Chapter 27
Chase looked at Evelyn's bright smile and felt a chill run down his spine.
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said."
The elevator doors opened. She gestured for him to exit first, then told him about how Sophia had misled her into thinking something was wrong with her leg, which ended up causing a misunderstanding with Benjamin.
"Mr. White misunderstood you?"
He blinked. After Evelyn nodded, he immediately started trying to please her.
"I knew someone as reasonable as Ms. Thomas wouldn't be with a scumbag like that!"
"Matthew can't compare to Mr. White in any way. Only a fool would choose him!"
"You really have good judgment!"
The corner of Evelyn's mouth twitched slightly. "Your attitude sure changed fast."
Chase was about to cry. "Ms. Thomas! Please don't tell Mr. White, or I'll really get fired! Then I won't have money to get married!"
His pitiful yet playful expression made Evelyn laugh out loud.
"Don't worry, I won't say anything, but..."
She smiled with her lips pressed together, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You need to help me explain this!"
"You should explain it yourself. Just act cute, smile a little, and Mr. White will forgive you."
Thinking of how easily Benjamin gave in, Chase silently made a promise to himself that he would definitely be in charge in his own marriage!
"I..." Evelyn thought about being fooled by Sophia again and felt a bit guilty.
She'd been tricked by Sophia so many times and still hadn't learned her lesson, so she felt too embarrassed to go to Benjamin.
"I want to go see my grandfather. I'll leave this to you. After it's done, I'll have him give you a raise!"
"Don't worry, Ms. Thomas. Explaining things is what I do best!"
Evelyn sat by the hospital bed, looking at the unconscious Preston, her eyes reddening.
"Grandpa, I was being stubborn before. I won't be willful anymore."
"If you wake up, I'll marry Benjamin right away, okay?"
Preston, on the bed, seemed to hear her words. His fingers moved gently in her palm.
She immediately got excited. "Grandpa responded."
"Miss," the caregiver explained, "although Preston is unconscious, all his bodily functions are normal. Just like when people are asleep, they make small movements. This is normal."
Was it just a normal response?
She looked embarrassed. The caregiver continued.
"It's normal for non-professionals not to know these things. Ms. Thomas comes to see Preston every day. He must be very happy about it."
Happy?
If it weren't for her, why would Preston have to suffer like this?
She forced a smile, wanting to go out for a walk, when arguing voices came from the doorway.
Meeting her furrowed brow, the caregiver sighed softly. "Matthew, who's staying in the orthopedic ward, comes to see Preston every day. But with the people Mr. White arranged standing guard, he hasn't had a chance to get in."
Evelyn trusted Benjamin to handle things properly.
But the noisy voices outside still annoyed her.
"What are you doing here again?"
Evelyn walked to the doorway and looked at Matthew coldly, showing no mercy.
Matthew's expression changed several times.
After several seconds, he recovered his usual refined look, though his voice still carried some anger, even disappointment.
"How can you be so easily fooled? Don't you know at all why Benjamin is getting close to you?"
But Evelyn already knew about his cruelty and understood Benjamin's deep feelings for her, so she wouldn't be swayed by such words anymore.
"He's getting close to me because he likes me, naturally. What's wrong with someone as lovable as me being liked by him?"
Matthew's temple twitched violently, clearly not expecting her to answer this way.
After several seconds, he sneered. "Evelyn, you're too naive!"
"How could someone like Benjamin really be trapped by feelings?"
"He just wants to expand the White family's territory to Emerald City, and the Thomas family is one of the top wealthy families in Emerald City. Using the Thomas Group as a stepping stone is naturally most suitable!"
At this point, his voice lowered. "You don't think your car accident was an accident, do you?"
The nerve under Evelyn's brow bone jumped uncontrollably.
The driver was in the late stage of liver cancer. Anyone with a brain would know there was something wrong with drunk driving in that condition.
Thinking the person behind it might be Matthew, she narrowed her eyes and went along with his words. "What do you mean?"
Thinking she was listening, a very slight curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
"This matter involves extremely complex issues. It's not appropriate for others to hear." As he spoke, he glanced at the bodyguard nearby.
Without wasting words, she walked toward the window at the end of the corridor. Matthew immediately wheeled after her.
"Evelyn, no matter what happens, you're my sister, and I will..."
"Matthew," she interrupted him, "I don't want to keep repeating who you favor more. Say what you have to say, or I'm leaving."
Her cold attitude made Matthew sigh.
"Still so stubborn. Are you really going to fight with me over Sophia?"
"You're the young lady of the Thomas family. You can have whatever you want. Sophia is different."
"Her family background is ordinary, so naturally, I care about her more."
Before, Evelyn would have been hurt hearing these words.
Now, she just found them ridiculous.
Ordinary family?
Although the Brown family couldn't compare to the Thomas family, they were still among the wealthy families in Emerald City. What hardships had Sophia suffered growing up?
Besides, when the Brown family was at its lowest point, it was she who helped out, preserving Sophia's life as a rich young lady.
And the result?
Evelyn finally understood that you can never wake someone who's pretending to sleep.
She pulled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes taking on a hint of coldness. "So what? She can't be born into the right family, so she has to blame me?"
Since they thought it was unfair and that she was bullying them with her power, then fine, she would use her power. What could they do about it?
Sure enough, Matthew's face instantly darkened, as if he might explode at any moment.
She laughed softly and added another line. "Should I remind you that your own family wasn't that special to begin with, either?"
This sentence almost ignited all of Matthew's anger. His eyes instantly filled with hatred. Deep-seated and venomous.
That dense hatred pierced Evelyn's heart painfully.
Was this deep hatred all that the Thomas family's kindness to Matthew had earned?
"Evelyn," his hands gripped the armrests tightly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, "without the Thomas family, what are you?"
"Benjamin treats you well? Don't be naive. He's just after the Thomas family, after the Thomas Group!"
"Once he's sucked dry all the benefits from you, why would he even look at you?"
"Someone like you, with just a pretty face, how could anyone love you? You know, beautiful women are the least scarce resource in this world!"
Looking at Evelyn's stubborn face, he seemed to have reached the peak of his anger.
"Your car accident was designed by Benjamin behind the scenes!"
"Don't believe it? I wouldn't come without evidence. Look clearly, these are photos of him meeting privately with the driver!"
"You don't think someone of his status would have any connection with that kind of person, do you!"