Chapter 131
Chloe watched them talk, her eyes darting back and forth.
Ronald was wonderful.
But Chloe's heart wasn't conflicted in the slightest—in her mind, there was only one candidate for daddy: the handsome mister!
Ronald stayed for dinner.
Susan watched him chat and laugh with Evelyn, growing more satisfied by the minute.
Why didn't Evelyn like Ronald?
How perfect would it be if the two of them got together?
After dinner, Susan called everyone else to go for a walk, deliberately leaving space for Ronald and Evelyn to catch up.
In the garden.
Susan smiled down at Chloe. "Chloe, do you like Ronald?"
"I do!" Chloe chirped. "Ronald is very nice, and he told me stories!"
"What if Great-grandma wanted to set him up with your mommy?"
Hearing this, Chloe's eyes went wide. She shook her head frantically like a rattle drum. "Mommy told me Ronald is like her brother! No, no, absolutely not!"
She cried out silently in her heart: The only daddy candidate she had in mind was the handsome mister!
Caleb had been warning himself all weekend not to tell Great-grandma about the handsome mister.
Chloe reluctantly agreed and could only swallow back those words.
Susan hadn't expected Chloe's reaction. She sighed helplessly.
As they walked, her phone rang.
She answered, and her expression instantly sharpened.
She gestured for Pearl and Logan to take the children to play elsewhere, then looked at Monica. "Did something happen while I was away?"
Monica's heart sank. "What do you mean?"
Could Susan have found out about Matthew's contact with Chloe?
"I just received word—Matthew sent people to secretly follow Eve."
"They tailed her all the way from the studio to the villa entrance. I had them intercepted."
"Does he know something?"
Monica sighed and gave a rough overview of what had happened recently.
She even mentioned Matthew and Chloe's accidental meeting.
Susan's frown deepened.
"Mrs. Gray, Matthew won't leave Evelyn alone. What should we do?" Monica asked worriedly. "And Chloe—she feels this inexplicable closeness to Matthew."
"What is there to fear?" Susan gave a cold laugh. "My granddaughter, the heir to the Gray Group—he can't touch her just because he wants to!"
"However, Chloe and Caleb can't stay in the country anymore."
By the time they returned to the villa, Ronald had already left.
Susan called Evelyn into the study and told her about the phone call.
"What? That bastard!" Evelyn couldn't help cursing.
"I've already dealt with the people he sent quietly. But if the children stay in Novaria any longer, we won't be able to keep this hidden. I plan to take them back to the island in the next couple days."
Evelyn nodded firmly.
"Don't worry." Susan patted her hand gently. "Grandma will always be your strongest support. You have the entire Gray Group behind you."
Evelyn squeezed back tightly.
After saying goodbye to Susan and returning to her bedroom, the anger in her chest burned hotter and hotter.
She dialed that number.
After a few rings, Sloane's voice came through.
"Matthew's in the shower. Did you need something from him?"
The voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of suggestiveness.
The scene made Evelyn's mind blur for a moment.
Three years ago, Marigold had answered the phone the same way.
But now, she was no longer the person who'd hang up in a panic.
A silent, cold smile curved Evelyn's lips. "I need to speak with him. When he's back, have him call me."
"It's so late. Why don't I pass along the message?"
"Sorry, you can't. Have him call me back."
Evelyn finished speaking and, without waiting for Sloane's response, hung up directly.
On the other end, Sloane lay in the hospital bed, her fingertips digging deep into the blanket.
She'd recognized Adam's voice and deliberately said Matthew was showering.
But Matthew's contact name for her was "Eve."
He thought Adam was Evelyn?
Sloane had meant to deliberately provoke Adam, but the other woman showed no reaction.
Could it be that Matthew was just treating Adam as Evelyn's replacement?
She'd already been by his side for three years, constantly adjusting herself to become more and more like Evelyn...
She refused to accept this. She absolutely refused!
Sloane was about to lose it.
Just then, Matthew returned.
"Sloane, I'm heading back. Take care of yourself."
Sloane nodded, then spoke up. "I was dozing off earlier when the phone rang. I thought it was a spam call and hung up."
"When I woke up, I realized it was your phone..."
Matthew silently took the phone.
Seeing the caller ID read "Eve," his brow furrowed deeply.
"Was it an important call?" Sloane pretended not to notice.
"Yes. Get some rest."
Matthew didn't even look at her as he strode out of the hospital room.
The moment he reached the hallway, he called Evelyn back.
The call connected quickly.
Before Matthew could speak, Evelyn unleashed a torrent of scolding.
"Mr. Perkins, I'm warning you—stop having people follow me! Are you sick? Sending me flowers and having me photographed? Wasn't I clear enough last time?"
Matthew's heart, which had leaped at Evelyn initiating contact, was instantly doused with cold water.
Before he could respond, Evelyn continued. "This is my last warning. Stop having people tail me, and don't send me any more flowers."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for making this ugly!"
The call cut off.
Matthew's hand holding the phone remained pressed to his ear, his gaze empty as he stared at the opposite wall.
So showing weakness and backing off didn't work?
What would it take to get Evelyn back to his side?
Did he have to resort to force, like before?
Dark storm clouds instantly roiled in his eyes, taking a long time to settle.
The next morning at breakfast, Susan announced she'd be taking Caleb and Chloe back to the island.
Caleb was somewhat surprised but mostly delighted.
He kept his head down over his porridge, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly before he pressed them flat again.
But Chloe showed unprecedented resistance.
"I don't want to go back!" Her little face was tight with tension. "Great-grandma, I want to stay here..."
"Don't you miss the little animals on the island? And the elders there all miss you very much." Susan patiently coaxed.
"No! I don't want to go back!" Chloe shouted with unusual firmness, her voice taking on a tearful edge.
Seeing this, Evelyn's attitude grew serious too.
She looked earnestly into Chloe's eyes. "Chloe, Mommy's talked to you about this. When you refuse something, you need to give a reason. Don't just keep saying 'no, no' emotionally. Why don't you want to go back to the island?"