Chapter 301 You'll Have to Take Me too

Chapter 301 You'll Have to Take Me too

Evelyn hadn't expected him to pull such a move. "Luke, you're shameless."

"Evelyn, I'm giving you seven days to think it over."

Luke's expression was dead serious, not a trace of jest in sight.

"If you still want Sadie and Annie, you'll have to take me too. If you want to keep the children but discard the father, just enjoy my body without taking responsibility, you're dreaming."

He spoke each word slowly and ruthlessly.

With that, he turned and got in his car, flooring the gas pedal as the vehicle roared away in a cloud of dust.

Evelyn stood frozen in place, so furious she could spit blood.

He was the one who deceived her first, yet somehow she'd become the irresponsible scumbag in this scenario?

At 6:30 PM, Jackson Villa was brightly lit.

Ethan brought Danny for dinner. The long dining table was laden with Nina's favorite dishes, the most eye-catching being a platter of bright orange-red shrimp glistening with oil.

Nina had specially brought Ruby's favorite cake and Daryl's beloved aged wine.

The moment Daryl got his hands on that bottle, his eyes lit up.

Nina leaned against the baby crib, gently holding two tiny hands and rocking them softly.

This made the two little treasures giggle with delight.

Seeing the silver bracelets she'd given them on their wrists filled her heart with sweetness.

Evelyn changed into a comfortable house dress and slowly descended the stairs. "You can pick them up and play with them."

"Really?" Nina's face lit up with joy as she reached out to hold one baby, then scooped up the other, as happy as if she'd received the greatest treasure in the world.

Evelyn watched her - Nina was still so greedy, only she dared to hold both babies at once.

Soon, Daryl called Ethan and Danny to sit down for dinner.

Daryl sat at the head of the table, with Ruby and Evelyn on one side, Ethan and Danny on the other.

Evelyn casually picked up two bottles of sparkling fruit drinks and walked over to Danny.

"Want some?" She offered him a bottle.

Nina nodded eagerly and accepted it.

Ruby smiled warmly. "Danny, don't be shy, make yourself at home. We owe you so much for today; without you, that vicious Victoria might have gotten away."

She added with lingering fear, "That fire at the end, I still don't know how it happened. So terrifying."

Nina smiled, her voice clear. "Bad people always get their comeuppance."

"Exactly right." Ruby agreed, placing a large chicken leg on her plate. "You're too thin, eat more."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jackson." Nina nodded obediently.

Evelyn nudged Daryl with her elbow. "Dad, Danny and I both love shrimp. Would you mind doing the honors?"

Daryl laughed heartily. "Of course, I'm at your service tonight."

He turned to Ruby. "Open the wine, Ethan and I will have a few drinks."

Ruby agreed and went to find the bottle opener.

The meal was lively and warm, the atmosphere perfect.

Evelyn kept transferring the peeled shrimp from her bowl to Danny's plate, one by one.

Nina wasn't shy about it, accepting them all and eating with relish.

Suddenly, Evelyn put down her utensils and stared straight at Danny, asking out of the blue.

"Danny, do you have a girlfriend?"

Nina paused mid-motion and quickly shook her head. "Not yet."

"What type do you like?" Evelyn leaned forward slightly, her gaze probing. "What do you think of someone like Evelyn?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the lively dinner table fell silent.

Ruby quickly tried to smooth things over. "You haven't even been drinking tonight, why are you talking nonsense?"

Evelyn completely ignored her and dropped another bombshell. "Mom, don't you want a son-in-law? What do you think of Danny?"

Daryl and Ethan both choked simultaneously.

Nina looked at Evelyn's serious expression, then down at her own boyish Danny appearance, and blurted out.

"Don't you like Luke?"

"Who said that?" Evelyn's gaze brazenly swept across his face. "Sometimes I prefer your type too."

Ruby was shocked by her shameless words. "Watch your mouth!"

But Evelyn just smiled. "Are you full? Let's go for a walk outside."

"Oh, okay." Nina immediately put down her utensils, told Daryl and Ruby to take their time eating, and followed her out.

In the garden, the night breeze was gentle.

Evelyn naturally reached out and draped her arm around his shoulders, walking slowly with him.

Their heads were close together, whispering intimately like they were sharing private secrets, their posture completely familiar.

Behind the villa windows, Daryl and Ruby were watching this scene.

Ruby couldn't help asking, "Has our daughter really fallen for Danny?"

"It's not suitable." Daryl frowned with obvious distaste. "Danny's too young, probably can't take good care of her. Besides, he hasn't established his career yet - not right for marriage so early."

Ruby nodded in agreement. "You're right. We should arrange some more blind dates for her, need to find several quality men."

"Luke keeps coming to our house, I thought Evelyn had really taken a liking to him."

Daryl's brow furrowed tighter. "That won't work out. We should focus on our daughter's happiness for the rest of her life."

Meanwhile, not far away, Ethan was following at a distance. He took out his phone and snapped a photo of those two intimate silhouettes.

He opened Luke's social media and sent the photo.

Then he typed a message: [Evelyn's lost her mind, says she likes Danny's type, now won't let go of him.]

[Can you handle this or not?]

At that moment, in a dimly lit private club room, expensive liquor's aroma floated in the air.

Luke's slender fingers gripped his wine glass, fingertips stroking the phone screen.

On the screen was a photograph.

He stared at the intimate silhouettes in the photo, his eyes growing darker and darker.

The door to the private room opened.

Nicholas walked in casually, followed by a man in a formal suit with a steady demeanor.

"Mr. White, you're cutting into my sweet time with my wife again." Nicholas started complaining right away, pouring himself a drink.

He gestured to the man behind him. "Found you a strategist. This is Ivan, my executive assistant. Let him give you some advice."

Ivan nodded slightly at him, quietly sizing up this notorious figure from their circle.

Luke glanced at Nicholas indifferently, jerking his chin toward the opposite sofa.

"Sit."

The air was quiet for a moment.

Luke's Adam's apple bobbed as he suddenly said, "I want to propose to Evelyn."

Nicholas froze mid-sip but didn't speak.

Ivan spoke first, his tone calm but carrying professional authority.

"Mr. White, forgive my directness."

"Your current situation is extremely unsuitable for a proposal."

Luke's face immediately darkened, the air pressure around him dropping to frightening levels.

Nicholas quickly tried to mediate, though his words were even more cutting.

"She avoids you like the plague now, and you want to propose? If she gives you an eye roll, that's her being generous."

"This isn't solving the problem at all - it's adding fuel to the fire."

Nicholas drained his glass in one gulp and suddenly stood up.

"I'm heading home first."

Luke frowned, clearly displeased. "Leaving after just one drink?"

Nicholas's face broke into a brilliant smile, tinged with showing off.

"Got important evening plans - a date with my wife."

"I'm taking Emma to shoot our makeup wedding photos, and starting our honeymoon trip."

Luke's expression grew even uglier. "You never mentioned this before."

"Obviously - surprises can't be announced in advance." Nicholas shot back, with a hint of schadenfreude. "Your woman probably hasn't experienced this kind of surprise, has she?"

"You want to marry her, but you haven't even gotten past the entrance exam for dating."

"Have you taken her to movies? Watched sunrises together? Reached for the stars? Gone diving? Confessed your love in Flower City..."

Nicholas proudly listed them off like treasures...

"I'm out." Nicholas waved dismissively and pulled open the door without a backward glance.

The private room was suddenly left with just Luke and Ivan.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Ivan spoke again, his voice steady.

"Mr. White, if you trust me, I'd like to hear your story with Miss Jackson."

Luke picked up his glass, tilted his head back, his Adam's apple working as he drained the harsh liquor in one gulp.

The burning liquid seared his throat.

He began recounting the tangled history between him and Evelyn.

Of course, he omitted any classified details entirely.

Ivan listened quietly throughout, never interrupting.

When Luke finished, he was silent for a few seconds, seemingly rapidly constructing models in his mind.

Then he slowly spoke. "Mr. White, your situation calls for strategic retreat before advance."

Luke looked up, confusion in his gaze.

Ivan's glasses reflected dim light as he leaned forward slightly, his gaze burning as he stared at Luke.

"How about we stir things up a bit first."

Luke studied him for several seconds.

He picked up the wine bottle and personally poured Ivan a glass.

"Give me the details."

...

Deep into the night.

On the vast, boundless ocean, a luxury yacht sat quietly in the center.

Nicholas held Emma as they lay side by side on the deck.

Stars scattered like crushed diamonds across the velvet night sky, while cool sea breezes carried the salty, humid scent, gently caressing them.

The vessel rocked gently with the waves, making one drowsy.

Emma's eyes sparkled as she gazed dreamily at the stars above.

"So this is what it's like to watch stars from the ocean - so beautiful."

Nicholas chuckled softly, turning his head to let his deep gaze fall on her excited profile.

"Isn't it because you have your husband beside you, so your mood is beautiful, making everything look like it has a beauty filter?"

Emma felt his gaze and turned to meet his smiling eyes.

"Stop being so conceited. Why did you suddenly think to come watch stars on the ocean?"

Nicholas leaned close to her ear, his breath warm.

He lowered his voice to a volume only they could hear.

"I heard that on a boat, it's especially thrilling. Wanted to try it."

Emma's face immediately flushed red.

She raised her fist and punched him lightly.

"Be serious - where exactly are we going?"

That evening, he'd rushed home in a whirlwind, had her pump and store several days' worth of milk for the baby, pack some simple clothes, then dragged her away.

This guy always loved spontaneous decisions.

Nicholas's lips curved in a mysterious smile. "Of course, to abduct you to a place with no one around and imprison you for life."

"Confess honestly, or I'll kick you overboard to feed the fish."

Emma grew bold, brazenly reaching out to pinch his chin in an interrogating pose.

Nicholas propped himself up with one hand, looking down at her from above, his tone suddenly turning serious.

"You dare kick me overboard?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his other hand was already in motion.

With a soft sound, he'd actually pulled his belt straight out...