Chapter 1493
Caden didn't press him. He had other priorities.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
Glancing at the bag, he asked, "So, you brought the cash, right?"
"Of course. It's not every day you ask me for a favor," Ben replied, sliding the bag over. "It's exactly $20,000. I just withdrew it, so if it's not enough, just let me know. Between us, don't worry about the whole 'borrow and return' thing. You'll pay it back when you can, and if not, it's no big deal." Caden hesitated as he held the bag in his hands. Once he opened that zipper, there would be no turning back.
Ben had always treated him well, genuinely seeing him as a brother. But, no matter how generous a friend might be, it could never compare to having wealth of one's own.
After a moment of wavering, Caden made his decision and unzipped the bag. Inside, stacks of cash were neatly arranged. He dumped them out onto the table, giving a quick count to estimate the total amount. "You really thought I'd short you?" Ben laughed.
"It's not that," Caden said, shaking his head. "I just thought you'd add more than I asked. Look, I asked for $20,000, but you slipped in $24,000."
Caden handed the extra stacks of cash back to Ben. "You didn't have to."
"I already withdrew it. Just keep it," Ben replied firmly. "Consider it a gesture for your grandmother. It's yours now."
Caden nodded, lifting his glass. "No need for more words between us. Tonight, let's drink until we drop."
They tossed back drink after drink, unaware that someone nearby had been recording their entire exchange.
Two hours in, Ben had lost count of how many rounds they had gone through. Starting with beer, which barely made a dent, he soon switched to harder liquor, hoping to drown out the thoughts of Jamie that kept surfacing.
Finally, with enough alcohol, he managed to get himself to a point of near oblivion. "Ben?" Caden nudged him. "Come on, I'll get you home."
But when Ben didn't respond, Caden hesitated and reached for his phone, planning to unlock it with Ben's fingerprint. Just as he was about to press Ben's finger to the screen, Ben's eyes fluttered open, meeting his directly.
Caden quickly set the phone down. "You're awake. I was going to call someone to pick you up since I don't know where you live these days."
Caden, coming from an ordinary background, could only dream of Ben's lifestyle. All these years as a judge, and he still could barely afford a modest apartment.
Ben, on the other hand, had access to countless properties, always a place to go. That knowledge stirred a quiet bitterness within him.
"I'll handle the call myself," Ben
replied, opening his contacts.
Without even thinking, he scro
ve
the very bottom, instinctively seeking Jamie's name.
In that moment, even in his drunken haze, she was the only person he genuinely wanted to call to come and get him.