“Evadne, is Nydia’s elder sister?”
The girls‘ jaws dropped as they stood dumbstruck, and the one who had been crying was beyond tears now.
The girl sitting on the <b>ground </b>was scared stiff, her face as swollen as an overproofed loaf of bread, shaking like a leaf, retreating backward with trembling legs, but there was nowhere left to go.
Though Nydia was from the Ashbournes, she always kept a low profile. She lived like any ordinary girl, so who would have guessed? She didn’t have the air of a billionaire heiress at all!
The three young men, Gordon, Jason<b>, </b>and Thaddeus, watched the scene with varied expressions, each admiring the scene for different reasons.
Jason was ready to throw away his gentlemanly fa?ade and teach these gossiping hens a lesson, but he hadn’t anticipated that Evadne would take such swift action herself.
Thaddeus’s clenched fist rxed as he stared at Evadne’s proud figure, his thin l*ps curving slightly.
He was, however, slightly annoyed with himself for not reacting faster.
“What happened to all that noise just now? Cat got your tongue?” Evadne’s icyugh chilled the air as she leaned down and glowered at the girl with curly hair. “You’re young. You could have learned anything, but you chose to be a nasty piece of work.”
“Quick, get this on camera! Record everything! The Ashbourne heiress is attacking an innocent student!” the girl with curly hair cried out, trying to y the victim and stand on moral high ground to counter Evadne.
The other girls held their phones but were too intimidated by the young mistress’s overwhelming presence to dare to film.
“Pfft, you think I’m afraid? I’m Evadne, already infamous, I <b>don’t </b>mind adding this little episode to my reputation, Evadne said with a reckless grin, stunningly beautiful in her defiance. “And besides, you wouldn’t dare cross the Chambers family, would you? Dare to cross the Ashbournes and see if I don’t make sure your dreams of showbiz die before you even step off campus.”
The girl with curly hair went pale, and the others <b>quickly </b>pocketed their phones
They were scared now, truly scared
Evadne crossed her arms and shook her head, Tve lived a quarter of a century, and you’ve just set a new low for humanity with your ‘victim–ming nonsense. Defending a vile rapist. It’s a shame morality isn’t a college entrance requirement, or we might not have to deal with your kind<b>.</b>”
“These ps are tuition for the lessons you clearly need. I have eyes and ears all over Elmsworth, and if one more disrespectful word about my sister reaches me, next time, it <b>won’t </b>be as simple as a few ps
“Scram!”
At her roar, the gossiping girls hurriedly dragged their friend away, fleeing in utter disarray
Thaddeus strode over, his left arm wrapping around her trembling shoulders, his right hand gently taking her cold one, softly blowing on her palm to soothe the sting.
Evadne felt the burning pain in her hand subside, but her anger was far from quelled<b>. </b>
“How dare them talk about Nydia like that? A few ps were too good for them!”
“But Evadne, you’ve never been a heartless woman. Even in anger, you’re about teaching lessons, not cruelty” Thaddeus said, tightening his hold on her shoulder, his gaze darkening. “But whatever you can’t bring yourself to do, I will do for you. Anything”
“They’re just silly girls. Not worth the trouble.”
Evadne took a deep breath, her emotions in turmoil. Right now, we need to find Nydia! That girl’s out of her mind, how could she think going live with this was a good idea? She’s throwing herself to the wolves!”
Thaddeus felt a pang of urgency too.
No one understood better than they did the feeling of being in the public eye, where one false step could lead to a free fall into oblivion.
“Miss Evadne
Jason rushed over, volce hoarse with urgency. “Nydia’s still live, the views are over two million now!
Why would she expose this? What on earth did Mr. Ashbourne say to her?”
On the screen, Nydia sat poised and pale, her clear eyes shining with fearless resolve. Evadne felt as if her heart was being
crushed by an unstoppable force, each beat a throb of pain!
Below the <b>live </b>stream,ments streamed by at a dizzying pace, most of them cruel and mocking.
[Is there no limit to chasing clout these days? Using <b>this </b>for publicity?<b>] </b>
[I know her, she’s the belle of Elmsworth Film Academy. Probably just trying to ride Byron’s coattails to fame, right?]
[The Elmsworth beauty is an <b>Ashbourne</b>? And almost assaulted by Byron? What kind of soap opera plot is this? She’s making it up!]
<b>[</b>Girl, if what you’re saying is true, I wish it weren’t. If what you’re saying is false, I hope you meet ten Byrons!]
[Yeah, you im Byron did that to you, but where’s the proof? Got any video? Is it free to watch?]
The words were like knives, silently cutting.
Yet they were deafening, overwhelming
“What do we do. Miss Evadne, what do we do now?”
Jason was beside himself, eyes red with fury, heart torn apart, “Can we get Nydia to stop the stream? Can it be <b>stopped</b>? She’s always been timid, and without someone there to support her, to be with her seeing thosements, I’m terrified she’ll <b>have </b>a breakdown!”
Even now, he didn’t me his girl for a second. He just wanted to find her, to be there with her.
“Jason, keep it together. At the very least, we know Nydia’s not missing, that she’s safe.”
Thaddeus’s calm in the face of crisis revealed his capacity to maintain <b>control</b>, “And the stream has gone on too long to end abruptly. Doing so would give rise to wild spection, only increasing the attacks on Nydia.”
Evadne’s breath was heavy, the air around her seeming to thin as her fingers twitched within Thaddeus’s grasp.
Thaddeus gently massaged her shoulders, his eyes deep and serious. “Since Nydia has decided to go public, it means she’s been holding back a lot, a bellyful of words she’s been dying to say. Let her get it all out now–it’s better than keeping it bottled up.
And
if we take ten steps <b>back</b>, she’s got Evadne and me to back her up. Those boogeymen can’t touch her?
Jason’s l*ps were a thin line, his gratitude evident as he looked at Thaddeus
Nydia’s sweet, soft voice then filled the room,
“No matter if you believe me or not, I’m speaking out here today not just for myself, but for all those girls who suffered at Byron’s hand, trapped in pain with no way to seek justice for themselves.”
Nydia tried to hold back, but choked up all the same. I’m one of the lucky survivors, but I refuse to stand by and protect myself while ignoring others. If no one will shout for me, I’ll shout for myself if no one will stand up, I’ll stand up for them
I’m not some hero, but even if it means facing down a storm, I can’t just watch Byron continue to trample on the innocence and dignity of these girls and get away with it!”
As Nydia’s voice faded, Evadne’s eyes brimmed with tears, dripping onto the screen.
She was deeply self–reproachful, her usual cleverness constrained by narrow–mindedness, yet she was immensely proud of her sister for bravely <b>facing </b>fearsome public opinion.
Jason turned away, his broad shoulders trembling as he raised a hand to silently <b>wipe </b><b>his </b>eyes
“Evadne, Nydia’s really grown up. She’s not the little girl who needs your protection anymore.” Thaddeus sighed, a mix of heartache and relief in his voice.
Evadne’s tears turned intoughter, “Yeah, and now the Ashbourne family has gained another female warrior to fight against the
evil”
Nydia had chosen to stream from a room managed by her sister at the K Hotel.
After shutting down herputer, she sat alone in the dark, lost in thought
During the stream, she’d seen the maliciousments online. Nydia used to be timid and would have been sucked into a whirlpool of public opinion, but now, she was unfazed, even feeling an unprecedented sense of relief
Her biggest fear wasn’t Byron’s abuse. It was that if this viin didn’t pay the price and continued to <b>live </bfortably under the protection of the Chambers Group, that would be the cruel shadow she could never escape in this lifetime!
Then came a knock on the door.
Nydia pulled herself from her emotions <b>and </b>stiffly stood to open it.
As the <b>door </b>opened, her vision <b>blurred</b><b>, </b>
Before she could see who it was, she was pulled into a fierce embrace, the strength of it as if trying to press her into a b*dy, to merge into another soul.
“Nydia, silly girl, why didn’t you tell me about this? Don’t you know how worried I was about you?”
Hearing Jason’s hoarse and tender murmur by her ear, Nydia’s defenses crumbled, tears clinging to hershes, “Jason. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kept this from you. Are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. You did well, very well.”
Jason’s warm, trembling l*ps brushed against her reddened ear, his voice thick with admiration and even fiery worship. “Tonight, you were so impressive that I felt ashamed.
My dear Nydia, I would be honored to serve you for a lifetime.”
Nydia’s eyes widened at the romantic words she’d never heard before, her l*ps parted shyly, her cheeks flushed with a tender blush, her heartbeat like a divine knock on the door.
She had longed to be loved but never dared to dream of being adored.
Seeing the couple had their moment, Evadne and Thaddeus approached.
“Evadne, Thaddeus.”
Nydia, still in Jason’s arms, spoke with a soft, guilty voice, her little head hanging.
Evadne pretended to be angry. “Youngdy feeling bold now, huh? Learned to act first and reportter?”
“Evadne, from start to finish, Nydia didn’t report at all, Thaddeus chimed in with a twinkle in his eye. “It <b>was </b>your sharp wit that recognized the hotel roomyout from our own hotel and called the front desk for the guest info, <b>wasn’t </b>it?”
“So, should <b>I </b>give her a good telling off?” Evadne retorted with a sharp nce
Thaddeus went silent, as if frozen.
Ah well, he’s under the thumb, no backbone when ites to his wife!
“Evadne, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong.”
Nydia sniffled, her voice firm despite her emotions, “But even if you’re upset with me, I don’t regret the choice I made today.
Evadne, do you know? It’s been so long since I felt so free and righteous. You’ve always told me about your dream to be a <b>warrior</b>, to <b>live </b>a life of adventure and justice. What I did today is like I helped fulfill that dream <b>for </b>you
And look, I’m right here, safe and sound. If there were any danger, Jason would protect me
Jason and <b>Nydia’s </b><b>eyes </b>met, love spilling over from his gaze, unable to be hidden.
Evadne, ready to continue her act, melted at her sister’s heartfelt words, and finally broke intoughter
“Who said you did something wrong?”
Nydia’s eyes sparkled, ted, “Evadne! You’re not mad at me anymore?”
“I’m <b>mad </b>at you for turning off your phone, for cutting off all contact!”
Evadne posed dramatically, pouting “Humph! You trying to scare us to death? Do you have any idea what kind of crime dramas yed out in my head during the hours we couldn’t reach you? I went through every horror scenario imaginable!”
Thaddeus and Jason were speechless.
Nydia furrowed her brows with a suppressed giggle, “Evadne, you’re exaggerating. I wasn’t even in trouble yet, and you’re scaring yourself
Don’t be so paranoid. Remember
aber how scared you got after watching horror movies? How you’d climb into my bed, shivering in fear? You think about all this scary stuff, you’ll have trouble sleeping tonight.”
Evadne’s face flushed with embarrassment, stammering, “Who–who o was shivering, I didn’t.”
Thaddeus caught thement, his gaze deepening as his breath slowed.
So there were things she feared too.
So, from now on, he was going to have to ask Gordon to churn out a few more horror flicks. You know, spice things up in the bedroom.
Just as they were getting cozy a ringtone sliced through thefortable silence Evadne’s phone was lighting up.
7s Emeric”