Chapter 128
Matthew was attentive to Adam, attentive to that damned child too.
Even Evelyn, dead for three years, he couldn't forget.
But with her alone, he always maintained that indifferent demeanor, like there was a pane of glass between them that could never be shattered.
However, the girl who'd argued with Vivian earlier had reminded her of something.
A dead person could never compete with someone alive.
Once Adam disappeared too... Matthew would eventually return to her side.
Sloane lowered her eyes, her breathing slowly steadying.
But... before that, she absolutely had to secure the Dairy Haven Group project!
She couldn't let Adam leave a deep impression on Matthew before dying.
She would use this project to prove to Matthew—she was a hundred times better than that woman!
Evelyn didn't get home until after eight.
Usually by this time, both children were asleep, but today Caleb sat on the downstairs sofa waiting for her.
She walked over and ruffled his hair. "Caleb, were you waiting for me?"
Caleb nodded. "I ate too much at dinner. I'm stuffed."
He paused. "Mom, can I take Chloe back to Uncle's place in the next couple days?"
Evelyn was somewhat surprised. "Why?"
"I feel like Uncle is lonely in Marigoldia by himself. Plus, Chloe's entrance exam is coming up. If we go back early, she can get into the right mindset to prepare."
Evelyn smiled. "So that's what you're worried about. My project will be done in just a few days. After I finish, I'll take you around Novaria, and then we can all go back together."
"Mom, I want to go back now." Caleb rarely insisted on something so firmly.
Evelyn couldn't help speculating. "Do you not like staying in Novaria?"
Caleb silently said "I like it" in his heart, but answered aloud, "Yes. I don't like it."
"All right then, I'll arrange your exit permits in the next couple days." Evelyn always respected her children's feelings. "I'll have Logan and Pearl take you to Uncle's, okay?"
"Thank you, Mom."
But none of them knew that the next time they'd go to Marigoldia would be much, much later.
The next day happened to be the weekend. Both Evelyn and Monica were home.
Caleb and Chloe were still drinking their milk when there was a knock at the door.
Pearl walked over and opened it, her eyes widening in surprise. "Mrs. Gray, why are you back?"
Hearing the commotion, Evelyn looked up and froze too.
"Didn't you say you had another project and wouldn't be back in the country for a while?"
"How could there be a surprise if I told you?"
Susan held two large suitcases—no need to guess they were gifts for Chloe and Caleb.
Hearing her great-grandmother's voice, Chloe set down her milk and immediately ran to the door.
She hugged Susan's leg and nuzzled it. "Great-grandma, I missed you so much!"
Seeing this scene, Caleb rubbed his brow helplessly.
It looked like he and Chloe weren't leaving after all.
Pearl took the suitcases.
Susan carried Chloe in one arm to the dining table and gave Caleb a big kiss. "Caleb, sweetheart, Great-grandma missed you both so much!"
Caleb gave Evelyn a pleading look.
Evelyn couldn't help laughing.
The family enjoyed breakfast together harmoniously.
Caleb went to the study to tinker with his computer as usual. Susan took Chloe to the small garden to play until noon.
Chloe was so tired that after lunch she went straight for a nap.
She had a wonderful dream.
In it, the handsome mister became her daddy.
Daddy and Mommy held her hands as they went to the amusement park.
When jumping over a small puddle, they each held one of her hands, and with a light bounce she leaped across.
"Daddy, did I jump far?" She proudly lifted her little face.
"Very far! Chloe's amazing!"
"Then, will Daddy buy me cotton candy?"
The handsome mister didn't hesitate—he bought a giant cotton candy bigger than Chloe's head.
Chloe's eyes lit up when she received it.
But Mommy looked disapprovingly at the handsome mister. "Honey, why did you buy such huge cotton candy? What if Chloe gets cavities?"
"Honey, I was wrong. Don't be mad. Chloe and I will share it." The handsome mister smiled at Mommy, then winked at Chloe. Chloe nodded eagerly.
Mommy laughed too.
The dream was so beautiful that Chloe laughed out loud even in her sleep.
Groggily, she felt someone pinching and shaking her face while calling her a "little pig."
She opened her eyes to find it was Great-grandma. "Sleeping like a little pig, impossible to wake up. What were you dreaming about? You were smiling so happily."
Great-grandma asked with a smile.
"I'm not telling you." Chloe put her finger to her lips and whispered.
A bold idea suddenly popped into her mind: Right, why couldn't she find herself a daddy?
Mommy didn't have a husband, and the handsome mister didn't have a wife.
If they got together, what a happy family she'd have!
She imagined it, her eyes curving into crescents, her little mouth lifting high.
Susan was amused again. "What are you thinking about now? You look so happy."
"Great-grandma, I want to find Mommy a handsome husband. Don't you think that's good?"
Susan paused, then laughed even more heartily, hugging Chloe and kissing her. "You're truly my little sweetheart! You're thinking exactly what I'm thinking! But your mommy has been focused on work these past few years. Even though I want to introduce someone, I can't get through to her."
Chloe was very confident about the handsome mister, though.
Someone as handsome and wonderful as the handsome mister—she'd never met anyone like him before.
The handsome mister could definitely make Mommy like him.
She was about to tell Great-grandma about the handsome mister when Caleb pushed the door open.
He'd heard their conversation from the hallway and quickly came in. "Chloe, want to see pictures of the puppy?"
Just now, he'd received another photo from that man's daily scheduled messages.
This was a good way to divert Chloe's attention.
"I want to see!" Chloe immediately tumbled out of Susan's arms.
"A puppy?" Susan's gaze held doubt.
Caleb was allergic—there was no way they could have a dog at home.
"An electronic puppy." Caleb lied without changing expression.
Susan nodded and let them be.
So over the next few days, Caleb interrupted Chloe every time she tried to tell Susan about the handsome mister.
Time passed quickly.
Monday, at Limbo Inc.
At the routine meeting, Matthew was absent for business, but the atmosphere was tense.
The cause was someone reporting that Vivian had given gifts to partners in a project and expensed them through company reimbursements.
Actually, this was an unspoken practice in sales. Giving gifts to advance cooperation was common.
But bringing it up publicly made things difficult.
After all, according to company regulations, it did violate policy.
Vivian knew with her eyes closed that Sloane was sabotaging her.