Chapter 39
Evelyn let out a sigh of relief as the trespasser vanished. Rockie trotted over, nuzzling her hand with a low whine.
She stroked his head gently, murmuring praise. “Good boy, Rockie. If it weren’t for you, that bad gotten in.”
guy would’ve
A bitter laugh escaped her, Ever since Evelyn filed for divorce from Adrian, trouble seemed to follow her everywhere.
She’d warned Clarissa earlier that day, but whoever sent tonight’s unexpected visitor was a mystery.
Checking her phone, she saw it was already 11:30. Just as she started to calm down, ready to go back to bed, her phone rang. It was William calling her.
William shouted, “Evie, how long will you have to keep this up? Noah’s been in the hospital with allergies for days. Why haven’t you visited? I dropped by for a checkup today and saw he’s lost so much weight. Don’t you ever feel sorry for your own son?”
William’s voice held a sharp edge of reproach. The Stevenson Group’s success was deeply tied to Adrian’s influence, and Adrian had come to him today, asking him to mend fences between them.
Despite Adrian being his son–in–law, William had always been somewhat wary of him.
William had witnessed Adrian’s ruthless tactics in business.
He feared Evelyn’s stubbornness over the divorce might provoke Adrian, with the Stevenson Group ending up on the receiving end of Adrian’s wrath.
“Dad, it’s late. Just go to bed. My affairs are none of your concern,” Evelyn said, her eyes still darting to the window.
She was afraid that the intruder might return. Rockie lay at her feet–a steady, reassuring presence.
“Evie, don’t fault me for meddling. Marriage isn’t a game. I can feel that Ady still cares about you. Men are all fickle in love. It’s a common issue.”
William pressed on, but his words were cut off by Melissa’s irate voice from the other end. “William, what nonsense are you spouting? A ‘common issue? Did you ever cheat on me?”
A sharp yelp from William followed immediately.
“Honey, let go! It hurts. Stop pulling, my ear’s gonna come off!”
Evelyn hung up, and the room fell silent right away.
Since moving out, she’d thought a great deal, terrified that acting impulsively would leave her with regrets.
But both Adrian and Noah had broken her heart. She wouldn’t turn back for her cold-hearted husband and
11:23 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 39
son. No more humiliation, no more bending.
Sung but,
Sleep cluded her, her mind too restless. After a while, her phone pinged. It was a text from Melissa.
“If you’re hurting, come home. We’re able to keep you comfortable for life. No need to suffer in silence. Evie, don’t follow your father’s words. Letting people walk all over you only makes them keep pushing. Furthermore, Adrian betrayed you, and that’s all the more unforgivable.”
Evelyn stared at the screen, stunned. She’d never expected that Melissa would back her.
In her eyes, Melissa had always been irrational, controlling William with an iron fist, even hitting him when tempers flared.
But now, she remembered how Melissa’s strict rules on smoking and drinking had actually improved William’s health.
Evelyn had always valued her pride. She had no idea how to get along with Melissa, so she’d moved out back in college, opting to keep her distance rather than face a confrontation.
She’d never truly known Melissa, and she’d stayed out of Melissa and William’s lives entirely.
But tonight’s message moved her hard.
“Thank you, Melissa,” she typed, her nose stinging.
Her own father had pressured her to compromise, but here was someone standing firm beside her. It meant more than she could say.
Then she received another notification. A transfer for 150 thousand dollars popped up.
Melissa added, “Hit the limit, so only 150 thousand dollars. Your room’s always ready if you come home.
“If you’re worried about things feeling awkward living under the same roof as me, I’ll respect whatever you choose, but don’t shortchange yourself out there. Take it before I change my mind.”
She declined the money, sending it back immediately. “Melissa, I have enough.”
In facy Evelyn was shocked. For all his status as a company boss, William had his pocket money kept on a tight leash by Melissa.
Just a few days ago when Evelyn was hospitalized, William managed to scrape together a mere 300 dollars in saved change to give her. She’d always seen Melissa as penny–pinching, even overbearing, but this act of generosity was unthinkable.
To think Melissa was offering 150 thousand dollars now… It boggled Evelyn’s mind.
One could never judge a book by its cover. She’d pegged Melissa as domineering, yet here she was, unwavering in her support.
Meanwhile, Adrian, someone she’d thought she knew inside out, had shattered every bit of trust.
11:23 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 39
pouche
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The next morning, Evelyn woke to find the woman who’d been orchestrating the rumor lingering at her door, wearing a strained smile.
“Miss, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have badmouthed you in the neighborhood. Please, can you let my husband go? He’s the backbone of our family. If he gets sentenced, we’ll be ruined. We’ve got clders and kids to support…” Her voice cracked, tears spilling.
Evelyn frowned, confused by the sudden shift.
“We’ll never offend you. You don’t know that my husband is in the hospital now, beaten black and blue,” the woman added, sniffling.
Evelyn could hardly believe it, but she thought, ‘What does that have to do with me?‘
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Excuse me, I’ll be late for work.”
Evelyn stepped around the woman and tried to leave, but that woman suddenly dropped to her knees.
She suddenly confessed, “Miss, I know it’s all our fault! I’m telling you the truth. Someone paid my husband to harass you.”
Evelyn wasn’t surprised. In fact, she had actually figured it out long ago, and she was 80% sure Clarissa was the one behind it.
“Kneel if you want.” She walked away, leaving the woman there.
When she came to the office, Joey looked at her with obvious sympathy.
“What’s wrong, Joey?” Evelyn asked, puzzled.
Joey sighed, pulling out a freshly printed notice from HR and asking, “Evelyn, how long have you been working here?”
Evelyn thought a moment. “Two, maybe three days?”
The chaos of recent days had blurred her sense of time, making such details slip her mind. The company a check–in system, after all. As long as she isn’t late or leaving early, there’s no need to get hung up on the exact hours.
“Talk about bad luck–you were absent from work yesterday. Everyone tried to cover for you, but Mr. Ford found out. He’s docking three days‘ pay from you.” Joey said, patting her shoulder sympathetically before turning back to his desk.
Evelyn smiled faintly. She indeed hadn’t come to the office yesterday, so the fine was fair.
After she wrapped up her tasks, a WhatsApp message popped up from Nathan: “My office. Now.”
Evelyn let out a sigh helplessly, stood up, and headed out.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
