Chapter 76 But I Can't Let Others Bully Me
Without involving Brenda, whether it was Betty or the Clark brothers, they all wanted to compensate Elizabeth.
Even if Betty stayed quiet, Richard resolved to seek out Elizabeth, grappling with the aftermath of those damning photos and the team's involvement beyond his control. He saw a simple solution: coaxing Elizabeth back to the company, where he could keep a watchful eye on her, curbing the trail of unpredictable chaos she left in her wake.
So he said, "Alright, I'll find her tomorrow. I'll offer her the best contract and benefits. This time, she shouldn't have any complaints or cause trouble."
Believing that extending an olive branch would draw Elizabeth back home, Richard understood her underlying desire for familial connections. Sibling dynamics were complex—no grudge insurmountable, no argument terminal. The sentiment resonated with the rest of the siblings, united in the belief that offering Elizabeth a compelling reason would see her back in their midst.
Brenda felt uneasy hearing Betty's words.
A biological daughter was different. Even after cutting ties, they still wanted her back.
But this was part of her plan, so she didn't stop it.
She even agreed, saying, "Yes, Elizabeth misunderstood before. Richard, you must coax her back properly. I'll apologize and explain the photos and the couple's pendant."
She set a trap. "I believe that if Eugene and I explain clearly, Elizabeth will understand."
Richard said, "No need to apologize, but you should explain your situation with Eugene. Don't let him affect your relationship."
The family held onto hope that Elizabeth and Brenda could find common ground, fostering a harmonious relationship. Richard couldn't shake off his discomfort with Brenda and Elizabeth's boyfriend being entangled in the situation. But as clarity dawned, revealing the misunderstandings, a weight lifted off his shoulders.
The strain of managing both relationships weighed heavily on Eugene, leading to a cascade of misinterpretations that squandered precious time. Resentment brewed within Richard towards Eugene for inadvertently stoking discord between his sisters. Elizabeth's haste in drawing conclusions without seeking truth resulted in Brenda enduring undue rebuke, complicating their public image.
Convinced that reconciliation lay in clarifying the misconceptions, Richard made a strategic decision. He planned to have Elizabeth address the issue publicly online, elucidating her misinterpretation of Eugene and Brenda's relationship. A heartfelt post from Elizabeth held more sway than any conventional PR maneuver, ensuring Brenda's exoneration and relief from undeserved scolding.
For Eugene, if Elizabeth remained obstinate in her stance, Richard entertained the notion of introducing her to another eligible suitor. As siblings, they possessed the authority to guide Elizabeth, steering her away from rebellious antics and the trouble they wrought.
However, Richard drew a clear line—no one, not even his friend Eugene, was permitted to bully Elizabeth under their watchful gaze.
After dealing with these matters, Betty felt tired and went to her room.
After she left, the others comforted Brenda again.
Enrique habitually reached out to hug Brenda.
But the housekeeper suddenly appeared and reminded, "Mr. Clark, Mrs. Clark asked you to mind your distance and propriety."
Before going upstairs, Betty had instructed the housekeeper and servants to watch the brothers and Brenda.
If there was any inappropriate behavior, they were to stop it.
Seeing the housekeeper's expressionless face, Enrique awkwardly withdrew his hand. "So many rules."
Was it necessary to have someone watch them?
It made them feel like they were doing something shady, which was really frustrating.
Brenda felt uneasy. Betty actually had someone watching them.
What was that about?
She realized she needed to be more careful when people were around.
If she upset Betty and Betty told Paul, it wouldn't be good for her.
She needed to keep her five brothers close and avoid giving Betty and Paul any reason to favor Elizabeth over her.
The next day, Elizabeth took Rebecca for a makeover.
Rebecca had a bright and alluring look.
She used to change her hairstyle and color every week to annoy Orlando and Amy and rebel against her family.
Later, because of Hubert, she went blonde and straightened her hair, dressing more professionally.
Elizabeth suggested she go with a style that suited her better.
Rebecca agreed.
Now that she wanted to be herself again, she should go with what she liked.
So she got a perm and dyed her hair blue.
She also dragged Elizabeth to the mall to buy new clothes.
The styles were bold, sexy, and alluring.
Trying on a sexy burgundy spaghetti strap dress, Rebecca exclaimed, "I look amazing!"
Elizabeth agreed, "Hubert held you back."
Rebecca had long endured wearing outfits she detested to please Hubert, leaning towards conservative and professional attire. She vented, "Hubert would flip if I dared to don a spaghetti strap dress or anything above the knees. I once donned a backless dress and the man sulked the whole day. Looking back, he was such a bore. Hubert squandered my allure."
Swiftly slipping into another revealing backless number, she asserted, "This is my vibe—the flow of my hair, a subtle tease of my back. So sultry, so stunning, yet Hubert couldn't grasp it."
She told Elizabeth, "You're better. You like what you like and didn't change for Eugene."
Elizabeth cared about Eugene and her family and took care of them emotionally and in life.
But she wouldn't change herself for them.
For example, Eugene didn't like Elizabeth and Rebeccaracing or riding motorcycles.
Since he couldn't persuade his sister, he tried to stop his girlfriend, saying he didn't like it.
But Elizabeth still did what she loved and didn't give up her hobbies for Eugene.
In the end, Eugene had to accept it.
When they argued, if Elizabeth wasn't wrong, she wouldn't apologize and coax Eugene.
After returning to the Clark family, they had wanted her to quit the entertainment industry, and suggested she study economics or management abroad, but Elizabeth refused.
If the Clark family said anything demeaning to her for Brenda's sake, Elizabeth wouldn't just take it but would talk back.
Elizabeth could be very kind and warm to those she cared about, but she wouldn't let them change her.
Rebecca felt she had been foolish before.
To rebel against her parents and get their attention, she acted out.
And for Hubert, she changed many of her preferences and usually apologized first when they argued.
Elizabeth patted her and said, "It's not too late to realize this now."
She had advised Rebecca before not to change herself for Hubert.
But Rebecca cared too much about Hubert at that time and still chased after him.
She suspected that Rebecca might have been gaslighted by Hubert.
Rebecca nodded. "Yes, my life is just beginning now."
Then she smiled at the mirror and said, "Oh my, the more I look, the more beautiful we are. Such beautiful women like us should be admired more."
Elizabeth was also trying on a long dress of the same color but a different style.
She looked at the mirror and chuckled. "Indeed, how can the two women in the mirror be so beautiful?"
While they were joking, Elizabeth's phone rang.
It was an unknown number. She answered, "Hello!"
She didn't have an assistant yet, so she handled all her entertainment industry matters herself.
Unknown numbers could be new jobs or resources, so she always answered them.
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