Everest's Guardian Hubby Watched Me Freeze My Ghost Knows Where He'll Burn novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The moment Benjamin uttered the name “Gabrielle Blackwood,” the color completely drained from Victoria’s face. Her hands trembled as she dropped her bag, collapsing onto her knees with a choked sob. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pleaded desperately, her voice breaking.

“Benjamin—I swear, I never meant for any of this! I loved you too much to hurt anyone!” she cried out, her anguish palpable.

“And I only told them to leave Charlotte on the mountain—I never wanted her harmed! I had no idea she would die!” Her words tumbled out in frantic bursts, each one soaked in regret and fear.

Benjamin’s gaze hardened as he looked down at her, his bloodshot eyes void of any warmth or mercy. Standing a few feet away, I watched silently, a bitter smile threatening to escape. The man who once praised Victoria endlessly—admiring her gentle spirit, her fierce independence, how she was nothing like me, the useless housewife—had turned on her without hesitation.

It was almost laughable, in a dark way. Now that I was gone and Victoria had been unmasked as Gabrielle, Benjamin’s loyalty evaporated instantly. If you didn’t know the whole story, you might believe he was a grieving husband mourning the loss of his beloved wife.

“You never liked Charlotte anyway,” Benjamin spat bitterly. “Didn’t you say she wasn’t worth a single hair on my head?”

“She’s dead now. Isn’t that perfect? You’ll never have to deal with her again.”

Clinging to him like a drowning woman grasping a lifeline, Gabrielle seized his pant leg, her sobs wracking her body. “I know you’re angry I lied, but it was only because I love you so much! I swear, I’ll never lie to you again.”

“Benjamin—I’ve loved you for years. You can’t do this to me,” she begged, her voice trembling with raw desperation.

For a moment, Benjamin’s expression softened. He crouched down and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You’ll never lie to me again?”

“Never,” Gabrielle nodded quickly, her eyes wide with frantic sincerity.

“Then tell me—was it you who drugged me that night? Was it you who set Charlotte up to look like she was cheating?”

Benjamin wasn’t foolish. The moment he discovered Victoria’s true identity as Gabrielle, he had pieced the whole puzzle together. I hovered closer, captivated, eager to hear her response.

She paused, swallowing hard, then clenched her jaw and nodded reluctantly. “Yes, I drugged you. But you pushed me away and ran to Charlotte instead.”

“That man—I hired him. I arranged for him to be at Charlotte’s company that night—”

Suddenly, Gabrielle let out a piercing, agonized scream. Benjamin’s hand shot out, grabbing her hair and yanking her head down until it slammed hard against the ground.

“So you’ve been tearing my family apart from the very beginning!” he snarled. “You killed Charlotte and lied to me all this time!”

“Captain—stop! If she dies, you’ll be charged with murder.”

“Evelyn still needs you. You can’t afford to go down for this.”

“Let the police handle her. Isn’t that better?”

At that moment, sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as they approached. Benjamin finally released Gabrielle, letting her fall to the ground like a lifeless rag doll.

“Benjamin—I lied to you,” Gabrielle whispered hoarsely as the officers dragged her away.

“But you’re the one who ignored them. You’re the one who punished them. You’re the one who refused to save Charlotte.”

With a bitter, forced laugh, Gabrielle forced herself to glance back over her shoulder.

“You’re the one who killed her.”

“I curse you to die alone and miserable!” she spat, her voice fading as she was taken away.