The reporters at the door were just about to ask something when several more reporters and photographers came over with cameras and microphones.
Sophia did not know who these people were but she knew their companyâTrust Sun, the news industry giant. The credibility of their words was nothing other reporters could compare to.
Marie motioned to her subordinates with her eyes and someone immediately pulled out a bunch of papers, distributing them to the reporters at the door. "These are all Mr. Raymondâs recent accounts receivable records and photos of him meeting up with Mr. Phillips. I guess thereâs no need for me to elaborate on what exactly happened, right?"
The reportersâ expressions changed instantly.
"Oh, by the way, hereâs an advice for you: the reporters from Trust Sun are here. They will report everything as it is, so don't put your reputation on the line for sake of petty profit," Marie reminded nonchalantly.
Having said that, she turned to Ben, looking as though she was staring at an ant. "Do you think itâs wiser to take Mr. Phillipsâ money or to have Mr.
Harris purchasing and taking over your company? No, Mr. Harris doesnât even need to get involved in order to deal with a man like you."
After hearing what she said, Ben was so petrified that his expression changed. He slumped to the ground with a thud. "Ms. Marie, you can't blame me for this. Mr. Phillips threatened me and made me do this! He would destroy my company if I refused to do it!
"I was forced to do this. Please have mercy on me and let me off this time!"
Tears were streaming down his face as he reached out to hug Marie's leg.
Sophia thought that comparing a character like that to Leah was simply a form of insult to the latter. Ben would not have stooped so low even if he was one percent as unscrupulous as Leah!
"I've always been a soft-hearted person. I can't bear to see you cry like that." Marie sighed, pulled out a tissue, and handed it over to him. "Wipe your tears."
At the sight of this, Megan stepped forward and tried to say something when Sophia held onto her.
Ben took the tissue and wiped the tears from his face. "Thank you for understanding, Ms. Marie. If I hadnât been pushed to the wall, I wouldnât have done a thing either!"
"I don't want to make things difficult for you either," Marie said, "However, Megan is Dream Clubâs employee. You still have pictures and videos of her with other men and thatâs not really good, is it?"
Ben clambered to his feet, his legs still shaking. After hearing what she said, he hastened to say, "Mr. Phillips was the one who forced these things into my hands. I can hand them all out to you! Meggie is my ex-girlfriend, after all. I wouldnât do something like that to her!â
Sophia thought that the excuse he made was really bad. Those photos and videos had been taken secretly over the years. Would Sawyer have all the time in the world to take videos of Megan in bed since a few years ago?
"Theyâre all in the phone, cloud space, and SD card." Ben handed the phone to Marie whilst trembling.
Marie took the phone and turned it in her hands. "Iâm sure you know who the man behind Dream Club is, right?"
"I guarantee that all the videos and images are in here. I did not keep any of them at all!" Ben was so anxious that he nearly swore by the heavens.
Marie smiled after hearing his words and handed the phone to the man standing next to her, saying in front of his face, "Okay, Manager Scott, do what you need to do. Destroy everything that needs to be destroyed."
She glanced at Ben pointedly. "And deal with anyone who needs to be dealt with. I canât believe that even insects and mice are brave enough to come porcelain-bumping in my territory."
Marie ignored Benâs plea for leniency and gracefully kicked him away with her high heels. She then said to Sophia, "It's too noisy here. I'd better send you back now, Ms. White."
"Okay," Sophia said.
Before she could even take two steps, Megan grabbed her hand. "Thank you."
"Ms. Marie is the one who helped you, not me." Sophia pulled her hands apart.
Megan wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. She did not ask her any more questions related to this but instead, whispered, "I thought you didnât want to be friends with me anymore after I sent you Tiffanyâs videos."
"I still have things to do. Goodbye." Sophia pursed her lips and left with Marie.
Megan looked at her determined back and covered her face with her hands in anguish, tears streaming out the gaps between her fingers.
After getting in the car, Marie said, "Actually, dealing with a person like Ben does not require much effort at all."
Sophia's eyes flashed as she popped a smoked plum into her mouth. She made no reply.
"The main problem here is that itâs difficult to get all the videos and images from him." Marie revved up the car engine and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.
"Mr. Harris said that you don't like to owe others any favors, so he asked me to make an effort to deal with Meganâs ex-boyfriendâs threats and his entanglement with her. You can take it as heâs returning the favor to you by helping Megan out."
Sophia frowned but did not utter a single word.
"All the indifference to your future girlfriend will turn into your sweat and tears in running after her. Mr. Harris is in deep trouble!" Marieâs eyes curved, finding it quite interesting at the thought of how her boss still had a long way to go in his journey to pursue his wife.
Sophia, "..."
When the two returned to Bamboo Virtues Village, Charles had already returned and was leaning on the couch with his eyes closed. His face remained still and unmoved even when he was asleep. His spine was extremely straight.
His eyes snapped open when he heard the sound of footsteps. His gaze was chilly like thick dark ink when he turned to look at the door. His expression only eased up a little when he saw Sophia.
"This is for you." Charles stood up, picked up a large bouquet of roses on the table, and handed it to Sophia with a slightly unnatural expression.
Sophia lowered her head to take a look but did not take it. "I'm allergic to pollen."
"Why didnât I hear you mention it before?" Charles grabbed her hand and put the flowers in her palm before retracting his hand. He pressed his fingertips together as though her temperature still lingered on them.
Sophia sneered. "I wasnât a lame before, but now I am. I didn't have pulmonary edema before, but pulmonary edema almost killed me."
She stepped forward and peered up at him, her eyes filled with disgust. "Things change. For example, I liked you before but feel nauseated when I see you now."
Having said that, she hurled the big bouquet of roses to the ground.
The bright red roses and the warm yellow floor set each other off nicely. This should have looked soft and warm, but at this very moment, it just seemed particularly ironic instead.
Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!
ï¤Chapter 189 Mr. Harris Prepared Them "Iâve done my job and sent her to you, Mr. Harris. I still have a lot of things to deal with at the club. Iâll make a move now," Marie said in a timely manner, breaking the silence.
Charles looked at Sophia. His Adam's apple rolled slightly. Then, he bent down to pick up the rose on the ground and put it on the table. "Mm."
Marie darted him a glance, then bid farewell to Sophia. She left whilst spinning the car keys on her finger.
"I have been busy lately, thatâs why I couldnât visit you in time." He had taken the time to visit her several times in the night. However, the lights in her ward were off, hence he did not call her.
Sophia tugged at her lips insincerely. "I am extremely grateful, then. I recovered way faster because you werenât there."
Charles pursed his lips and got up to take a few vases and inserted the roses in them. He placed them in several corners to liven up the ice-cold villa.
"Donât you find the villaâs furnishings familiar?" When he was done setting the vases, he poured two cups of hot tea and pushed one of the cups toward her.