flinched. "I… I thought you said you wanted me instead of Ella?"
Ben snorted, crossing his arms. "So you think I would ever love you? In your dreams."
He walked out immediately, slamming the door behind him.
He headed to his room and locked himself inside, muttering, "I need to stay put. She's my weakness… and I won't let her use that against me again."
Meanwhile, Ella groaned in pain, holding her chest. Not because of Jasper. But because of Ben. Because of the way he pushed her away—again.
"Son… son, I need to talk to you," McDon said, barging into Ben's room like a storm ready to destroy anything in its path.
Ben exhaled sharply. "What do you want? I'm tired. I need rest."
McDon ignored him.
Ben groaned louder. "Now what?"
"I went to the property I wanted to acquire," McDon muttered. "But I met Maleek on my way."
Ben frowned. "Dad… who's Maleek?"
"I need to get rid of him," McDon hissed. "He mocked me in front of some low-lives. I thought he'd learn from what I did to him in th past, but clearly, he didn't."
Ben stared at him coldly. "Why are you telling me this? I don't know him. I'm not interested. I already told you—I won't get involved in your shady deals."
He opened the door. "If you'll excuse me, I need rest."
Ella hid quickly as they passed. But McDon saw the edge of her shadow.
"You…" he growled. "I know you from somewhere."
Ella turned with a soft smile, her hands crossed behind her.
"Sir, Do you need anything?"
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Ella."
"Ella what?" he barked, expecting her full name instantly.
"S—"
"Dad, it's late," Ben snapped. "We'll revisit this tomorrow."
He escorted him out.
When he returned, he muttered, "You need to be careful. He's more dangerous than you think."
Ella said nothing and walked to her room.
She paced up and down, whispering, "I need to do something fast."
She grabbed her wine bottle, poured a glass, sniffed it, and muttered, "Mmm… smells heavenly."
Her eyes widened as she whispered, "Cheers to me. I'm a step ahead… and there I'll stay."