Chapter 296 The Clash of Wills
Everly was naturally disinclined to confess, particularly with Reese loving to be a formidable adversary. To admit anything would be akin to digging her own grave. “I regret to inform you that I have no knowledge of Alyssa’s predicament. I tend to avoid such matters, she said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.
Reese’s piercing gaze bore into Everly, unyielding and relentless. Despite the tremors of fear coursing through her, Everly maintained her denial with a brave facade. Unbeknownst to her, Recap had a knack for deciphering the most subtle of expressions, especially from those like Everly, who were not particularly adept at masking their emotions.
The heart of the matter was that Reese had already unearthed the truth.
Regret washed over Everly as she reflected on her decision to engage with Reese. She could have simply walked past, preferring to deal with Alyssa’s naive inquiries than face a direct confrontation with Reese. Reese’s intelligence was intimidating, and in her presence, Everly felt as though her secrets were laid bare for all–to–see.
Upon seeing Everly’s silence, Reese refrained from pressing further. If you choose to remain silent, that’s your prerogative,” she said, her voice cool and composed. “Just remember, once Alyssa unravels everything, you’ll have to face the consequences of your
actions.”
Reese’s words struck fear into Everly’s heart. She was well aware of Reese’s ruthless methods. Alyssa didn’t concern her, but Reese’s involvement was an entirely different matter. If Reese became entangled in this, it would not be easily resolved.
“Didn’t you always claim to detest meddling in such affairs?” Everly asked, her voice laced with bitterness.
Reese nonchalantly brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. “I generally avoid drama, but Alyssa has always treated me fairly. If it were anyone else trying to sabotage her, I’d let it pass. But you…
1
Confused by Reese’s insinuation, Everly stuttered, “What do you mean? What have I done?”
Reese’s lips curled into a sly smirk. “If it’s you, then I have no intention of staying out of it.”
Everly had targeted Reese often enough, and while Reese usually ignored it, she was not so forgiving as to overlook someone who consistently caused her trouble.
Everly wanted to lash out at Reese’s peculiar reasoning, but knowing she was outmatched, she held her tongue. “You’re being hypocritical,” she retorted.
If it were anyone else, Reese would have stayed out of it. But since it was Everly, Reese seemed prepared to ally with Alyssa against her.
With her arms crossed, Reese arched an eyebrow provocatively. “Then give me one good reason why I should let you off the hook.”
“I…” Everly faltered, suddenly realizing that she couldn’t justify sparing herself.
She was well aware that her antics against Reese were numerous, and Reese, with her long memory for grievances, was unlikely to let her off easily. Despite all her scheming, it had never occurred to Everly that Reese would step in to assist Alyssa. It was logical to assume that Reese was aiding Alyssa in investigating her. After all, without Reese’s intellect, Alyssa would never have discovered she was being set up.
Reese chuckled lightly. “You realize it wasn’t you, right?”
Everly harbored a deep resentment for Reese but couldn’t bring herself to like her, primarily because they were rivals in love. Reese had stolen the man she adored.
“Reese, can’t we put aside our animosity? This is a matter between Alyssa and me; it has nothing to do with you.”
1/3
Chapter 296 The Clash of Wills
As Everly made her plea, she noticed a bemused smile spreading across Reese’s face.
Why are you laughing?” she asked, her voice laced with irritation.
“If I had known it would be this easy to extract the truth from you, wouldn’t have wasted my time digging around.
Just then, Alyssa must have heard the commotion from outside. She lung open the door to find Reese and Everly together.
In an instant, Alyssa, seething with rage, lunged forward and grabbed a handful of Everly’s hair, yanking it viciously. Everly let out a piercing scream.
“Ouch… that hurts, Alyssa, let go of me, you maniac!”
“What have I done to you, Everly? Why are you so determined to destroy me? Can’t you bear to see me happy?”
Earlier, Alyssa had briefly gone online and seen the torrent of abuse aimed at her–people wishing they could drown her in their spit. And she had Everly to thank for that.
Everly was livid. “You have the audacity to blame me? How do you usually treat me? All I did was tell your fans the truth. Which part of what’s being said online is slander against you?”
“That’s none of your business! You have no right!”
Alyssa was on the verge of exploding with anger. If it weren’t for Everly, would she ever be in such a predicament?
Having been played and inadvertently revealing her hand to Reese, Everly was seething with nowhere to direct her fury. She wasn’t about to confront Reese, but Alyssa? That was a different story.
Refusing to back down, Everly retaliated by grabbing Alyssa’s hair, and the two descended into a brawl, their curses and screams echoing through the hallway.
“Everly, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You’re just jealous of Reese and my brother, and you can’t stand to see me getting along with them. You didn’t help me, so you’re trying to get back at me, right?”
“Stop slandering me, Alyssa. Who exactly are you loyal to? Even if I’m not a Flynn by blood, we were raised under the same roof since we were children. Are you willing to throw away our sisterly bond over some woman who’s barely been part of the family for a year?”
Everly stood her ground, feeling utterly betrayed by Alyssa. They used to have their occasional disagreements, but it had never escalated to this point, where every encounter felt like they were ready to tear each other apart like mortal enemies.
She felt isolated in the Flynn clan, with no one to support her, except for Grandpa Flynn, who held a grudge against Reese. But Reese, stubborn as she was, proved difficult to dislodge – trying to root her out was like trying to pull out stubborn weeds.
Alyssa, gripping Everly’s clothing, vehemently disagreed. “Am I the one who’s disregarding sisterhood? It’s you, with your selfish desires targeting Reese. If you weren’t harboring those… feelings for my brother, you two could’ve been great friends.”
Jealousy in love, they say, blinds all reason, and Everly was a prime example.
As the two continued their heated exchange, Reese attempted to intervene, only to be stopped by Malcolm’s firm grasp on her ha. “Let them duke it out,” he said.
Turning to Malcolm, Reese caught a glimpse of his stern expression, his jaw clenched, eyes flickering with anger.
At the sound of Malcolm’s voice, Alyssa and Everly exchanged glances, and by some unspoken agreement, both stopped their assault
on each other.
