Chapter 109
"He's been coming in every day for three years, buying the same flowers—daisies, sunflowers, gerberas. Like clockwork."
Evelyn's hand paused. "I see."
"Yeah, he must be buying them for his wife. Their relationship seems really solid."
"I'm sure." Evelyn replied absently and turned to leave.
She started her car and headed toward the exhibition.
Not long after Evelyn left, Sloane arrived downstairs.
When Matthew came out, she pointed at the flower shop nearby, her tone playful. "Matthew, could you buy me some flowers? As a birthday blessing."
Matthew glanced at the shop and nodded.
He walked over.
"The usual?" the shop owner asked with a smile.
"No. These are for someone else. Put together something suitable for a birthday." Matthew said.
The owner agreed, feeling puzzled inside. Why did this gentleman seem unhappy about buying flowers?
Matthew waited to the side when suddenly he froze.
He seemed to... catch a familiar scent.
Very faint, and it faded quickly.
Matthew couldn't help twitching his nose. Was it his imagination? "Did anyone come by here just now?"
The owner paused, then remembered. "A woman came by earlier and bought all the yellow roses! Said they were for her daughter."
"She also asked if we had any daisies. I told her they were all reserved for you."
Matthew's expression darkened. He took the flowers and left without a word.
He handed the flowers to Sloane, not noticing her reaction.
He was still thinking about what the shop owner had said.
For her daughter. A mother, then.
When Evelyn arrived at the venue, she stayed in her car for a moment.
She put on her mask, hat, and sunglasses before heading to the lounge Monica had indicated.
Evelyn pushed open the door and immediately spotted the two kids sitting on the couch.
"Mommy!" Chloe noticed her first, her eyes sharp.
Evelyn handed over the bouquet of yellow roses—so full it practically swallowed Chloe up.
Chloe's eyes lit up like two stars.
"Thank you, Mommy!"
"Let's go see the exhibition." Evelyn bent down and picked her up.
Monica lifted Caleb, and they all left the lounge together.
Chloe had two paintings in the exhibition.
One showed a small island in the sea, free and warm.
The other had a completely different style—soft blue-gray tones, peaceful.
As Evelyn and the others approached, they heard people nearby commenting.
"Can a child really paint at this level?"
"She's barely three—can she even hold a brush steady?"
"Bet someone painted it for her."
Monica rolled her eyes and was about to march over and argue when Evelyn quickly pulled her back.
"Don't." She lowered her voice. "Soon enough, they'll eat their words."
Monica saw her calm expression and, though confused, didn't move.
They wandered for a while, looking at other artists' work.
Evelyn was studying a piece when Monica suddenly tugged her sleeve. "Eve..."
Evelyn looked up, following her gaze, and went still.
Matthew and Sloane stood side by side not far away.
Sloane was looking up at him, saying something with a gentle smile.
Matthew listened with an unreadable expression.
Their position was unique—visible from this side, but they couldn't see back.
Evelyn's heart leapt into her throat.
Almost instinctively, she turned to Logan, her voice very low. "Take the kids back to the lounge. Monica and I will join you in a bit."
Logan understood immediately. He and Pearl each took a child and carried them away.
Evelyn watched them disappear from view before exhaling in relief.
As she and Monica turned to leave, Sloane's voice drifted over from nearby.
"Today's exhibition is a charity auction. Pretty meaningful."
"The Lake Serenity's villa is almost finished anyway. I'll bid on a few paintings to hang there."
Evelyn froze.
The Lake Serenity's villa.
Matthew had once said it was meant to be their wedding home, that he'd decorate it the way she liked.
So he'd given it to Sloane.
A smile curved Evelyn's lips—unclear whether it was mockery or something else.
She didn't look back, walking away quickly.
Matthew had nightmares all night and still had faint shadows under his eyes.
Hearing Sloane's words, his expression remained flat. "It's your house. Decide for yourself."
Sloane glanced at him, hesitated, then spoke. "Matthew, your villa has been finished for three years. When do you plan to move in?"
Matthew's expression darkened.
"That's my and Evelyn's wedding home." He paused. "We'll talk when she comes back."
Sloane frowned.
Evelyn had been dead for three years. Three years!
Was he still not giving up?
A few days ago he'd run off to Seaside City, also because of Evelyn...
That person in the video—she'd recognized her immediately as Adam from Zenith Enterprises Group.
That woman haunted them everywhere, and now she'd caught Matthew's attention again.
Jealousy and resentment flashed through Sloane's eyes, but when she looked up, she wore a gentle expression. "Matthew, the auction's about to start. Let's go in."
She reached out to take his arm. Matthew stepped aside.
Sloane's hand hung awkwardly in midair. After a moment, she silently followed.
In the lounge, Chloe pouted, looking aggrieved. "Mommy, I want to go to the auction too. All the artists will be there..."
Evelyn crouched down, took her hands, and softened her voice. "Wait just a bit, sweetheart. Mommy needs to discuss something with Monica."
She pulled Monica into a corner. "Why is Matthew here?" Monica asked nervously.
"I don't know either. He never liked art exhibitions before—" Evelyn stopped mid-sentence, suddenly freezing as something occurred to her.
Matthew hadn't liked exhibitions before, perhaps because Sloane, who'd majored in art, had abandoned him to go abroad.
Now that their misunderstanding was resolved, and Sloane liked exhibitions, naturally he'd come along.
Evelyn's smile carried a chill.
"Should we keep Chloe from going?" Evelyn hesitated.
She didn't want to disappoint Chloe, but she was terrified of Matthew seeing her.
"There's no need. Even if Matthew sees Chloe, nothing will happen." Monica reassured her, thinking privately that Matthew had already met Chloe before.
"All right." Evelyn was still worried. She hesitated, then made up her mind. "Have Pearl and the bodyguards go with Chloe. We'll stay here."
"That works." Monica nodded. Safer that way.
Pearl carried Chloe toward the auction hall.
As they reached the entrance, they heard a woman speaking inside.
"This painting was really done by a three-year-old?" Sloane's tone was skeptical.
The auction manager explained cheerfully, "Yes, children today have unlimited potential."
"More like some family hired a ghostpainter for their kid. For clout." Sloane sneered. "Your auction house can't even spot that?"
Chloe's face tightened in Pearl's arms. Pearl spoke up indignantly. "Our Chloe painted this herself, every single stroke!"
"Don't throw accusations around without proof!"