Chapter 366 The One Who Hurt You Will Pay the Price
After making their agreement, the two finished dinner and headed to the club.
Evelyn generously ordered a whole table of drinks.
Knowing Benjamin had something on his mind, she didn't ask since he didn't bring it up. She just quietly drank with him.
One glass after another, they eventually started drinking straight from the bottles.
Maybe Benjamin drank too much, and his guard was down.
Or perhaps it was because no one had been talking and the space was too quiet that Benjamin started the conversation himself, chatting with Evelyn.
"My mother's death anniversary is coming up, and those people from the White family don't feel guilty at all. Instead, they're organizing a birthday party for that woman."
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "They say the birthday party needs to be grand and luxurious, and they want to invite all the wealthy and noble families in Harmony City to celebrate with her."
Evelyn looked very surprised.
She hadn't expected that his mother's death anniversary was actually his stepmother's birthday.
And the White family was making a big deal out of celebrating that woman's birthday!
Where did this leave Benjamin and his mother?
The Whites were going too far!
Evelyn felt angry. Looking at Benjamin's emotionless face, she didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.
The person feeling worst about this must be him.
No wonder he seemed to be in a bad mood tonight.
Benjamin continued talking to himself. "Back then, I believed what they said. I thought my mother really almost killed that woman, so all these years, I've been hiding in Emerald City.
Every year on her birthday, I felt guilty and didn't even dare to openly visit my mother's grave.
Each time, I had to sneak around and pay my respects in secret.
It went on like this for so many years before I found out that my mother never killed anyone.
It was all their slander. Isn't that ridiculous?
The victim was slandered even after death.
They feel no guilt and celebrate lavishly every year. How ironic is that?
It's like they're saying she deserved to die, and days like this should be celebrated with joy."
Evelyn felt terrible hearing this, anger burning in her chest. "They're absolute jerks! So awful!"
After cursing, she started comforting him. "Benjamin, don't be sad. Evil people will get what they deserve. Those who harm and hurt others will eventually pay the price!"
Hearing this, Benjamin seemed to space out for a moment.
The next second, a cold, dark look suddenly appeared in his eyes. "Yes, pay the price!
I'll make those people pay the price completely!"
This was the first time Evelyn had seen him show such an expression, and she felt inexplicably alarmed.
She felt like Benjamin was making some kind of decision.
Was it her imagination?
Benjamin stopped talking and kept his head down, drinking heavily.
Evelyn couldn't ask anything and could only drink silently with him.
They drank until who knows what time. The table was covered with scattered bottles, and the room reeked of alcohol.
Most of it was drunk by Benjamin.
Evelyn hadn't drunk that much, so in the end, only Benjamin passed out drunk.
She was still relatively sober and called his assistant over to take Benjamin home.
But unexpectedly, Benjamin's drunk state wasn't much better than hers.
When getting in the car, he held onto her waist and wouldn't let go, mumbling incoherently, "No, don't go, Mom..."
Hearing that last word, Evelyn's expression almost cracked.
That was going a bit too far, wasn't it?
No matter how mature she was, she wasn't old enough to be his mother.
Evelyn really wanted to pull him away and complain.
But when she looked down, she saw Benjamin was completely out of it.
That comment was probably just drunk talk.
He must be feeling bad and dreaming of his deceased mother.
Evelyn wasn't cold-hearted, so she couldn't bring herself to push him away.
In the end, she got in the car with a headache and told the assistant, "I'll help you get him home first. After we settle him in, you can take me back."
---
After her vacation, Olivia returned to work at the research institute in good spirits.
She was in a good mood, but that didn't mean everyone else was.
As soon as she entered the team's lab, she saw Zoey walking toward her angrily, demanding, "Olivia, did you do something to Charlotte's hand?"
Facing her accusation, Olivia looked at her calmly and said, "Zoey, do you have proof? If not, don't talk nonsense."
Zoey was already full of anger.
Seeing that Olivia wasn't guilty or remorseful but instead so righteous made her even angrier.
She shouted, "I heard all about it! You had a conflict with Charlotte, and because you held a grudge, you had your boyfriend go after her.
You ruined her hand, and that wasn't enough—you also ruined her engagement.
Olivia, aren't you going too far?
No matter what conflict you had, you shouldn't have done that. It's too vicious!
Are you jealous that Charlotte comes from a good family and was marrying well?"
At this point, she became sarcastic. "No wonder the Johnson family in Emerald City didn't want you."
Olivia almost laughed at her indiscriminate accusations. "Zoey, what did Charlotte give you to make you so obedient and willing to be her lapdog?
If you'd actually looked into it properly, you'd know that Charlotte tried to steal my things first and wanted to hit me.
She relied on her fighting skills and tried to attack me.
My boyfriend was just protecting me. Whatever happened to her is completely her own fault. What does it have to do with me?"
Zoey argued, "Charlotte may have a big temper, but it's just minor stuff. She wouldn't really do anything to you.
But you? You were so vicious you ruined her hand!
Do you know she's the heiress of this generation of the Ross family?
Her hands are meant to heal people and save lives. What you did is no different from destroying her!
You're also studying medicine. Don't you know how important hands are to a doctor?
You don't deserve to be in the research institute!
Now, go apologize to Charlotte immediately and make amends!
Otherwise, I absolutely won't work in the same group with you anymore!"
Olivia smiled and replied calmly, "Suit yourself. But I'll say this, Zoey—this isn't the place for your tantrums.
If you delay the research progress, you can explain it to the higher-ups yourself."
After saying this, Olivia turned to leave, not wanting to waste more time with her.
But Zoey was furious and grabbed Olivia's hand. "Stop right there!"
Olivia wasn't prepared and stumbled, almost falling. Fortunately, she caught herself on the table.
But where Zoey grabbed her hurt.
Her temper flared. She shook off Zoey's hand and looked at her angrily. "What else do you want?"
Zoey wouldn't back down. "Olivia, I'm not asking you!
The Ross family isn't someone you can afford to offend!
And the Morgan family—you ruined their engagement. Crushing you would be as easy as crushing an ant for them!"
Olivia was a bit surprised.
She knew the Morgan family had called off the engagement because they feared Andrew.
She thought Zoey knew this too, but apparently not?
So why was she rushing over to stand up for Charlotte?
While Olivia was thinking this over, footsteps sounded from outside.
They both looked back and saw Oscar coming.
Oscar noticed their expressions weren't right and asked with a smile, "What's going on? What's making you unhappy so early in the morning?"
Zoey didn't hide anything and said directly, "Yesterday Charlotte and she had an argument. She held a grudge and not only ruined Charlotte's hand but also ruined her engagement with the Morgan family!
I just found out about this today, so I'm telling her to go apologize to Charlotte!"
Then she glared at Olivia viciously and said, "Charlotte knows Oscar treats you well and can't do anything about you, so now she's directing her anger at Oscar!
It's all your fault! Do you know how hard it's been for Oscar's family to maintain their position?
If not for the Ross family's protection, they would have declined even more!
Olivia, you can't be so selfish!"
Olivia finally understood why Zoey was so angry.
But she thought it was ridiculous.
How could this be blamed on her?
"Zoey, are you out of your mind?
Charlotte was arrogant and bullying first, then tried to attack me. Everything she got, she deserved.
Why should I apologize to her?
Besides, this is a conflict between her and me. Oscar's family has nothing to do with me.
If Charlotte takes it out on Oscar's family, it shows she's unreasonable and domineering. Shouldn't you be talking to her?
Also, Charlotte has problems, but are the elders of the Ross family also so unreasonable?
Would they really blame Oscar's family because of her reckless behavior?"
She hoped Zoey had some sense and looked at Oscar calmly. "Oscar, I don't really understand the situation between your family and the Ross family, but with your abilities, you shouldn't be controlled by others, right?
Depending on others isn't a long-term solution.
If you want to have a say, your own ability is what matters most!"
If the Ross family were a family of good character, that would be one thing.
But from what Olivia understood, a family that could raise a daughter like Charlotte couldn't be that good at its core.
If Oscar's family didn't find another path, even if they weren't abandoned by the Ross family in the future, they'd eventually be dragged down by them.
Oscar naturally understood her point.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Zoey interrupted sharply. "Enough! Olivia, what right do you have to say such things?
Aren't you yourself relying on the Medica Vitae Sect's protection to have your current status?"
Then, looking at Oscar, she said earnestly, "Oscar, don't listen to this woman's nonsense. She just doesn't want to see you do well!
Everything I'm doing today is for you. I know what your goals are!"