The Mistakes We Made Together

Chapter 8: Return

After exchanging only a few words, Benjamin ended the video call with Noah. He pushed his laptop aside and looked at Emma, who was sitting not far away. “What do you want?”

Emma glanced at him, stood up, and walked over. She placed the necklace she had just taken off on the desk. “I'm returning this to you.”

Benjamin lifted his eyes to glance at it, then flipped the document on his desk to the next page. “It's a birthday gift.”

Emma stood in front of his desk, her right hand resting on the surface as she looked down at the necklace. “It's too expensive. I don't want it.”

She didn't beat around the bush, her words were straightforward.

Benjamin seemed amused, or perhaps annoyed. His hand paused mid-signature. Finally, he let out a soft, breathy laugh, turned his head to look up at her, and his voice carried a faint chill. “Haven't you accepted even more expensive things from me before?”

Emma instinctively raised her hand to touch the watch on her right wrist.

In the quiet study, their eyes met.

Benjamin's eyes were not dark, they were a light gray. Staring into them for too long made one feel as if they might fall into their depths.

Emma clasped her left hand around her right wrist, then withdrew both hands from the desk and let them hang at her sides.

She lowered her eyelids. After a long moment, she spoke suddenly, her voice still as cold and distant as ever. “Back then... I did it to get into the company.”

Benjamin threw his pen down, finally letting out a laugh that sounded more like a scoff. He leaned back in his chair and fixed his gaze on her. “So you seduced me just to get into the company?”

The study door was not fully closed, yet Benjamin made no attempt to lower his voice. Emma didn't look back, nor did she let herself overthink whether the family might hear.

She pinched her fingertips, feeling tired. Her left hand brushed over the watch on her right wrist, her index finger repeatedly rubbing the protruding gem on the watchband.

After a moment, as if making a final decision, she used two fingers of her left hand to unfasten the watch clasp. Her movements were quick and decisive. She set the watch down on the desk. “I'll return this too.”

Benjamin glanced at the watch. The frustration he had been holding in since returning home finally erupted at this moment.

Anger flickered in the corners of his brows, yet a faint smile played on his lips. He looked at her lightly. “You cling to me when I'm useful, then cast me aside when I'm not?”

Emma kept her eyes lowered, unable to see his expression, and unwilling to.

“Yes,” she didn't argue at all. She gathered the necklace and watch on the desk with her right hand and pushed them toward him. “When I get back, I'll check. Any other things I bought with you, or gifts you gave me. I'll collect them all and return them...”

“Emma,” he cut her off.

“Hm?” She looked up.

Since entering the room, she had adjusted her mood repeatedly. Finally, she could meet his gaze.

They stared at each other for a long time. Suddenly, Benjamin let out a mocking laugh. He picked up the watch and necklace she had pushed over, then tossed them casually into a drawer nearby.

Emma's eyes fixed on that drawer. She then withdrew her hand, tucked it into the pocket of her coat, and her fingers curled slightly inside, an indescribable ache spreading from her fingertips.

Benjamin lifted his eyes, his voice cold. “Aren't you leaving?”

“Or are you staying to do something with your brother in the study?” His words fell softly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden voice came from outside the study.

William had taken off his headphones. He leaned against the study door, peeking inside. “Aren't you two going to sleep?”

“Sis, why do you look like you're being punished to stand?” William laughed.

Even though she knew William hadn't heard their earlier conversation, Emma's heart still skipped a beat. She turned to look at him.

“I was just talking to your brother about something. What about you, aren't you going to sleep?” She said, walking toward the door.

Emma stepped out of the study.

William closed the door, took off his over-ear headphones with both hands, and followed her. “Sis, it's your birthday today, and I haven't given you your gift yet.”

Everyone else had given their gifts at the dinner that evening, but William had said his gift was too heavy to bring along. He would give it to her when they got home.

Emma's mind was wandering, and she didn't hear him at first.

William nudged her with his elbow. “Why are you so distracted today?”

Emma snapped back to reality. Her right hand, now without the watch, was still in her pocket, and her fingertips felt sore. She didn't know if it was from the edge of the necklace or something else.

“What did you just say?” she asked William.

“Your gift,” William took her wrist and pulled her toward his room. “I haven't given you your birthday gift yet.”

Emma was dragged into his bedroom.

Besides video games, William was also obsessed with various Gundam models. He asked Emma to sit on the sofa by the window, then ducked into his storage room. Soon, he carried out a large glass case containing a complete Lego model.

It was over half a meter tall, already assembled into the shape of a castle.

After all, he was still a teenager; even a small thing could spark his excitement.

He placed the glass case on the floor and showed it to Emma. “You've always liked models like this, right? I built this for you. What do you think? It's already assembled, you don't have to do a thing. I even installed lights in it.”

He demonstrated the voice-activated lights on the model twice, then suddenly remembered something. “What did Brother give you?”

At the dinner, both he and Benjamin hadn't given Emma a gift yet.

“Him?” Emma didn't know how to answer. She pulled her hands out of her pockets, touched the glass cover on the floor, and replied vaguely. “I don't know.”

William squatted on the floor. When his legs got tired, he flopped down onto his back, stretching his legs out. “Why do you and Brother seem so weird lately?”

Emma was startled. “Do we?”

“You two used to get along okay when you were in school. Now you act like you don't even know each other,” William poked the glass case, struggling to find the right words. “But then you'll... talk privately sometimes.”

Like they had just been doing in the study.

“We were talking about company stuff,” Emma replied.

---

Two days later, on Monday evening, Emma went to a business dinner with Benjamin.

Their guests were government officials. During the meal, Benjamin had drunk a few too many. When they left the hotel, his steps were unsteady, and he stumbled slightly.

One of his assistants supported Benjamin as they walked down the steps in front of the hotel. Emma carried his coat over her arm, following behind them at a distance, not too close, not too far.

They stopped at the bottom of the steps. The assistant's phone rang. He hesitated, should he answer the call first, or help Benjamin to the car? He glanced back, and his eyes met Emma's.

After a moment's hesitation, Emma stepped forward, took hold of Benjamin's arm with her left hand, and gestured. “Go ahead and take the call.”

The young man nodded quickly. “Thank you.”

It was a call from his family. His mother had just had surgery the day before, and he was worried the call might be about an emergency.

Once he left, only Benjamin and Emma remained. The parking lot was some distance away, and the driver would take a few more minutes to arrive.

Benjamin stood with his hands hanging at his sides. He raised his left hand, pressing his knuckles against his forehead. Emma saw he seemed to be holding up okay, so she loosened her grip on his arm.

Since their conversation in the study on Friday, they hadn't spoken a word to each other. They went to work together in the morning and spent the day in the same office, but Benjamin ignored her, and she certainly didn't go out of her way to talk to him.

“Got any water?” Benjamin suddenly held out his hand to her. His voice, hoarse from alcohol, sounded slightly gritty.

Emma had a bottle in her hand. She looked down at it, hesitating. “I've drunk from it.”

Benjamin seemed not to hear her. He rubbed his forehead with difficulty, his right palm still upturned in front of her. “Give it to me.”

Two seconds later, Emma twisted open the cap and handed it to him.

A few minutes later, the car arrived. Benjamin was too drunk to go home, so he told the driver to take him to the hotel where he usually stayed.

The assistant who had taken the call sat in the passenger seat, while Emma and Benjamin sat in the back.

It was a property of the Smith family, not far from FSAN. A suite on the top floor was always reserved for him.

The driver knew Emma was Benjamin's sister, so he didn't ask where she wanted to go, he drove straight to the hotel.

The assistant and Emma helped Benjamin upstairs together. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, the assistant's phone rang again, still his family.

Emma supported Benjamin as they stood in the hallway. When the assistant finished the call, he looked at her awkwardly and asked if she could take care of Benjamin for him. His mother's condition had worsened, and an emergency surgery had been scheduled for the next morning. His family wanted him to come right away.

Emma hesitated for two seconds, then took the things from his phone. “Go ahead. I'll stay here.”