Emerald was dumbstruck. “T-That’s impossible. She’s always been such an obedient girl,” she stammered. Chester looked at Eugene. “Are you sure about all of this, Eugene?”
“I wouldn’t need to come up with such stories to trick you. Your daughter is indeed brilliant. She knows how to play mind games and take advantage of others. She creates conflict between two people with just a few words. People who don’t know her well will think she’s gentle and well-behaved, but those who truly understand her will know that no one else matters to her. She’s willing to make use of anyone, be it Penny, Aleena, or even Andy, who was willing to die on her behalf. These people are all supposed to be her friends!” Eugene fired back.
By now, Chester realized what was happening. Eugene had no intention of settling this matter. in private and merely wanted to hold them accountable. “Eugene, does this mean you won’t accept our apology?”
“I am willing to sit here and listen to your so- called settlement right now only because you went to my girlfriend, and she’s too kind- hearted. I did this for her sake. I can accept your apology, but do you even know what an apology is? An apology only counts when the person who’s apologizing has suffered the same pain the victim endured. What’s the point of just saying a few words of apology?”
Chester was floored. Suffering the same pain that the victim had experienced? Didn’t that mean Eugene wanted to push them to the brink as well?
Was Chester supposed to give Nicole a concussion and stab her too? “Eugene, even if Nicole provided the map, she wasn’t the mastermind. Lara’s the real mastermind. Can’t you just take into account that she’s our only daughter and-”
Eugene didn’t even bother to let him finish. before snapping impatiently, “That’s why I allowed her to go through the justice system instead. My initial plan was to pay her back by making her experience everything she did to Olivia and the others. Mr. and Mrs. West, I’ve already compromised for your sake and Hayden’s sake as well. I need to do what’s right for the victims too. Alex and Jewel got hurt while trying to save my mother, and my girlfriend still hasn’t fully recovered from her injuries yet! How can you think that you can just resolve this with money? Are you trying to humiliate me?!”
Chester and Emerald exchanged looks again. Knowing that it was futile to make any further attempts, they both sighed and stood up. “We understand. She needs to take responsibility for her mistakes.”
“Olivia’s been busy with work lately. I don’t like people coming up with all sorts of excuses and ways to disrupt her life,” Eugene commented.
“I understand. I won’t be coming again,” Emerald said awkwardly before the two left the studio. Olivia got up to see them off before heading back to Eugene. “Didn’t I tell you not to make things too difficult?”
“I did go easy on them, just like you told me to,” he replied innocently. She was speechless. “Is this how you go easy on someone? What would you have done if you didn’t, then?”
“I would’ve filled them in on all of Nicole and Andy’s dirty deeds. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t even dare to step out onto the streets to get into their car if I did,” he answered. Olivia thought about it in silence. In that case, he did go easy on them, after all. “Still, I pity her parents.”
Eugene took her hand. ‘Don’t waste your time pitying others. There are tons of pitiful people in the world. You’re not a saint. You can’t save the world.” She sighed but didn’t say anything.
“You had a meeting with Director Norris about the plot today, right? How did it go?” he asked. “It went pretty well. I quite like the story. It’s a spin-off set in the same world as Nine-Tailed Fox No. 7 and I think this one will do even better. But if I take it on, I’ll have to spend all my time on set. I won’t be able to take care of the household.”
