Chapter 239 Apologizing to Evelyn
Debra's ears were ringing like crazy, and she froze up like she'd been zapped by a bolt of lightning. She yelled, "Tiffany, help me! Tiffany!"
Seeing Debra getting hauled off by the cops, Tiffany ditched all pretense and rushed forward to block them.
"My daughter’s innocent! She’s being set up! How can you guys just arrest good people like this? Debra!" Tiffany shouted.
Eric just stood there, cold as ice, hoping the cops would hurry up and shut them up.
"Mrs. Wellington, if you don't back off, we’re gonna charge you with obstructing justice!" The cops were not having it.
"My daughter’s being framed by Jessica!" Tiffany was both shocked and furious, shooting daggers at Jessica.
"What’s this got to do with me? Even if I faked the necklace, that’s just some copyright stuff, and I can pay for it. But I had nothing to do with any corporate spying! Debra’s the one who thought she could take on Evelyn. She did this to herself!" As soon as she said it, Jessica’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth!
In her rush to clear her name, she’d accidentally spilled the beans about the fake necklace!
She felt a chill run down her spine, like two icy daggers stabbing her in the back.
Jessica slowly turned and locked eyes with Eric, who looked like he was about to explode with a mix of anger, shock, heartbreak, and disappointment.
"Mr. Clark! Jessica’s not as innocent as she looks! She’s full of lies and schemes. She tricked me and you!" Debra’s desperate cries echoed through the Clark family’s yard. "Jessica! How dare you use me like a pawn! I’ll never forgive you, just wait!"
"Jessica! Get over here, quick!" Sophia was freaked out by Tiffany and Debra, urgently calling Jessica over.
"Sophia!" Jessica, still rattled, was about to run to Sophia when Eric suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Eric." She was shaking all over.
"Jessica, why’d you do it? Was it just to get back at Evelyn?" Eric asked, his eyes red with anger.
"It’s all Debra’s lies!" Jessica said.
"You’re still lying!" Eric roared, his grip tightening, making Jessica double over in pain. She cried out, "It hurts, let go! It hurts so much! Sophia, help me!"
"Eric! Let her go! Are you trying to break her wrist?" Sophia ran over in a panic, prying Eric’s hand away and pulling Jessica into a protective hug. "Can’t you just talk it out calmly?"
"Talk? I gave her a chance to talk it out, and what does she do?" Eric, fuming, glared at Jessica's tear-streaked face, looking all innocent like an angel.
A sharp pain twisted in his chest, spreading through his nerves. "She kept lying, hiding her nasty plans, teaming up with Debra to frame Evelyn! What did Evelyn ever do to you? Just 'cause she's Edward's ex? Is that why you went after her?"
"Enough, Eric! You've known Jessica since she was a kid. You know she's good and kind!" Sophia, heartbroken for her daughter, kept patting Jessica's trembling back. "Even if Jessica messed up, it’s 'cause Debra led her astray! How can you drag Jessica into this? If word gets out, Jessica will be in deep trouble too!"
"Before Debra and Ada signed the contract, she took a private jet abroad. When I asked her where she was going, she said Flancia for a fashion show. But when I had Ellen check, she didn’t go to Flancia; she secretly went to Yatuok! If she’s got nothing to hide, why lie about her trip?" Eric’s voice was like thunder, veins popping on his forehead. "And just now, when Debra was being taken away, she admitted she forged the jewelry. What more do you need?"
"Eric! How can you insult Jessica like this!" Sophia’s eyes were red and wet.
"Eric! You jerk!" Jessica, humiliated and furious, let out all her fear and grievances in a cry. "Evelyn kept embarrassing me in front of Edward, making me lose face in front of everyone! What’s wrong with teaching her a lesson? You’re just scolding me now to defend Evelyn! You only care about Evelyn; to you, I’m nothing! But no matter how much you try to please Evelyn, she doesn’t care about you. In the end, you’ll have nothing!"
"Jessica!" In a fit of rage, Eric’s eyes turned blood-red. Just calling her name scared her into hiding in Sophia’s arms.
"Even if Evelyn doesn’t end up with me, she’s not someone you can hurt or insult whenever you feel like it. And I believe in Evelyn’s character. She might have a bad temper and isn’t soft-hearted, but she’d never go out of her way to hurt anyone. If what you said is true, it’s 'cause you started it with your bad intentions towards Evelyn!"
Jessica was so mad she could almost spit blood!
"And I suggest you give up on Edward. The person Edward likes is Evelyn. Anyone with eyes can see that, except for him." Eric sneered.
Jessica's face turned beet red with anger, feeling like her blood was boiling up to her throat!
"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to see Evelyn and apologize to her in person," Eric said coldly before turning to leave.
"Eric! Are you nuts? Why should I apologize to Evelyn? I won't!" Jessica cried hysterically.
"If you don't, I'll send you back to Yatuok tonight, and without my permission, you won't come back to Mugden again!"
Eric's firm stance even startled Sophia!
She had heard about Eric's tough demeanor outside, but she had never seen him this cold and decisive towards Jessica, all for Evelyn.
"Eric, Eric, come back!"
Jessica's eyes were full of tears, her voice hoarse from shouting.
But Eric, who had always doted on her, didn't even look back.
---
Midnight, Alahle Club.
Eric sat alone in a private room, downing one drink after another.
Thinking about Debra's accusations against Jessica made his heart ache, and the strong liquor burned through his insides.
At that moment, the door to the private room opened.
"Everyone get out!" Eric, irritated, said and threw his glass, shattering it into pieces.
"Mr. Wellington is here to see you." Ellen smiled awkwardly, her voluptuous figure stepping aside. "Sorry, Mr. Clark is in a bad mood tonight, please bear with him."
"I'm used to it," Edward said expressionlessly.
"Please." Ellen said.
Edward nodded and walked into the private room, his tall and imposing figure entering the space.
Ellen bowed and closed the door behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Edward's brows furrowed deeply as he sat down beside Eric. "Didn't Evelyn already dump you? Why are you acting all melancholic?"
"Are you going to mock me for being dumped by Evelyn for the rest of my life?" Eric took a deep breath, and seeing no glass, he grabbed the bottle and took a swig.
"Dumped? You don't deserve to use that word." Edward scoffed, pulling out a cigarette and placing it between his thin lips. "Evelyn never accepted you, so how could she dump you?"
Edward flicked the ash from his cigarette, his eyes darkening. "Something's off with you. What's going on?"
Eric sighed heavily. "The fake necklace Debra used to bribe Ada was made under Jessica's order."
Edward's pupils contracted slightly, but he remained silent.
Eric asked, "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
Edward said calmly, "I figured it."
Eric said, feeling a pang in his heart, "Edward, Jessica..."
"Since we're being honest, let me tell you something else."
Edward's eyes lowered slightly, the smoke from his lips spreading a chill. "At the last charity event, the person who arranged for reporters to ambush Evelyn was also Jessica."
Eric felt like he'd been hit by a truck, his face going pale as despair set in.
After a long pause, his pale lips trembled, and he said in a shaky voice, "Edward, I'm sorry."
"The one who should apologize isn't you, but Jessica. And the person she should apologize to is Evelyn," Edward said.
"Jessica is twenty-two now. I know it's too much to use her age as an excuse." Eric's Adam's apple bobbed painfully. "But you've watched Jessica grow up. She's spoiled and willful, often acting without thinking. But she's not a bad person; she was just led astray by Debra. It's also my fault for spoiling her too much and not disciplining her properly. I failed in my responsibility."
Edward was silent for a moment before bluntly asking, "So, how do you plan to handle Jessica's mistakes? How will you compensate Evelyn?"
Eric's breath caught.
Edward had always been like this, impartial and clear-cut.
Even though Jessica was his sister, if she hurt someone close to him, he wouldn't tolerate it.
"Tomorrow, I'll take her to apologize to Evelyn," Eric said firmly.
"Is that all?" Edward asked.
"Edward, Jessica is my sister. Considering it's her first offense, could you let it slide this time for my sake?" Eric lowered his eyes, his attitude genuinely sincere.
"I'll go with you tomorrow," Edward said calmly.
"Why? Do you think I'm going to back Jessica up and cause trouble for Evelyn? Would I dare?" Eric said.
"No, I'm worried you might get attacked," Edward said leisurely as he stood up.
Eric's chest tightened, almost giving him a heart attack.
Edward must have found out about the time Evelyn threatened him with a knife!
"Besides, it's been a while since I've seen her. I want to check on her." Edward's eyes softened slightly as he walked towards the door.
"Edward! You haven't answered my question!" Eric called out urgently. "Can't you let this go for the sake of our long-standing friendship? I'll have Jessica apologize to Evelyn, and as for the losses caused by the forgery, I'll compensate Evelyn!"
Edward paused. "Eric, if Jessica were attacked like this, could you accept it? Could you swallow that anger?"
Eric remained silent.
"I'm willing to give Jessica an opportunity for the sake of our twenty-year friendship." Edward's cold eyes narrowed, his fingers clenching, exuding a chilling aura. "But, only this once."
