Filippa wishes she could go back in time and kill her own profit-driven self. It’s too late now, too late for anything. Trembling, she clutches her phone. The company has abandoned her, her agent doesn’t care and Sebastian won’t help her anymore. Her only option now is to save herself. She finds Elisa’s contact information and sends a message when the call doesn’t go through. “Elisa, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have framed you. My agent made me do it. I’m innocent, this has nothing to do with me. Please post a statement online forgiving me. You can compensate for your losses, I’ll give you whatever I can afford.” The phone remains silent, and Filippa anxiously waits, repeatedly checking her phone, afraid of receiving nothing but condemnation and insults.
Numerous calls and messages come through, but she doesn’t dare answer or read them, fearing nothing but reproach and scorn. She avoids Twitter, yet other websites still push her into the trending topics.
It’s not until her phone is almost out of battery in the evening that Filippa finally receives a message from Elisa. “You want me to spare you, but have you ever thought of sparing me? If I hadn’t prepared the video and recording from the beginning, would you apologize to me now for what you’ve done?” The answer is no. Filippa’s intention was to step on Elisa to advance, even if she was doxxed, cyberbullied, and her reputation destroyed, she wouldn’t care.
Filippa tries calling Elisa again, but she has already blocked her. Elisa gets off the plane, hails a cab, and absentmindedly opens a random text, quickly typing a response and then blocking the number.
There’s no antidote for regret. If a simple apology could suffice, what need would there be for the law? Reading the text that Filippa sent, it seems something else happened while she was on the plane.
Elisa opens Twitter. The trending topics about Elisa and Louis have been removed, but some netizens have saved screenshots. By following the clues, she roughly understands what happened. Now, this matter seems to be perfectly resolved, effortlessly.
Leaning against the car window, Elisa stares at her phone screen lifelessly, but in her mind, she sees Louis’ figure and involuntarily curls her lips. She finally understands why the flight attendants couldn’t help but glance at her frequently on the plane and why Louis suddenly called to apologize.
She was worried that her entanglement with Louis would bring trouble to him, and Louis was equally concerned about this issue, secretly resolving the matter without her knowledge. This man has silently helped her so much, yet she doesn’t know how to face him. Even if he isn’t Autumn, she would still want to be friends with him. However, she fears that her feelings for him are not pure, and she’s afraid that Louis will realize her initial approach was only because he resembled another man, a sentiment that’s too impure. She admits that she’s timid and easily frightened in matters of love, unable to withstand any disturbance.
Elisa hasn’t forgotten Louis’ advice. After arriving home, she sends Louis a message: “Safely home.” Five simple words, reflecting the distance between her and Louis, not far, yet in an awkward distance, somewhat ambiguous and somewhat unfamiliar.
The trending topic about Filippa also affects Thomas and Lorelei. These three days have been a rollercoaster of emotions, changing faster than a rollercoaster. One moment, they were happy that Elisa got what she deserved, the next moment, they were being slapped in the face, seeing the wind shift again. Ultimately, the result turned back in their favor.
Thomas always knew that Elisa was not easy to deal with. This woman has truly made him realize how formidable she is. From the beginning, he didn’t have absolute hope for Filippa and them, but he truly didn’t expect her to lose so miserably. Now, there’s truly no one who can save her. There’s only one word to describe it: “foolish.”
Thomas sighs, feeling as if he’s survived a disaster. “Thank goodness we didn’t directly target Elisa from the beginning. I told you she’s not simple. Otherwise, we would have ended up like Filippa.”
Lorelei is full of unwillingness. “What’s going on with Elisa recently? Why is everything favoring her? I’m starting to suspect she’s possessed.” Not just Lorelei, if he hadn’t been constantly looking at Elisa’s face, he would have thought she had been replaced by someone else. Previously, she was as pliable as a soft persimmon, but now she’s like a hard stone, and the worst part is that this stone is covered in thorns. He should have warned Filippa and them to be careful around Elisa, but now, he can’t say it. He’s afraid it will arouse Lorelei’s suspicion. It’s truly a difficult situation.
“Anyway, for now, let’s not do anything to her. It’s better to observe for a few more days. She won’t be able to leave the company for a while, so we have time to figure out how to deal with her,” Thomas reassures Lorelei, although he himself is uncertain.
He has already given Elisa the contract for termination, meaning that Elisa can leave the company at any time. However, he can’t understand why she is still lingering here. Damn it, it’s like dealing with a time bomb.
Lorelei can only nod. Once this matter is settled, “Revenge and Love” will be officially announced. Since they can’t get rid of Elisa at the moment, they’ll have to find another way.
With Filippa as the “sacrificial lamb,” she knows that the current Elisa is different from before. If they want to get rid of her, they’ll have to be cautious in the future.
Elisa returns to her small apartment in Chiwood and finds it difficult to adjust. Honestly, she still prefers Bankshire. She grew up there in her previous life, so she’s accustomed to everything there, from the weather to the cuisine.
Chiwood’s weather is warmer than Bankshire’s, and it’s in the south, so it’s much hotter, with almost no snow in the winter.
Elisa gets out of the car at the entrance to her community, dragging her suitcase back. In just five or six minutes, a thin layer of sweat forms on her forehead. The weather is oppressively hot.
It’s hot outside, and it’s hot inside the room. There’s only a small fan whirring away; there’s no air conditioning. Elisa unpacks her suitcase, takes some clean clothes, and goes to take a warm shower to feel more comfortable.
Looking at the time, it’s just nine o’clock. Tobias probably hasn’t gone to bed yet.
She sits in front of the fan, the dampness dissipating, and calls Tobias.
This time, he seems to have learned his lesson. The first words out of his mouth change from “Madam” to the unfamiliar “Miss Powell.”
“Miss Powell, is there something you need?”
“I’ve returned to Chiwood. Please arrange a time for me to take Mimi away tomorrow.”