Chapter 98: No Need For Old Rags

"Well, what are you waiting for? Lead the way!" I declared without a shred of hesitation.

Bradford and Valerie exchanged a slow, bewildered glance, utterly stunned by how ridiculously easy it was to buy off their daughter with a flash of credits.

My father shook his head with a quiet, helpless sigh, while a soft, affectionate laugh escaped my mother’s lips.

If I was this comfortable around him—and if money could tame my usual prickliness so instantly—maybe there really was nothing sinister behind his presence after all. They thought.

"Alright, alright," Bradford chuckled softly. "Let us grab our old coats before we step out."

"No need for old rags," Benjamin said lazily, sliding his card back into his tailored jacket. "We’ll pick up proper outerwear at the first store."

I mean, he doesn’t have to go that far, right? But I guess that’s just like any rich arrogant bastard out there. Throwing money around us the way they roll.

As my family scrambled to get ready, I looked at the doorway and paused.

"Wait a minute," I said, eyeing Benjamin up and down. "Your coupe only seats four people comfortably. There are five of us, plus you and your driver. How exactly are we all fitting?"

"Did you think my cousin wouldn’t keep even one car in a mansion this size?" Benjamin asked smoothly, gesturing toward the garage courtyard at the side of the estate.

We walked out onto the stone terrace just as the house manager pressed an automated control panel. The massive glass doors of the side garage slid open, revealing Edgar’s private collection—a row of pristine, high-tier vehicles gleaming under the afternoon sun.

Oh boy! How rich is an Alpha again?

Sitting right at the end was a massive, matte-black luxury SUV bearing the Morningstar crest, big enough to seat an entire squad in absolute comfort.

Sure enough, the house belonged to him, and probably still did. That’s why he didn’t bother taking out his expensive property from the garage.

Just how much does he trust me to even be this careless? Sheesh.

"Edgar left the garage clearance for your family’s personal use," the house manager bowed respectfully, handing the smart key fob directly to me. "Alpha Edgar explicitly noted that Miss Wells and her family may use any vehicle in the fleet at their leisure."

I weighed the heavy metal key in my palm, a faint, satisfied smirk tugging at my lips. This was unexpected. Edgar Morningstar... you really think of everything, don’t you?

"Looks like my driver gets an easy afternoon," Benjamin murmured, casually taking the key fob right out of my hand before I could even object. "Get in. I’ll drive."

?"No thanks. I don’t want an accident," I muttered, side-eyeing him as my brothers sprinted past us like wild animals to claim the spacious leather seats in the back.

?I don’t think they know that this entire situation is fishy just because I say it’s fine. Seriously, the house was enough and now the cars. I’m starting to feel like the fee I’ll have to pay back is quite enormous. Does Edgar want me in debt, perhaps?

?I turned back to Benjamin. "The driver can drive both of us in your car, let another driver take my parents."

?"I really can drive though," he insisted, his tone smooth and unbothered.

?I took a step closer to him, cutting off the space between us. "I know, but it’s going to be hard on you when you have to focus. I don’t want to bother you with something so small, so forget it, Benjamin."

?He looked down at me, and then his lips twisted into a pleased, dark grin. "Are you worried about me?" he asked, his voice eerily quiet as he tilted his head.

?I clicked my tongue, shoving his chest back with one finger. "I just don’t want to get dragged into an accident with you, idiot."

?Benjamin chuckled—a low, resonant sound that vibrated deep in his chest—but he didn’t press the matter further.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the Morningstar key fob back to the house manager, who caught it flawlessly and signaled a second driver from the staff entrance.

?"Have it your way," Benjamin murmured, his thumb lightly brushing the back of my hand before guiding me toward his silver coupe. "My driver it is."

?My parents and brothers loaded into the massive matte-black Morningstar SUV behind us. Through the tinted glass, I could see Jayden and Jordan already squabbling over the rearmost controls, while Valerie looked out at the estate courtyard with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Benjamin sat close, leaning against me, before letting out a long, heavy breath—the sound of tension finally draining from his shoulders. He fixed his eyes on me, because only when his wolf focused on me, did he find peace and everything else went silent.

?Within minutes, both vehicles glided through the heavy iron gates of the estate, carving a path through the elite district toward a place called the Grand Galleria.

?Twenty minutes later, our group descended upon the most expensive, sprawling shopping concourse in the Upper North District.

?The Grand Galleria was a staggering world of polished quartz floors, towering crystal waterfalls, and high-end boutiques where a single shirt cost more than our old house in the slums.

?The moment we walked through the glass archway, my family looked like they had stepped onto an alien planet.

Jayden and Jordan stood frozen, staring up at the floating holographic advertisements, while Valerie nervously clutched her worn purse against her chest, terrified that stepping on the gleaming tile might ruin it.

?"Brianna..." Valerie whispered, looking around at the shoppers dressed in silks and designer tailored suits. "Are you sure we’re allowed in here? Everything looks... astronomically expensive."

"Don’t worry about the price tags, Mom," I said smoothly.

?I did plan to mooch off Benjamin, but not entirely. For my mother’s first purchase, I had it all covered. But before I could pull out my own funds, Benjamin casually reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulled out his matte-black Almond VIP card, and handed it directly to my mother.

?"Consider it a housewarming gift from me," Benjamin said lazily. "Buy whatever you want. Kitchen supplies, furniture, clothes—don’t look at the numbers. If you like it, then buy it."