I Once Married You (Harper and Benjamin)

Pitiful Soul

Their supposed care always ended up shouldering her with all the blame.

They pushed her to apologize to Benjamin out of concern.

It was all just because they cared too much.

No matter what she said or did, they ultimately dumped all the responsibility on her under the pretext of caring, so the blame always circled back to her.

Harper couldn't help but want to laugh.

But she'd grown accustomed to this kind of situation long ago. With a wry smile in her heart, she casually asked, "Since this has nothing to do with me, can I leave now?"

They turned to Benjamin for a response, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on Harper. Not knowing what else to do, they fell silent, too.

Harper pursed her lips lightly and turned to leave.

Benjamin narrowed his eyes slightly and stood up. Jack tried to stop him, intending to discuss company matters, but Benjamin didn't give him the chance. He simply bypassed Jack and walked outside. When Benjamin emerged, Harper was already opening the car door to leave. He reached out and stopped her from getting in, his warm gaze fixed on her. "Leaving without even saying a word to me?" Harper turned to meet his gaze, their proximity making the air crackle. She met his gaze evenly and said, "Thanks for standing up for me, and sorry you had to witness all this drama."

Benjamin reached out and lifted her chin, his voice low. "Is that all you have to say?"Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

Harper stared at him, puzzled and silent.

Benjamin snorted lightly, fixing her with a steady gaze. His eyes held a storm of emotions, intense and probing. He spoke softly but with an edge. "Why didn't you react to their accusations? Where's that attitude you usually have towards me? Harper, do you think I'm someone you can just push around?"

She tried to avoid his gaze. "No."

"If it's not, then why didn't you stand up for yourself? Where's that confidence you always have with me?" He persisted.

Harper stayed silent.

Benjamin continued, "Do you realize you're like a pitiful soul just now?"

Harper's eyes widened as she met Benjamin's gaze. Her voice was barely audible. "So now you're going to bully me too?"

Benjamin chuckled dryly, "If I wanted to bully you, would you still be standing here in one piece?"

Harper said nothing because she knew he was right. If Benjamin had played along earlier, her parents would likely have pressured her into apologizing to him by now.

Benjamin released her chin and gently pinched her cheek, his voice low as he asked, "Look at how you're treated without me. Harper, even in this situation, are you still set on divorcing me?"

Harper lowered her gaze, a strange feeling stirring in her heart.

It was hard to put into words.

His words reminded her once again that without him, she would be nothing. As long as she remained Benjamin's wife, no one would dare to mistreat her or challenge her easily. But once she ceased to be his wife, situations like this would become more common.

She said, "Benjamin, are you defending me to make me change my mind about the divorce?"

Benjamin simply looked at her calmly. Harper continued, "But don't you think our relationship has never been influenced by external factors?"

Benjamin's eyes darkened, a deep, enigmatic intensity swirling within them. His voice was low and detached. "Whatever the reasons may be, it doesn't matter. I only want to know one thing. Are you determined to divorce me no matter what?"