Chapter 142: Do You Know Him?
Benjamin’s POV
As we talked, Mr. Josh turned to a maid and instructed, “Where is Ms. Hazel now?”
The house staff replied respectfully, “Ms. Hazel said the lavender fields are especially beautiful this year, so she took Loki to fly a kite there.”
Mr. Josh chuckled, clearly amused. “Well, Hazel only grows more playful with age.”
I couldn’t help but notice the fondness in Mr. Josh’s tone. His affectionate description of Ms. Hazel piqued my curiosity. Could she be the lively girl I’d encountered earlier?
“Go tell her to join us for dinner,” Mr. Josh instructed.
“Alright, sir!” The maid left promptly.
Hayley’s POV:
As dinnertime approached, house staff came knocking at my door several times. “Ms. Hayley, it’s time to come down for dinner.”
I quickly made an excuse. “I’m still adjusting to the time difference. I think I’ll skip dinner tonight.”
I really couldn’t afford to be around Benjamin too much. As an alpha, I knew all too well how sharp his senses were—just like mine with Hera.
The house staff seemed hesitant. “But Mr. Josh specifically asked that I make sure you come down.”
I sighed in frustration, pulling the blanket over my head, but after a moment, I threw it off and sat up. The more I tried to avoid him, the more it seemed fate was determined to throw us together. Maybe it was better to just face it.
With that thought, I got out of bed, and just then, Tara entered the room. “Ms. Hayley!”
I looked up at her, and she quickly corrected herself with a smile. “I mean, Ms. Hazel. It’s time for dinner. He even asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite foie gras.”
I took Tara’s arm and asked, “Is the guest from Midnight Pack still here?”
Tara nodded. “He’s an important guest from the East. He’s traveled a long way, so he’ll be staying a couple of days. Why, Ms. Hazel, do you know him?”
I quickly shook my head, denying it. “No, I don’t.”
“All the more reason to go down and join them for dinner, don’t you think? Otherwise, it might come across as rude,” Tara pointed out.
She had a point. Avoiding him would only raise suspicion.
I took a deep breath and decided to face the situation directly.
As I entered the dining room, my eyes were immediately drawn to Benjamin. Our eyes met, and I held his gaze for a moment before offering him a polite smile, acknowledging his presence.
“Hazel, you’re finally back!” Uncle Josh greeted me warmly, waving me over.
I playfully stuck out my tongue. “Uncle Josh, I missed you all so much, and I came back just for you.”
Josh laughed heartily. “You sweet-talker! Come here. Let me introduce you to someone. This is Benjamin Southwell, the Alpha of Midnight Pack and the grandson of an old friend of mine.”
Then he turned to Benjamin and introduced me, “This is my niece, Hazel Carson.”
I extended my hand toward Benjamin. “Hello, Mr. Benjamin!”
Benjamin took my hand, his gaze lingering on my face as he studied me intently, his scrutiny making me feel a bit uneasy. Did he recognize something? But no, that didn’t seem likely. Compared to the “Hayley” he’d seen before, my appearance now was far more refined and glamorous.
“Hello, Ms. Carson. A pleasure to meet you.” His voice was deep, with the undeniable power of an alpha, both compelling and slightly intimidating.
I simply smiled and took my seat.
The dinner was a tense affair for me, though I managed to keep up appearances. Once the meal was finally over, I decided to take Loki for a walk to clear my head, but Josh stopped me. “Hazel, I heard they’re putting on a fireworks show at the manor tonight. Why don’t you take Ben along? It’ll give you young people a chance to chat.”
Instinctively, I tried to refuse. “Uncle Josh, I was planning to bring Loki for a walk. It might not be convenient to bring Mr. Benjamin along.”
But Josh was unmoved. “That’s perfect! Take him with you for a walk. I’m getting old and need my rest anyway. Besides, you young folks should have some fun together. No need for him to be stuck with an old man like me.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but then I met Benjamin’s gaze. He was watching me intently and spoke up, “Is Ms. Carson reluctant to show me around?”
With that, I had no choice but to relent.
Taking Loki by the leash, I led Benjamin out of the castle. We walked side by side, and after a moment, Benjamin turned to look at me, his voice steady and direct. “Ms. Carson, you remind me of someone I know.”
My heart skipped a beat…