Chapter 09 Leaning on Your Shoulder

As early summer arrived, the sun grew hotter and outdoor shootings increased. It was unknown who was being tormented. After work, the manager offered various consolations and even invited Evelyn out for dinner. Evelyn could sense the company's attempts to please her, with her contract still having over two months remaining.
Although newcomers come and go quickly in the entertainment industry, popularity is gained and lost just as swiftly. However, Evelyn's accumulated popularity over the years was still enough to maintain her position. Starlight certainly wouldn't easily let her go.
Recent days have been relatively calm. Jovan occasionally sends small gifts, seemingly busy with work as he's constantly on the move. Today it's a small accessory from here, and yesterday it was a little trinket from there; all of them are gifts that girls would like.
Evelyn once struggled, fearing that she would soften her heart and forget the pain. But in truth, she knew that Jovan was not the only one who was emotionally detached.
The genuine affection she gave was not true love either; she just needed someone to accompany her back then. She set the gifts aside, unwilling to respond in any way.
On the other hand, William felt increasingly annoyed by the pile of items, but he didn't dare to clean them up. He stared at them every day. "They won't bloom even if you keep looking at them," Evelyn said as she walked out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee. "I'm tired of looking at them, so help me get rid of them." After speaking, she went back to her room.
William felt pure elation at her words. He took the ugliest trash bag and packed everything, itching to go out and throw it away. It was the first time he found throwing garbage out so exciting.
During dinner, Evelyn received a call and frowned when she saw the number. She put down her chopsticks and answered while walking. "What's the matter?"
"Do you need money?" She wearily responded with this question, momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing Evelyn returning to her room, William didn't need to think much to guess who was on the other end of the call.
He really wanted to solve this problem but was afraid that Evelyn would be angry if she found out. After all, with her personality, she definitely wouldn't allow him to get involved in these matters. Should he just turn a blind eye? Looking at Evelyn's tired appearance, he couldn't really do that.
"Evelyn, I have no other choice, can you help me one more time, just once?"
"How many times has it been already? Do you think I'm an ATM?"
"That's not it. You're a big star, making money must be easy, right? Just walk a few more circles, take a few more photos, and you'll have money. Right? Help me out!"
"...You forced Mom to her death, isn't that enough for you? Now you want to push me to my limit too." Evelyn sat on the floor, feeling tired and powerless. She truly didn't know what to say anymore.
She was reminded of that nightmarish evening, bound to a chair, watching her mother cut her own wrists open. Blood spread in the bathtub, leaving only a pale mother and a tub filled with blood. Her throat ached from screaming, but the ropes were impossible to break free from. How much she hated it.
Why does everyone and everything have to be so cruel? She thought as all the memories and heartache came rushing forward.
I hate being named Bennett, hate that conniving Clint, hate the mother who forced her to see her die, but in the end, she couldn't keep that final promise.
"Evelyn, Mom is really tired, can't hold on anymore. Don't blame me, okay? I want to end it all, and I want you to witness it. That scum forced me to this point, so from now on, he's not your father, no matter what, don't have anything to do with him. You need to live your own life."
Clint kept rambling on the other end of the line, but Evelyn was dazed. "I won't give you any more money, truly. You, the person that you are; whether alive or dead, mean nothing to me."
"You! You little brat, I'm your father, it's my right to have money from you! Want to cut ties completely? Dream on. Don't forget, you've climbed so high now, and I have a share of the credit! Let me tell you, if the money doesn't come over, get ready for your reputation to be ruined!"
Evelyn didn't want to listen anymore; she was truly exhausted. She hung up the phone, turned it off. Regardless of what happens in the future, she really couldn't control it anymore. Right now, she was just too tired. Too tired to think about the future.
Emptiness and exhaustion constantly battered her soul. At this moment, she doubted who she really was and where she was. Where should she go?
Finally, she somewhat understood her mother's hopelessness from the beginning. Everything in the past was like a dream, unable to grasp even a shred of hope. These days were spent like a walking corpse.
It turned out she was forced to face death so cruelly because they were afraid her soft heart would ruin her life. But what was she doing now? How could she repay her mother's intentions?
At this moment, she only wanted to draw her sword, why was it her mother who died? It should have been Clint, shouldn't it? Kindness to him was too much of an indulgence. This time, she really steeled her heart.
William stood silently outside the door, knowing she was in a difficult situation, but he didn't expect it to be like this. William stood outside, pondering how to solve this dilemma.
The next day, Jovan somehow got news and came early to find Evelyn. He stood outside the house, repeatedly calling her on the phone, but eventually he raised his hand and knocked on the door. When William opened the door, he was taken aback, then said, "You must be Evelyn's assistant. I need to find her, it's urgent."
"Sorry, she's on vacation, not seeing anyone."
"Well, then you must be mistaken. When you say 'anyone,' I'm an exception." Jovan thought about how Evelyn had accepted the gifts he gave her, feeling quite satisfied.
William couldn't help but sneer, "Oh, right, the gifts you gave her are over there." He raised his chin, pointing to the nearby garbage can.
Jovan looked at the garbage can and was furious. "Who do you think you are, interfering so much! Move out of my way!" As he spoke, he pushed past William and walked into the house. Naturally, William didn't give in. The two were deadlocked until Evelyn heard the commotion and came downstairs.
"If you keep arguing, both of you can get lost!" She irritably tossed her hair. The two people at the door immediately quieted down.
"What's going on?"
"Jovan glanced at William, and Evelyn naturally understood what he meant but wasn't in the mood to deal with it. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, then buzz off."
William looked at the confident and awe-inspiring goddess with admiration on his face, making Jovan even more embarrassed. He coughed and said, "Your father came to see me last night." After speaking, he looked at Evelyn, without saying anything else.
Evelyn was already helpless and sighed before saying to Jovan, "Let's talk in the study."
Jovan turned his head and glanced at William, the disdain in his eyes making William furious. He wasn't exactly a good person either, so how could he let the goddess be alone with him? He wanted to follow them, but he knew Evelyn definitely wouldn't allow it. He could only wait until the two entered the room before quietly following.
"So, why did he come to see you? And why did you come to find me?"
"It's all about money, as usual. Evelyn, has it always been like this for all these years? Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped you come up with a solution!" Evelyn looked at Jovan in front of her, whether his words were genuine or not, she refused to believe anymore.
The fact was, soft-hearted people wouldn't end up well in the end; her mother being the perfect example.
"It's not necessary."
"Don't be like this. Weren't we good before? Can you forget all that? I don't believe it!"
"You said it yourself; that is the past. Let's not make it too ugly, okay? I don't have the strength to talk about these things now. Just leave." Evelyn pointed towards the door.
"Evelyn, your father said he will ruin you. I don't know what's going on between you two, but when he says something like that, I can't just ignore it. Trust me one more time, just once, and I'll help you completely resolve it."
"Hmph! How do you plan to resolve it? By killing him? Then it would be better if you killed me too. If I'm dead, he won't have anyone to give him money. He would be left with nothing." Jovan looked at Evelyn's dark circles and could imagine that she hadn't slept all night. Her father, Clint, was known to be troublesome in the past, but he never expected him to be even more ruthless after two years of not seeing him.
"Jovan, I said before that I don't need anyone meddling in these matters. Not in the past, and not now either. Don't think that you can use these things to negotiate with me. I can't guess your hidden motives, nor do I want to."
"'Yes, I do have hidden motives. I love you. Can't you accept such motives?" Jovan grabbed Evelyn's hand and pleaded, "I truly made a mistake, Evelyn!"
"Let go." Evelyn couldn't shake off his hands. 'I'm telling you to let go!'
William couldn't hold back anymore and barged into the room, pulling Evelyn into his arms and protecting her behind him. "Get lost!"
With just two words, he sounded intensely fierce, a side of him that even Evelyn had never seen before, completely overturning his usual gentle image.
Evelyn stood unexpectedly quiet behind him, feeling that this moment of reliance was so genuine and trustworthy.
Sometimes, dependence on someone comes out of nowhere. In this instant, all defenses collapsed, and years of accumulated grievances and resentment overwhelmed her.
Evelyn herself didn't realize it, but in an instant, tears were streaming down her face.
Jovan didn't know what else to say and could only walk out of the villa with a sense of desolation. He went to the trash bin and, as if he had thought of something, cast a glance inside. Sure enough! There lay the gifts he had sent, his sincere gesture being trampled upon in this way.
But he couldn't let go. When he had separated from his family all those years ago, he had needed that contract to secure his position. It was foolish of him to think he could sacrifice Evelyn for a little success in his career. Yet, even after two years had passed, he still couldn't let go. This time, no matter what, he had to give it his all.
William turned around in the room and looked at Evelyn. He reached out to wipe away the tears from her face and softly asked her, "Leave it to me, all of this, trust me, okay?" Evelyn slumped her shoulders and, upon hearing his words, helplessly looked into his eyes.
This man seemed to be more complicated than he appeared on the surface, but she couldn't see through him. She was too tired at the moment, not knowing whether or not she should trust him. Her mind was in a complete mess.
She was afraid of relying on someone, as everything gained carried risks, and nothing was indestructible. The feeling of having someone waiting for her when she turned around was too beautiful. She was afraid of becoming attached, of wanting more. So, for a long time, she preferred to have nothing at all. That was the safest option.
Thinking back to her childhood, sitting on a swing in the sunset, swinging back and forth, not far away were the voices of aunties buying groceries and picking up their children. The old man from downstairs took a walk, and the warm breeze felt itchy. The evening sky was dazzling with a magnificent sunset, and then her eyes began to droop.
She didn't know how long had passed when she felt herself being gently embraced, faintly hearing the person who should be called "Dad" say with a smile, "This little one is starting to doze off."
And now, everything was false. At this moment, she couldn't help but say to the person in front of her, "I really want to lean on your shoulder for a moment."