- 5 hours ago
Three Years as His, Now I'm Mine
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00:00After hours of sex, At Benjamin finally collapsed onto me, his breathing heavy and racked.
00:06Then he rolled off and headed to the shower.
00:10When he emerged, I was still in bed, unable to move.
00:17Even after all this time, I still could not keep up with his stamina.
00:22Benjamin toweled off his damp hair, then hooked my underwear off the floor and tossed them to me.
00:31Pack your things and move out tomorrow. Don't ever come back.
00:36I froze, asking instinctively.
00:39Why?
00:40He lit a cigarette, his eyes filled with a tenderness and longing I had never seen before.
00:48She's coming back.
00:50I instantly knew who he meant. Emersoni, new senior out. His one true love.
00:57His eyes held a warmth that had never been meant for me.
01:02I could still feel the warmth of his body on my skin, but his words had already turned cold.
01:08I got dressed in silence.
01:11There was nothing left to say.
01:13I had already said too much over three years.
01:19I had been in this arrangement with Benjamin for three years.
01:23It started when I was just his secretary.
01:26After a few drinks at a banquet, we ended up in bed together.
01:30The first time he brought me here, he refused to let me stay the night.
01:35But his desire was unusually intense.
01:38Soon, he began to crave more.
01:42And started letting me stay.
01:45To the rest of the world, I was his most capable assistant, taking care of everything for him.
01:50In private, we were no different from a committed couple.
01:54Whether it was my birthday or a holiday, he would cancel every party just to be alone with me.
02:00I had grown so used to this life that I had started to imagine a future with him.
02:06But now, he told me not to come back anymore.
02:12In the height of passion, he had held me and murmured a name in a delirium.
02:18I only learned the truth later.
02:21It belonged to the one woman he loved but could never have.
02:25I could not stand the smell of smoke.
02:27My throat felt tight and haury.
02:31Is she moving in?
02:33Benjamin's face was blurred behind the smoke, though his voice remained gentle.
02:38She's not like you.
02:40She's not the type of woman who gives herself away so casually.
02:44I am just worried she will get the wrong idea if she sees your things when she visits.
02:50Honestly, she is so pure and innocent, she will not even let me kiss her.
02:56Let alone sleep with her.
02:59I finished the sentence for him in my head, fighting the sting in my eyes.
03:04I got out of bed and be gathering my clothed foes from the floor.
03:10There is no rush.
03:12Can you not stay until tomorrow?
03:18Benjamin walked over and buried his face in the kirk of my neck,
03:21his tone as affectionate as ever.
03:28I want you to make me that pasta again.
03:32My hands froze as I was folding my clothes.
03:35All right.
03:36I will make it for you.
03:39I turned on the stove.
03:41Once the water came to a boil, I dropped in the pasta.
03:47Once it was ready, I drained it, topped it with beef slices I had prepared myself.
03:53As at Benjamin ate, I went back to my packing.
03:58I had lived here for three years, yet everything I owned fit into a single suitcase.
04:05Mostly just my clothes.
04:07I did not take any of the kitchenware or household essentials.
04:11When I wheeled my suitcase into the living room,
04:14Benjamin Yeenan gestured toward the cabinet.
04:16You really liked that dinnerware set, did you not?
04:20I shook my head.
04:23There is no room for it in my suitcase.
04:27I was about to walk out the door when At Benjamin called out to me.
04:31His plate was nearly empty.
04:33He looked down, lit a cigarette, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
04:38At the office, we will maintain a professional relationship.
04:45But privately, you can still come to me if you ever need anything.
04:49I understood what he was implying.
04:51I simply nodded.
04:55All right.
05:01I dragged my suitcase out, hailed a taxi, and returned to my apartment alone.
05:06It was already two in the morning, far too late to ask anyone for help.
05:10I quickly cleared a small space and lay down.
05:14I was completely exhausted.
05:16I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
05:20But strangely enough, I kept dreaming about the days when I first met Benjamin.
05:26Back then, he was the untouchable head of the Kilbreed group.
05:30And I was just one of his many assistants.
05:37My first real encounter with him happened at a gala.
05:41The executive assistant had an emergency and asked me to fill in to accompany Benjamin.
05:49After several rounds of drinks, a business partner suddenly turned his attention to me.
05:56Mrs. Tildy, refusing to drink with me is a real slap in the face.
06:02I had not yet learned how to navigate situations like that and froze on the spot.
06:08I am sorry.
06:10I am allergic to alcohol.
06:13The man's face darkened.
06:15Instantly.
06:16The entire room went silent.
06:19Trembling.
06:20I picked up the glass, prepared to drain it.
06:23I figured the worst that could happen was a trip to the ER.
06:27But halfway there, a hand stopped me.
06:32Benjamin's profile was partially lost in the shadows.
06:35He gave a faint smile.
06:39Mr. Reggett, why pick on a young lady?
06:42I will take this one for her.
06:45I watched him drink for me that night and thought he was the most impressed man I had ever met.
06:54I stared blankly as At Benj Benjamin finished glass after glass offered to him.
07:00His face flushed and his eyes grew glassy.
07:05I later learned that Benjamin had just taken over the company back then.
07:10Plenty of people were looking for an excuse to push him out.
07:14After that night, I made it my mission to learn how to handle those events.
07:19When the executive assistant jumped ship,
07:23Benjamin promoted me.
07:25I became his personal secretary, managing everything for him.
07:31The night we first slept together, he was completely wasted.
07:35He kept murmuring a name in a delirium, his voice thick with sorrow.
07:41My heart went out to him.
07:43I could not help but reach out and hold him.
07:47Everything just happened naturally after that.
07:50It was not until much later that I realized that day had been Emerson's birthday.
07:56I thought that night meant something.
07:58It did.
07:59Just not the same thing to both of us.
08:02To him, I was a replacement.
08:05To me, he was everything.
08:10The next morning, I was jolted awake early by a call from Benjamin.
08:18Come over and drive me to the airport.
08:22He hung up before I could even get a word in.
08:26I had not slept well.
08:28My pillow was still damp when I woke up.
08:30I rubbed my throbbing temples,
08:33got ready,
08:34and headed out.
08:36On the way, my family called.
08:39My mother's voice was cautious.
08:43Jenny, are you coming home for the holidays this year?
08:47The quiet expectation in her aging voice made my throat tighten.
08:52Mom, I will be home next week.
08:57She sounded like she could not quite believe it.
09:00Really?
09:01For the past three years,
09:03I had spent every holiday at Benjamin's place.
09:06I nodded firmly.
09:11Mom, I am coming home.
09:13After hanging up,
09:15I submitted my resignation through the company portal.
09:18I could hear the hope in my mother's voice.
09:20It had been three years since I last heard it.
09:23I had been so busy being his that I forgot how to be mine.
09:29I climbed into the familiar black Audi.
09:32At Benjamin was already in the back seat.
09:35The car moved smoothly toward the airport.
09:40Not a single word was spoken the entire way.
09:44As we neared the terminal,
09:46his voice drifted from the back.
09:48You left something at my place.
09:50It was the matching sweater I had bought for Valentine's Day that year.
09:54I had worn the women's version.
09:56Benjamin had worn the men's.
09:58We had spent the whole day out together,
10:00acting like a real couple.
10:01For one brief day,
10:03I had had him all to myself.
10:08I took a deep breath.
10:11My voice flat.
10:14Just throw it away.
10:16Benjamin fell silent.
10:18Before long,
10:19he was leading Emerson back to the car.
10:23She was wearing a plush white coat
10:25over a Shilfan dress.
10:27Her eyes were large,
10:28clear,
10:29and utterly captivating.
10:31It was easy to see
10:33why she was the first love
10:34he could never get over.
10:36I watched Emerson walk toward the car,
10:39and I felt nothing.
10:41Not jealousy.
10:43Not anger.
10:45Just a quiet, tired acceptance.
10:53Immersion looped her arm through At Benjamin's
10:56and gave me a playful look.
10:58Jenny.
11:00Would you mind helping me with my bags?
11:04Benjamin acted as if he had not heard a thing.
11:07I shot her a brief glance,
11:09then got out of the car without a word.
11:12I knew women traveled with a lot of gear,
11:15but I had not expected Emerson to show up
11:18with five massive suitcases.
11:20I used every ounce of my strength
11:23to heave them into the trunk.
11:25By the time I was done,
11:27my hands were shaking
11:28and aching.
11:31The moment I got back inside,
11:33the lively chat-it-in-the-back street
11:34stopped instantly.
11:36Benjamin pulled out a pack of cigarettes
11:38and started to take one out.
11:41Then he hesitated
11:42and put it back.
11:51Ben, you still have not quit smoking.
11:57You know how much I hate the smell of smoke.
12:01Benjamin immediately tucked his cigarettes away
12:04and ruffled her hair.
12:10Ben, you still have no idea.
12:11Marco and the guys rented out a place
12:12to celebrate your homecoming.
12:14Do you want to go?
12:16Absolutely.
12:17Emerson nodded.
12:19Then she turned to me with wide eyes.
12:22Jenny,
12:23why do not you come too?
12:27I pressed my lips together,
12:29ready to decline.
12:31But at Benjamin cut in.
12:33Emmy just got back.
12:35Do not ruin the mood.
12:37In the end,
12:38I went anyway.
12:42The moment we walked in,
12:44at Benjamin's inner circle
12:45crowded around them.
12:47Led by his friend Marco,
12:48the group started teasing them immediately.
12:50The guest of honor is finally back.
12:52All these years you have been gone.
12:54Ben has been like a man possessed.
12:56You are back to get hitched, huh?
12:58When is the big day?
13:00Emerson buried her face shyly
13:02against Benjamin's chest.
13:03He laughed,
13:04playfully scolding them.
13:06When there is good news to share,
13:07you will be the first to know.
13:11The room was full of laughter,
13:13but none of it reached me.
13:15I sat at the edge of the table,
13:18invisible as always.
13:21The two of them were ushered
13:23into the private room
13:24surrounded by the crowd.
13:26When at Marco spotted me trailing behind,
13:29his expression shifted to awkwardness.
13:34Miss,
13:35Miss Tilmy,
13:36you are here too?
13:39Come on in,
13:40please.
13:43Emerson remained cold
13:45and abrasive towards me
13:47throughout the entire meal.
13:49Marco poured her
13:50a glass of fruit wine
13:51with a smile.
13:53Emmy,
13:54since it is your first day back,
13:56do me a favor
13:57and have a drink with me.
14:02Do not you know
14:04she is allergic
14:05to alcohol?
14:07Marco scratched his head,
14:10looking completely confused.
14:13Emerson's face darkened.
14:15I am not allergic to alcohol.
14:19Benjamin froze mid-motion,
14:21his wine glass still raised.
14:26Is that so?
14:27I must have misremembered.
14:29Emerson turned and noticed
14:31the juice in my glass.
14:33Her expression soured further.
14:36Marco did not know
14:37that the allergy
14:37Benjen remembered was mine,
14:39not Emerson's.
14:42Benjamin had confused us.
14:44I was not sure
14:45if that made it better or worse.
14:50Why is Jenny not drinking?
14:53Emerson lifted her glass
14:54and tilted her head.
14:56You are not unhappy
14:58that I am back,
14:59are you?
15:01I glanced at Benjamin.
15:02He was staring straight at me,
15:04his lips parting slightly
15:06as he spoke.
15:07Genevieve Tilley,
15:08just have one drink.
15:09Do not ruin the mood
15:10for everyone.
15:11I took a deep breath,
15:13picked up the glass
15:14of red wine,
15:15and had drained it
15:16in one go.
15:19The room immediately
15:20erupted into cheers.
15:23Soon,
15:24a rash broke out
15:25all over my body,
15:26spreading in a thick crawl
15:27up at my neck.
15:29Someone spotted it
15:31and gasped in alarm.
15:33Oh my God!
15:34You are having
15:35an allergic reaction!
15:37Benjamin glanced over
15:38indifferently,
15:39his tone ice cold.
15:42She will be fine.
15:44It is not like
15:44she is going to die.
15:48The rash spread
15:49across my skin,
15:51burning and itchy.
15:55But the physical pain
15:56was pimping with
15:57the physical for nothing
15:58compared to the coldness
15:59in his voice.
16:01She will be fine.
16:03It is not like
16:04she is going to die.
16:06The dinner dragged on.
16:08After a few more rounds,
16:10one of Benjamin's friends
16:11sighed.
16:12Ben,
16:13you are as loyal
16:14as they come.
16:16Emmy left so suddenly
16:17back then,
16:19and you still waited
16:20three years for her.
16:22Marco,
16:23who was clearly drunk,
16:25slung an arm
16:26over Benjamin's shoulder.
16:27I actually thought you
16:29and Genevieve
16:30might end up together.
16:32You two have been
16:33inseparable
16:34these last three years.
16:36Emerson stared
16:37straight at me,
16:38the malice plain
16:39in her eyes.
16:41Jenny,
16:42is there some other
16:43side to you
16:44I do not know about,
16:45besides being
16:46Ben's secretary?
16:47Benjamin raised
16:48an eyebrow.
16:49Genevieve,
16:50why do not
16:51you tell everyone?
16:52What exactly
16:53are we to each other?
16:55I let out a short laugh,
16:56as if I had just
16:57heard something ridiculous.
16:59Mr. Kilbreast and I
17:01are strictly
17:02boss and employee.
17:04I told them
17:05we were nothing.
17:06I was protecting
17:07what little dignity
17:08I had left.
17:10Benjamin looked at me
17:11like he expected
17:11me to say more.
17:13I stayed silent.
17:16I had already
17:17said too much.
17:20By the time
17:21dinner ended,
17:22Benjamin was
17:23completely wasted.
17:25In his drunken haze,
17:27he instinctively
17:28reached for me,
17:29his voice soft
17:31and pleading.
17:33Genevieve,
17:35will you take me home?
17:39He leaned
17:40against my shoulder,
17:41nuzzling into my neck
17:42like he was desperate
17:43for affection.
17:45Do you really think
17:46we are only...
17:47Do you have any idea
17:50I did not catch the rest.
17:53A second later,
17:54At Benjamin was
17:55yanked away from me.
17:59Emerson stood there
18:00like she was guarding
18:01her territory,
18:02propping At Benjamin up
18:04as she glared at me.
18:07Jenny,
18:09since you are just
18:10his employee,
18:11you should keep
18:12your distance
18:13from a man
18:14who is already engaged.
18:16Otherwise,
18:17people might start
18:19to talk,
18:19do you not think?
18:20I nodded,
18:21my face a mask
18:22of indifference.
18:25You are absolutely
18:26right.
18:28I watched
18:29Emerson lead him
18:30away and realized
18:31I was already
18:31a ghost in his world.
18:33It was time for me
18:34to disappear completely.
18:38For a week,
18:39aside from work,
18:41Benjamin and I
18:41had no private
18:42contact at all.
18:44My resignation
18:45was approved quickly
18:47through the company portal.
18:48The final step
18:49only required
18:50Benjamin's signature.
18:52I printed a hard copy,
18:54walked into his office,
18:56and handed the letter
18:56to him.
18:57He was on a call,
18:59his voice
19:00unusually gentle.
19:02Without even glancing
19:03at the paper,
19:04he signed his name
19:05in a few quick strokes.
19:06I turned to leave,
19:08but he stopped me.
19:09I am proposing
19:11to Emmy tonight.
19:12Leave early this afternoon
19:14to go set up the venue.
19:15Benjamin leaned back
19:16in his leather seat
19:17and calmly gave the order.
19:19I nodded to show
19:20I understood.
19:21Is there anything else?
19:22He stared at me steadily,
19:24as if searching my face
19:26for some other emotion.
19:27But eventually,
19:29he looked away.
19:32Signing my resignation
19:33felt heavier
19:34than signing a divorce paper
19:35I never had.
19:39Three years of my life
19:41condensed into
19:42a single sheet of paper.
19:48I left work an hour early
19:50headed to the address
19:51Benjamin had given me.
19:52After three years together,
19:54I knew his preferences
19:56like the back of my hand.
19:59I never imagined
20:00the last thing
20:01I would ever do for him
20:02would be arranging
20:03his proposal.
20:04I spent an hour
20:06setting up the venue
20:06and planned to head out
20:07immediately.
20:12Unexpectedly,
20:13I ran into Emerson.
20:14The moment she saw me,
20:16she looked overjoyed,
20:18as if she had completely
20:19forgotten
20:20our unpleasant encounter.
20:21She linked her arm
20:22through mine affectionately,
20:24acting like we were
20:25the best of friends.
20:26Jenny,
20:27thank goodness
20:27you are here.
20:28I need to get into my dress.
20:30Could you help me?
20:32I had no real reason
20:33to refuse,
20:34so I agreed.
20:36I arranged roses
20:38and candles
20:38for his proposal
20:39to another woman.
20:41Every flower I placed
20:42felt like a nail
20:43in my own coffin.
20:48I followed Emerson
20:50to the dressing room.
20:51She stepped into the gown
20:52Benjamin had instructed me
20:54to pick up
20:54from the bridal shop.
20:56It was stunning,
20:58absolutely breathtaking.
20:59I remembered
21:00when that dress
21:01first debuted.
21:02I had stared
21:03at the magazine
21:03for hours.
21:05When Aunt Benjamin
21:07had seen it,
21:08he had said,
21:09Do you like it that much?
21:11I will buy it for you.
21:12I never imagined
21:14that just six months later,
21:16that very dress
21:17would be on Emerson.
21:20Jenny,
21:21how does it look?
21:23Emerson had pale skin,
21:24and in that dress,
21:26she seemed to glow.
21:28It is beautiful.
21:30Emerson lifted the hem
21:31of her skirt
21:32and walked toward me gracefully,
21:34a faint smile
21:35on her lips.
21:36Too bad,
21:37beautiful things
21:38are always coveted
21:40by those
21:40who do not own them.
21:42That dress
21:43was supposed to be mine.
21:45I had been saving
21:46a picture of it
21:47on my phone for months.
21:49Now it was hers.
21:53Along with everything else
21:55I had wanted.
21:58Being with Ben
21:59for three years,
22:00you actually thought
22:01he would end up with you,
22:02did you not?
22:03What a shame.
22:04Ben still cannot forget me.
22:07All your effort
22:08over the last three years
22:09was for nothing.
22:12I froze.
22:14So she knew everything.
22:16But I quickly regained
22:17my composure.
22:18Whatever I had with Benjamin
22:20had been mutual.
22:21I was never a homewrecker.
22:23Emerson acting like a jealous wife
22:25was simply ridiculous.
22:27I pulled myself up
22:28to my full height
22:29and looked at her
22:30with a faint smile.
22:32How can a mutual relationship
22:34be called a waste of effort?
22:37For the past three years
22:39I have had a handsome partner
22:41with incredible stamina
22:43for free.
22:45Who is to say
22:47who really lost out?
22:49Emerson's eyes
22:50instantly flared with rage.
22:52She lunged
22:53raising her hand
22:53to slap me.
22:54Bitch!
22:56You shameless bitch!
22:58I blocked her easily
23:00twisting her arm
23:01behind her back.
23:07I refused to let her
23:09see me break.
23:10I had already broken enough
23:12in private.
23:13If she wanted a fight
23:15she would get one.
23:22Resorting to violence
23:23because you are losing
23:24an argument?
23:25Who taught you that?
23:30Emerson suddenly
23:31wrenched her hand free
23:32a sly
23:33triumphant smile
23:34spreading across her lips.
23:36Who do you think
23:37Benjamin will believe
23:39in a minute?
23:40You or me?
23:42Before I knew it
23:43Emerson pulled a pair
23:45of scissors
23:45out of nowhere
23:46and began violently
23:47hacking at her dress.
23:52Jenny
23:52even if I offended you
23:54you did not have
23:55to do this.
23:56She whimpered
23:57in a piddle voice.
24:00I froze for a slip second
24:01and then it clicked.
24:03This was all a performance.
24:07Emerson ripped the gown
24:08to shreds
24:09threw the scissors
24:09to the floor
24:10and then slapped herself
24:11hard across the face.
24:16Help!
24:17Jenny please
24:18do not do this to me!
24:20I stepped forward
24:20pinned her skirt
24:22down with my foot
24:23and slapped her
24:23across the face.
24:26The sharp crack
24:27of the slap
24:28echoed through the room.
24:30I watched her destroy
24:31that beautiful dress
24:32and realized
24:33she would do anything
24:34to win.
24:35But I was no longer
24:37playing her game.
24:40Emerson
24:40was completely stunned
24:42looking up at me
24:43in pure disbelief.
24:45You hit me?
24:46How dare you hit me?
24:49I gave a curt
24:50nod of approval.
24:51That is better.
24:52Your acting before
24:54was way too over the top.
24:55Flurry of frantic
24:56footsteps
24:57sounded from behind
24:58followed by
24:59Benjamin's furious roar.
25:01Genevieve!
25:03What the hell
25:04are you doing?
25:05Emerson tried
25:06to lunge
25:07toward at Benjamin
25:08dragging her
25:09tattered dress
25:09behind her.
25:11I stepped forward
25:12again,
25:13pinning her skirt
25:13back down.
25:16I grabbed her
25:17by the hair
25:17and delivered
25:18a hard slap
25:19to both sides
25:19of her face.
25:21This time,
25:22Emerson's tears
25:23were real.
25:24She looked so fragile
25:25and broken
25:26that anyone
25:27would have felt
25:28a surge of pity.
25:30Benjamin
25:30completely lost it.
25:32Apologize
25:33to Amersi.
25:35Now!
25:36Why should I apologize?
25:38I did not
25:39do anything wrong.
25:40I wrenched
25:41my hand
25:41from his grip
25:42and lunged
25:43at the sobbing
25:44Emerson again.
25:47I slapped
25:48her twice more
25:49before roughly
25:50tearing the
25:51tattered remains
25:52of the dress
25:52right off her body.
25:56You wanted it,
25:57Strutted!
25:57Let me help you!
25:59With her only cover
26:00ripped away,
26:01Emerson screamed
26:02in terror.
26:02A crowd had already
26:04gathered outside the door,
26:05leaving her
26:06with nowhere to hide.
26:07Benjamin grabbed
26:08my hand in a blind rage
26:09and slapped me
26:10across the face.
26:13Are you finished?
26:15Who do you think
26:16you are to lay
26:17a fender on Emmy?
26:18You are nothing
26:19but my employee.
26:21What makes you
26:22think you matter?
26:23I am telling you
26:24one last time!
26:26Apologize!
26:27It had been
26:28a long time
26:28since At Benjamin
26:29had spoken to me
26:31in such a cold,
26:32brutal tone.
26:33tears stung my eyes
26:35but I forced them back,
26:37refusing to let
26:38a single one fall.
26:39I lifted my foot
26:40and kicked him
26:41hard in the shin.
26:43Go to hell
26:44with your apology!
26:46I pushed through
26:47the crowd
26:48and ran as fast
26:49as I could.
26:52I ran until
26:53my lungs burnt
26:54and my legs
26:54gave out.
26:59I did not look back.
27:01I was never going back.
27:05I contacted
27:06the venue manager
27:07and pulled the
27:08surveillance footage
27:09from the dressing room.
27:10I cast it
27:11onto the venue's
27:12big screen
27:13for everyone to see.
27:17I packed my things
27:18overnight
27:19and booked a flight
27:20back to my hometown.
27:25Before boarding,
27:26I checked my phone
27:27one last time.
27:30Benjamin had posted
27:31a new update
27:32on Instagram.
27:33It was as a photo
27:34of Emerson's hand
27:36wearing a ring.
27:37The caption
27:37was simple.
27:38Hello, Mrs. Kilbreth.
27:40I blocked him.
27:41Then I stepped
27:42onto the plane
27:43and went home.
27:46I had not been home
27:47for the holidays
27:48in three years.
27:50All because I wanted
27:51to keep Benjamin company.
27:55When my parents
27:56saw me,
27:56they were overjoyed.
27:59a wave of bitterness
28:00welled up inside me.
28:03Being loved
28:04feels like finally
28:04having a place
28:05to lean on.
28:07The surveillance footage
28:09played like a movie
28:10in reverse.
28:12Everyone saw the truth.
28:14Whether they believed it
28:15was up to them.
28:17I was done caring
28:18about what anyone thought.
28:22I bought new clothes
28:23for my parents,
28:24took them into town
28:25for holiday shopping,
28:26and decorated the house.
28:28The small town
28:29was already buzzing
28:30with festive spirit.
28:32Caught up
28:33in the atmosphere,
28:34I felt a genuine
28:36sense of peace
28:37for the first time
28:38in a long while.
28:45During this time,
28:46Benjamin sent me
28:47dozens of friend requests
28:48and messages.
28:51Since when did you resign?
28:56Who gave you
28:57permission to quit?
29:00Emmy might have acted
29:01impulsively that day,
29:02but she did not
29:03mean any harm.
29:04Do not be so petty.
29:06I have forgiven you.
29:08Reply when you see this.
29:12I did not accept
29:13a single request.
29:15He called me repeatedly,
29:16but I never picked up once.
29:18As time passed,
29:20the messages stopped coming.
29:25But on Christmas Eve,
29:27I received a call
29:28from an unknown number.
29:29At first,
29:30there was only silence
29:31on the other end.
29:32Then Benjamin Zinn's
29:34anxious voice came through.
29:35Don't hang up.
29:36It is me.
29:39Christmas lights
29:40twinkled in the small town.
29:42People smiled at each other
29:44on the street.
29:45For the first time
29:46in three years,
29:47I felt like I was home.
29:51I heard you went back
29:53to your hometown
29:53for the holidays.
29:54His voice was low,
29:56as if he were struggling
29:57to hold something back.
29:59It reminded me
30:00of the first year
30:01I spent the holidays
30:01with him in Houston.
30:04Benjamin was an illegitimate son.
30:06He was not brought
30:07into the family
30:08until after his mother
30:09passed away.
30:10That year,
30:12he had been locked
30:12in a brutal power struggle
30:14for control of the company.
30:16His mother was gone.
30:17He had burned every bridge
30:19with his family.
30:21He had no one
30:22to spend the holidays with.
30:24On Christmas Eve,
30:25I had made a video call to him.
30:27He looked drunk,
30:28drinking alone
30:29on the balcony.
30:30He was a clingy drunk,
30:32his voice unusually soft.
30:35Merry Christmas, Genevieve.
30:38It is so quiet
30:40without you here.
30:42Please come back soon.
30:44I miss you so much.
30:46I never expected
30:48he would be
30:48still inking of me this year,
30:50with Emerson back
30:51by his side.
30:54I snapped back to reality
30:56and kept my voice steady.
30:58Yeah, I have not home
30:59for the holidays in years.
31:01He paused for a moment,
31:03then asked,
31:04Are you coming back
31:05after the break?
31:07Before I could answer,
31:09I heard a woman's voice
31:10faintly in the background.
31:12Ben,
31:13can you get my coat?
31:14I forgot it.
31:14I have to go.
31:15Benjamin said hersily.
31:17The line went dead.
31:19Outside the window,
31:20fireworks erupted,
31:21brilliant against the night sky.
31:24The holiday specials on TV
31:25were getting more boring.
31:27My mom glanced over at me.
31:28Our neighbor's daughter
31:29is expecting her second child
31:31this year.
31:32At Jenny,
31:33when are you going to bring
31:34a boyfriend home?
31:36When I did not push back,
31:38she pulled out her phone
31:40and kept going.
31:41Why do not you meet up
31:43with this guy
31:43while you are still in town?
31:45This time,
31:46I did not refuse.
31:49Sure.
31:50Set up a time for us to meet.
31:51I heard Emerson's voice
31:53in the background
31:53and realized nothing had changed.
31:55I was still the one
31:56on the outside,
31:57looking in.
32:00It was time to stop looking.
32:02Time to walk away for good.
32:07On the third day of the break,
32:09I met the man
32:10my mother had arranged for me.
32:12He was based in Houston,
32:14came from a well-off family,
32:16and was charming.
32:19I am at Caden Mansfield.
32:22He held out his hand,
32:23his eyes bright with interest.
32:25We both had a good first impression.
32:28Our parents seemed
32:29even more pleased.
32:32I never expected
32:34Aunt Benjamin
32:34to suddenly show up
32:35and crash the date.
32:39He plopped down
32:41right next to me.
32:43Caden looked over,
32:44confused.
32:45And who is this?
32:47I am her boss.
32:48Benjamin stated.
32:50I corrected him immediately.
32:52Former boss.
32:54I already resigned.
32:56Genevieve,
32:56I am not accepting
32:58your resignation.
32:59Benjamin stared at me
33:00intently,
33:01his gaze firm
33:02and unyielding.
33:04Caden offered
33:05a polite smile.
33:07Maybe we should talk
33:09another time,
33:09when you are free.
33:11Despite at Benjamin's
33:12murderous glare,
33:13I exchanged contact info
33:15with Caden
33:16before he left.
33:22I know you are only
33:23doing this to make me jealous.
33:26I will make
33:27Emmy apologize to you.
33:28Can you just forgive her
33:30and forgive me too?
33:31I am done with her.
33:33I thought I could
33:34never let go of her,
33:35but the truth is...
33:37Benjamin gripped my shoulders
33:38with both hands,
33:40his words tumbling out
33:41in a desperate rush.
33:42I cut him off,
33:44my voice cold as ice.
33:47Benjamin,
33:48we were never anything
33:49more than a boss
33:50and his employee.
33:52Do not make this
33:53more complicated
33:54than it is.
33:55You are engaged
33:56to Emerson.
33:58Let us not drag this out.
34:00It is better for everyone
34:02if we just move on.
34:03Suddenly,
34:04Benjamin pulled out a ring
34:05and dropped to one knee.
34:07I am serious about us, Jenny.
34:11I was an idiot.
34:14I did not know
34:15how to cherish
34:15what we had,
34:16but I see it now.
34:18Let us get married.
34:20We can go to Bali,
34:22your favorite place.
34:23I slapped the ring
34:25out of his hand.
34:28Benjamin,
34:29you are being a nuisance.
34:32I do not have
34:33any feelings left for you.
34:35I am begging you,
34:36stop haunting me.
34:38You are only making me sick.
34:44After the holidays,
34:46my relationship with Caden
34:47naturally fell into place.
34:50We eventually reached
34:51the point of discussing marriage.
34:53I had not seen Benjamin
34:55in over six months.
34:57Strangely enough,
34:58the man I once thought
35:00I would spend
35:00the rest of my life with
35:02now felt like a stranger.
35:04I only heard news of him again
35:06through a former colleague.
35:08Mr. Kilbreath
35:10called off the wedding
35:12to Emerson.
35:13Nobody knows
35:14why he pulled the plug.
35:15I simply smiled,
35:17my heart completely still.
35:20At the end of the year,
35:22Caden asked
35:23if I would accompany him
35:24to a corporate summit.
35:26I never expected
35:27to run into
35:28at Benjamin there.
35:30After a year apart,
35:32he had grown much thinner.
35:34His presence felt
35:35more settled.
35:36When he saw me,
35:37he walked over.
35:41Long time no see.
35:46Benjamin followed my gaze
35:47toward Caden in the distance.
35:50his face darkened.
35:54I thought you were not
35:55serious about him.
35:56My smile remained unchanged.
35:58I never play games
36:00with people's feelings.
36:02Benjamin finally lost
36:04his composure.
36:06I thought giving you a year
36:07would help you understand.
36:09I was wrong back then.
36:12The truth is,
36:13I have always loved you.
36:14I cut him off,
36:15lifting my hand
36:16to show him
36:17the diamond ring
36:17on my finger.
36:19I am getting married.
36:21For a moment,
36:23at Benjamin looked
36:24like he was falling apart.
36:25No way!
36:26He shouted.
36:27You were so happy
36:29when we were together.
36:30How could you possibly?
36:32He made such a scene
36:33that everyone nearby
36:34turned to stare.
36:37Caden walked over,
36:38stepping beside me.
36:40Benjamin threw a punch
36:41at his face.
36:42I screamed.
36:44Benjamin, are you crazy?
36:46I quickly stepped
36:47in front of Caden.
36:49Fortunately,
36:50he was not seriously injured.
36:53I took Caden's hand
36:54and turned to leave.
36:56Benjamin did not
36:56chase after us.
36:58The rest of the summit
36:59went smoothly.
37:02I did not run
37:03into Benjamin again.
37:05As we drove away,
37:07I saw him in the rearview mirror,
37:09slowly bending over,
37:12clutching something
37:13to his chest.
37:13I looked away
37:15and took Caden's hand.
37:18It is finally over.
37:20He squeezed my hand back.
37:24Yeah.
37:26It is all over.
37:27Life is long,
37:29but Benjamin was only
37:30ever a passing figure.
37:32My future was waiting for me
37:34in the days that lay ahead.
37:35It was over.
37:35Sure.
37:37No.
37:38No.
37:38No.
37:39No.
37:40No.
37:40No.
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