Now You Want Me? Too Late

While Elias was still inside the conference room with Cedric, Elena brought Evelyn into her office. Once the door closed behind them, Elena turned toward her.

Worry was evident on her face as her eyes fell on Evelyn’s bandaged leg.

"Sit down." She guided Evelyn to the chair beside the desk, her gaze lingering on the injury.

"You got hurt while following Vivian." Elena’s voice was filled with concern. "Evelyn, that was risky. Why did you go after her alone? Why didn’t you tell us?"

Evelyn smiled.

"I suspected Vivian was planning something against you, so I started following her secretly. But I never imagined she would go this far."

She shrugged, letting out a deep sigh.

"I never thought she could stoop so low. Because of her jealousy toward you, she even turned against Elias—the very man she claimed to love. And now, she even killed someone."

Regret weighed heavily on her heart.

"It’s shameful that I once considered her my best friend. I didn’t just treat her like a friend. I treated her like a sister."

She looked into Elena’s eyes.

"I shared everything with her. We ate together, played together, and studied together. We were so close that there were hardly any secrets between us."

Her chest tightened as memories of the past surfaced.

"Back then, I truly believed she was the only woman who could become Elias’s wife. But I never imagined she would turn into someone so vicious."

Her voice grew heavy with guilt.

"I was a fool. I couldn’t see her true nature. But Elias did. He knew from the beginning that Vivian wasn’t as innocent as she appeared to be. That’s why he never allowed her to get too close to him. He always kept her at arm’s length. He never fell for her tricks."

She let out a self-deprecating smile. "And me... I foolishly thought she was my bestie."

"Don’t blame yourself," Elena said gently. "You were innocent, and you trusted someone you loved. You had no reason to believe she would become someone like this. Her jealousy clouded her judgment. She kept making one mistake after another until she crossed the ultimate line and became a murderer."

She huffed, her chest heaving. "Anyway, let’s not talk about her anymore. I’ve something to tell you."

"What is it?" Evelyn forced a smile and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I am..."

Before Elena could say another word, Evelyn’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw Ian’s name.

"Wait for a moment," Evelyn said. "I need to answer this call."

Elena nodded.

Evelyn answered the call. "Hello?"

"Eve. I am thinking of spending the evening with you and Leo. Come to my place. Let’s have dinner together. I’ll cook."

Evelyn’s heart thumped loudly.

It was the first time Ian had ever told her he would cook for her.

She was tempted. She wanted to rush to him, sit beside him, and watch him cook. The thought stirred a warmth in her chest that she desperately tried to suppress.

But then she remembered all the years he had neglected her. She couldn’t give him that satisfaction so easily.

"Alright. I’ll come."

Without waiting for his response, she ended the call. A faint, defiant smile appeared on her lips.

’I waited for you for years. Wait for me now. Let me see how long you can pretend that you want me back.’

"Who was that?" Elena asked, her voice pulling Evelyn out of her thoughts. "You are smiling."

Evelyn chuckled and put her phone back into her bag. "Someone who is not important. Forget about it. You were saying something."

"Uh..." Elena was about to continue, but Evelyn suddenly interrupted her.

"Wait. How about we go out to dinner? My treat."

She deliberately said that. She had no intention of going to Ian’s place tonight.

Elena smiled. "You helped to catch the traitor. It should be my treat. Come to our place for dinner. I’ll cook."

Evelyn’s face lit up with a bright smile. "Sounds great. I love the idea."

"I’ll call the butler and have Leo brought over."

Elena picked up her phone and called the butler at the Rowan family mansion.

While Elena was on the phone, Evelyn’s thoughts drifted back to Ian.

She couldn’t stop wondering what he would do when she failed to show up at his house that evening.

’Will he be angry? Will he come looking for me?’

A small part of her wanted to change her mind and stop Elena from making the call.

Although this had been her own decision, guilt gnawed at her. She had given Ian hope, only to take it away.

What if he was genuinely hurt?

The thought made her uneasy, but she stubbornly refused to let it show.

She had endured disappointment, sadness, and hopelessness too many times in the past. Now, she wanted Ian to experience the same pain she had once carried alone.

She remained silent.

"I talked to the butler," Elena said, lowering her phone. "He will bring Leo."

Evelyn looked up at her, coming back to reality. She forced a smile, ignoring the tightness in her chest.

Across the city...

When Amber heard what had happened to Vivian, she rushed to the police station to see her daughter.

"Mom..." The moment Vivian saw her, she grabbed the iron bars tightly and burst into tears.

"Vivian..." Amber’s heart shattered at the sight of her daughter behind the bars.

Vivian had once been beautiful and impeccably groomed. She had always been obsessed with her appearance, never allowing herself to look anything less than perfect.

But now, she looked completely disheveled. Her makeup was smeared, her hair was tangled, and her dress was stained.

"Vivian..." Amber couldn’t stop her tears from falling. "Why is this happening?"

"Mom, please talk to Dad..." Vivian sobbed. "He disowned me. I know he is angry with me, but he can’t abandon me. He is still my father."

Shock flashed across Amber’s face. "What are you talking about? He... disowned you?"

"Yes." Vivian nodded, her voice heavy with pain. "He slapped me in front of everyone and ordered the guards to hand me over to the police. He treated me like I was a stranger."

She covered her mouth and cried miserably.

Amber clenched her fingers into tight fists. Pure anger surged inside her.

How could Cedric do this to his own daughter?

"Tell him to take me out of here," Vivian pleaded desperately. "I can’t stay here any longer. These people are crazy. I’ll die if I stay here. Please, Mom..."

Amber’s gaze burned with fury. "He can’t abandon you just like this. I’ll talk to him."

Then her expression clouded with sadness. She clasped her hands tightly, trying to hold herself together.

"Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. I’ll do everything I can. Just wait a little longer."

At her mother’s reassurance, some of the tension left Vivian’s face. She forced a smile and wiped away her tears.

"Yes. I’ll wait."

Amber gave her one last helpless look before turning and walking out of the station.

The moment she stepped outside, the sadness on her face hardened into determination.

"Cedric. You have to answer me."