Emerald was dumbstruck. âT-Thatâs impossible. Sheâs always been such an obedient girl,â she stammered. Chester looked at Eugene. âAre you sure about all of this, Eugene?â
âI wouldnât 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 donât know her well will think sheâs gentle and well-behaved, but those who truly understand her will know that no one else matters to her. Sheâs 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!â 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. âEugene, does this mean you wonât accept our apology?â
âI am willing to sit here and listen to your so- called settlement right now only because you went to my girlfriend, and sheâs 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 whoâs apologizing has suffered the same pain the victim endured. Whatâs the point of just saying a few words of apology?â
Chester was floored. Suffering the same pain that the victim had experienced? Didnât that mean Eugene wanted to push them to the brink as well?
Was Chester supposed to give Nicole a concussion and stab her too? âEugene, even if Nicole provided the map, she wasnât the mastermind. Laraâs the real mastermind. Canât you just take into account that sheâs our only daughter and-â
Eugene didnât even bother to let him finish. before snapping impatiently, âThatâs 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, Iâve already compromised for your sake and Haydenâs sake as well. I need to do whatâs right for the victims too.
Alex and Jewel got hurt while trying to save my mother, and my girlfriend still hasnât fully recovered from her injuries yet! How can you think that you can just resolve this with money? Are you trying to humiliate me?!â
Chester and Emerald exchanged looks again. Knowing that it was futile to make any further attempts, they both sighed and stood up. âWe understand. She needs to take responsibility for her mistakes.â
âOliviaâs been busy with work lately. I donât like people coming up with all sorts of excuses and ways to disrupt her life,â Eugene commented.
âI understand. I wonât be coming again,â Emerald said awkwardly before the two left the studio. Olivia got up to see them off before heading back to Eugene. âDidnât I tell you not to make things too difficult?â
âI did go easy on them, just like you told me to,â he replied innocently. She was speechless. âIs this how you go easy on someone? What would you have done if you didnât, then?â
âI wouldâve filled them in on all of Nicole and Andyâs dirty deeds. Iâm pretty sure they wouldnât even dare to step out onto the streets to get into their car if I did,â he answered. Olivia thought about it in silence. In that case, he did go easy on them, after all.
âStill, I pity her parents.â
Eugene took her hand. âDonât waste your time pitying others. There are tons of pitiful people in the world. Youâre not a saint. You canât save the world.â She sighed but didnât say anything.
âYou had a meeting with Director Norris about the plot today, right? How did it go?â he asked. âIt went pretty well. I quite like the story. Itâs 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, Iâll have to spend all my time on set. I wonât be able to take care of the household.â