The CEO's Secret Obsession-Chapter 155: Benjamin’s Victory

Benjamin closed his eyes not in relief but in satisfaction.

"Timeline?" he asked calmly.

"Within days. Funds will be moved tomorrow morning and then we will move forward with the transfer. "

There was a pause.

"And?" Benjamin prompted.

"There were no complications," the man added carefully. "No objections and no suspicion. It’s a clean deal."

Benjamin exhaled slowly, the tension he hadn’t acknowledged all evening finally loosening its grip on his chest.

"Good," he said. "You will be compensated."

He ended the call and set the phone down with deliberate care.

For a long moment, he simply sat there.

After years of negotiations, dead ends, rejections, inflated offers that went nowhere, years of living in constant fear and anxiety, that land was finally his.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple lightly as fatigue settled into his bones but beneath it was something close to peace. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The kind of peace that came when a long war finally ended.

"At last," he muttered.

Whatever ghosts were buried beneath Willowood, whatever past he had locked away there, they were coming home to him.

Benjamin Reid allowed himself one rare indulgence.

His lips curved upwards and a sense of relief slowly enveloped his body.

He got up and poured himself a drink to enjoy his much awaited victory.

.....

[Carter Mansion—Evelyn’s Room]

Late night wrapped the house in stillness.

Evelyn lay on her bed with her phone tucked between her shoulder and cheek and her fingers absently tracing patterns on the blanket as she listened to Alexander breathe on the other end.

"You sound quiet," he said softly. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing important." She smiled faintly. "Dad and I talked after dinner."

"Oh?" He shifted, settling in. "That sounds serious."

"Not serious," she said. "It was just practical."

There was a brief pause before she added, "We finalized the Willowood land deal today."

Alexander frowned slightly, more curious than alarmed. "Willowood land?"

"Yeah," Evelyn replied. "It’s been in the family forever. Grandpa bought it thinking the area would develop faster but it never really did. Dad transferred it to my name a few years ago."

"So now he decided to sell?"

"He had been getting offers for years," she said. "This one was finally good enough to make sense. He thought holding onto it any longer would just be sentimental stubbornness."

Alexander hummed thoughtfully. "That sounds like him."

Evelyn smiled. "It really does."

She shifted onto her side. "He asked what I wanted to do. If I wanted to keep it just because it was ours."

"And?" Alexander asked.

"I told him to sell it," she said simply. "The land never meant more to me than the people who bought it. Grandpa’s intention was always security and not nostalgia."

That answer eased something in Alexander.

"Then it’s the right call," he said. "You are honoring why it existed in the first place."

Evelyn let out a quiet breath. "That’s exactly what Dad said."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Alexander smiled to himself. "You know I like hearing you talk about these things. It makes everything feel real."

She laughed softly. "As opposed to what? The fairy-tale version of us?"

"As opposed to the version where I don’t get to see your face the whole day before sleeping," he said.

Her expression softened instantly. "You are still sulking, aren’t you?"

"A little," he admitted. "I don’t like rules that keep me away from you."

"We will survive," she teased gently. "Barely."

He chuckled. "Barely."

Her voice dropped, tender now. "Just a few more days."

"I know," he said quietly. "After that, you won’t be explaining land deals to me over the phone. You will be doing it in person."

"And you will pretend to listen," she shot back.

"I always listen to you."

She smiled, eyes closing. "Goodnight, Alexander."

"Goodnight, Evelyn."

The call ended with warmth lingering between them, calm, trusting and unaware that the decision made so easily tonight would soon force truths into the open neither of them were ready to face.

....

[One Day Before the Wedding]

Alexander adjusted the cuff of his jacket, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. Lucas was already outside, impatiently revving the engine with the bachelor-party energy written all over him.

Before Alexander could leave, his phone rang.

He frowned slightly and answered. "Carl?"

There was a brief pause before Carl spoke. "Sir, I am sorry to disturb you. I know you are about to leave."

Alexander straightened. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing urgent," Carl said quickly. "It’s about the vendor restructuring we discussed last month. There was a discrepancy in the projections. It’s small but I didn’t want it sitting unresolved."

Alexander exhaled, already switching into work mode. "Email me the numbers. I will loop Dad in and get back to you."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

There was another pause, then Carl added, a little hesitant, "And congratulations, sir. I will see you tomorrow."

Alexander smiled faintly. "You are coming. right?"

"Of course," Carl replied without hesitation. "I wouldn’t miss it."

"Good," Alexander said. "I will see you then."

He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket, expression thoughtful now.

"I will be right there," he called out toward the door. "Give me five minutes."

Instead of heading straight out, he turned toward his father’s study to tell him about the issue before heading out.

....

[Benjamin’s Study]

When Alexander arrived, the study door was ajar.

"Dad?" Alexander called lightly as he stepped inside.

But there was no answer.

The room was empty, lights dimmed with the faint scent of old books and polished wood lingering in the air.

Benjamin’s desk was neat as always but not untouched.

Alexander turned to leave then he stopped.

A file lay near the edge of the desk, partially covered by another folder with the bold lettering caught his eye instantly.

WILLOWOOD

His chest tightened not sharply but just enough to make him pause.

The word ’Willowood’ sounded familiar.

Alexander raised his brows when he realized that it was Evelyn who had mentioned during one of their late night conversations.

The file instantly stirred his curiosity.

Alexander hesitated only a second before reaching for the file....

.....