“When such negative news was reported, business would definitely be affected, but it was not a big deal. You don’t understand old Mrs. Smith’s skills. Don’t think that when she talks to you gently, she is treating you as her own family. She is very tactful and plays her game well. If it weren’t for her getting older and lacking motivation, the Smith family would definitely not be in its current position. Come, let’s go shopping and have a breath of fresh air.”
“No, thanks, I’m not going. You can get Zach to go with you.” I turned Sabrina down and got a scolding from her for being a spoilsport but I did not take it to heart.
I was not being a spoilsport but I just could not cheer myself up. I was not sure why but it could be that my dad bowed to somebody. Men should be strong and not easily bowed to beg anyone but Dad did that for Crystal.
On TV, I saw a lot of news about Crystal, as expected. Stories about her were getting viral all over Avenport. Those newspapers and dailies were flooding the streets like snowflakes.
Of course, I was being overlooked. Crystal was being recognized by Avenport as the most well-known drama queen with a charming exterior, but no inner beauty to match.
Suddenly the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Christopher, I turned off the TV and walked over to the door. Christopher would always call me and tell me that he had to go somewhere to work. But, when I opened the door, I would find him standing right in front of me, smiling and handing me a bunch of roses saying that he wanted to give me a surprise. I was used to it.
This time the surprise was different. Standing outside the door was Benjamin, and his eyes were bloodshot. Obviously, he had not slept. There were bruises on his face which must have been the result of fighting with Benson.
Seeing him, I was surprised and wary. My hand reached for the door with the intention of closing it. The traps he set for me were still vivid in my mind. The most horrifying was when he ganged up with Crystal, spiked my drink and then put me in bed with a man while getting a crowd to witness and photograph me in the act of adultery.
“Wait, Yvonne, I have something to tell you.” Benjamin stuck his foot in the door and said urgently.
Impatiently, I glared at him and asked in a low voice, “What is it?”
Carefully, Benjamin took out a pink object from a pocket of his close-fitting clothes and held it in his palm. It was my hairpin, the last thing given to me by my mother, which I had always cherished before. Even though I said I did not want to have anything to do with her anymore, I miss actually her very much.
A pink hairpin is, after all, a child’s belonging. I thought Benjamin wanted to return it, so I stretched out my hand to him and said plainly, “Thank you for returning it to me.”
Very quickly, Benjamin took out another hairpin. It was the one that I had lost for many years. It was well preserved and the color did not fade at all. On the contrary, the color of the one in my possession, which is often used, is faded. The look in his eyes was very complicated, his throat seemed taut, and he asked in a low voice, “So this is really your hairpin.”
“Yes, it is mine. They are a pair. Why is it with you?” I have no idea why Benjamin wanted to see me. Strictly speaking, we have no relationship at all, it was more mutual dislike.
As Benjamin held the hairpin, a look of nostalgia flashed across his eyes. His expression became tender. “I got this hairpin when we were abducted by kidnappers. I was drifting in and out of consciousness. I felt that I was being rescued when I saw this pink object, I held on to it and have been keeping it all these years.”
I blinked and laughed softly. I was quite silly at that time. Even though I was feeling so afraid, I had saved so many people. I took the hairpin from him. “This is the only thing I have to remember my mother by. I’m really glad you have brought it back for me. Thank you.”
Seeing that I had taken the hairpin, Benjamin seemed agitated. Quickly, he took it from me. I was puzzled about what he was trying to do.
“Why didn’t you tell me before that you were the one who saved me years ago. If you had told me, I would not… I would not have done those things to harm you so badly.” Benjamin’s voice became softer and softer as if realizing that what he had done to me was totally unacceptable.
