Chapter 94: Only Shown Such Reactions Toward Hayley

Benjamin’s POV:

Upon returning to the house in Brocrone Hills that morning, I discovered Hayley had already left for the Math Olympiad. A flicker of irritation surged within me; I regretted not returning earlier to give her a ride. Then there was the woman I encountered at the bar last night—she bore such a striking resemblance to Harmony. Why did my wolf, Lawrence, respond even slightly to her presence? Up until now, Lawrence had only shown such reactions toward Hayley. Could there be some link between Harmony and Hayley?

My thoughts swirled with questions, and after checking the time, I decided to head to the competition venue to pick her up.

“What are you doing here?” Hayley exclaimed in astonishment when she spotted me at the door.

“I came to take you home,” I explained. “Also, I need to let you know that something has come up, and we’ll be heading back to Midnight Pack tomorrow instead.”

Hayley waved her hand dismissively. “If you have other plans, don’t worry about me. I can return on my own.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, quickly formulating a reason. “Grandpa insisted I look after you. Are you really sure I can tell him you went back alone?”

Using Grandpa as an excuse worked wonders. She didn’t argue further. “I guess I’ll stay for another day, then. Are you going out again later? Where to?”

I took a moment to assess her and suggested, “If you’re feeling a bit bored, why don’t you join me?”

She pondered my offer for a moment before agreeing to keep me company. I drove us to a luxurious salon.

Oddly, Hayley appeared anxious. Just as we were about to exit the car, she tugged on my sleeve. “What are you bringing me here for?”

I replied, “I’m meeting a client soon. Do you really think you’re looking presentable like this?”

Hayley glanced at her outfit and shrugged. “I don’t see anything wrong with it. I’m just plain.”

I sighed and handed her over to the stylist. “You have one hour; I want to see a complete transformation.”

Hayley’s POV:

Under Benjamin’s direction, I was escorted to the makeup chair. The stylist scrutinized me with an appraising look that made me anxious, and I finally stated, “You won’t need to do much; a professional…”

The stylist then guided me to choose some clothes. “Miss, feel free to select whatever you like. After you pick something out, we’ll style your hair,” she said.

Sweat began to bead on my forehead as I quickly replied, “No, thank you. I can handle my own makeup.” I couldn’t risk them revealing my true self; that would be catastrophic.

Noticing my reluctance, the stylist backed off. In the end, I settled on a sleek black professional outfit, styled my hair into a refined bun, and made some subtle adjustments to my makeup. I looked a bit more polished. My features appeared more balanced, but overall, I still felt like the same person. “I’m ready.”

After checking my reflection to ensure I was presentable, I stepped out. Benjamin looked up at me, an unfamiliar glimmer flashing in his eyes as he studied me intently for an extended moment.

“Is everything alright?” I asked, feeling uneasy under his scrutiny.

He shifted his gaze and inquired, “How’s your Francette holding up?”

I blinked, puzzled by his question, and modestly replied, “It’s fine for casual conversation.”

“Then I need you to help me translate later.”

I froze. “Wait, you want me to be your translator?”

He responded, “Is there a problem?”

I frowned, feeling uncertain. “But—”

Benjamin interrupted, brushing aside my hesitation. “No buts.” With that, he stood up and took my hand, leading me along.

Where were we going? My mind buzzed with questions…