The Silent Goodbye

Nissa's heart sank.

She frantically shook her head, flailing her hands, trying to explain.

But Benjamin did not even glance at her. He held the check and examined it closely, then suddenly let out a cold laugh and flung it to the floor.

"You went behind my back to ask Charlotte for money? Nissa, you just met her, and you're already this shameless? Looks like I underestimated your greed."

He stepped toward her slowly, his towering figure casting a long, dark shadow over her. His narrow eyes were filled with ice, a brewing storm ready to erupt.

Nissa knew he was angry, and she had already learned the hard way what his anger meant. She could not bear it again.

She sat on the bed and backed away in panic.

Shaking her head in desperation, she silently begged for mercy.

But Benjamin had no patience. He yanked her off the bed and threw her to the floor.

The shame of being bare and exposed washed over Nissa like a tidal wave. She curled up tightly, trying to preserve even a shred of her dignity.

Benjamin sneered, his voice like a blade, "What are you covering up for? Don't tell me you think I'd be interested in you? Even if you stood shirtless on the street, no one would even bother looking at someone like you."

Nissa squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming from the corners.

Of course, she knew he was not interested in a mute like her. Every time they were together, he would press her face into the pillow, pretending she was Charlotte.

In his eyes, she was just a cheap imitation, a free tool to vent his lust.

She bit her lip and swallowed her pain. Stretching out her hand, she tried to retrieve the check. That money meant everything to her. Even if it meant losing face, she had to hold onto it.

But Benjamin, seeing how desperate she was for the check, only grew more disgusted.

His face darkened. Without hesitation, he stomped down hard on her hand.

Pain surged through her, causing her to go pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't make a sound and could only curl into herself.

Benjamin bent down and picked up the check. Then, right in front of her, he tore it into shreds.

The pieces fluttered down like snow, landing all over Nissa. She clutched at them hopelessly, and silent tears ran down her face.

Seeing her so desperate for money, Benjamin's eyes filled with revulsion.

"All you poor folks care about is money. If you're so short on cash, why don't you just beg me properly? If I'm in a good mood, I might even throw you some. That'd save you from embarrassing me by begging others."

He reached down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

That tear-stained face, pale as frost, held a fragile kind of loneliness. Weak, almost pitiful.

For a split second, something in Benjamin stirred. His callused thumb dragged roughly across her lips.

Nissa winced and turned her face away. However, the very act of dodging sparked his irritation.

His eyes darkened.

Without another word, he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed, pinning her down with his weight.

Nissa immediately understood what he was about to do. She was terrified, fearing that it would hurt the child.

She struggled with all her strength.

In the chaos, her palm accidentally struck Benjamin across the cheek.

The air around them seemed to have frozen.

Nissa stared in horror as he slowly turned his face back to her. His expression was icy, dangerous.

She frantically gestured an apology, hands trembling.

But Benjamin grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. His voice dropped, low and threatening.

"You hit me? You've got a death wish, Nissa."

Tears spilled from her eyes as she sobbed soundlessly, like a kitten's whimper. But that only ended up fueling Benjamin's fire.

As always, he forced her to turn over, burying her face into the pillow.

No matter how she resisted, he did not stop.

Just then, his phone rang, loud and insistent.

Annoyed, Benjamin answered with a sharp tone, "What?"

There was silence for a moment, then a soft, timid voice came through the line. "Benjamin, weren't you just going home to grab something? Why haven't you come back? I'm still in the hospital. I feel a little scared by myself."

He glanced at the caller ID; It was Charlotte.

Realizing how harsh his tone just was, Benjamin forced himself to soften, "Something came up. I'll be there later."

"Okay," Charlotte replied in a low voice and said no more.

The moment the call ended, her expression changed entirely.

Eyes filled with rage, she hurled the phone at the ground.

Her chest heaved with fury.

She was not an idiot. Just from Benjamin's hoarse voice and the faint sobbing in the background, she could easily guess what he was doing.

Charlotte's lips twisted with contempt. "Cheap woman. Took my money one second, climbed into my man's bed the next. That mute has no shame."

Her voice turned colder by the second. "You're asking for it!"

She bent down, picked up the phone, and pulled up a contact.

After typing out a short message, she hit send.

A moment later, a reply came through.

Charlotte's lips curled into a sinister smile, her eyes glinting with a chilling sharpness.