Chapter 571 You Are Free
Charlene closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes again. Before she spoke, however, she hung her head in shame.
In the clip, the reporters nearly held their microphones to Charlene’s chin.
Finally, Charlene found her voice. “…The team members learned the truth at the time. They wanted to clarify things for H, but in order to maintain my hard-won popularity, I forestalled them by pretending to be raped. After getting a man to rape me, I framed Elise for this, making all our teammates think that Elise had purposely gotten back at me because she held a grudge against me for stealing her songs. Actually, they didn’t know that I only used my chastity in exchange for Elise losing everyone’s support.”
As she spoke of this, she sniffled and looked up at the camera with a mad and frivolous expression. “Elise, I know you’re watching this. This time, I’ve paid off what I owed you, but history will always remember that you’ve once fallen into my trap without being able to explain yourself. Even if I’ve lost thoroughly today, that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve once been defeated by me!”
Knowing that what Charlene would be saying next wouldn’t be pleasant to hear, Alexander pressed the power button and turned off the TV.
Everyone in the bar had a different expression on their faces.
Elise didn’t come to her senses for quite some time. To think that Charlene didn’t hesitate to take a gamble using her own body in order to gain some vague popularity and glory. Seriously, I have no idea how to comment on this.
Jamie was the first to step forward and speak for Elise. “I told you that Boss was innocent,” he said. As he spoke, he deliberately darted a look at Noel, who was standing by the door. It was because of Charlene that he had never been in touch with Noel all these years. Now that the truth had come to light, he could finally say righteously that he was right, and that Noel had been deceived by that bad woman.
Arthur and Julius exchanged a brief look, but they dared not respond to Jamie’s words. As they didn’t choose to steadfastly believe Elise back then, they were in no position to express their opinions now.
Clenching his fists with all his might, Noel stood in place with a look of anguish on his face before a tear suddenly spilled out of his eye. Before everyone could notice it, however, he turned his face away and lowered his head, causing the tear to make a turn and flow into his mouth before it could fall. It tastes so bitter, he thought. To think that the woman whom I cherished like a treasure willingly let another man violate her for some undeserved reputation! So what does that make of my defense of her over these years? Perhaps I’m just a joke to Charlene. Most importantly, how am I supposed to face Elise after this?
Just then, Alexander asked impassively, “Now that the truth has come to light, don’t you think you owe Elise an apology?”
Gritting his teeth, Noel turned his head further away without giving an answer.
Jamie kindheartedly advised Noel, saying, “What’s wrong is wrong, and there’s nothing embarrassing about apologizing for your mistakes. We’ll still be friends after you say sorry to her.”
However, his words seemed to hit a nerve in Noel, and he blew up all of a sudden. “I don’t need you pretending to be kind now!” He looked somewhat scary with bloodshot eyes.
Getting into a temper as well, Jamie raised his voice without realizing it. “What the f*ck are you talking about? Are you so spoiled by the flattery in show biz that you can’t understand the kind words? Can’t you tell that I’m giving you an out?”
Noel stubbornly clenched his teeth without answering him.
“Calm down, both of you! We’re brothers.” Unable to bear the sight of the scene anymore, Julius stepped out of the bar counter and tugged at Noel’s arm. He said earnestly, “Just acknowledge your mistakes, Noel. Boss won’t take this to heart.”
However, Noel shook him off defiantly. “That’s none of your business!”
“Haven’t you had enough?!” Being older than Noel, Julius instantly acted like a big brother. He reproached Noel sternly, saying, “Nobody’s blaming you right now; we’re just asking you to apologize. Can’t you even do that? Are you still a man? Don’t forget how nasty the words you said to Boss back then were!”
Noel growled angrily at him, “That’s right! I’m not a man! I’m such a stupid *sshole, and I don’t deserve to stand together with you guys. Is that enough?”
Julius spat before grabbing Noel’s collar. “Don’t act unreasonable in front of me! I only yielded to you previously because I felt sorry for you for being disliked by Charlene. But now, if you’re still being unreasonable for the sake of that shameless and vicious woman, then you have only yourself to blame!”
“I have only myself to blame, but you aren’t any better. If you really wanted to stick up for Boss so much, why didn’t you make a sound back then?”
Noel’s words succeeded in pushing Julius’ buttons, and he raised his fist and knocked Noel down to the ground with a punch. Before Noel could get up, he dashed toward him and sat astride him. “What are you talking about? Would all of this have happened if you hadn’t shown Charlene the song?”
The scene was in chaos as Arthur rushed toward the two men and tried to pull them apart. “Noel, Julius, what are you doing?!”
Just then, Elise’s voice rang sonorously. “Stop, all of you!”
The bar instantly went quiet as everyone stopped what they were doing.
With a sullen expression, Elise stood up and walked toward Julius and Noel, saying impassively, “Julius, get up first. Let go of him.”
Julius let out a heavy breath. After darting another look at Noel on the ground, he shook Noel off and got up. Then, he returned to the bar counter and drank up the rest of his wine in one gulp.
Arthur helped Noel up, but just as he was about to dust Noel off, Noel pulled his hand out of Arthur’s grasp and stepped aside right away like a difficult person.
Is he gonna sever all ties with us? Arthur let out a sigh. Seeing that Elise had something to say, he bit back the words on the tip of his tongue. Silently, he stood next to Julius and patted the latter on the shoulder to comfort him.
Jamie went over and poured himself some wine on his own as he wasn’t in the mood to watch Noel ruin himself.
When everyone’s attention was no longer on Noel, Elise finally said in a soft voice, “I know you’re feeling bad right now, Noel. We’ve been friends for so many years, and you were also deceived back then, so I’m not gonna blame you. It’s just that you’ve done so many things for Charlene for so many years, but she’s never been honest with you. I sincerely hope that you can be nicer to yourself by thinking twice about her. I know you only did what you did just now because you didn’t know how to make up for your mistakes. It’s okay. You can go heal your wounds on your own, but we’ll always be waiting for your return.”
Noel’s nose twinged. Still, he stubbornly feigned indifference, saying, “Are you done talking? Can I leave already?”
Elise replied helplessly, “You’re free to do as you please.”
Upon hearing this, Noel turned around and left the bar without the slightest hesitation.
Elise kept following Noel with her gaze. After Noel’s figure disappeared from her sight, she let out a sigh, only to see out of the corner of her eye that Alexander looked somewhat disappointed. However, before she could ask him about it, she was interrupted by Jamie, who said, “Noel’s changed. He’s lost his principles because of Charlene.” As he spoke, he handed her a glass of cocktail. “I prepared this myself. Take a sip.”
Taking the wine glass from Jamie, Elise said earnestly, “Noel just needs some time.” After all, no men could stand it when the woman they treated as their goddess personally had someone rape herself. Noel had yet to come to his senses, so she didn’t blame him at all.
