Chapter 709

Mira grabbed her phone; it was the private eye on the line.

Her face went from pissed to dead serious in a heartbeat. "Did you find out?"

"Yeah, the dude who called you is Bennie Stout."

Mira's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? Say that again." Her ears started ringing.

"You heard me. It's your ex, Bennie."

"Isn't he still locked up? He had like three more years..." Mira's voice shook, her face going pale. This was way worse than anything she could imagine.

"He got out early for good behavior, like half a month ago. He's been tailing you and digging into your life ever since. The day he snapped those pics, he was right behind you, and he made that call too."

A wave of dread washed over her. Mira's whole body shook, and her ears went numb. She couldn't hear a thing.

All she could feel was the old fear Bennie had drilled into her.

Bennie was her first boyfriend after college. Back then, she was young and dumb, thought he was hot and loaded from his own biz. She fell for his sweet talk, hook, line, and sinker.

But within a month, she found out he was a total player, always hitting up nightclubs with other chicks. Worse, he was a hardcore gambler, betting big.

His company tanked, and he blew all his cash. He even swiped tens of thousands from her account and lost it all. When she tried to dump him, he went nuts and clung to her, almost driving her insane. Luckily, he got busted during a gambling spree and got five years. But now, after just three years, he was out and back to his creepy ways.

Mira thought, 'What do I do? Call the cops? But if I do, what if Bennie sends those pics to Anthony?'

Mira was torn.

In her panic, the doorbell rang, making her jump.

She was as jittery as a cat.

It had to be the takeout she ordered.

Mira walked over to open the door, but the sight of the person outside made her blood run cold.

It was Bennie.

Mira tried to slam the door shut, but it was too late. Bennie held it open with one hand, grinning wickedly. "What? Baby, not happy to see me?"

Mira yelled, "Get lost!"

She pushed the door with all her might, but she was no match for him. Bennie shoved his way in.

Mira grabbed her phone. "Don't come any closer, or I'll call the cops." She was shaking with fear.

"Call the cops? You want me back in the slammer? How heartless. Didn't think about me once in those three years?" Bennie stepped closer.

"You're a monster!" Mira spat at him. "I never want to see you again. Get out."

"Women are so cold. I thought about you every day in prison, and the first thing I did when I got out was come see you. Look how much I missed you. How can you treat me like this?"

Mira started crying. "Please, let me go... Bennie... we're done. Stop harassing me."

"No way. You promised me once we'd be together forever. Did you forget?" Bennie grinned like a maniac.

Mira felt like dying. Bennie had always been possessive. If she talked to a male colleague too long, he'd lose it and even slapped her once. But he'd always apologize and buy her gifts, so she forgave him. Now, after prison, he was even more twisted and terrifying.

Once you get tangled up with a guy like him, your life's toast, and the whole ordeal will rip you apart and drive you nuts.

Mira was shaking like a leaf. "Don't come any closer. Stay the hell away from me!"

In a panic, she grabbed a fruit knife.

"What? Gonna stab me? Go ahead, right here in the heart." Bennie, acting like a total psycho, grabbed her hand.

Mira's hand was trembling so bad, the knife clattered to the floor. She couldn't hurt anyone, and tears streamed down her face. "What do you want?"

"You had someone snooping on me, huh? You know I'm after that two hundred grand. Relax, babe. As long as you keep the cash flowing, I won't mess up your job. I need you working so you can bankroll me."

"I won't support you. Get out!" Mira screamed.

"That's not how this works. We were together, and before I got locked up, I bought you all sorts of stuff. Now that I'm in a jam, you gotta help me out. If you ditch me, I won't let it slide. I already blew that two hundred grand. Got plans with some buddies tonight to keep the game going. You need to get me another two hundred grand."

Mira just sobbed. "I don't have that kind of money."

Bennie shot back, "You're the secretary at Eilish Group now, making bank. You must've saved up a few million by now. I'm just asking for two hundred grand. Don't be so tight. Or else..."

Mira snapped, "Then send the photos. If I lose my job, you get nothing."

"Threatening me? You think I'm scared? We can go down together. I've already done time, so I'm not afraid. But you, with your soft skin, will get eaten alive in prison. I heard female inmates are even worse than the guys, especially to newbies..."

Bennie touched her face, and Mira shivered even more.

Bennie went on, "Be smart. We're in this together. As long as you take care of me, give me money, and occasionally some gambling cash, I promise you'll be fine."

"Just kill me..." Mira cried and begged.

"No way. How could I? If I kill you, who'll support me? Besides, I still love you. I've missed you so much..." Bennie said, pushing her onto the sofa, ignoring her screams and curses, tearing her...

Mira cried out in pain, thinking, 'Anthony, save me...'

Juniper hadn't slept a wink all night and had a nightmare where Hera was chasing her with a knife.

Dragging her sore body and sporting two dark circles under her eyes, she made it to the office.

The female colleagues immediately shot her jealous looks.

"Going on a business trip with Mr. Eilish, you must be on cloud nine, huh? Stop pretending."

"Yeah, poor Mira. She's busting her butt for the company, only to get pushed out by some shady moves and now recovering at home. So sad."

"Yeah, they say good people get rewarded. But it seems like good people get stomped on, while bad women thrive. It's so unfair."

"Does this mean we should all turn into bad people and mistresses?"

"I wouldn't do it. People need to have some morals. Some mistresses might be smug for a bit, but they'll get what's coming to them eventually."

"Yeah, it's not that there's no payback, just that it hasn't hit yet. It's coming soon."

"Hurry up. I can't wait to see it..."

"Do you all have a lot of free time at work?" A cold, deep voice cut in.