Chapter 13
Everyone in the reception room tensed up.
At this critical moment, no matter why Sophia was attempting suicide, it would be connected to Evelyn.
Besides, who would use their own life to frame someone else?
This alone would make things extremely complicated.
"Calm down!"
As Evelyn's close friend, Stella was the first to speak up: "Whatever you want to say, we can talk it out. If you die, there really will be nothing left."
Even Benjamin, who usually showed no expression, tensed up his muscles.
Only Evelyn's face showed no change at all. In fact, she smiled.
Her smile quickly drew everyone's attention.
"I really had no idea you had this much courage. If you want to die, go ahead and jump. I promise no one will stop you."
Evelyn's casual tone, speaking such terrible words, changed the expression on everyone's faces.
Especially Sophia's.
She clearly hadn't expected Evelyn to say this in front of Benjamin, her eyes filled with disbelief.
How dare Evelyn show such ruthlessness in front of Benjamin?
Evelyn seemed completely unaware of her emotional change, her smile becoming even sweeter.
"Hearing that no one will stop you, are you scared now?"
She stepped out of Benjamin's embrace and walked a few steps toward Sophia.
"Don't come any closer, or I'll jump."
"I won't save you. And when a person falls, there's a lot of force. You don't think I could hold onto you, do you?"
Evelyn squeezed her right arm with her left hand: "With these thin arms and legs of mine, I don't have that kind of strength, and I don't want to save someone who's repeatedly framed me."
The more casual she was, the more frightening it became.
Panic clearly flashed in Sophia's eyes, and her streaming tears seemed to take on a hint of genuine emotion.
"Everything I did was for you."
"Why are you treating me like this now?"
"Just because you like Matthew, and he has feelings for me?"
From family background to ability, even appearance, Sophia couldn't compare to Evelyn.
But Matthew, the man who circled around Evelyn, liked her instead. This gave her a secret thrill and made her want to show it off at every opportunity.
To prove that she wasn't completely worthless.
Unfortunately, what used to throw Evelyn into chaos no longer affected her emotions at all. Instead, it only deepened the mockery in her eyes.
"Are you talking about yourself? You've gone to such lengths to frame me, just because Benjamin didn't give you a single glance."
She lifted her chin, seemingly with some pride: "From start to finish, his eyes have only been on me."
"You..."
"Sophia," Evelyn coolly interrupted her, "your fans aren't here, and no one cares whether you live or die."
"If you want to die, just jump. No one will stop you."
"Also, people who really want to die don't put on this much of a show."
She turned to look at Benjamin, her expression unchanged: "Did you bring her here for something? Now she's busy trying to kill herself, so she probably doesn't have time for you. What should we do?"
The corner of Stella's mouth twitched hard.
Having known Evelyn for years, they'd seen many sides of each other, but she had never seen Evelyn be this ruthless.
In her heart, she believed a little bit that Evelyn had truly let go of Sophia.
Benjamin looked down at Evelyn as she walked up to him.
Her charming face showed little expression, but the eyes fixed on him carried a hint of inexplicable tension.
What was she afraid of?
He reached out and grabbed the back of her neck, pulling Evelyn to his side: "Unimportant people don't need our attention."
Evelyn, Benjamin, and Stella just left the reception room like that, completely ignoring Sophia standing by the window.
Cold wind blew in through the window, making Sophia's pale face twist.
Why could Benjamin only see Evelyn, even after she said such cruel things?
She would make Evelyn kneel before her and become nothing but mud!
Stella followed behind Benjamin and Evelyn. She opened her mouth to speak several times but held back, restraining herself all the way into Benjamin's office.
Just as she couldn't hold back anymore, Evelyn hugged Benjamin's arm and spoke in a coaxing tone.
"They defame me like this. Now online, I'm this completely evil person. Just now, some of Sophia's fans even came after me. Can you help me, please?"
Stella was speechless.
She did want Evelyn to ask Benjamin for help, but not like this, right?
Before, Evelyn was so indifferent to him, and now she's acting all flattering?
Who wouldn't think she had ulterior motives?
Compared to her internal complaints, Benjamin's reaction was much simpler.
"You're asking me?"
Evelyn blinked, completely abandoning her earlier aloof attitude, and started tugging on his arm.
"Please help me."
Her soft, sweet voice, her actions—how could Benjamin possibly refuse?
While Benjamin's heart shook violently, Stella felt she couldn't watch anymore.
For the first time, she regretted getting too close to Evelyn: "I have something to do. You two talk first."
With that, she was already walking toward the door.
But before her hand could reach the doorknob, a resentful voice sounded behind her: "Weren't you the one who told me to come ask him for help? Now he hasn't even agreed yet, and you're leaving?"
Two sharp gazes landed on Stella's back.
For the first time, Stella felt the downside of choosing friends poorly.
She turned back to look at Evelyn leaning against Benjamin's arm, but then thought they made a handsome couple—absolutely matched in looks and quite pleasing to the eye.
"Are you sure you want me to stay here while you two are being so intimate?" Stella forced a smile.
"There's nothing intimate about it."
Benjamin's voice rang out somewhat abruptly.
Not just because he suddenly spoke, but because his tone carried a hint of coldness.
Under their confused gazes, he pushed away Evelyn's arm that was wrapped around his, his gloomy voice seeming to carry a trace of hidden anger.
"I still have things to do, so I won't keep you two any longer."
He was fine just a moment ago—why did he suddenly become so harsh?
"Then will you come home tonight?" Evelyn felt a wave of unease and asked softly.
Stella raised her eyebrows, her voice rising: "You two are living together?"
Without waiting for his answer, she continued: "Men really are all bastards—once they get what they want, they stop cherishing it. Evelyn, let's go. We can handle this without him."
Evelyn wanted to stop Stella, but Stella, caught up in her emotions, didn't give her a chance to speak and directly pulled Evelyn away.
Benjamin, who had already sat down, didn't get up, nor did he make any move to stop them.
So, he didn't believe she had let go of Matthew?
"Mr. White," Chase came in and first observed Benjamin's expression, "Ms. Thomas and her friend have left."
"I don't pay you to be a doorman."
If I say it, you're unhappy. If I don't say it, you seem just as unhappy.
"Yes, Mr. White. Everything's been arranged. When do we start?"
"Midnight." His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his thin lips curving into a cold smile. "Let them be smug for a few more hours."