But now, seeing Henrik visibly upset by the online attacks against her, Khloe felt a strange comfort and couldn’t help but smile.
Henrik noticed this and, without a word, turned off the tablet, setting it aside. He cupped her chin, tilting her face towards him. His voice was low, laced with dissatisfaction. “You’re still smiling? Should I scold you for being so oblivious?”
“Would you like me to handle this?” Henrik’s voice was firm, but beneath it lay an unmistakable note of concern.
The anger that had moments ago etched itself onto his face began to fade as his gaze turned to Khloe, the icy edge in his eyes softening ever so slightly.
Khloe was fully aware that if Henrik chose to act, both the storm of hateful comments and the situation would be wiped away in an instant. However, she wasn’t about to let him handle it.
She instinctively took a small step back, the closeness between them unsettling. Henrik’s hand tilting her chin felt uncomfortable and intimate, making her heart race in a way she wasn’t prepared for.
Always observant, Henrik caught the brief flicker of discomfort in her eyes. The warmth in his gaze momentarily dimmed, only to return a second later.
His thoughts wandered briefly to the night before, back in the bedroom. While Khloe managed to rest peacefully by his side, once she fell into a deep sleep, any contact would make her body tense, as if recoiling from an invisible threat.
Henrik had taken his time adjusting to her boundaries, learning to navigate her aversion, though she had grown somewhat less resistant over time.
Khloe let out a soft laugh. “It’s really nothing. Just a few names thrown around. Remember, I survived three years in Zhecrora Penitentiary. That place is no joke, as you know.”
Zhecrora Penitentiary was notorious, not just in the city but across the country, as the harshest women’s prison. It was a place reserved for the worst offenders, those convicted of heinous crimes.
Back then, Khloe had been convicted of intentional harm and plagiarism-offenses that wouldn’t normally warrant such a severe sentence unless someone had manipulated the system.
Henrik had never given much thought to just how merciless the conditions in that women’s prison were. He had seen far worse, far more brutal things in his own life.
But watching Khloe casually brush it off now, Henrik’s mind drifted to the reports he’d read about her time there, a wave of fierce anger surged within him. The urge to destroy the Evans family consumed him.
“Be patient. Things will change soon enough. There’s no need for you to get involved. I’d prefer to take care of this on my own.” Khloe turned down Henrik’s offer politely.
Henrik could feel the emotional distance she was putting between them.
Letting out a quiet sigh of resignation, he straightened and looked away.
One of the reasons he’d chosen Khloe in the first place was her independence and level-headed nature-traits he had thoroughly researched. Yet now, that same rationality was proving to be frustratingly inconvenient.
Still, Henrik couldn’t bring himself to blame her for being clever and self-reliant. After all, those qualities were exactly what he had sought in their arrangement.
It wouldn’t make sense for him to contradict himself over it now. Henrik strode over to a nearby armchair, unfastened his suit jacket, and took a slow sip of coffee.
Every movement was graceful and deliberate, expertly concealing the emotions brewing beneath the surface. Yet his thoughts refused to settle.
Since Khloe hadn’t yet grasped the full benefits of being his fiancee or understood how to turn to the right people for help when facing challenges, he would take it upon himself to teach her.
With this resolve, Henrik simply said, “Do as you please. I won’t get involved.” And with that, he turned and walked away.
Khloe exhaled instinctively, a wave of relief washing over her as Henrik’s departure eased the stifling tension. His aura was suffocating at times.
She couldn’t quite figure out why Henrik’s mood had been so unpredictable lately. Was something serious brewing in the underworld? What could possibly rattle someone as composed and unshakable as him?
It never crossed her mind that Henrik’s moods might stem from her insistence on independence and refusal to lean on him for support.
She had always prided herself on being rational and self-aware, never one to be consumed by her own ego.
After mulling over her next steps, Khloe made a few calculated calls to put her plans into action, then returned to the set to continue filming.
The set of Peaks of Eternity was heavily secured, effectively keeping the media at a distance and allowing Khloe to focus on her work without interruption.
Meanwhile, Zhecrora University continued to dominate online discussions. Thanks to the hired smear campaign, many were convinced Khloe had fabricated the bullying incident for publicity, betraying the university’s trust.
Uninformed students at Zhecrora University were outraged. They even organized a petition, demanding Khloe’s expulsion and the withdrawal of her right to audit classes.
For two days, the bullying scandal had been making waves, yet the media couldn’t secure an interview with Khloe, the key figure in the controversy. Reporters were determined to get their scoop.
The following day, Khloe showed up at the university gates.
The moment she stepped onto the scene, lurking reporters swarmed like wolves, thrusting cameras and microphones in her face.
“Miss Evans, what’s your response to the online backlash involving you and Sloane Evans?”
“Is the university’s statement accurate? Was this a publicity stunt, or were you truly a victim of bullying?”
“There are claims that Rhett Foster is supporting you. He even referred to you as an investment advisor for Evergreen Capital. Can you confirm this? How did you secure such a role?”
“Despite thousands of students petitioning for your expulsion, you’re showing up here without hesitation. Is it because Rhett, head of Evergreen Capital and a professor here, is backing you? Do you share a special relationship with him?”
Surrounded by a sea of reporters, their cameras nearly pressing against her, Khloe remained composed, showing no sign of impatience, allowing the chaos to settle on its own.
Seeing her quiet acceptance, the reporters grew bolder, moving closer and bombarding her with even more invasive questions. They were like vultures, circling with ruthless intent, treating Khloe as prey, eager to extract a scandalous story from her, no matter the cost to her reputation or career.
The crowd of reporters and curious bystanders continued to grow, clogging up the entrance and making it harder for anyone to move. Yet, Khloe remained unmoved at the center of it all, her lips sealed.
The reporters couldn’t contain themselves any longer. A man wearing glasses pushed a microphone toward her, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Miss Evans, weren’t you bold at the police station the other day, promising serious consequences for those who bullied you? Why are you silent now? Are you worried that your supposed connections, used to manipulate ZU students, will be revealed and cause public backlash?”
After that, the students around them added their voices.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply