Chapter 1673: I'm Planning to Withdraw

“When are you planning to marry Thomas?”

Benjamin Shaw had decided to get everything out today in one go, to ask until he was satisfied, clear everything up at once, and then withdraw completely; otherwise he’d end up backing out reluctantly, against his will.

What was with this guy today? Why was he firing off one question after another? And all of them hitting the most sensitive spots.

Alice Turner had no idea what Benjamin Shaw was after, nor what exactly he wanted to do, but she still gave him a very honest answer. “Thomas and I have already got our marriage license. We’ll hold the wedding in a while.”

Since he asked, she’d give him an answer. Whether he wanted to hear what she had to say or not, that was no longer something she could control.

Benjamin actually already knew that Thomas Fisher and Alice Turner had registered their marriage. Now that they had the license, the wedding date obviously wouldn’t be far off.

He was asking her all this just to force himself to give up completely. Hearing these words from her own mouth was completely different in effect and impact from hearing them from someone else.

“Thank you for giving me one honest answer after another today.” He really was grateful to her, grateful she hadn’t fobbed him off with lies or tried to deceive him.

Being deliberately thanked by the other party just for telling the truth—this was the first time Alice had run into something like that. And the person saying thank you was her ex-husband, Benjamin Shaw.

Why did it feel so weird? Was she supposed to say “You’re welcome” back?

“I’m also grateful you were willing to listen to me say all this today.” Saying “you’re welcome” would feel awkward, so she copied him and thanked him instead. That way it kind of evened things out between them.

“Aren’t we being a bit too polite?”

Benjamin hadn’t expected Alice to mimic him like that and say thanks. Seeing her parrot his words, he suddenly felt much lighter and gave her a smile.

Alice smiled back at him. “Yes, we’re being too polite.”

Still, it was better if they stayed polite. They couldn’t afford to act too casual with each other, because the relationship between them was just too awkward.

“I’ve decided to step back. Please don’t get so touched that you break down sobbing, or I’ll think you can’t bear to let me go.” Benjamin got all of that out in one breath, speaking faster than usual. He was afraid if he slowed down, he wouldn’t be able to say it.

Now that was a huge surprise—an unexpectedly pleasant one.

Alice stared at Benjamin, looking him over again and again. Once she was sure he wasn’t just messing with her, her face instantly showed pure disbelief. Then she quickly schooled her expression.

She steadied herself and spoke, very serious and very sincere. “Thank you.”

She really was grateful to him—grateful that he was choosing to step away.

She knew that him backing off meant he’d accepted, deep down, the fact that she was with his good brother now.

“Thank me for what? For not pestering you anymore in the future?” Benjamin’s lips curved in a smile, though that smile carried more than a hint of sourness.

Alice gave a smile that was half joking, half serious. “If I tell you the truth, are you going to hit me?”

He would never hit a woman—on that point she actually had faith in him.

“Whether I hit people or not, you’ll know once you try.” Benjamin also smiled at her, half joking, half serious.

From his smile, Alice got a very definite answer. She picked up the coffee in front of her. “Today I’ll use coffee instead of alcohol and drink to you. Thank you for saving me that day, and thank you for bowing out so considerately.”

With that, she tapped the coffee cup in her hand lightly against the man’s cup in front of him.