Chapter 5

The noise in the private room came to an abrupt halt. Everyone turned to look at Beverly as horror crept onto their faces.

Evan instantly grabbed Cindy's wrist and shoved her off the couch, making her fall to the floor. He snarled, "There's no point pleading with me. No one can change my mother's mind once she's decided on something. Besides, you misled Harry and hurt Beverly. I'm already going easy on you by not doing anything to you!"

He sounded cold and ruthless.

Cindy collapsed on the floor in a disheveled mess. The pain from her wrist and legs made her wince, and she gave Beverly a resentful look.

"Yes, that's right! You taught Harry the wrong thing and upset Beverly! Evan's already been merciful enough by letting you off without a lesson!"

Everyone sighed in relief and started speaking up for Beverly.

"You went too far with what you did. It's bad enough that you misled Harry—how could you hurt Beverly too?"

"Don't be upset, Beverly."

"Evan loves you so much—there's no way he'll let anyone get away with upsetting you."

Calvin grabbed Cindy and yanked her to her feet. "Beverly, I'll throw her out right now!"

One second, Cindy had been placed on a pedestal. The next, she was thrown into an abyss and kicked while she was down. Cindy struggled with all her might, refusing to play along.

Beverly was nauseated by the performance they were all putting on for her. She asked flatly, "Cindy, were you snuggling up to Evan earlier just to plead for mercy?"

Everyone turned to glare daggers at Cindy, seemingly warning her not to offend Beverly.

Cindy's expression shifted between anger and humiliation as she gritted her teeth and gave Beverly a scathing look. Of course that wasn't what she was up to! She wanted to sleep with Evan! What a fool Beverly was!

However, she didn't have the nerve to brazenly expose her and Evan's relationship—not while he was around.

Evan glanced at Calvin. The latter caught his drift and abruptly shoved Cindy to her knees. "Apologize to Beverly now!"

"Yeah, apologize!" The others chimed in.

Cindy's kneecaps slammed on the floor as she was forced to kneel before Beverly. The pain caused tears to roll down her face, making her a pitiful sight.

No one sympathized with her, though. The look in their eyes made it clear that they were forcing her to apologize.

“I’m sorry,” she said through gritted teeth.

How had things turned out like this? She knew all of them hated how arrogant Beverly was, yet they were all terrified of her when they were around her.

Beverly noticed Cindy's resentment and hatred, but she didn't say anything to forgive her. No one dared speak up on her behalf either.

Evan walked over to Beverly and pulled her into his arms, pressing a warm hand to her slender waist. She could still smell the lingering scent of Cindy's perfume on him.

He said tenderly, "Honey, don't let someone like her get to you."

Calvin yanked Cindy to her feet again and started dragging her out of the room. "Beverly, I'll throw her out right now."

Watching them sing the same tune just to trick her, Beverly shoved Evan aside and said, "Wait."

Her sharp gaze landed on Cindy's wrist. "Why is that lace thong wrapped around your wrist?"

Cindy suddenly smirked, looking smug despite her disheveled appearance. She looked at Evan again, her gaze turning alluring.

"The man I love gave it to me. He said I have a great figure and can best show off this thong's charm. He also said it's convenient because he doesn't even need to take it off me when he wants to fuck me, unlike with certain people…"

She trailed off, turning to give Beverly a lusty yet taunting look.

Beverly turned to face Evan, meeting his clouded gaze. She was reminded of the nauseating scene she'd seen in the surveillance footage.

He was insatiable with Cindy, but with her… What Beverly had thought was tender care of her body and concern over her health now made her feel like she was nothing more than a joke.

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling like a piece of her heart had been gouged out. It hurt badly, and her bloodless lips trembled as she asked, "And by the man you love, you mean my husband?"

The room fell silent once again.

Suddenly, Calvin grabbed Cindy's hand and held it up. "It's me, Beverly. We're together now."

"Wait, when did you guys hook up? I can't believe you hid it so well!"

"No wonder you were so insistent on dragging her off. You were protecting her!"

Evan moved to stand before Beverly as everyone covered up for him. He looked like he always did as he said, "I only let her get close to me because of Calvin, Beverly. I'm sorry for putting you on edge."

She turned to look at him. At the same time, she saw something she hadn't noticed before—a hint of lipstick at the corner of his lips. It seemed to gleam under the lights, piercing her eyes.

She shut them, forcing her tears back. Then, she said, "But I remember the engagement between the Dane and Shaw families. Cammy is my best friend. Are you saying Cindy got between you and Camelia, Calvin? How could you do this to her?"

Calvin instantly released Cindy's hand at Beverly's words, looking panicked and flustered. "Beverly, I… C-Cindy's the one who seduced me… Please don't tell Cammy about this. Someone, come and throw her out of here!"

The club's security guards hurried into the room and grabbed Cindy by the hair, dragging her out of the room while she stared at everyone in disbelief.

She screamed and started struggling. "Let me go! I'm not Calvin's mistress; I didn't seduce him! Evan, save me! I'm your woman!"

Beverly's wedding band fell out of Cindy's collar as she tried to break free. Beverly reached for the chain from which it hung and yanked it off Cindy's neck. The latter lowered her head diffidently as the ring was exposed.

Beverly held the ring up before Evan, making sure everyone could clearly see the initials "SG" carved on the inside. They stood for her and Evan's surnames. He was the one who'd carved them there.

She couldn't stand Cindy and Evan using something that was supposed to be hers under her very nose, especially when they were using it as a symbol of their love.

"Why does Cindy have the wedding band I lost around her neck?" Beverly asked Evan, sounding devastated. "She said she's not Calvin's mistress and that she's your woman. What is she to you?"

A security guard restrained Cindy's hands behind her back, and she looked like a right mess with her hair all mussed up. She'd never been this humiliated since she'd started seeing Evan. They'd been together for five years, and she'd even given him a child.

How was she any different from Beverly? Why was it that she had to hide in the shadows? Why couldn't she stand in the spotlight?

Why was it that Beverly could appear before everyone with her head held high? Why could Beverly act so arrogantly and do whatever she wanted?

Cindy's rage consumed her, destroying every bit of her rationality. She abruptly shrieked, "I'm the woman Evan lo—"

"That's enough! Even when you taught Harry the wrong things, I wanted to let you off the hook for my mother's sake. But I didn't expect you to steal the symbol of my and Beverly's love!" Evan roared, cutting her off.

He wrapped his arms around Beverly, looking anguished as he continued, "Do you know how much that ring means to us? How dare you do something like this to her?"

He turned to a security guard. "Take her to the police station and make sure to file a case against her for theft."

Evan didn't hide his anger and hatred for Cindy, and his tone was as cold as ice. The frosty look on his face scared everyone in the room into silence.

Even Cindy was so frightened that she didn't dare make a sound. It was almost as if she'd actually stolen the ring.

He shot the security guards a look, and they immediately tugged Cindy out of the private room.

Beverly felt a cool sensation on her finger. Evan's head was lowered as he slipped the wedding band onto her ring finger. Then, he held her hand and said seriously, "No one can take away what's yours, honey. Please stop crying. Your tears put me in more pain than if you were to kill me."

He reached up to wipe away her tears, and the wedding band gleaming on his finger caught her gaze. For a split second, she dazedly thought he was still the same man she'd once loved with all her heart.

It was clear he couldn't bear to see her upset. He'd shielded her from countless storms over the years, yet it was now evident that he was the cause of her turmoil.

No one could take away what was hers, huh? Once upon a time, she was all he could see. But now, the heart that had once belonged to only her had been stolen.

Beverly was in such agony that she could barely breathe. She pushed Evan's hand away and left the private room. She headed to the restroom and splashed some cold water on her face. Only then did she feel a bit more rational.

Just then, the restroom door swung open, and Harry ran in. He fell to his knees at her feet and said, "I'm the one who gave Cindy your ring, Mom. Please ask the police not to take her away! Take me instead!"