Chapter 13

Since he left Valiant Lounge last night, Damian didn't want to return home. He kept pointing to the lounge, wanting to return because Shirley was still in there. After Benjamin dragged him home by force, Damian sulked and locked himself in his room. He didn't eat or drink anything. He didn't even come out the entire day. Therefore, Shirley could clearly feel that Benjamin's disdain for her was many times greater than yesterday. The cold air he gave off made a shiver run down her spine. Benjamin returned inside and felt someone tugging on his pants leg. He lowered his head and saw Damian's hand gripping his pants tightly. Damian lifted his head to face him and pointed outside the balcony with his other hand. He wanted Benjamin to bring him downstairs to see Shirley. Benjamin looked at Damian, who had finally quieted down. He bent down and squatted before him. His expressionless face softened as he asked, "You want to go downstairs?" Damian nodded. He stared at him with wide eyes. Benjamin didn't say anything. He just held his strong arms out and carried Damian up before heading out. Shirley had been standing around downstairs for a while. Thankfully, Blackwood Manor was huge. The banquet was lively and bustling, so no one noticed what was happening in that inconspicuous corner. However, Shirley quickly spotted a familiar face. She didn't expect Brook to come here, too! "Shirley, I knew you'd be here." Brook glanced over at her from a few feet away. Last night, the discussion with Wayne had fallen apart. Brook knew she'd come here today. To think she really showed up… Looking at Brook's dark expression, Shirley didn't know what to say. Brook walked over to her and said, "Come with me, Shirley. It's not too late yet." Shirley shook her head. "I'm not leaving. I can't leave." "Shirley, Benjamin's not a good person. He's…" "But I have no other choice." Shirley interrupted him before he could reply, "I can't settle this on my own. You can't, either. Not even your brother Cole can! I have no other choice. Megan and my parents are all counting on me. I have to do this." Brook's voice came to a stop. He suddenly hated how powerless he was. If he were the CEO of Gray Corporation, he would help her even if it meant losing everything. Unfortunately, he was not. He was simply the talentless second son of the Gray family. He had nothing except his identity. He couldn't help her. "I'll go look for Samuel." "Brook, get back here. If you still want me as your friend, don't look for him." Brook stopped in his tracks. He turned to face Shirley and saw her standing there with a determined expression. It was like she had cut all ties with Samuel overnight. Brook's heart stung. "Shirley, you and I know well that Sophia isn't suitable for Samuel. He's just making the wrong choice now, but he'll eventually return to you. The six years that you two spent together isn't replaceable." Brook knew that Shirley never had eyes for him. But still, he would rather have her return to Samuel's side than be with Benjamin. This was the woman he had loved. Even if he couldn't have her, he hoped that she could live in happiness. He couldn't bear to watch her fall into the arms of such a devil. Shirley didn't hesitate because of his words. "I don't know if he'll come back. What I do know is that I don't want to stand around waiting for him," she said. Back when Owen met with an accident, her heart had already been broken the moment Samuel chose to flee and leave her behind. She had done so much for him in those six years. Her parents even loved him like their own son. Even under these circumstances, Samuel tossed them aside without a single thought. How cruel could he be? Maybe Sophia really wasn't suitable for Samuel. But that was his own problem. He made the choice himself, so what did that have to do with her? "It's starting. I should head in." Hearing sounds coming from the hall, Shirley picked up her bag and looked at Brook one last time. "Brook, if I'm still your friend, don't bring Samuel up in front of me again regardless if I'm doing well or not." She didn't need his pity or his blessings. It was better to act like they didn't know each other. Watching Shirley's departing figure, Brook knew he couldn't stop her by himself. But, he couldn't just watch her be free from the cruel Samuel, only to jump into the devil's arms right after. He pulled out his phone and contacted Samuel in frustration. The phone rang for a long time before it got through. However, it was a woman's voice. "Hello? Are you looking for Samuel? Please hold on." Brook guessed that the woman who picked up the phone was Sophia. His expression darkened. After some time, Samuel's voice was heard on the phone. "Something the matter?" Samuel and Brook hadn't been in contact the whole week. Their relationship seemed to have fallen apart, just like Samuel and Shirley. Some things were clear to everyone but remained unspoken. Samuel's tone was distant and cold. Brook held back the anger inside him. "Where are you right now? I want to talk to you about Shirley…" Samuel interrupted him impatiently, "Brook, the two of us have already broken up. I have Sophia now. Stop bringing her up to me. I know you have feelings for her, so just go and stay by her side." Hearing that, Brook was furious. "Samuel Moore, are you even a man? Fine! If you don't care, then you'd better not regret it!" Brook hung up the phone in anger. Sophia lifted her head. Her pale complexion had become redder and clearer after resting for a week. "Samuel, who's that woman he was referring to?" she asked while forcing a smile. Samuel put away the phone along with the frustration in his heart. He lovingly ran his hand through Sophia's hair and said softly, "She was just an ex-girlfriend. Don't think too much about it. Sleep early now. We have a flight to catch tomorrow." "I'm… I'm afraid of the dark…" Sophia said in a delicate manner while blushing. … At Blackwood Manor, Shirley walked into the banquet hall. Right then, Isabelle Hawthorne, Benjamin's grandmother, stepped onto the stage with a big smile. She was a stout older woman who seemed incredibly kind and approachable. Rumor had it that Benjamin was harsh toward everyone in the Blackwood family but was especially respectful toward Isabelle. Isabelle was quite the comedian. She had only gone on stage for a few minutes, yet the crowd was already laughing heartily. Afterward, the names of Benjamin, Marcus Finch, and Derek Ashford were mentioned. The socialites present were in shock. Shirley herself didn't expect that the elders had invited the three youngest and richest people in all of Elderstone! Everyone at the banquet knew that Benjamin, Samuel, Cole, Marcus, and Derek were called Elderstone's Five Stars. These young upstarts were symbols of wealth and power in Elderstone. Not only did these five men have wealth, but even their looks were outstanding. Every woman in Elderstone had their eyes on them.