Chapter 601: You’re Pathetic

Dave, unaware of the fear building inside her, glanced at his watch.

“It’s been thirty minutes,” he said coldly as he glanced back at Reese. “Who told you to do it? I want answers.”

Reese didn’t respond.

Wyatt swiftly approached her, and a wicked grin appeared on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. He sharply said, “What’s wrong? Can’t hear him? After everything you’ve done, you still haven’t made up your mind? You’re really not afraid to die?”

Zane, on the other hand, gave off a calm but strong presence. “Just tell us the truth. Once you do, our boss won’t make things harder for you. You’re signed with Emerald Artists Agency. Think about it, do you know how you almost ruined the reputations of two major companies?”

His tone stayed polite, but his looks told a different story. Life at sea had shaped him into someone tough, like a man used to handling trouble.

And Reese couldn’t forget that Zane was the one who had taken her. His calm voice made her even more afraid.

“Please… don’t come any closer…” she finally said, her voice soft and shaking with fear. Fear of Zane.

Wyatt blinked and was taken aback. “Wait... has my scary vibe worn off?”

He thought just standing there would be enough to make Reese break. But clearly, he was wrong.

Dave raised an eyebrow, picking up on the slight shift in Zane’s usually calm attitude. Without saying a word, he glanced at Zane, giving him silent permission to go on.

“Why the tears?” Zane asked, his voice low, like he already knew what was going through her head. He took a step closer, and Reese could feel the weight of him pressing in. “I just want the truth. Tell me everything, and I promise it won’t get worse.”

He paused, his tone still calm but with a sharp warning. “I’ve worked on fishing boats. If you don’t want to end up in the sea like one of my old catches, you'd better start talking.”

Reese’s breath caught in her throat. Her chest tightened as panic rushed in, fast and loud. She felt like she was about to burst and spill everything.

But then she thought of Blake. And the promise she made.

She took a deep breath. Her hands were still shaking, but she held on. And she decided.

“I… I did it on my own. No one told me to,” Reese said, her voice shaky but bold. “I wanted to climb the ladder through Mr. Evans. What woman wouldn’t be drawn to a man like him? I just wanted a one-night thing to get access to Phoenix Entertainment’s resources. Isn’t that reasonable?”

She said it like she had nothing to be ashamed of.

Dave stood up slowly, his cold stare landed on her. “No. It’s not,” he said. “I’m Bianca’s fiancé.”

“Do you think this is fair to Bianca?” Dave’s glare cut through her, full of disgust.

He remembered everything Bianca had done for Reese: the support, the time, the resources. Six months of care, loyalty, and trust.

“And this is how you repay her?” Dave slowly approached her, and his voice was sharp and cold. “You’re pathetic. Bianca treated you like a sister.”

Reese was stunned when she heard it, and her whole body started to shake. Blake’s warnings echoed in her mind, and now, they made sense. Dave’s stare felt like it could tear her apart.

She could handle threats from Wyatt and Zane. But thinking about Bianca and everything she had done to her was too much. Bianca had pulled her out of the dark. Without her, she’d still be lost and struggling to survive.

“Enough! You’re the despicable one!” Reese shot back, her voice shaking but sharp. She glared at Dave, eyes full of fury. “Of course I know how good Bianca is to me! That’s exactly why I can’t just sit back and watch her fall for your lies. You’re fooling her! Everything I did was to help her walk away from you and find real happiness.”

The more she spoke, the stronger she felt. In her mind, she wasn’t betraying anyone; she was saving Bianca from Dave.

“What do you mean by that?” Dave asked in a dangerous tone. His face darkened. Reese's words hit something deep. Trying to turn Bianca against him wasn’t something he could brush off.

But he didn’t lose control. His voice just turned colder. “Explain. Clearly.”

“Wasn’t I clear enough?” Reese spat, her chest heaving hard as she faced Dave’s cold stare. “Bianca’s been nothing but kind to me, and that’s exactly why I don’t want her near you! Don’t you realize what you’ve done?”

Her voice sharpened as she went on, “You’ve already got me here, so do whatever you want. Maybe I failed to make Bianca see you for who you are, but don’t think that means you’ve won. The more damage you cause, the harder it’ll come back on you.”

The tension snapped.

Wyatt slammed his hand on the table, sending the ashtray crashing to the floor. “Watch your mouth! How dare you talk to Mr. Evans like that!”

“Miss Vance,” Zane said coldly, “you should take responsibility for what you’re saying. Our boss hasn’t laid a hand on you.”

Reese didn’t flinch. “Maybe not. But he’s hurt plenty of people, and that includes the ones I care about. Bianca deserves better.”

Dave raised his hand, and Wyatt and Zane immediately fell silent.

"So this is about revenge for someone else," he said, his voice cold as he stepped closer to Reese.

He suddenly lifted her chin, making her look him in the eye.

"But did it ever cross your mind, you’re the one being used?"

He let go of her chin, his eyes filled with pity, like he could see straight through her. He didn’t know yet who was behind all this, but it was clear that someone had pushed Reese to throw everything away just to ruin him.

"Have you even thought about what your so-called plan would cost?" Dave asked in a sharp tone. "If it worked, who would take the biggest damage? Phoenix Alliance Group’s reputation would be ruined. And what about Emerald Artists Agency? Or did you forget you're signed under them?"

His words weren’t just a warning; they were a trap, meant to draw out the truth.

"What did Blake offer you?" Dave asked seriously and kept his eyes on her without blinking.

Reese’s heart skipped. Regret hit her hard as she realized she’d said too much. Panic crept into her voice. "No, it wasn’t him. Stop guessing, it has nothing to do with him!"

But her reaction gave her away. Dave and Wyatt shared a look. They knew.