Chapter 283: You Will Never Have Her in This Lifetime

Chapter 283: You Will Never Have Her in This Lifetime

Elysia and Seraphina's jaws dropped in shock.

The Thomas family had actually done something like 'that'!

Caspian fell silent, his mind replaying the scene from that day.

It had been pouring rain.

Eldon had sensed something was wrong and tried to escape.

Caspian was the one who knocked him out.

Later, when he, Scarlett, and Hayden were forcing the poison down Eldon's throat, Eldon woke up and struggled violently.

They held him down tightly, ignoring his legs and arms thrashing desperately against the ground as they forced the poison into his mouth.

In the end, Eldon's legs and fingers broke from the force of his resistance.

In his final moment, he stared wide-eyed toward Evelyn's room, as if still wanting to take her away.

"Eldon took care of Evelyn when she was very young. He was her favorite servant. Now that she knows we, the Thomas family, deliberately killed him, she'll definitely come after us for revenge."

Seraphina frowned.

Seraphina pressed her lips into a tight line. "If we let Evelyn have her revenge, she'll probably send every last one of us to prison."

Caspian turned to Elysia.

"Elysia, the Thomas family can't solve this on our own. Our only way out is to ask Michael for help. Elysia, you're the only one who can do this."

At the mention of Michael, Elysia's grievance surged. "Grandpa, haven't you seen Michael's attitude toward me? He has absolutely no intention of helping the Thomas family."

Caspian's face darkened. "You're telling me 'now' that Michael won't help the Thomas family—what were you doing from the start? Weren't you the one who confidently promised us you'd marry Michael? And you, Seraphina—I worked so hard to raise you both, and what have you given me? If I'd known you'd both be this useless, I should've kept Evelyn by my side and raised her instead."

Elysia's eyes reddened at the scolding.

When she returned home with Hayden and Scarlett, Elysia burst into tears.

"Dad, Mom, what am I supposed to do now? Michael's heart clearly isn't with me anymore—Evelyn seduced him away. And now Grandpa hates me so much. How am I supposed to live?"

Scarlett pulled Elysia into her arms, heartbroken. "Elysia, don't be afraid. No matter what happens, Mom will always be here for you."

She looked at Hayden. "Hayden, can't you see how upset our daughter is? Can't you think of something? I know you'll have a way."

Elysia grasped at him like a drowning person clutching a lifeline. "Dad, what can we do? Tell me, please. Dad, Michael is 'mine'—I don't want to lose him."

Hayden looked at Elysia.

She was his most beloved daughter. Of course he couldn't bear to watch her suffer. But some things were beyond fixing now.

"Elysia," Hayden took her hand, "give Dad a little more time to think this through, okay?"

Elysia nodded obediently. "I know Dad loves me most. You'll think of something. Dad, I'll listen to you."

After Elysia went to her room, Scarlett looked at Hayden. "Hayden, there's only one option left. Are you really not going to help Elysia?"

"What option?" Hayden frowned at her.

"Ask that big shot in Skyview City for help, of course. We're small-time people—these problems are impossible for us. But if we contact that big shot in Skyview City and tell him everything, he could solve it all with a few words. Evelyn may be formidable, but in front of a truly powerful person, she's nothing."

Hayden still didn't want to go down that road.

"I promised Elysia's birth mother I'd never let Elysia's true identity be exposed, that I'd never let her return to Skyview City."

"But the whole premise was that Elysia would live a good, happy life. Now Elysia's facing such huge problems, the Thomas family is in such deep trouble—we can't protect Elysia anymore. Besides, Elysia's grown up now. She has the right to choose what kind of life she wants."

Hayden's frown deepened.

When Elysia's mother was dying, she'd emphasized over and over that she wanted Elysia to live an ordinary life, never to return to Skyview City.

He'd promised Elysia's mother. He didn't want to break his word.

But now, Evelyn was pushing the Thomas family too hard.

So hard they could barely survive.

"Hayden, what is there to hesitate about?" Scarlett pressed.

Hayden looked at Scarlett with displeasure.

"Isn't this all because of that 'monster' you gave birth to? Who could've imagined that after being cast aside, she'd teach herself so many skills? And instead of coming back to repay the Thomas family, she came back for revenge! How despicable!"

Scarlett said nothing.

She hadn't expected Hayden to hate Evelyn this much.

Even more than she did.

Scarlett couldn't help asking, "Hayden, do you really hate Evelyn that much?"

"Of course I hate her. If not for her, why would Elysia be so heartbroken and suffering now? I wish lightning would strike down from the sky and kill Evelyn. I wish she'd walk outside and get hit by a car."

Scarlett's lips curved upward.

That was just perfect.

Everything she'd done all these years was to make Hayden hate Evelyn.

She really wanted to know—if Hayden ever found out she'd switched the two children, that Evelyn was the one he truly wanted to protect—what expression would he wear then?

Scarlett leaned against Hayden, sliding her hands inside his shirt. "I'm the same as you—I wish Evelyn would die right now."

"Hayden, it's been so long since we made love. How about…"

Hayden pulled her hands out of his shirt with distaste. "It's late. Let's get some rest."

Watching him head upstairs, Scarlett snorted quietly to herself.

You find me that disgusting?

No matter. The woman you loved most is already dead.

You'll never have her again.

And the daughter she begged you to protect before she died—you haven't protected her at all. Instead, you want her dead.

When you die and meet her in the Netherworld, she'll hate you so much she'll want to kill you with her own hands.

Haven Sky Residences.

Michael stood outside Evelyn's door for a long while before finally raising his hand to knock.

Ever since Evelyn's true identity was revealed, he'd had so much he wanted to say to her.

Evelyn had refused to give him the chance, but still—he wanted to tell her.

Evelyn opened the door. Seeing Michael standing there, she frowned. "What do you want?"