Chapter 22
Sure, Matthew's true colors had been showing all along. She was just too foolish before to notice.
Evelyn forced a bitter smile and shook her head.
"It's not that I didn't notice. I just trusted them too much. Who would've thought my beloved brother and best friend would team up to betray me?"
No one would accept having their feelings thrown away like that.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "When did you first realize something was off with them?"
"It was at the last product launch, when the finale dress got ruined by Sophia..."
Thea suddenly stopped. Did Evelyn really know Matthew's true nature?
It felt like she was being interrogated.
Meeting Thea's eyes, Evelyn chuckled softly. "Don't be so nervous. You already said they've had issues for a while. Why would I need to hit a wall before turning back?"
In her past life, she had been so stubborn!
And paid a terrible price for it. Now that she had a second chance at life, she absolutely wouldn't let the same thing happen again.
"Ms. Thomas..." Thea felt a bit guilty now.
Talking badly about the boss's crush and best friend felt kind of stupid.
Evelyn waved her hand. "I was stupid back then, too. Sophia shed a few tears, and Matthew tore into me. I didn't even notice something was wrong between them."
"Under normal circumstances, what brother would get that angry at his sister over her friend? And at his sister's product launch, no less."
"And he's not even a blood brother. Isn't he afraid of being kicked out of the Thomas family?"
She frowned, not looking sad or upset, but puzzled about where Matthew's confidence came from.
Even if she was blinded by love, Preston was sharp and experienced. How could he be fooled so easily?
"Oh no!"
"What's wrong?" Thea jumped, startled by Evelyn. She stared with wide eyes, afraid she was about to be fired.
Evelyn pressed her red lips together but didn't speak.
Ruining her reputation was just the surface issue. The real concern was Preston!
If something really happened to Preston that day, would the Thomas family have any energy left to worry about other things?
Even Timothy and Hannah, who doted on her, would probably have to take some extreme measures.
Then the Thomas Group would naturally fall into Matthew's hands.
Her expression grew darker, and her phone rang at that moment.
It was Matthew calling.
When enemies meet, rage flares up.
"Ms. Thomas..."
Thea was genuinely scared by Evelyn, her eyes full of unease.
"It's fine, you can go." Evelyn's face was tense. After Thea left the office, she answered the phone.
She didn't speak, and the other end remained silent too, as if competing to see who had more patience.
In the past, she always lost because she was afraid of making him angry.
But now...
Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her voice lazy but carrying a cold edge even through the phone.
"You still have the nerve to call me, Matthew. Your shamelessness really exceeds my imagination."
"Evelyn!"
Matthew's heavy breathing came through, mixed with obvious anger. "That's enough. If you keep this up, you won't be able to fix things."
A cold laugh rang out. Evelyn's soft voice now sounded unsettling.
"You're the one who won't be able to fix things, Matthew. Without the Thomas family's support, you're nothing."
"Yet you tried to ruin my reputation and hurt my grandfather."
"You ungrateful traitor, I will definitely kick you out of the Thomas family."
Her tone carried unshakeable determination.
Matthew looked at the disconnected phone, his face darkening. He threw the phone hard on the ground.
"Evelyn, your family is cruel and vicious, making me acknowledge thieves as family. And now you want to morally blackmail me? I'll make the Thomas family pay in blood!"
Evelyn hung up, her face cold and stern.
The phone rang again. Thinking it was Matthew calling back, she answered without looking and said, "Are you really this shameless?"
The other end went silent for a second, then hung up directly.
She was about to say the person knew their place when she glanced at her phone and froze.
The person who just called was Benjamin!
Not caring about what just happened, she immediately called back.
But until it automatically disconnected, she didn't hear his voice.
This is bad!
He's really angry.
Her mind in chaos, she called Benjamin several more times but got no response.
Finally, she had no choice but to call Chase.
Chase, who was being frozen by the cold air and wanted to pass out, saw his phone screen light up and felt like his whole world went dark.
Especially when he noticed Benjamin's gaze seemed glued to his phone, he immediately reached to hang up.
But a cold word stopped all his actions. "Answer it."
"What?"
"Don't understand? Then you don't need to stay here either."
"I understand, I totally understand." Chase immediately answered and put it on speaker. "Ms. Thomas?"
"Chase!"
Evelyn's delighted voice came through the phone, nearly stopping his heart.
He and Evelyn were innocent.
He stole a glance at Benjamin's dark expression, feeling like disaster was coming.
"Are you looking for Mr. White? He's in a meeting. I can pass along any message."
"Does he have plans tonight?"
Does he or doesn't he?
Chase looked at Benjamin, who tapped his finger once on the desk.
"Yes!"
The voice on the phone lowered. Evelyn's tone carried some unease. "Is he entertaining clients late at night?"
Seeing that Benjamin did not react, Chase started improvising.
"Ms. Thomas, you know how it is. In business, there's always some playing along."
"Mr. White has a bad stomach and can't drink much, so he always finds female companions who can drink for these occasions."
Now let's see what Evelyn does.
"Then tell me the time and address. I'll pick him up in the parking garage tonight!"
Evelyn hung up immediately, giving Chase no chance to react.
He smiled smugly. Now Benjamin wouldn't be unhappy, right? Maybe he'd even get rewarded?
"Who told you to leak my whereabouts?"
"That's what I should do..."
Chase said half a sentence with a smile before realizing something was wrong.
His expression froze as he looked at Benjamin. Was the bridge being torn down before he even crossed the river?
"Go to the finance office."
"Mr. White, you can't just fire me like this!" Chase's heart sank.
He had done good work for Benjamin!
"Double bonus this month. You can leave work now!"
"Yes!"
Chase left happily. A trace of softness appeared on Benjamin's cold face.
But when he arrived at the underground parking garage right on time, he didn't see Evelyn or even her car.
Traffic jam?
Running late?
In the above-ground parking?
Countless reasons flashed through his mind without needing to think hard.
After Benjamin took the elevator up and down between the above-ground and underground parking garages twice, he realized she hadn't come at all.
Benjamin's whole body radiated a dark aura. He was about to take out his phone to call her when he saw her calling.
He pressed his thin lips together and answered.
But what she said made him afraid.