Seeing Bennett's silence, Adrian eyed him suspiciously. He meant to confront Bennett about any hidden agendas, but when he asked the question, it sounded different.

“Why have you suddenly decided to help us?" Adrian asked, his gaze locked on Bennett. "Moss is your uncle, and just yesterday, we were at each other's throats. Suddenly, you're with us now? What are you planning?"

Adrian's tone was thick with suspicion. Bennett didn't answer right away. Instead, he shot a look towards Ariana.

It was because of her.

His decision to side with Holden and oppose his uncle, Moss, was influenced entirely by Ariana.

To Bennett's surprise, Ariana looked at him when he looked at her.

Her look mirrored Adrian's, both curious and skeptical, which made Bennett uneasy.

The moment Bennett made eye contact with Ariana, he paused. Then, his ears warmed up.

Fortunately, the dim light in the room concealed this.

Clearing his throat to hide his discomfort, Bennett scoffed at Adrian and answered, "I'm just trying to do a good deed, and maybe teach my uncle a lesson while I'm at it."

“That's bullshit!" Adrian exclaimed. "You, doing a good deed? Start by freeing the slaves at your estate."

"No," Bennett said dismissively. "Helping you is the first and the last good deed I plan on doing. Don't expect it to happen again."

Adrian's expression twisted with skepticism at Bennett's claims.

"You're not trying to help us escape just so you can recapture us in your estate, are you?" Adrian asked warily.

Bennett leaned against the wall, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Who knows? It all depends on whether you can escape again."

Adrian didn't believe what Bennett had said before, but he believed Bennett's words this time.

Enraged, Adrian gritted his teeth and exclaimed in anger, "You're heartless, despicable, a total jerk..."

Bennett seemed to enjoy the back-and-forth. He matched Adrian's insults with sharp comebacks of his own, cleverly staying clear of any foul language yet still striking hard.

Their quarrel intensified until both were poised to throw punches, rolling up their sleeves.

“Enough!" Ariana intervened, pulling Adrian back to prevent the fight.