Chapter 187

Chapter 187
When Monica wheeled Evelyn back to the emergency room, Emma's lawyer team had just arrived.

The hallway was packed with people.

A group of bodyguards stood before Evelyn, expressions tense, not daring to breathe.

Though she sat in a wheelchair, her presence was as heavy as a mountain.

"What did I tell you before?" Evelyn spoke, her voice low but cold.

The bodyguards looked at each other, unsure what they'd done wrong.

"These unnecessary people—who allowed them to stay? And there's a new batch?"

Seeing Evelyn publicly scolding people, Emma felt humiliated and stepped forward.

"I called them here. I'm Matthew's guardian. I have the right—"

Evelyn impatiently cut her off before she could finish.

Her tone was crisp. "Throw all these people out, including these two!"

Emma's expression changed, turning cold.

"Adam, I was trying to get along with you nicely. But don't push too far!"

Her voice rose, her features somewhat distorted.

"Who do you think you are? Don't think I don't know what you're scheming!"

"You think Matthew's dying, so you're rushing to kick me out and seize my son's assets, right? Let me tell you, don't even think about it!"

"My husband and I are the only legal heirs!"

Evelyn looked at Emma, a mocking smile curving her lips.

"Very good, Ms. Tudor. The hallway has surveillance. When Matthew wakes up, I'll definitely relay what you just said to him."

Emma froze, her expression darkening further.

Her lips trembled, but she couldn't form a rebuttal.

Evelyn didn't want to waste more words, raising her hand to signal the bodyguards to remove them.

The bodyguards moved forward to escort them out. Emma and Sloane refused to leave.

Both struggled, their voices growing louder, particularly grating in the quiet hallway.

As both sides argued, Evelyn spoke calmly, her voice not loud but silencing everyone.

"Ms. Tudor, I'm warning you again—don't cause trouble here."

"I don't want Matthew disturbed after surgery. I know you resent me because of the Perkins Estate, and resent Matthew even more."

"However..." She paused. "If you really hate him that much, why not make that incident public?"

Sloane looked over in confusion. The bodyguards also didn't know what she meant.

Only Emma's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Seeing her reaction, Evelyn knew she'd guessed correctly.

With Emma's strong personality, harboring such deep hatred toward Marsha and Matthew over having her child switched and losing the chance to bear her own—

She clearly knew that revealing this would devastate Matthew and Marsha.

Yet all these years, she'd never leaked a single word.

That could only mean one thing: she was too proud to let others laugh at her.

After all, Matthew was born from her—everyone knew that.

Matthew was talented, capable, and accomplished. Whenever Emma attended events or interviews, she couldn't go three sentences without bragging about her son.

She'd attracted countless jealous looks and eye-rolls because of it.

If she revealed the truth now, who knows how eagerly people would mock her.

She'd kept silent to protect her own dignity.

"Well, Ms. Tudor? Have you decided?" Evelyn looked at her pale face and laughed coldly.

"Will you leave on your own, or shall I have the bodyguards escort you?"

"Miss Gray, I know your family has always looked down on others, but surely you know to respect your elders?"

"Where's the Gray family's upbringing?" Sloane indignantly defended Emma.

Evelyn didn't even glance at her. "Mrs. Gray arrives tonight. If you're really interested, ask her yourself."

Sloane's expression soured further.

Who didn't know Susan's clear-cut personality?

Even when Sloane married that important official in Europe and attended galas, Susan had been cold to her.

She pressed her lips together, looking at Emma aggrievedly, hoping she'd speak up for her.

But instead...

"We'll see about this!" Emma dropped a harsh line and turned to leave, the lawyers following dejectedly.

Sloane froze, then hurried after her.

Her expression anxious, her voice rising. "Aunt Emma, you're just giving up like this?"

"If Matthew really has an accident, Adam will definitely seize the inheritance! It'll be too late then!"

"It's not your place to lecture me!" Emma, already furious, raised her hand and slapped Sloane hard across the face.

Sloane covered her face, eyes wide with disbelief.

"You knew she was the Gray family heir. Why didn't you tell me when you came?" Emma's voice was low.

"Sloane, you still resent me for what happened back then, don't you? You wanted me to deliberately humiliate myself in front of her?"

"I don't resent you!" Sloane's tears spilled over, her voice choked.

"I was too anxious. I forgot to tell you."

"After all, if Matthew dies and you get nothing—that would be the greatest revenge on you, wouldn't it?"

Hearing her explanation, Emma's expression softened slightly.

She snorted coldly, straightening her collar.

"Staying around those two wild girls makes me uncomfortable. Let's go to the downstairs lounge!"

"When Matthew dies, I'll make sure Adam sees how the Gray family stacks up against the Perkins Group in A City!"

She spoke with conviction, apparently forgetting she had no real authority in the Perkins Group anymore.

Sloane lowered her eyes without speaking.

She covered her face, but her heart was pounding.

She keenly sensed that Adam and Emma were hiding a secret no one knew about.

A secret Emma cared about deeply.

What could it be?

The hallway quieted down, leaving only the red light above the emergency room silently flashing.

Evelyn sat in the wheelchair, her spine straight.

Her hands rested on her knees, that place in her chest hollow, as if someone had carved out a piece.

She stared at that tightly closed door, repeating over and over in her mind:

'Matthew, can you hear me? I'm waiting outside. You have to wake up.'