Chapter 137
"Mon, you should go to bed." Evelyn pushed Monica out of the study. "You've been pulling all-nighters for days."
"What about you?"
"I want to finish revising the proposal while I'm still inspired."
"Okay, I'm off to bed then. Don't stay up too late." Monica waved and headed to her bedroom.
Evelyn sat back down at her desk, opened her laptop, and mulled over the idea that had been churning in her mind.
Over the years, global cooperation had deepened.
Many foreign companies had entered Novaria, delivering a brutal shock to domestic brands.
In this marketing-driven era, local businesses lacked the sophisticated marketing tactics of foreign enterprises. They were on the defensive.
News of domestic companies going bankrupt or being acquired was becoming more frequent.
For Dairy Haven Group's promotional campaign, conventional marketing wouldn't stand a chance against foreign competitors.
Instead, taking a different route—appealing to nostalgia and championing the revival of homegrown brands—could create a win-win situation.
It would tap into consumers' emotions, encouraging grown-ups to support the brands of their childhood, while also attracting a new generation of kids, creating a virtuous cycle.
Once the core strategy was clear, Evelyn's fingers flew across the keyboard.
She lost all track of time. Outside the window, the night shifted from pitch black to deep blue, then from deep blue to pale gray.
When she finally looked up again, dawn was breaking in the east.
She yawned but didn't go to sleep.
Today was the day Chloe and Caleb would leave Novaria with Susan.
She tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the kids herself.
Caleb loved bacon and cheese sandwiches. Chloe loved strawberry soufflés.
By the time she finished, daylight had fully arrived.
Caleb came down the stairs and froze when he saw his mother in the kitchen.
Evelyn walked over with a smile and pinched his cheek. "I made breakfast myself today—your favorite bacon and cheese sandwich. By the way, where's your sister?"
Caleb hesitated, then answered honestly. "Chloe's still dragging her feet in bed. She doesn't want to get up. She's really resistant about going back to the island…"
"I see. You go ahead and eat. I'll go check on her."
Evelyn walked into the children's room.
Hearing someone come in, Chloe yanked the blanket over her head.
"Chloe, are you awake?"
"I'm not awake!" Chloe protested instinctively, inadvertently revealing that she was, in fact, awake.
She sighed in frustration and covered her little face.
Evelyn pulled her out from under the covers and noticed her eyes were red and puffy. She'd obviously been crying.
"Why were you crying?" Evelyn patted her gently, her voice soft.
Chloe lowered her eyes, clutching the corner of the blanket. Her voice came out muffled. "Mommy, I'm sorry… I just feel so sad thinking about leaving. I couldn't help it… I'm sorry for worrying you. I didn't want to make you worry…"
Evelyn paused, then hugged Chloe tighter.
How much sadness must this child be carrying to cry like this in her sleep?
"Mommy knows you're sad." Her voice grew hoarse. "But you're still little. There are some things Mommy can't explain to you yet."
"Mommy just wants you to know that you and Caleb are Mommy's most precious, most precious children."
"No matter what Mommy does, it's because Mommy loves you, okay? Don't be sad anymore. It's Mommy who hasn't done well enough."
Chloe buried her face in Evelyn's shoulder and finally let out a loud sob.
Evelyn patted her gently, saying nothing more.
Outside the window, the morning light grew brighter, illuminating the silhouette of mother and daughter clinging to each other.
Once Chloe's crying subsided, Evelyn helped her change, then carried her to wash up and tied her hair. "Mommy made breakfast just for you today—your favorite strawberry soufflé."
"Thank you, Mommy!" Some of Chloe's sadness faded, and a small smile finally appeared on her little face.
Evelyn carried her downstairs and ran into Susan, who had just come in from outside.
"You're up so early. Where did you go?" Evelyn asked, surprised.
Susan set Chloe down at the dining table before turning back to Evelyn. "I left a few people here for you. I gave them some instructions."
Evelyn nodded in understanding.
It was probably because of Matthew following her. Susan must be worried.
Monica also got up early, coming downstairs with dark circles under her eyes.
After the family finished breakfast, Susan left with the children.
To avoid any mishaps, Evelyn and Monica didn't go to the airport. They simply watched the car drive out of the villa.
With the children gone, Pearl and Logan left as well.
The villa instantly felt empty.
Monica went upstairs to catch up on sleep. Evelyn sat at the dining table, scrolling through the news for a while.
Then she came across a headline about Matthew.
[Limbo Inc. CEO hospitalized due to illness. Condition reportedly serious, multiple projects to be delayed as a result.]
Evelyn frowned.
The Matthew she knew would never allow news like this to circulate.
Besides, he had never delayed a single project before, no matter how sick he was.
Still, he'd had a stomach hemorrhage. This time must really be serious.
She couldn't help feeling a little worried, then suddenly caught herself. What was she even worried about?
Even if Matthew was seriously ill, it had nothing to do with her anymore.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh and tossed her phone aside. With the proposal finished, she had nothing urgent left to do, so she took the day off and simply lay down on the sofa for a light nap.
Sunlight slanted in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming her body. But her heart felt hollow.
Around noon, Monica finally came downstairs, fully dressed and made up, clearly in a hurry to go out.
Evelyn woke up and frowned slightly at Monica's appearance. "Do you have another business dinner?"
"Eve, I promise I won't drink this time."
"I've got my eye on a marketing project for a pharmaceutical company, and I want to pitch for it. Don't worry, we're meeting at a teahouse."
"Alright, go ahead then."
After seeing Monica off, Evelyn lost her drowsiness. She got up and went upstairs to look around.
The children's room was now empty. So was Chloe's art studio. But in the middle of the studio stood an easel with a painting on it.
Evelyn froze when she saw it.
The painting showed a blue sky, white clouds, and green grass.
Besides the three of them holding hands, Chloe's other hand was holding another pair of large hands.
The face wasn't drawn, but the build, the posture—it was unmistakably Matthew.
Everyone's faces were beaming with happiness.
At the top of the painting, Chloe had written in her clumsy handwriting: [Our Family.]
Evelyn felt a lump form in her chest.
She never imagined that after just a few encounters, Chloe would develop such a deep longing for Matthew.
In Chloe's heart, she probably wished so much that Matthew was her father.
Evelyn could give her children everything they asked for—except this one thing. This one wish of Chloe's would have to remain unfulfilled.
She let out a soft sigh and closed the studio door.
Meanwhile, at a teahouse by the river.
Monica rushed over and finally arrived right on time.
But to her surprise, everyone else had already arrived early.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late." She looked apologetic.
"No worries. We were just early." A pleasant voice came from inside the private room.
Through the tea curtain, Monica couldn't see the person's face clearly.
But judging by the way everyone was seated around him, he must be the main guest today.