The Wilted Blossoms of Love

After Benjamin switched the lights off, he carried me in his arms and rubbed his head gently against my neck.

"Lena, are you feeling unwell? You seem a little out of it," he said with concern.

I turned over, facing away from him. "Maybe I didn't sleep well."

He chucked. "Alright then, I'll let you off tonight and just cuddle you."

Before long, the sounds of Benjamin's breathing became steady, and he drifted into a deep slumber.

Under the dim glow of the moonlight, I gazed intently at him until tears began to uncontrollably stream down my face.

I could still remember the day he got down on one knee and proposed to me. He had told me, "Please give me a chance to be your knight. I will love you and protect you forever, until the very end of my life."

At this moment, every beautiful memory felt like nothing more than a cruel joke.

I tossed and turned, unable to get myself to fall asleep. Thus, I picked up the tablet and went to the living room.

I tapped in and checked his other social apps, even Google Drive, but every single one had been logged out.

Benjamin, you had to be feeling guilty as hell, huh?

The moment I climbed back into bed, Benjamin instinctively embraced me in his sleep.

"Lena, love me forever…" he suddenly muttered.

His nose that brushed against my ear felt warm and scalding. He hadn't woken up—he just murmured this before sinking back into deep sleep.

The familiar scent and warmth of his body had once been my safest haven. So, when did this embrace find a new owner?

…

The next morning, Benjamin held up his tie, pouting as he said petulantly, "I want Lena to tie it for me!"

He always went for a morning run, and after washing up, his skin was still damp with the condensed steam.

His usually cool, indifferent eyes looked at me, glistening with moisture. And I—unable to resist—relented.

He triumphantly pulled me into his arms and rubbed his chin lightly against the top of my head.

Benjamin gently said, "Lena, do you want to go to the auction held at Jewel tonight? Shall I bid on the biggest ruby and give it to you, hmm?"

The auction catalog from Jewel Hotel had already been delivered to me in advance, and I could freely choose from all kinds of exquisite jewelry and rare gemstones firsthand.

The ruby he mentioned was the centerpiece of the event—huge and exceptionally precious.

"Lena, as long as you like it, I'll make sure to get it."

I was a jewelry designer, and I enjoyed crafting jewelry. Sometimes, I even made pieces by hand.

Benjamin had always been supportive of my career. When I'd first graduated, Benjamin had spent a fortune purchasing all kinds of gemstones and materials so I could experiment with my designs.

Meanwhile, participating in numerous competitions allowed me to establish myself quickly in the industry.

But the truth was—I simply loved jewelry design. I preferred to take my time refining my craft, which was why I had already withdrawn from all competitions.

When I met Benjamin's expectant gaze, I curved my lips into a small smile, saying, "I don't like that ruby. Just forget about it. Besides, it just so happens that I want to take a break for a while."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow, then chuckled as he ruffled my hair. "That's good too. Don't pressure yourself, and take your time to rest. Whenever you're ready to get back to work, I'll get you even better ones."

After he got dressed neatly, he bid me farewell and left for the office.

I stood on the balcony and watched his Maybach drive out of the neighborhood.

And then, as if possessed, I opened my phone and connected to Benjamin's dashcam app.

I heard him say, "Bid on it and gift it to Jessica. Find a good design company to create a complete set of accessories for her.

"I'm on my way to the office now. I'll be spending the entire day with her."

Benjamin chuckled lightly and said, "Tell her to wear the bunny outfit."

I closed my eyes. I felt my heart suddenly clench with excruciating pain before finally becoming so heavy that it seemed to plummet and crash down into the abyss.