She would definitely keep her distance.

"You're... You're... a... pervert! You shameless man!" Audrey hissed, shrinking back into her seat, wishing she could disappear into it.

"Shameless, you say? Audrey, if I were truly shameless, I doubt..." he leaned in closer, a faint smirk playing on his lips. It was like she had unleashed something unexpected and now regretted it deeply. This was not the Benjamin she knew!

In the exaggerated silence, he reached out to touch her face, his thumb grazing her lower lip. She shuddered, shooting him a fierce glare.

"I doubt there would be much left of you..." His tongue darted out to lick his lips, making Audrey swallow nervously. Everything he did seemed to have a seductive edge... he could even make sin sound alluring...

Audrey cleared her throat, flustered by his boldness. She tried to avert her gaze, avoiding those eyes that seemed to draw her in.

"Mr. Devine, this is highly inappropriate... I'm engaged," she stammered, hoping that that reminder would make him back off. Surely a gentleman wouldn't pursue another man's fiancée. Never-

"Engaged. Not married," he stated flatly. "But it's kind of the same thing," she attempted to reason with him, extending her hand to push him away, but he grasped her wrist, reminding her of the night he arrived at the Morriston mansion, causing her distress.

"So, tell me, are you willing to marry that man in this lifetime as well?" He inquired. He knew that the woman's affairs had nothing to do with him, but he couldn't resist asking.

"No!" Audrey exclaimed, realizing she had come across too forcefully. Why on earth would she marry Cedric? She wasn't foolish enough to repeat the same mistake. She believed her rebirth had enlightened her about people. In this world, there was no one to trust. Everyone had their ambitions, and most of them would do whatever it took to climb to the top, even if it meant trampling on others. Simply put, she wouldn't let her guard down.

Benjamin chuckled softly, stepping away from the flushed woman. He distanced himself, creating a suitable gap between them. "Are you rejecting your fiancé just to appease my heart, Miss Morriston?"

"Your heart? I'm not sure you have one. You can be as jealous as you want, Mr. Devine. Men are all the same. I won't love you either. Don't even entertain the thought," Audrey blurted, absentmindedly toying with her fork. The man had confused her so much that she kept stabbing the table instead of the sausage in front of her!

"I'm not human to have such trivial emotions. But do tell me, if men are all the same, was I similar to your husband a few moments ago?" The corners of Benjamin's lips curled up carefully.

Audrey swiftly rose from her seat, snatching the invitation card that Benjamin had previously placed on the table. "Mr. Devine, farewell," she uttered sharply.

"Don't forget your second wish," he dutifully reminded her.

Audrey shot him a piercing glare, refusing to utter a word as she forcefully slammed the door and exited the room. As she stepped out of Mellow's Inn, Alfred appeared out of thin air. "Is Miss Morriston prepared to depart?" he inquired.

"No, I shall take a different carriage home," she declined. With Alfred's scrutinizing gaze and her flushed cheeks, he would undoubtedly suspect that something had occurred inside. She had to avoid this.

"Young master-"

"I do not wish to hear his name! I shall take a carriage home!" Audrey instantly refused, fully aware that Alfred possessed the power to persuade her into doing anything. Before Alfred could utter another word, Audrey dashed down the lane, swiftly turning left. She couldn't take any risks. Today, she had suffered more losses than she had anticipated.

Alfred remained standing there, perplexed, before returning to the carriage. Once he spotted Benjamin approaching, he opened the carriage door.

"Young master, she refused to allow us to escort her," Alfred explained, and Benjamin simply hummed, his face devoid of expression.

'Good. She will surely maintain her distance for the time being,' he pondered, before reclining further into his seat to rest.

"Young master, the king is acting against your words. He's going through with the plans from earlier," Alfred informed.

"He dares not," Benjamin whispered, "As I said, no one from the Clarista nobility would be spared. I'd do that myself. He shouldn't interfere."

Meanwhile, Audrey managed to enter a dress shop, wanting to choose a dress for the ball with the coins she had. Benjamin had paid for the food so she still owed him a favour. Accompanying him to the ball might be more simple than inviting him out to lunch. That man was a glutton!

Her cheeks heated up once again, recalling what he had done to her in the private room. He'd pay for it! Even if it was true that Cedric had never tried to stir her up like this, it didn't mean he had to use that as her weak point and seduce her! He was a devil! Ugh! Benjamin Devine! Curse you!

She took a step backwards, staring emptily at the dresses on the rack. She needed to bang her head somewhere. Her brain was soon to suffer a meltdown if she didn't.

"Sister?" She heard Genevieve's voice and immediately spun around like a thief caught in the act.

"Genevieve?" She murmured. Her gaze turned to the person accompanying her. She frowned, "Cedric?"

She must've forgotten... speak of the devil, and he shall appear...

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