Chapter 113
Freya looked completely righteous and indignant, as if she felt Benjamin had been wronged.
But Evelyn just laughed out loud, not caring at all about the various looks directed at her.
"If it's so disgusting, why say 'sounds'? Didn't you go to school? Or did you get into Stellar University through connections?"
Everyone's expressions showed a bit of shock.
Someone was pointing at her nose and accusing her of improper behavior, and she was nitpicking grammar?
Freya looked a bit embarrassed but still stared at Evelyn. "So, are you trying to deny it?"
"Deny what?" She pointed her chin at Gerald nearby. "With him here, I can just confront you directly. Why waste my breath?"
Evelyn's casual attitude made a flash of panic cross Freya's eyes.
Things had been arranged already—why wasn't it going as Freya had imagined?
Freya forced down her unease. "What, you did something wrong, and now you want to frame me?"
"I didn't say there was anything between you and him. Why are you so nervous?"
Evelyn clicked her tongue lightly and smiled at Freya. "Looks like there really is something going on between you two that others don't know about."
Evelyn's beautiful eyes moved slightly as her gaze swept between Gerald and Freya.
She hadn't said anything specific, yet somehow put enormous pressure on Freya.
The dance troupe members watching this scene looked a bit confused, unclear about what was actually happening.
"You... you're making false accusations. I feel bad for Benjamin!"
"He loves you so much and has done so much for you, yet you did something to betray him."
"For you, he stood up to pressure from his family, but you..."
At this point, she seemed unable to continue, her eyes red and full of sympathy.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes and was about to speak when she saw the man standing at the door, and a smile played at her lips.
"You feel so bad for him, but I wonder if he needs your sympathy."
"You don't deserve to mention him!"
"And you do? Too bad he won't even spare you a glance. All his attention is on me."
"You..."
"Am I right or not?"
"No!" Freya instinctively wanted to argue, but at the same time, a familiar male voice rang out.
"Yes."
Benjamin's voice sounded, and everyone made way for him.
He walked straight to Evelyn, not looking at Freya once the entire time.
"Are you okay?"
Benjamin's gaze swept over Evelyn, clearly checking if she'd been hurt.
Evelyn felt nothing about this incident except disgust.
But now that Benjamin was asking, she couldn't help acting vulnerable.
Her previously sharp expression turned aggrieved, her red lips pouted, her eyes immediately reddened, and she reached out to him for a hug.
"It was so scary."
He reached out to hold her, comfortingly patting her head. "Don't be scared, don't be scared. It's okay now."
His tone was very gentle, but when he looked at the man on the ground, the coldness in his eyes was impossible to hide.
When Benjamin looked at Freya, his gaze seemed even more icy.
Freya was startled by his look, freezing for several seconds before reacting to the current situation.
"Benjamin," as soon as she spoke, tears fell, "I saw something was wrong here and contacted you right away, but..."
Freya didn't continue, but her aggrieved gaze kept glancing at Evelyn, the meaning clear—
She was worried about Evelyn and contacted Benjamin.
But Evelyn turned it around and accused Freya of setting her up, clearly showing Evelyn had a guilty conscience.
Marcella watched the situation unfold, her eyes slowly turning.
She had no interest in whatever was between Evelyn and Freya, but why couldn't she be the Star Dance Troupe's principal dancer?
"Mr. White," Marcella broke the silence, "Ms. Thomas is clearly shaken. Why don't you take her back to the hotel to rest?"
She sighed. "The performance starts tomorrow. I don't know if Ms. Thomas's condition..."
"Why are you worried about the performance now?" Freya shouted.
If Evelyn left now, how could she continue with the rest of her plan?
Not only would she face punishment from Matthew, but Benjamin probably wouldn't even look at her properly. In her agitation, her voice became sharp and piercing.
The sudden outburst startled everyone.
Especially Marcella—she stared blankly at Freya, her words stuck.
Everyone's expressions showed shock.
Who would have thought that the usually delicate Freya would react so strongly?
Freya secretly pinched her palm, suppressing her emotions.
"Ms. Thomas is such a proud person. The reason I'm so worked up is that this involves her reputation."
"So the priority is to clear this up, otherwise..."
She quickly glanced at Benjamin, but changed what she was going to say: "I'm afraid I won't be able to stay with the troupe anymore."
Evelyn narrowed her eyes and suddenly smiled. "We definitely need to clear this up."
"Then let him speak first." Freya panicked inside but immediately pointed at Gerald.
Benjamin looked at Gerald, bound and gagged, and narrowed his eyes. "It's you."
"You know him? No wonder he got into the dressing room." Freya said softly, "So you do know each other."
Seeming to realize she'd said too much, she lowered her head.
Just then, Chase hurried in.
Seeing so many people crowded here, he frowned. He was about to walk to Benjamin's side when he received an order.
"Ask him why he's here."
Chase acknowledged and stepped forward to remove the rag from Gerald's mouth.
It was a real cleaning rag. Gerald, who had always lived in comfort, couldn't stand this humiliation.
As the rag was removed, he kept retching. Everyone's looked toward him immediately became disgusted.
"You... how dare you treat me like this? Do you know who my dad is?"
Though clearly very weak, he still made threats: "When my dad finds out how you treated me, he definitely won't let you get away with this!"
Gerald's face was covered in bruises from being beaten. His threatening appearance now made him look even more ridiculous.
"Do you know who I am?" Benjamin looked at Gerald. "Anyone who dares to mess with my woman has to pay the price."
"I..."
Benjamin's look was too terrifying, not to mention the cold, harsh aura emanating from him, which scared Gerald almost speechless.
"Why are you here?" Freya, worried Gerald might say something he shouldn't, stepped forward to ask. "Tell the truth, and Mr. White won't make things difficult for you. If you dare talk nonsense, he'll tear you apart first!"
Gerald froze, then cursed: "You bitch, who the hell are you to talk to me like that?"
"Behave yourself!"
Seeing Benjamin frown, Chase stepped forward and kicked him. "Talk! Why are you here!"
"Of course someone let me in."
Gerald said through gritted teeth, but seeing Freya, he suddenly changed his tune: "The beautiful lady called me herself and told me to come here to find her. How could I refuse?"
"You dare ruin my fun—do you want to die!"