The Replacement He Never Wanted
Addison spoke briefly and directly, making her request clear in only a few words. On the other side, Gordon responded quickly. Once he understood what she needed, he wasted no time in taking action. Since he was already close to the location of the Medical Symposium, Gordon was able to deliver the dress right away. After ensuring everything was in order, Addison finally felt a sense of relief. She ended the call without hesitation. Just as she tapped the end button, someone beside her offered her a white item. Without thinking, Addison instinctively gestured to decline, saying, "It's fine." The person, after being turned down, didn't lower the object but instead kept it raised, clearly determined to give it to her. It seemed that if Addison refused, he was ready to continue holding it out. "Um ... " Noticing the object still held up in the air without any sign of being retracted, Addison became confused. She raised her eyebrows slightly and turned her attention to the person offering it. Her eyes moved from his defined knuckles, his nose, and then to his forehead. Finally, it rested on his pair of deep, captivating eyes. His eyelids were narrow and elongated, his nose bridge high and straight—a strikingly refined and handsome face, with a subtle touch of Solvenian features blended in. Addison felt a slight stir in her heart, sensing that the person before her looked somewhat familiar. Where had I seen him before? She couldn't quite remember. "Is there something you want?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. Ben White remained silent, simply staring at her while holding a soft white woolen blanket in his hand.Addison had no intention of accepting it. She just had the feeling that this man seemed familiar, suggesting that they had crossed paths before, but were not acquainted. She had no intention of accepting the woolen blanket from the man. Noticing that she wasn't taking it, Ben let out a quiet sigh to himself. However, he had anticipated this reaction, so his expression remained calm and composed, his demeanor still gentle as he held the blanket. Yet, there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, as if he was debating whether to say something or not. Seeing that he remained standing, Addison raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Her initial thought was to ask him to leave, as he appeared unwilling to go. For some reason, before she could say anything, her attention was drawn to the man's arm. She hadn't expected him to be so slender ... Yet, surprisingly strong? The fact that he had held the blanket for so long without letting go suggested he must work out regularly. As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a voice say, "Miss, I believe you need this woolen blanket." The voice was soft and warm, carrying a touch of hesitation and awkwardness. The sound of the man's voice brought Addison back to reality. Ben still held the blanket in one hand, but with the other, he raised it slightly, pointing toward the upper part of Addison's skirt. What? Addison followed his gaze and looked down at herself. The wine stains on her dress had been addressed, but only in a hasty way, so they weren't entirely gone. As time passed, the wine had soaked further into the fabric, with a few drops slowly trickling down her collarbone and chest, leaving marks along her cleavage.Additionally, the material of her dress was quite thin, so the wine ran down her waist, fueling endless imagination. Addison's face turned bright red immediately. She hadn't realized how much her upper body had been soaked. Although her clothes were wet, Ben, sitting across from her, seemed to feel even more uncomfortable than she did. Particularly when she followed his gaze and noticed the awkwardness of her situation, his discomfort only grew. If she hadn't known any better, she might have assumed he was the one who had gotten wet. "Here ... for you." Ben once again offered the woolen blanket. This time, Addison didn't turn it down. She accepted the blanket from his hands with a hesitant look and quietly murmured, "Thank you." "No ... no need to thank me," he replied, his voice slightly uneasy. From Ben's view, Addison's upper body was nearly drenched, and her chest was faintly visible under the fabric of her dress. The dampness caused her delicate dress to cling to her body, highlighting her elegant figure and allure. He quickly turned his eyes away, as though he had been burned. Addison didn't notice his small reaction. She was too overwhelmed by her own embarrassment to focus on anything else. She swiftly grabbed the woolen blanket, feeling its softness and the faint scent of the man it carried. She didn't think about the difference between men and women. She simply wrapped the blanket around herself, ensuring it was snug and covered completely. It wasn't until the blanket brushed against her skin, spreading warmth throughout her body, that she paused her movements. "Thank you," she murmured softly. Addison's cheeks turned a little pink, and her features seemed to stand out more, looking both darker and purer with a touch of embarrassment. It was a stark contrast to the first time Ben had seen her. Back then, she appeared mature and distant, like a goddess, untouchable by mere mortals. But now, she seemed more grounded, making him feel that the woman before him was more accessible. Ben's mind wandered, and he casually said, "You're welcome." Maybe because of the woolen blanket, Addison's demeanor softened significantly, no longer resisting as she had before. However, she only stopped resisting, still maintaining a distance of about a yard from him. Ben was considerate, not trying to take advantage of her lowered guard to move closer. He understood that she had already forgotten about him earlier and didn't recall his earlier actions. But he wasn't bothered by her forgetting him so quickly. In his mind, he felt that the goddess had no need to remember any mortals. The two of them kept a respectful distance. "Um ... do you need to change your clothes? My driver is nearby, and he can bring you something to change into," Ben asked carefully. "I'm fine. My clothes will arrive soon," Addison remarked. "Then ... could you tell me your name?" Addison blinked. "I ... " Before Ben could hear her response, his phone rang, breaking the calm between them. It was Gordon on the line. Addison answered the call, flashing a polite smile. "My apologies, the person delivering the clothes has arrived. I'll go grab them." Ben's eager expression quickly faded. He spoke up, "Oh ... then go ahead."Addison lifted her skirt and made her way to the door, moving with precision and purpose. Ben remained where he was, his eyes reflecting a trace of disappointment. Midway, Addison seemed to recall something and paused. "Did we meet just now?" She appeared to recognize the man. "Huh?" Ben was momentarily confused by her question. Before he could process it, she had already walked off, her skirt trailing behind her. Only the faint sound of her voice thanking him remained in his ears. "Thanks for the blanket." Unable to follow her, Ben stood there, lost in thought. He replayed her earlier question in his mind. She asked ... if we had met before? So, she actually remembered me? Ben's eyes brightened in an instant.
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