Chapter 236: Gave Her Freedom

Because Elizabeth couldn't get over this emotional hurdle and wanted to regain the attention of others, she deliberately pretended to have no appetite, thinking it might change how others felt about her. However, this tactic backfired, and no one seemed to care at all. Over time, she stopped her efforts, but she lost dignity in the process. Now, when she heard others making such comments, it was already a challenge for her to maintain a composed expression. She couldn't bring herself to say anything else. "Well, come on in. Today is Jack's birthday, and I bet he's delighted that you all could make it. Later, we'll have a good meal and enjoy ourselves. There are probably some other activities planned too," Elizabeth said with a smile, although she wasn't very familiar with the details of these events and procedures, as she hadn't been involved in any. She simply exchanged a few pleasantries. The other guests nodded and greeted Elizabeth before proceeding inside. Fortunately, the mansion was quite spacious, and it could easily accommodate hundreds or even thousands of people without feeling overcrowded. The people who came to the mansion that day were all carefully selected upper-class individuals, and it was nearly one person per family, so it didn't get too crowded. By the time Martina finished delivering the gift and left Jack's room, she noticed that quite a few people had already arrived outside, and Benjamin had gone off somewhere else. It was still early, but many people preferred to arrive a bit ahead of time. They all hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to leave an indelible mark in Benjamin's or Jack's hearts. Perhaps it could elevate their businesses to a new level. In any case, each person had their own ideas, which was why so many people arrived early. These individuals also quickly noticed Martina's presence and displayed a similar curiosity as they did when Benjamin and Jack appeared earlier. They were all wondering about Martina's identity, and some of them even engaged in hushed conversations, speculating on various topics. Martina remained composed, showing no special reactions. At most, she gave a casual glance, and then she averted her gaze. Just then, as if by magic, Benjamin suddenly appeared behind Martina. Their presence together instantly drew more attention, and onlookers grew even more curious about her identity. How could she be so close to Benjamin? Others knew that Benjamin was a germophobe, hardly allowing anyone to get close to him. Besides very close individuals, most people were usually kept at a distance. His personality was a significant factor in this. He didn't enjoy engaging with others and kept to himself. So, the fact that this woman received such treatment left everyone surprised and incredulous, especially on Jack's birthday. It was genuinely astonishing and hard to understand. "Who is that woman exactly? She looks strange. I've never seen her before." "Could she be Mr. Jack Walker's granddaughter? But I don't remember he having any granddaughters..." Despite Jack having children, he did not have any granddaughters. This might be one of the reasons he was particularly fond of Martina. Relationships like these were extremely rare, and he naturally favored her even more. However, these were mostly just speculations in everyone's minds. No one could easily discern her true identity. At this point, Jack hadn't made an appearance yet; he remained in his room and intended to come out once everyone had gathered. This way, he wouldn't have to interact too much with the other guests and wouldn't risk appearing disrespectful. Benjamin gently patted Martina's shoulder, and she was startled when she turned to see him. But she quickly regained her composure. "Where were you just now? I didn't see you around," Martina inquired. She had indeed looked around but couldn't find Benjamin. Now that Benjamin had appeared unexpectedly, it was no wonder Martina had such questions. Benjamin's gaze softened as it fell upon Martina. Only she could enjoy such special treatment. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't even dare to think about it. "I had some business to attend to. I went out to take a call in the back garden," Benjamin answered. "The place is getting crowded. If you feel uncomfortable here, why don't you go to the back garden for a while?" Martina did think about it too. Staying here alone would surely attract more gossip. Her presence at the event today was for one primary reason - she wanted to celebrate Jack's birthday together with him. The most important thing was to make Jack happy, and nothing else really mattered. After hearing what Benjamin said, she nodded in agreement, as there was nothing questionable about it. "Sure, let's wait in the back garden for now. We can talk once everyone has gathered." Martina headed towards the back door without looking back, leading directly to the backyard. Most people wouldn't know about this back door, which allowed them to enjoy some peace and quiet. Benjamin followed Martina to the backyard, and they stood quietly near a small fountain. Water intermittently gushed out, producing a soothing sound. Martina stood there silently, not saying a word, even though she could feel Benjamin's presence. They both enjoyed the gentle breeze brushing across their faces. Benjamin rarely felt at ease, but now he did. He had been busy with work for some time and couldn't always follow Martina around, despite his thoughts of postponing his work. But looking at the current situation, it seemed that pushing his work aside wouldn't necessarily have a positive outcome. So he decided to give Martina some personal space, as she had expressed her desire for freedom and her own private area. She didn't want to be easily monitored. Although Martina's words about freedom and personal space had been somewhat casual, Benjamin took them to heart. If giving her some space could help her regain her composure and give him an opportunity, he was more than willing. Well, in reality, it was hard to say whether he was willing or not.