It was late at night.
The streets of Milan were no longer as crowded as they had been earlier. Just then, a car pulled up in front of the Rosewood family home.
The door opened, and Benjamin stepped out.
He had come straight back from Naples.
His face showed the exhaustion of the journey, but more than that, he looked troubled.
He missed his sister.
At the church, he had said many hurtful things to Elena in anger.
He had thought Elena had abandoned Jason and married Alexander for money.
But now, his heart kept telling him—
“Elena couldn’t do that.”
Benjamin let out a long breath.
Benjamin: I’ll apologize to Jason first... then I’ll go see Elena at Wilson Villa in the morning.
He went inside.
Since it was so late, the house was almost silent.
He knew Jason would still be awake.
He headed straight for Jason’s room.
But as soon as he reached the door, he heard a voice from inside.
Jason’s voice.
Benjamin stopped.
His stepmother was inside too.
Stepmother: Everything’s going smoothly now, right?
Jason: Absolutely.
Benjamin thought they were probably talking about Elena.
He was just about to enter when Jason’s next words stopped him in his tracks.
Jason: Alexander still hasn’t found out anything.
Benjamin’s brows drew together.
Stepmother: Elena doesn’t know either?
Jason: No. What could she possibly find out?
Benjamin quietly pulled out his phone and started recording.
The voices inside continued.
Stepmother: But taking one hundred million every month doesn’t feel right anymore. What if the truth comes out?
Jason: Nothing will happen.
Stepmother: How much have we received so far?
Jason: Two billion.
Benjamin’s eyes widened.
Benjamin: Two billion...
His heart filled with rage.
Inside, Jason was laughing.
Jason: We told Alexander that Elena herself had demanded one hundred million a month in exchange for marrying him.
Stepmother: And he believed that?
Jason: He was in terrible shape. He wanted Elena. He was willing to give her anything.
Benjamin’s fists tightened.
Now he understood everything.
His sister had never asked anyone for money.
This had all been a scheme cooked up by Jason and his mother.
And he had wrongly judged his own sister.
Benjamin recorded the entire conversation.
Then he quietly moved away.
But before leaving, he took one last look toward the room.
Benjamin: Jason... what you did to my sister was unforgivable.
Before dawn, Benjamin arrived at Wilson Villa.
The moment he got there, he asked about Elena.
The servant told him she was in her room.
Benjamin headed straight there.
He knocked softly on the door.
Elena: Who is it?
Benjamin: It’s me.
There was no response from inside for a few seconds.
Then the door opened.
Elena stood in front of him.
The moment she saw her brother, her eyes filled with tears.
Elena: Big brother...
Benjamin said nothing.
He simply pulled her into a hug.
Elena clung to him and began to cry too.
Benjamin: Forgive me.
Elena: Why are you apologizing?
Benjamin: Because I judged you without trying to understand you.
Elena remained silent.
Benjamin gently stroked her head.
Benjamin: I thought you had abandoned Jason and married Alexander for money.
Tears spilled from Elena’s eyes.
Benjamin: But now I know everything.
Elena looked at him in surprise.
Elena: What did you find out?
Benjamin took out his phone.
Benjamin: Listen to this first.
He played the recording.
Jason’s voice echoed through the room.
“We told Alexander that Elena herself had demanded one hundred million a month in exchange for marrying him...”
Elena’s eyes widened.
Then her stepmother’s voice came through.
“How much have we received so far?”
And Jason’s reply—
“Two billion.”
The recording ended.
Silence filled the room.
Elena stared at the phone for a while.
Then tears welled up in her eyes.
Elena: Big brother... I told you, didn’t I? I never asked Alexander for money.
Benjamin took her hand.
Benjamin: Now I understand everything.
Elena: They took advantage of Alexander’s illness.
Benjamin: Yes.
Elena wiped away her tears.
There was less sorrow on her face now and far more anger.
Elena: I won’t let them get away with this.
Benjamin looked at her.
Benjamin: Not alone.
Elena looked at him.
Benjamin: Your brother is with you now.
A faint light returned to Elena’s eyes.
Elena: But what are we going to do?
Benjamin thought for a while.
Then he said—
Benjamin: What’s Jason’s greatest weakness?
Elena answered immediately—
Elena: Girls... and money.
Benjamin: And his mother?
Elena: Money.
Benjamin: Then that’s it. We’ll use both of their weaknesses against them.
Elena slowly smiled.
Elena: We can trap Jason through a girl.
Benjamin: Then we’ll tempt him with so much money that he’ll walk right into our trap himself.
Elena: But we can’t just trap him.
Benjamin: I know.
Benjamin picked up his phone.
Benjamin: We need evidence that will make anyone say Jason and his mother swindled Alexander.
Elena took a deep breath.
Elena: And this time, we’ll record every single thing they say.
Benjamin smiled.
Benjamin: Absolutely.
The two of them sat in silence for a while.
Then Elena said softly—
Elena: Big brother...
Benjamin: Yes?
Elena: Thank you for standing by me.
Benjamin smiled and patted her head.
Benjamin: You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you.
Elena wiped away her tears.
A different kind of confidence now filled her face.
Until yesterday, she had been alone.
Today, her brother was by her side.
And Jason still had no idea that his own closest friend now knew his biggest secret.
But now there was one question—
Which girl would Elena and Benjamin use to lure Jason into their trap?
And would Jason really fall for it?
The End.