A Twist Of Fate And Fortune

"You're a total failure! Are you trying to kill me? How could you let this happen in the soup?"

In the Carter family's villa, Torrie Carter, a woman in her middle years, angrily pointed at a lifeless spider on the table.

Her wrath overflowed as she violently knocked her bowl to the floor.

Crack!

The bowl shattered, splashing soup all over Benjamin Holland.

Benjamin studied the spider, his brow furrowed.

The spider was whole, merely covered in soup. Clearly, it was added to the soup on purpose.

However, he chose not to make a scene. Casually, he grabbed a piece of meat from a nearby dish and tasted it.

The food was delicious, surprisingly better than what professional chefs at fancy restaurants could cook.

"Torrie, I made sure these dishes were perfect before bringing them out..."

Slap!

Torrie slammed her hand on the table before Benjamin could finish.

Pointing accusingly at Benjamin's face, she berated, "You're worthless. Am I so gentle with you these days that you even dare to talk back? Don't forget that you are living in my house and using everything belonging to me! Yet, you can't even prepare a simple meal properly. I've never seen such a useless guy like you!"

Benjamin's brow furrowed, and he balled his hands into fists without realizing, but soon relaxed them.

Torrie was causing a scene, trying to push him into divorcing his wife, Rosalie Holland. They'd been together for three years.

He had chosen those dishes with care, double-checking them before serving them up.

Torrie had never liked him, always finding fault.

However, today, she took it up a notch, deliberately making his life difficult.

How could she put a spider in the soup to set him up? That was a new low.

But Benjamin was no stranger to Torrie's nastiness over the years.

Containing his anger, Benjamin didn't bother arguing with Torrie. Shifting the conversation, he said, "Rosalie will be home from work soon. I'm going to keep these dishes warm in the kitchen."

Torrie's temper flared at his words.

She snatched the cup next to her, splashing the hot coffee onto Benjamin's face, and yelled, "Benjamin, are you dumb or just pretending? The Carter family is wealthy. Why eat this stuff? Just leave already, and quit bothering my daughter. You are such a loser. With her status, she's got loads of great guys after her. Why do you have the face to stay in the Carter family?"

When the hot coffee splashed onto his face, Benjamin didn't flinch. Torrie's curse rang in his ears, sharp and clear.

Three years back, the Carter family were just an average family. Owning an apartment was a distant dream, let alone affording a villa.

They were so strapped for cash that Rosalie's failed business venture left them drowning in debt. Back then, a meal with meat or vegetables was a luxury.

It was Benjamin who turned their fortunes around.

Not only did he clear their debts, but on marrying Rosalie, he also handed the family a whopping thirty million dollars. This generous sum allowed Rosalie to venture into business once more.

During those times, Benjamin wasn't just a financial support. He played a pivotal role in Rosalie's company, even assembling a team for her.

However, as the business took off, Rosalie got swamped with work, her focus solely on the company.

Rosalie was a dedicated career woman, but her health paid the price. She often skipped meals, leading to hypoglycemia and a hospital stay due to exhaustion.

Witnessing this, Benjamin chose to step back from the company and devote himself to Rosalie's care at home.

Embracing his role as a househusband, he took over all household chores. Every day, he prepared nutritious meals and herbal cuisine, improving Rosalie's health.

Thanks to his efforts, she maintained her well-being despite her hectic work schedule.

Behind the scenes, Benjamin was Rosalie's silent pillar, quietly tending to her needs at home.

Meanwhile, he still kept an eye on her business affairs, discreetly resolving issues that arose. Benjamin didn't just boost the company's growth. He also nurtured his wife's thriving career.

With his backing, Rosalie's business expanded, catching everyone's attention.

Rosalie herself emerged as a new star in the public eye.

She started showing up at social events, discussing business with influential families and top CEOs.

Her blend of beauty and skill earned her a bit of fame in Henvine.

This, however, widened the gap between Benjamin's and Rosalie's social standings.

The Carter family began to resent Benjamin.

Now, when he heard Torrie's harsh words, Benjamin could only respond with a sad smile.

Rosalie was his first love. Her dedication had captivated him when he first arrived in Henvine.

Three years of companionship deepened his love for her.

Despite Torrie's daily tirades, Benjamin never considered leaving Rosalie.

Finally, when Torrie paused from her ranting, Benjamin said slowly, "Torrie, I'm not leaving Rosalie unless she asks for a divorce herself!"

"You..." Torrie's anger flared, and her face contorted with rage.

Despite her tirade, he didn't catch a single word.

"I swear, I'm gonna knock some sense into you. You ungrateful bastard!"

In a huff, she dashed to the bathroom, grabbed the mop, and swung it viciously at Benjamin's head.

The mop arced through the air, flinging dirty water everywhere.

As the mop neared his head, Benjamin instinctively caught Torrie's wrist.

Without thinking, he gently pushed her away.

"Torrie, this is too much!"

A chill flickered in Torrie's eyes. She stepped back, dropped the mop, and collapsed to the floor.

Benjamin was puzzled. His push was so light. Even a little girl wouldn't have fallen from that.

What was Torrie up to?

Then, a stern voice broke the silence.

"Benjamin, what in the world are you doing?"

Benjamin turned around.

There stood Rosalie, in a white blouse and a tight skirt, her beauty marred by a cold, disgusted expression.

Benjamin felt like he'd been plunged into an icy pit.

He realized Rosalie had gotten the wrong idea!

Torrie was thrilled when she saw Rosalie return.

She quickly played the victim, her voice filled with tears. "Rosalie, you're back just in time. Any later and you wouldn't have found me here. Benjamin is such a terrible person! I simply mentioned a spider in the soup, and he threatened to hit me. He nearly killed me!"

Benjamin, hearing this, rushed to defend himself.

"No, that's not how it was..."

Slap!

But before he could finish, Rosalie cut him off with a sharp slap across his face.

"You, Benjamin! I can't believe I married you. I thought you were just a lazy bum, always staying at home for the last three years. But now, I see you're not only that but a violent, despicable person too. How could you even think of hitting my mother? Are you even human?"

Benjamin, stunned by Rosalie's accusations, looked at her, feeling like she was a complete stranger.

He stepped back, pointing to his soaked clothes.

"Rosalie, you need to see the truth. Your mother threw boiling coffee in my face first. I just said I wouldn't divorce you, and she came at me with a mop. I was just trying to..."

"He's lying!" Torrie roared, not letting Benjamin finish his explanation.

"Rosalie, don't believe him. He put a spider in our soup, trying to poison me. Then, he tried to hit me with a mop when I found out. I was just defending myself."

Benjamin frowned, then burst into laughter at Torrie's accusation.

"Rosalie..."

Slap!

Before he could say more, Rosalie slapped him hard on the face again.

She yelled, "Enough! You're always so irresponsible, blaming others when things go wrong. I can't be with an incompetent husband like you."

With that, she pulled out a document from her handbag and threw it at Benjamin's face.

He caught it and stared in shock.

"Divorce Agreement" was written at the top.

Benjamin's eyes widened, and he struggled to breathe for a moment.

After a long pause, he looked up at Rosalie, disbelief in his eyes.

"Why do you want a divorce? What did I do?"

Before Rosalie could answer, Torrie got up, smirking, and stood next to her.

"Let me tell you your mistake. You're ungrateful and you're dragging my daughter down. It's a mistake for her to be with you."

Ignoring Torrie, Benjamin turned and faced Rosalie, questioning her earnestly, "Is that what you really think?"

Rosalie averted her gaze, remaining silent.

After a brief pause, she retrieved a bank card from her purse and tossed it towards Benjamin.

"Take this. It's a million. The pin is my birthday. You should know it. Be careful with the spending. It should last you a lifetime."

Then, as if recalling something, she added, "Our lives are different now. You and I, we're worlds apart. In my current life, a husband who can only cook can't help me at all."

"I can't help you?" Benjamin looked at her, a mixture of sadness and irony in his smile.

He balled his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, drawing blood.

Yet the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.

Rosalie's words felt like daggers, each one stabbing deep into his soul.

After what seemed like an eternity, Benjamin regained his composure. He fixed his gaze on Rosalie and said calmly, "Three years back, I cleared all your debts. I handed you thirty million to start your venture and even set up a team for you. I worked hard day and night for that. You were struggling with health issues, so I returned home to care for you, to give you strength for your work. Back then, did you ever think we were from two different worlds?"

His voice was steady, yet filled with a barely contained fury.

Rosalie's face tensed, her heart missing a beat.

She was at a loss for words to Benjamin's query.

Meanwhile, Torrie glared at Benjamin, hand on her hip.

"Look, don't cause trouble here. Thirty million is nothing. Why are you so hung up on it? My daughter's been your wife for three years. Doesn't that count for something? Moreover, once the divorce was finalized, she took on the identity of a divorced woman. It won't be pleasant to bear that title in the future. The thirty million dollars will act as compensation."

Benjamin, fuming, fixed a steely gaze on Torrie.

"Am I too focused on the money, or are you just shameless? Have you lost all sense of decency?"

"Enough, both of you," Rosalie cut in, clearly annoyed.

She then turned to Benjamin with a sigh, pulling out another bank card from her purse.

"Here's five million. It's the same pin. Please, stop bothering me, will you?"

Changing her tone, she added, "You were okay giving me the thirty million before. If you really want it back, I'll repay you once I start earning. I've got a big project right now, so I can't just transfer the money."

Hearing this, Benjamin's voice grew louder. "Do I care about money? What I care about is you." His words were firm.

Rosalie, with a bitter smile but a tone of scorn, retorted, "Do you really care about me? If you do, let me go! I won't deny that I have feelings for you. But please face the reality. All you do is hold an umbrella for me when it rains, cook when I'm hungry, and make medicine when I'm sick. That's what a servant does. What more can you offer me?"

Benjamin stood there, speechless, shocked by Rosalie's cruel words.

Rosalie's heartless words caused his heart to ache.

He had devoted everything to Rosalie, yet all his efforts over the past three years were seen as mere servitude in her eyes.

It was absurd and incredibly painful.

A wave of sadness passed through Benjamin's eyes as he gazed down at the divorce papers in his hand.

The final clause was clear. "After the divorce, neither party shall trouble the other for any reason."

After reading the message, Benjamin couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Ha-ha! Finally, we won't trouble each other anymore."

He then picked up the two bank cards, turning to Rosalie with a look of defiance.

"To you, I'm just a burden, right? There's no need to rub it in. This amount of money? I'm not desperate for it!"

With those words, he tightly clenched his hand, his palm still bleeding. With a decisive snap, he broke the bank cards in half!

He relaxed his grip, and the pieces of the cards fell to the floor, his eyes reflecting deep sorrow.

"Rosalie, maybe this is the last time I'll call you by your name. Do you realize that I had a hand in everything you have now? I supported your career. That's why it's thriving."

Before Benjamin's words could fully sink in, a handsome young man in extravagant attire entered.

He cast a mocking glance at Benjamin.

"Have you lost your mind?"

As he spoke, the young man walked over to Rosalie. His expression softened as he smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Then, facing Benjamin with a challenging look, he sneered.

"You're nothing but someone who handles household chores. How audacious of you to credit all of Rosalie's achievements to yourself? Who do you think you are? You think you deserve that?"