Chapter 120


    Walking into thew firm felt like stepping into a lion’s den. The scandal that had engulfed my life


    had found its way into the workce, and my co–workers seemed all too eager to taunt me. They


    huddled in small groups, whispering and casting judgmental nces in my direction. I could hear


    their hushed voices, their words dripping with malice, as they listened to Jasper’s nderous tales.


    had expected some level of hostility, but the reality of their taunts and sneers cut deeper than I


    could have imagined. I had be a pariah in my own workce, a target of ridicule and gossip.


    As I made my way to my desk, I couldn’t escape the feeling of being watched. Their gazes bore into


    me, their smirks and knowing looks far from hidden.


    “I don’t know how we didn’t see it,” one coworker, Talia, muttered. “She was always so bold with


    him. Jasper was right.”


    Another one chimed in, “No wonder I haven’t been moving up. Clearly, some people don’t have to


    work as hard…”


    Jasper, emboldened by the attention he was receiving, had taken to openly fueling the gossip. He


    didn’t even attempt to hide his satisfaction as he regaled my co- workers with his version of the


    story. His usations were as cruel as they were baseless, and I could feel the walls closing in on


    me.


    “I thought he was taking advantage at first,” he said, standing in the middle of the room where


    others have gathered. “But after hearing that one conversation, I realized who she really was.”


    “Really!” Talia eximed, casting a re in my direction. “And she always looked so innocent


    before, walking around in oversized sweaters and long sweaters. A guess she figured the librarian


    look wouldn’t give her the opportunities she needed.”


    Lori guffawed. “Oh! No wonder she’s been looking like a skank recently!”


    At that, the group erupted withughter, barely acknowledging the need for curtesy at that point.


    I knew I couldn’t let this continue. I needed to confront Erickson, to demand that


    he dismiss Jasper’s ims and put an end to this madness. With a determined


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    stride. I made my way to Erickson’s office and threw open his door.


    Erickson was behind his desk, engrossed in paperwork, when I entered. He looked up, his


    expression unreadable, as I approached.


    “Erickson.” I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. “You need to do


    something about Jasper. His lies are ruining my career!


    Erickson regarded me with a detached air, his eyes flicking over me as if I were nothing more than


    an inconvenience. “Evie, I’ve already spoken to Jasper. He assured me that he’s merely stating the


    truth.”


    I felt a surge of anger and frustration. “How? You were there, and you known dam well that I


    wouldn’t eveny a finger on you, let alone kiss you!”


    He grunted and turned back to hisputer, as if my insult hardly grazed him. I suppose it


    wouldn’t. He wasn’t exactly considered the victim in the eyes of the public, but they had reduced his


    influence to that of a bystander rather than my actual controlling boss.


    This scandal would hardly touch him, and he knew it.


    “Those usations against me are false, and you know it. Jasper is using this situation to boost his


    own ego and credibility. You need to put a stop to it!”


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Erickson leaned back in his chair, a mocking smile ying on his lips. “Evie, you and I both know


    that you’ve benefited from our rtionship. Remember, you’ve been using me to lift your own status


    within the firm.”


    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The man I had once respected and trusted was now twisting


    the truth to fit his own narrative. The sense of betrayal cut deep. and I couldn’t contain my anger


    any longer.


    “You’re just asplicit in this scandal as Jasper is,” I used, my voice trembling with emotion.


    “You can’t even admit that you’re using me as a shield to protect your own reputation.”


    With that, I turned and stormed out of Erickson’s office, leaving him behind with his smug


    expression. The weight of the situation, the relentless gossip and nder, had be too much to


    bear, and I needed to escape the toxicity of it all.


    As I left the office building, my emotions were in turmoil. The sense of istion and despair weighed


    heavily on me, and I wondered if there was any way to escape


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    Chapore 120


    this nightmare. My status as apetent and hardworking Lawyer had be a myth to the


    public.


    As I arrived back at my apartment, I could barely carry myself inside before falling to my knees by


    the door. The scandal that had tainted my life was now seeping into every corner, and all I had were


    my friends to back me up. Unfortunately for them, it was only us against the public.


    When I looked up, eyes burning with fresh tears. I was met with the sight of Penny sitting on the


    couch. She was watching me; her look full of pity as she stood up and rushed over.


    “Aria let me in. I heard everything,” Penny stated gently, taking my hand. I let her haul me up and


    guide me to the couch.


    As we sat down. I sank into the cushion beside her, the exhaustion weighing me down.


    “It’s terrible, Penny,” I began. “The hate just won’t stop. Everywhere I go, people want to know who I


    am. what I’m doing…”


    Penny’s brow furrowed as she listened, her concern deepening. “But surely you c do something


    about it, right? Can you confront them both, Jasper and Erickson?”


    I sighed, rapidly–shaking my head. I’ve tried. Penny. I confronted Erickson, told him to dismiss


    Jasper’s ims, but he’s just asplicit in this mess. He won’t lift a finger to help me.”


    Penny hummed thoughtfully and ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry you’re


    going through this, Evie. This is a huge mess, even for me.”


    I looked at her, blinking through the tears. “I know you can only do so much, but would you be able


    to do something to stop this?”


    Penny nodded, her expression determined. “I’ll see what I can do, Evie. But I have to be honest with


    you–it won’t be easy. A lot of damage has already been done, and the scandal has spread far and


    wide. We’ll need a solid strategy to counteract the negative publicity.”


    I appreciated Penny’s honesty, even if it meant facing the harsh reality of my situation. “I trust your


    judgment, Penny. If anyone can help me navigate this mess,


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    it’s you.”


    Unlike before, I didn’t feel as hopeful by Penny’s promises. She’d proven her worth more times than


    not, but this case was different. I’d always suspected that any fans I had were merely there by the


    circumstances of me being attached to Timothy.


    If Timothy no longer seemed to favor me in the public eye, it was only a matter of time before they


    lost interest. That didn’t mean they would allow me to fade into obscurity. They were more content


    with making me suffer first..


    And the suffering had only just begun.


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