The Mistakes We Made Together

Chapter 15: Prevent

Emma frowned slightly. Illness had left her tired, her eyelids drooping as she looked at Benjamin.

Benjamin acted as if he didn't see her expression. It was an ordinary mercury thermometer, he unscrewed the plastic cap and tossed it onto the bedside table, then held out his other hand to her. His face and eyes were completely neutral, showing no tenderness at all.

Emma knew he probably wanted her to extend her arm so he could tuck the thermometer under her armpit.

But she didn't want him to. After staring at him for two seconds, her voice hoarse, she held out her hand, gesturing for him to give her the thermometer. “I'll do it myself.”

Benjamin stared into her eyes, letting out a silent laugh. He pulled the thermometer out of its plastic case, letting the case clatter onto the bedside table, and handed it to her.

Emma took it, hooked her pajama top with her left hand, pulled it aside slightly, and tucked the thermometer under her armpit.

The room was quiet. Benjamin hadn't said a word since he came in. After handing her the thermometer, he had bowed his head to look at his phone. The light was dim, and the cold white glow of the screen cast shadows on his face, making his jawline look even sharper and colder.

It had been a long time since they had been alone in the same room like this. Emma felt time drag on. With the curtains drawn, there was no sunlight in the bedroom, and the air felt as heavy with unspoken emotions as it was with dust.

She thought she could smell Benjamin's scent, a faint sandalwood fragrance, the same as the cigarettes he smoked, carrying a lazy, almost serene aura.

He was the kind of man who was both proper and stubborn, cold yet casual. He didn't adhere to rules, yet his distant, noble demeanor made people wonder, what would he be like when he fell into forbidden desires?

Emma stared at him for too long, long enough that he noticed her gaze. He put down his phone, turned his head, and looked back at her.

He didn't ask what she was looking at, but Emma, who had been staring first, couldn't hold his gaze. She spoke up first.

Pressing her lips together, not knowing what else to say, she frowned and repeated the promise she had made that morning. “About the White family…”

Benjamin lifted his eyes slightly, his gaze cold, the corners of his eyes tinged with laziness, as if teasing. “Still getting married?”

Emma fell silent. After a moment, she pulled the covers up higher. “No.”

“Hmm,” Benjamin looked away, his eyelids half-lowered as he went back to his phone. His voice was flat, showing no emotion. “I'll tell Sophia in the next two days.”

Hearing this, Emma's brows remained furrowed. Even if she didn't marry David White, they would most likely find someone else for her. At twenty-five, she was already considered “old” in their circle, most people got engaged around this age, then married and moved in together a few years later.

She had seen it all too many times and knew the process well.

Thinking of this, she spoke calmly, asking Benjamin: “When are you going to get married?”

Benjamin let out a cold laugh, his tone flat. “Emma, are you sick in the head?”

Emma fell silent. She glanced at him in the dim light, then said after a moment: “Even if you don't want to, Uncle Brown will make you.”

The light was too dark, especially where Benjamin sat, and only half of his face was visible. She couldn't see his expression.

Taking a breath, she was about to say more when there was a knock on the door. She tensed up instinctively, her heart skipping a beat as it suddenly felt like it was hanging in her throat. But before she could react, Benjamin pulled her into his arms.

His right hand wrapped around her from behind, lifting her onto his lap. His other hand pulled down her pajama collar, taking the thermometer from under her armpit.

Emma squirmed, her right hand grabbing his wrist as her brows furrowed deeply. She whispered, almost inaudibly: “Aunt is outside.”

Benjamin didn't let go. “The door's locked.”

Then he leaned forward with her in his arms, turning on the bedside lamp. He checked the temperature on the thermometer by the light. “37.6 degrees.”

There was another soft knock on the door. Sophia's voice called out: “Emma, are you coming to eat?”

Emma couldn't collect her thoughts. Her left hand was still clinging to Benjamin's neck. He had held her as he leaned toward the lamp, and she was leaning so far that she had to wrap both arms around him to keep from falling.

Before she could speak, Benjamin ignored the voice at the door. He set the thermometer down, opened the drawer, and pulled out the medicine box from her bedside table. “Does your throat hurt?”

Sophia called again. Emma couldn't stand it anymore, but just as she was about to answer, Benjamin raised his hand to cover her mouth.

His slightly rough palm pressed against her lips, his tone casual. “Don't answer. Sophia will leave soon.”

Emma clung to his shoulders, her brows still furrowed. “I didn't even want to…”

Benjamin didn't let her finish. He still had his hand over her mouth, letting out a soft laugh. “Didn't want to what? Didn't want to speak? Then why were you opening your mouth?”

Emma closed her mouth, lifting her hand to pull his wrist away. But just as she raised her hand, Benjamin let go of her.

He opened the medicine box he had taken out, tossed some pills onto the table, then slid his hand under her knees, lifting her and placing her back on the bed. He pulled the covers over her casually. “Take the medicine if your fever gets worse.”

After speaking, he stood up. Emma called out to him instinctively: “Leaving now?”

She was a little afraid he would run into Sophia if he left at that moment.

Benjamin stuffed his hands into his pockets, turning to glance at her. “Stay and let you ask me when I'm getting married?”

Emma didn't want to talk anymore, but she said nothing, looking away and reaching for the medicine on the table.

Benjamin glanced at her, didn't linger any longer, and turned to leave.

Emma froze, her hand mid-reach for the medicine. She looked back, staring at his back until his figure disappeared at the door.

Two days later, David really came to visit.

Though Emma had no blood ties to the Brown family, she had grown up with them. Henry treated her well, and Sophia even more so. Marrying her would undoubtedly be beneficial for him.

David had a decent status in the White family over the past two years, but he was far less favored than his older brother. The family's relationships were complicated, and he needed this marriage to Emma to gain more power for himself.

He came on a Saturday. He must have called Sophia in advance, choosing a time when Benjamin wasn't at home.

But things didn't go as planned. On Saturday, Benjamin's business trip was canceled, and he returned home before lunch. When he walked in, he happened to see David coming from the terrace with Henry.

Benjamin stopped in his tracks. After a moment, he loosened his tie with one hand, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

Emma had just recovered from her illness and had slept in that morning. Sophia hadn't woken her, and she really had no idea David was coming.

After 11 a.m., she washed up and went downstairs. When she saw the people in the living room from the stairs, she realized how “lively” the day was.

Not only had David come, Benjamin hadn't left either.

She had felt better when she woke up that morning, but now her throat suddenly started hurting again. She frowned, pressing a hand to it as she walked down.

Sophia saw her and called her over with a smile. She responded.

Though her illness had passed, her strength hadn't fully returned. Her steps were a little unsteady, and she walked slowly.

By the time she reached her seat, she just happened to hear David mention the wedding date to Henry. Before Henry could respond, Benjamin, who was sitting nearby, suddenly tossed his lighter onto the coffee table and said: “She has boyfriend.”