Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Isn’t It Disgusting?
At Regina Shaw’s urging, Eve Vaughn finally mustered the courage to call Mason Lawson.
They hadn’t seen much of each other these past few days because of her exams, but they texted each other "good night" every evening before bed.
Eve Vaughn didn’t want to misunderstand him. Whether it was just a rumor or the truth, at the very least, she wanted to hear the explanation from his own lips.
However, the phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.
’That man is probably with that vixen right now,’ Regina Shaw thought.
But Eve Vaughn loved Mason Lawson so much; how could she bear to say something like that and hurt her even more?
Hearing the dial tone, Eve Vaughn sighed and made an excuse for him. "Maybe he’s in a meeting. He often doesn’t answer his phone when he’s in a meeting."
Regina Shaw couldn’t believe that even now, Eve Vaughn was still seeing things from his perspective and constantly making excuses for him.
"Then call him again later. I refuse to believe we can’t get through to him today."
Regina Shaw just couldn’t stand men who wanted to have their cake and eat it too, and she especially couldn’t stand a vixen like Joanna Sullivan stealing her best friend’s man!
But Eve Vaughn was young, after all, and so dependent on Mason Lawson.
She was afraid the girl would compromise or back down, giving that vixen an opening.
So, in Regina Shaw’s eyes, the most effective solution was to have Mason Lawson directly clarify his relationship with Joanna Sullivan.
Ever since she saw that news, Regina Shaw had been bottling up her anger, feeling it was a complete injustice to Eve Vaughn.
She said resentfully, "First love, my ass! That vixen really knows how to stir up drama. Isn’t it disgusting?"
Listening to her friend’s cursing, Eve Vaughn’s mind was a mess.
She didn’t care about Joanna Sullivan.
What she cared about was what Mason Lawson was truly thinking.
It wasn’t until evening that Eve Vaughn finally received a call from Mason Lawson.
He asked if she had eaten, his tone completely normal, as if the trending topic and the scandal had never happened.
But how could Eve Vaughn possibly be in the mood to eat?
That trending topic made her feel like she had swallowed a bowl of flies; she felt nauseous just thinking about it.
So, she said sullenly that she had already eaten in the school cafeteria.
Mason Lawson told her to come down, saying his car was parked at the school gate.
Regina Shaw urged Eve Vaughn to hurry down and get things straight, so she wouldn’t be left hurting all by herself.
And so, Eve Vaughn grabbed a random jacket and went downstairs.
After she got in the car, Mason Lawson saw that her small hands were red and touched one. It was cold.
"Why didn’t you even wear gloves?"
he asked with a frown, but still cupped her small hand in his own, trying to warm it up.
But Eve Vaughn forcefully pulled her hand back and said with pointed meaning, "Mr. Lawson, I haven’t worn gloves for a good while now. You were too busy being lovey-dovey with your precious ’white moonlight.’ Did you only just remember me now?"
Mason Lawson actually quite liked this jealous side of her; it was cute with a hint of mischief.
He admitted frankly, "I have indeed been in contact with her more often recently due to work. You were busy with exams, so I didn’t tell you, fearing it would distract you."
"Then what about the trending topic?"
Eve Vaughn retorted, "You and her are trending every day, with rumors flying everywhere—is that also because of work? Mr. Lawson, I may be young and not as scheming as you people, but I’m not a fool! Your refusal to deny it is a tacit admission. Everyone assumes she’s your girlfriend. So what about me? What am I?"
Mason Lawson was at a loss for words for a moment. His voice was low, tinged with a hint of helplessness. "Evie, I have my own plans. You can think of it as me just putting on an act with her. But for now, I won’t clarify anything."
Eve Vaughn never imagined this would be his answer.
’Even if I could lie to myself and believe they were just putting on an act, what about everyone else?’
’If Mason Lawson doesn’t clarify things, the public will assume that he and Joanna Sullivan are a couple.’
’Then where does that leave me?’
’As a secret? Someone who has to be hidden from the light?’
Eve Vaughn had originally thought Mason Lawson would never allow the media to write such nonsense. His PR team was so powerful; he had the ability to take down any news he didn’t want to see.
Now, the fact that the topic was still trending could only mean one thing: Mason Lawson was allowing it to stay there. He wanted the rumor to become fact.
Clinging to a final shred of hope, Eve Vaughn said, "I need you to give me a reason. Convince me why you won’t clarify this. Otherwise, I can’t accept my boyfriend being known to the world as Joanna Sullivan’s man!"
Mason Lawson’s reply was calm, yet slightly cruel. "Evie, since you decided to be with me, you have to believe in me, trust me. I... have my reasons, but this is my own business. It’s not convenient for me to talk about it."
Eve Vaughn couldn’t imagine what kind of reasons could possibly compel a man of Mason Lawson’s status to put on an act with Joanna Sullivan.
As far as she knew, the only person who could control Mason Lawson was probably Old Mr. Lawson.
So, was it Old Mr. Lawson who was pushing him and Joanna Sullivan together, and Mason couldn’t defy his elder’s wishes?
Eve Vaughn’s heart sank inexplicably. If that were the case, she could understand Mason Lawson’s compromise, but she couldn’t accept being dragged into his relationship with Joanna Sullivan.
’So what if it’s just an act?’
’If everyone sees them as a couple, and Mason Lawson tacitly accepts that perception, then it’s not just an act anymore!’
’If I stay with Mason Lawson, people will label me a homewrecker who knowingly got involved!’
The thought of being trapped in such a situation made Eve Vaughn feel sick to her stomach.
Therefore, she looked at the cold, sharp profile of the man beside her and said, "Then go ahead and continue your act with her, Mr. Lawson! When your little show is over and you’ve clarified that you have nothing to do with her, then you can come find me!"
Without waiting for Mason Lawson to reply, Eve Vaughn quickly got out of the car.
Back in her dorm room, Regina Shaw asked with concern how the talk went.
"How are you back so soon?" Regina Shaw asked. "What was his explanation? Did you make him clarify things?"
Eve Vaughn sighed and said, "He said he has his reasons, that he and Joanna Sullivan are just putting on an act. But, he won’t clarify it."
Upon hearing this, Regina Shaw exploded in anger. "What ’reasons’? Those are all just excuses! What a scumbag! I bet he just wants to have both of you and enjoy the best of both worlds! He says he’s just putting on an act with Joanna Sullivan? For all we know, he’s telling her he’s just putting on an act with you, too."
Although Eve Vaughn didn’t think Mason Lawson was as much of a scumbag as Regina Shaw made him out to be, she truly couldn’t accept his ambiguous relationship with Joanna Sullivan.
Besides, he hadn’t even given her an explanation.
On what grounds was she supposed to believe him?
After ranting for a while, Regina Shaw asked, "And what about you? What did you say? Don’t tell me you’re just going to put up with that vixen!"
"I told him to come find me after he’s done putting on his act with Joanna Sullivan. In any case, while they’re doing their show, I’m not about to join the circus and get dragged into the mess!"
After Eve Vaughn delivered the line with a perfectly straight face, Regina Shaw burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA, Evie, you’re absolutely savage!"
Regina Shaw was exceptionally pleased with Eve Vaughn’s response. "Okay, now I’m relieved. I was so afraid you wouldn’t stick to your guns and would just foolishly believe him."
...
And so, several more days passed. Even after she finished her last exam, Mason Lawson still hadn’t come to find her.
The two of them hadn’t contacted each other either.
Eve Vaughn tried to find things to do. Before, she could always bury herself in the library to study for exams.
Now that her exams were over, Eve Vaughn had nothing to do, and it felt as if a large chunk of her heart had been instantly hollowed out.
Until she received a call from Nina Steele.
"Evie, are you in the dorm? I have a fever and forgot to bring my fever reducer. Could you bring some to me?"
Her voice was very weak.
Eve Vaughn was surprised that after so many days, Nina Steele still had a fever.
But on second thought, it made sense. Nina Steele worked part-time every day and didn’t even have time to rest.
Eve Vaughn immediately agreed. "Okay, where are you? I’ll bring it to you right now."
She got the address. Luckily, it wasn’t far from school, located in Rivaster’s most scenic park.
Nina Steele was working part-time there. She said she was assisting a celebrity who was very demanding and needed her at a moment’s notice, so she couldn’t leave.
But because of her high fever, she really couldn’t hold on any longer, which is why she asked Eve Vaughn to bring her the medicine.
Eve Vaughn followed the address Nina Steele gave her to the park entrance and found it cordoned off with security tape.
A large crowd had gathered outside, peering in with curiosity.
Eve Vaughn squeezed her way through the crowd, only to be stopped by a bodyguard.
"The park is closed to the public all day. There’s a shoot going on inside."
The bodyguard coldly refused to let her in.
Eve Vaughn had no choice but to take out the medicine. "My friend is working part-time in here. She has a fever right now, and this is her fever reducer. Her name is Nina Steele. Could you please help me give this to her?"
The moment the bodyguard heard it was just for a part-timer, he impatiently said to Eve Vaughn, "Go away, go away! Nina who? Never heard of her!"
It was obvious he had no intention of helping Eve Vaughn deliver the medicine.
Left with no other option, Eve Vaughn could only try calling Nina Steele to have her come out and get it.
But for some reason, she tried calling several times and couldn’t get through.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her, growing closer. "Let her in!"
The bodyguard and Eve Vaughn turned around at the same time.
They saw the bodyguard bow his head respectfully and greet the newcomer, "Mr. Julian!"
A look of clear disgust immediately appeared in Eve Vaughn’s eyes.
Ever since the day Julian Lawson had set her up and she had nearly lost her innocence, her feelings toward him had become even more nauseating.
Julian Lawson, however, ignored her and said, "The Lawson Group booked the entire park today for a shoot. As it happens, I’m the one in charge. If you want to go in, I can take you."
Eve Vaughn’s anger flared. ’Who knows what kind of dirty tricks a man like him might pull?’
So, she refused coldly, "No, thank you."
Julian Lawson chuckled. "I know you’re wary of me. But with so many staff members in the park today, I’m not going to do anything to you. By the way, the star of today’s shoot is Joanna Sullivan. And my dear uncle is here, too!"
Hearing those two names, Eve Vaughn’s heart plummeted. That familiar feeling of pain and tightness surged up again.
Julian Lawson knew her feelings all too well. The way Eve Vaughn felt now was exactly how he felt every time he saw that woman with Mason Lawson, appearing everywhere as a couple.
He continued twisting the knife. "If I’m not mistaken, my uncle hasn’t had any time to see you these past few days, has he? That’s because the Lawson Group calendar shoot has locations in other cities, too. So he’s been with Joanna Sullivan this whole time, accompanying her to shoots all over the country. It’s common knowledge within the company."
Eve Vaughn’s face went a little pale.
In truth, she knew Julian Lawson meant her no good; he was just using this to provoke her.
And yet, she still followed Julian Lawson into the park.
She told herself she just wanted to get the medicine to Nina Steele as quickly as possible.
But she couldn’t lie to her heart. She wanted to see with her own eyes whether Joanna Sullivan and Mason Lawson were really together.
If she saw it for herself, then she could finally give up.
She followed Julian Lawson to the lakeside, which was in the very center of the park and also its most scenic spot.
Joanna Sullivan was striking a beautiful pose by the lake, dressed in a haute couture gown from a certain luxury brand. Even many of the crew members were sighing in admiration, remarking that Miss Sullivan was truly a top-tier beauty; her looks and her figure were both flawless.
But when Eve Vaughn looked around, she didn’t see any sign of Mason Lawson.
Julian Lawson said with a smirk, "No rush. My uncle is a very busy man. He has to accompany his girlfriend to her shoot, but he also has other company matters waiting for his approval. Neil Kane probably just called him away again."
Eve Vaughn acted as if she hadn’t heard him and focused on trying to contact Nina Steele on her phone.
After all, having a fever was miserable, and Nina Steele was still trying to work.
However, just as the call connected, Nina Steele said, "Evie, wait a second. Miss Sullivan is calling for me."
She hung up, and Eve Vaughn saw that the shoot nearby had just taken a break.
Then, Joanna Sullivan was surrounded by her entourage like a queen, with one person bringing her a chair, another holding an umbrella, and a third draping a coat over her shoulders.
At that moment, she saw Nina Steele walking over, carrying several pairs of shoes.
She crouched humbly in front of Joanna Sullivan to help her change her shoes.
Joanna Sullivan was so arrogant she seemed to look down her nose at the world, not even sparing Nina Steele a glance as she joked with her manager beside her.
Eve Vaughn’s heart ached at the sight.
This scene between Joanna Sullivan and Nina Steele was a stark, visual reminder of how unequal the world could be.
But this was Nina Steele’s part-time job; she couldn’t just go over and cause a scene.
So, she could only wait for Nina Steele to finish helping Joanna Sullivan with her shoes before giving her the medicine.
However, it seemed that while Nina Steele was helping her try on the shoes, a buckle pinched her.
Joanna Sullivan kicked out directly, snarling, "Are you completely useless?"
Nina Steele, already weak from her high fever, had no strength and fell right onto the ground.
But she quickly scrambled back up, apologizing as she went back to helping her change the shoes.
As if on cue, Joanna Sullivan’s assistant came over and whispered, "Miss Sullivan, Mr. Lawson said he won’t be stopping by the shoot today. He wants us to finish up and get some rest."
As soon as she heard Mason Lawson wasn’t coming, Joanna Sullivan’s expression soured even further, and she kicked Nina Steele again.
This time, she was just picking a fight for no reason!
"Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to serve people? You’re as stupid as a pig!"
After Joanna Sullivan finished cursing, her assistant, hoping to appease her, said to Nina Steele, "How can you properly help Miss Sullivan try on shoes just by crouching like that? Kneel down and put them on for her properly."
Nina Steele’s eyes reddened, but she endured it.
Because this was the highest-paying daily-wage job she had found—three hundred yuan a day.
It’s just that her whole body ached, and she felt incredibly weak.
’Perhaps only the thought of that three-hundred-yuan daily wage could give me the strength to endure serving Joanna Sullivan,’ she thought.
But unexpectedly, Eve Vaughn suddenly rushed over from out of nowhere and pulled Nina Steele straight to her feet.
Before anyone could react, Eve Vaughn had thrown the pair of shoes directly at Joanna Sullivan.
