Chapter 10
Half an hour later, Eloise, covered in ink, appeared at the inpatient ward, covered in ink. She walked straight to the VIP ward on the eighth floor, drawing curious stares from doctors and nurses along the way.
She pushed open Sophia’s ward door and saw her lying on the bed, playing with her phone. Whatever she was looking at must have been funny because
she let out a lauch
Eloise strode in, catching Sophia’s attention. Her smile was still lingering on her face.
“Eloise, you….”
Before she could finish, Eloise raised a bottle of ink and hurled it. The next moment, Jacob, who was seated beside the bed, leaned forward instinctively and shielded Sophia. The bottle of ink hit his back, splattering black stains all over his white shirt.
“Ah!” Sophia gasped in shock.
Jacob turned around. His face was dark with anger. “What’s w wrong with you? Are you-
It was then be noticed the ink all over Eloise, and he froze momentarily. “What happened to your
Eloise panted heavily. Feeling suffocated, her nose and eyes were burning. She rarely got angry, but this time was different.
A voice suddenly blared from Sophia’s phone, “Security! Come quick! The voice was from a video–one showing Eloise being splashed with ink by Sophia’s fan. It was the very thing Sophia had found amusing earlier
Jacob glanced at the video and frowned. “Some fans really are unreasonable, but this has nothing to do with Sophia. Why are you blaming her?”
So now she was the one being unreasonable?
“This video was edited to be deliberately misleading. Don’t tell me this wasn’t orchestrated by her team? And those rumors about me seducing you–why hasn’t she clarified them? I’ve been attacked by one of her fans, and she’s blæneless?” Eloise’s voice rose.
“I’ve already told you, you’re not a celebrity. A few insults online won’t affect you!” Jacob retorted, frowning
“Why should I take the blame for her?”
“Because I said so! If I tell you so, you just have to deal with it!”
“Jacob!” Eloise shouted, her breath catching as tears rolled down her cheeks. “The biggest mistake I ever made was getting involved with you in the first place!
Jacob froze for a moment when he saw her tears but quickly grew irritated and kicked the chair behind him.
“A mistake? You’re right it was a mistake,” he sneered
Eloise wasn’t crying from heartbreak. It was pure anger. She took a deep breath and looked at Sophia again. I expect you to clear my name. If you don’t, I’ll do it myself. And if that stirs up more drama, that’s not my problem.”
With that, she turned and left
“Eloise!” Sophia called after her in panic. “I’ll apologize on behalf of my fan. Let’s just put this behind us, okay?”
“You think an apology makes it all olory?” Eloise scoffed. “I’m not your lapdog. I’m not that easy to appease!”
She marched out of the room, but Jacob chased after her. “Who the hell are you calling a dog?”
“You!“” Eloise shouted.
“Eloise, you
Eloise abruptly stopped and turned to face him. “Do you know what you are to me now?
Jacob smirked sarcastically. “What?”
“You’re Sophia’s fiancé.”
His smirk fatered. He had expected her to call him a jerk or something worse in her anger. Instead, her calm words hit harder.
He was no longer anyone to her–just Sophia’s fiancé
“So what?” he asked
“So,” she said, stepping back and pointing to the space between them, “don’t bass me around or tell me what to do anymore. Let’s maintain a polite
distance”
And if the distance wasn’t enough, she stepped back repeatedly until they were like strangers standing apart. Jacob’s gaze darkened as he watched her retreat, creating more and more distance between them.
That afternoon, Sophia posted a response online. “Regarding today’s incident, I apologize to Dr. Sullivan on behalf of my fan. I understand your feelings, but I ask you not to defend me. I’ll handle my own matters. To Dr. Sullivan, I sincerely apologize. I hope this apology satisfies you.
\“As for the past, I don’t want to revisit it. My flance and I are doing great and have always been great–that’s what truly matters. Stay tuned for our
wedding announcement. Love you all.”
When Celia finished reading the post, she swore loudly. “What kind of clarification is this? She’s playing the victim! Acting all noble while subtly throwing you under the bus! ‘Oh, I’m such a big–hearted person, and my fiancé and I are still madly in love no homewrecker can shake us!‘”
Fuming, Celia wanted to crush her phone under her feet.
“Look, she just posted a photo.” She opened it for Eloise to see. In the picture, Sophia sat cross–legged on the bed. Her hand was still attached to the IV line. She wore a fatigued smile and rested her face in her hands as sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow around her.
But the real focus of the photo wasn’t the ethereal lighting–it was the ink stains splattered across her clothes and blanket, dotting them in patches.
As the photo scrolled down, the comments section revealed exactly what was expected–a barrage of scathing remarks.
“Dr. Sullivan deserved that ink! III were that fan, I’d throw feces on you instead!”
“Trying to seduce someone else’s fiancé and blackmail them for money. After getting the money, she still acts shamelessly. How come someone like you even exists in this world? You’re disgusting!”
“Sophia is so kind and beautiful. She didn’t even hold this against you, and you dared to bully her? We won’t stand for it!”
“You better watch your back, Eloise. Karma’s coming for you.
Eloise stayed calm, but Celia was livid and pounded at her own chest.
“This is outrageous! They’re too much!”
Eloise glanced at the so–called apology, the photo, and the hate–filled comments. Her expression was composed. She had expected Sophia to make it difficult to clear her name.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from William. “Someone cursed at me today. I cursed back twice as hard. When they wouldn’t stop, I gave them a beating. They thought they owned the place and could do whatever they wanted, but as long as my fists are stronger, I make the rules,”
Eloise was puzzled by his message, which she found confusing. After thinking about it for a moment, she realized that he seemed to be indirectly referring to her.
She replied, “You really got into a fight?”
“Just speaking from experience. No one dares fight me now. I’ve been through worse.‘
“What do you mean?”
“Long story. Let’s just say. I don’t get pushed around anymore.”
When Celia returned and saw Eloise staring at her phone in a daze, she said, “Maybe you should just drop it. Sophia’s backed by a whole team. You can’t win.”
Eloise shook her head. She opened her photo gallery and found a particular picture. She logged into her account and posted it.
