Chapter 1689

Jamie and Ben didn’t care about anyone else’s opinions.
“You really think you and Ben can last?” The woman’s tone dripped with disdain. “Don’t forget, your statuses are worlds apart. If Ben didn’t care, why would he keep bringing you to events like these? Clearly, he does care.” Jamie noticed the woman’s provocative glare. Her elegance and poise were unmistakable, but her words revealed a heart filled with malice.
With a calm but cutting tone, Jamie responded, “Even if Ben does care, that’s his business, not yours. And let’s be honest, you’d never have the courage to say this in front of him, would you? So, what’s the point of saying it to me?” Jamie didn’t even bother to take the woman seriously. Her relationship with Ben was her own, and she knew better than anyone how much he valued her.
The woman sneered. “Oh, trust me, I’d say it to his face. But I assumed you had some self-awareness. Clearly, I was mistaken. You’re pathetic, Jamie.” With that, she spun on her heels and walked away.
Unbeknownst to her, Ben had seen the entire exchange. He recognized the woman as Summer’s close friend, Lila. If Lila was confronting Jamie, it could only mean trouble.
Ben excused himself from his conversation and walked straight to Jamie. Without a word, he took her hand and led her across the room. Jamie was unsure of his intentions, but she followed.
To her surprise, Ben brought her directly to Lila.
Lila’s face tightened when she saw Ben approaching. “Wow, Jamie, you didn’t waste any time running to him, did you?”
Ben’s expression darkened. “She didn’t say a word to me. I saw you myself, Lila. Do you enjoy playing the gossip? Should I find a better outlet for your talents?”
Before Lila could respond, Ben grabbed a glass of wine from a passing tray and poured it over her head.
The room fell silent as Lila let out a piercing scream. “Ben! Have you lost your mind?!”
The commotion drew the attention of everyone nearby. Jamie stood frozen, shocked by Ben’s impulsive move. She understood his anger but knew this scene could backfire on him.
Lila seized the moment, her voice
rising above the murmurs as she began to cry loudly. “Everyone, you
enet
have to back me up! Former Attorney Lucas just threw wine at
me forno reason. I didn’t do anything to provoke him! Is i because of who I am? Or simply because I spoke a few words to his wife?”
Her cries gained traction, and the murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
She pressed on, her voice quivering. “Look at what happened to Summer, who liked Ben so much. And now? What kind of ending did she get? Summer might have been a little naive, but her heart was always in the right place. She saw something she wanted, and she pursued it. Was that a crime?”
Lila’s tone turned bitter as she continued. “Back then, Ben’s mother wanted him to marry Summer, and you should’ve seen how happy Summer was. But Ben? He didn’t like her but didn’t have the decency to say no outright. Instead, hetet this Whole mess unfold.”
She shot a glare at Jamie. “And now? He’s with her. After causing such a scandal, Ben and Jamie have the nerve to strut around like they own the world!”
Ben’s voice, cold and unwavering, interrupted her tirade. “Do you really want me to repeat what you said to my wife, Lila? Should I go over it word by word? Your intentions are crystal clear, so let’s not play games.”