Chapter 23


    Chapter 23: How Long Do You n to Keep Doing This?


    Due to therge number of people and the fact that it was being held at a five-star hotel, everyone


    needed to dress formally.


    Men had to wear suits, while women had to wear formal dresses. And on such an important day,


    Martina naturally wanted to be more attentive, as it was her very important


    teacher after all.


    After being busy for a while, everything was finally arranged properly.


    At 7 p.m. around, Martina received a phone call from her teacher, Ms. Bridge.


    Martina and Elena were already on their way to the hotel by this time.


    Martina smiled and said, “Don’t worry, even if I forget everything, I cannot forget your birthday. We’re on


    our way, and we’ll arrive in about 10 minutes.”


    Ms. Bridge was very happy and said, “Okay, I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up, so you don’t have


    to worry about finding the entranceter.”


    Martina surely had no reason to refuse these small requests and agreed to them.


    When they arrived at the hotel, Elena went to park the car while Martina walked


    towards the hotel entrance.


    However, Martina didn’t expect that she woulde face to face with the man she least wanted to see


    again, just one nightter.


    On this day. Martina donned a knee-length ck evening dress embellished with delicate rhinestones,


    entuating her exquisite figure. Even a mere glimpse of her side profile was enough to create a


    mesmerizing impression.


    Her beauty was truly extraordinary, captivating the attention of many passersby, especially with her


    long, slender legs that seemed tomand admiration. Her luscious wavy curls exuded a sense of


    both sensuality and allure, merging pure desire with


    irresistible charm.


    This kind of woman was exactly the type that could make a man’s heart skip a beat.


    As Martina stepped out of the car, she couldn’t help but imagine what Benjamin would say if he were


    present. She could almost anticipate his straightforwardment about the dress not suiting her and


    his request for her to change into something else.


    Martinaughed and shook her head at the thought, realizing that she had be too ustomed to


    being controlled. It was strange that she was now thinking of her past when there was no one to control


    her.


    However, the next second, the smile on Martina’s face stiffened instantly.


    Benjamin’s eyes showed no sign of avoidance as his gaze fell candidly upon Martinal Upon seeing her


    attire for the day, a flicker of unusual emotion quickly passed throug


    eyes.


    Martina took a step back and looked at Benjamin, “What are you doing here?”


    Benjamin seemed not to notice Martina’s resistance and reached out to her, “Ms. Bridge.


    asked me to bring you in.”


    RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Martina frowned and never expected that the person who came to pick her up was


    Benjamin.


    Benjamin could be considered as a student of Ms. Bridge, because he had studied in the same


    university after all. Moreover, Ms. Bridge also had her own ce in the business world and was a


    person that many people wanted to win over.


    ording to Benjamin’s personality, it was normal for him to attend events with such talented people


    because he would rather make friends than enemies.


    However, he was usually busy with work and was often absent from these events. Two years ago,


    Benjamin and Martina attended this event, but they only stayed for a short while due to work reasons


    and left immediately.


    As a result, many people did not see him and did not know the rtionship between Martina and


    Benjamin.


    Previously, Martina’s greatest wish was to be able to attend these events with Benjamin, but


    unfortunately, she was never sessful.


    Now, Benjamin’s sudden arrival, and even a gesture of goodwill, made Martina feel


    ufortable.


    Looking at the hand extended by Benjamin, Martina hesitated and did not make a move or reach out,


    instead just turned away in estrangement.


    “I can go on my own,” Martina said. Benjamin’s eyes quickly shed a hint of hurt and


    displeasure.


    Martina clearly used to love his proactive contact, clinging to Benjamin like a ko every time they met.


    The happiest moments were the times they spent alone together. But now, every time he lowered his


    guard, she became even more distant.


    Benjamin was in a bad mood.


    He thought about Martina’s rebellious behavior from the previous night. It was as if she was


    deliberately opposing him.


    Was it possible, as Simon said, that Martina’s unhappiness at home was the reason behind her


    behavior?


    Perhaps due to his own inner vulnerability or his desire to reconcile with Martina and bring her back


    home quickly, Benjamin finally clenched his teeth and exercised patience.


    Without waiting for Martina to react, Benjamin grabbed her hand in his own, feeling the warm


    temperature of her weak and boneless hand.


    His frowning brow finally rxed, as this was the way they should interact and get. along with each


    other.


    But he didn’t feel satisfied for long. Martina withdrew her hand again without hesitation,


    and there was even a panicked offense in her eyes.


    Benjamin noticed this..


    Was it because he had been away for too long? Why did Martina’s eyes show such


    emotions?


    Martina subtly opened up the distance between herself and Benjamin and walked into the hotel without


    looking back.


    She had already advised herself yesterday, that it was thest time she indulged her


    emotions.


    Now she had to keep her mind calm, even if it was only superficial.


    Benjamin stared at Martina’s receding figure, unable to control the darkening expression


    on his face once again.


    Martina’s current behavior increasingly slipped out of his control, as if she was opposing him.


    He had long been ustomed to Martina’s gentle and obedient nature, but now she didn’t even want


    to be touched. What was the reason for this?


    Benjamin evidently harbored a sense of dissatisfaction with being defied. However, he still hurried to


    catch up and walked alongside Martina.


    Lowering his voice, his toneced with restrained anger, he asked, “Martina, how long do you n to


    keep doing this??”


    In his eyes, it seemed that whatever she did was simply causing trouble for no reason, and he never


    bothered to understand her true feelings.


    Even if she had already initiated a breakup, the oue would likely be the same because this man


    never truly cared about what she thought deep inside.


    Martina felt like a real joke. If she still didn’t understand at this moment, then she was


    too stupid.


    After realizing this, Martina stopped dwelling on it. The coldness on her face became even more


    intense. She shouldn’t have ced all her sincerity on a man who didn’t care about her.


    “Mr. Walker, did you misunderstand? I never intended to cause any trouble from beginning to end,”


    Martina quickened her pace and said.


    “Are you really nning to break up with me?” Benjamin spoke incredulously, even with a mocking tone


    of being in a winning position.