Men trust their eyes, women trust their ears.

This saying, which many men find disgusting, is something women actually love to hear.

Grace Clark stopped thinking about it. Seeing that Eric Bennett was still silent, she said, half annoyed and half amused, “A grown man, acting all wishy-washy and indecisive.”

“I was thinking…” Eric Bennett finally smiled and said, “I’d turn around and run.”

What? Grace Clark nearly fainted. She hadn’t expected Eric Bennett to give her such an answer. Is this guy even a man?

Could it be… this young lady… Grace Clark was annoyed, but in truth, no woman would be happy to hear such an answer. Before she could think more, Eric Bennett said, “Because I know you’d definitely redirect all those swords and blades onto me.”

Grace Clark couldn’t help but laugh, her earlier annoyance vanishing into thin air. Knowing Eric Bennett was joking about what had just happened, Grace Clark explained, “Earlier, I handed you the land deed because, as a woman, it wouldn’t look good for me to be tussling with them. Who knows if my big brother would go crazy and try to snatch it?”

So if I end up dead, would that look any better? Eric Bennett thought to himself.

Grace Clark could tell what Eric Bennett was thinking and said slowly, “With me here, my big brother wouldn’t dare do anything to you openly.”

Hearing you say that really makes me worry, Eric Bennett thought with a frown.

Grace Clark, however, didn’t notice Eric Bennett’s distress. She pondered, “As for Henry Walker, he’s a scoundrel, but he wouldn’t dare openly fall out with the Cao family in Xudu. You don’t know, the The Walker Family is loyal to the Sikong, but since they’re an outside clan, they always want to keep my father under their thumb.”

That’s actually understandable.

Eric Bennett certainly knew about the relationships between Cao Cao, David Walker, William Clark, and the others. The loyalty of David Walker and William Clark to Cao Cao is well documented in history, but isn’t everyone fighting for fame and fortune?

In his own era, no matter how rich or powerful a family was, there were always open and hidden struggles among blood relatives, with plenty of backstabbing. The times may have changed, but human nature hasn’t.

“Miss, why are you explaining all this to a servant?” Daisy complained, her legs sore from standing.

Grace Clark blushed and scolded lightly, “Mind your own business. Get in the carriage, let’s go.”

She got into the carriage and entered the compartment, her blush fading a little. She heard Eric Bennett outside say, “Miss, open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden ones are hard to guard against. Now that everyone knows I have the land deed, they might come after me. How about I leave it in your carriage?”

“So you want them to come after me instead? Don’t you have any guts at all?” Grace Clark pouted.

“That’s not it.” Eric Bennett thought to himself that this woman could be really smart, but also completely unreasonable at times. “I mean, if the land deed is with you, and something really happens, I can run and draw the pursuers away. How about that?”

Grace Clark held back a laugh and took the land deed from Eric Bennett through the carriage window. Seeing him pick up the bundle with the incense burner again, she said softly, “Just leave the incense burner in the carriage.”

Why didn’t you say so earlier?

I thought this incense burner was destined for stardom and needed to be carried around for good luck.

Eric Bennett immediately placed the incense burner in the carriage and couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, why are you carrying this incense burner around?”

“None of your business!” Daisy scolded from the carriage.

Grace Clark moved her cherry lips, wanting to say something, but finally just said, “Let’s go.”

The driver cracked the whip, and the carriage slowly moved forward along the long street. Inside, Grace Clark peeked through the gap in the curtain at Eric Bennett walking alongside, thinking to herself, I told you to put the incense burner in the carriage to lighten your load, and you don’t even thank me? So rude. In the next moment, the young lady couldn’t help but laugh at herself, thinking, What’s wrong with me? Why do I care if he thanks me or not?

The carriage jolted along, Grace Clark’s thoughts in turmoil, while Eric Bennett’s heart was pounding. He thought, The young lady said just now that with her around, Emma Clark wouldn’t do anything. But what about when she’s not around? Am I supposed to sleep in Grace Clark’s boudoir?

He always tried to keep a low profile, but it seemed that as long as he was around this young lady, unless he was buried in a coffin, he had to be ready to get chopped at any time.

All the way, Eric Bennett was on edge, but fortunately, they arrived safely at the Cao family’s pawnshop.

The Cao family’s pawnshop was a standalone compound, quite spacious, with two stone lions standing guard at the entrance. When the young lady’s carriage arrived, someone immediately came out to greet her and escorted Grace Clark into the courtyard.

As soon as Grace Clark entered the pawnshop, an old man came out to greet her with a smile, “Miss, please come inside.”

Grace Clark saw the old man and got straight to the point, “Mr. Turner, my third uncle sent me to ask if there’s any news about that matter?”

Mr. Turner glanced at Eric Bennett, lowered his voice, and said, “Miss, may I have a word with you in private?”

Grace Clark nodded, motioned for Eric Bennett to wait outside the main hall, and went inside with Mr. Turner. Mr. Turner entered the wooden-railed counter, took out a key, opened an iron cabinet, and retrieved a small bundle from the top compartment, which he gently unwrapped.