Chapter 17
Matthew's finger froze on the screen.
He thought back to that time.
He'd been in Europe handling a tricky merger, gone for three months total. Working around the clock, barely contacted her at all.
So his neglect during that period made her feel... abandoned?
Something inside him jolted.
So those three months, she wasn't just quietly waiting—she was processing the dull ache of being left behind?
He meant that much to her?
Then why was she so determined to leave now without looking back?
The thought stirred something in him, along with an inexplicable frustration.
He hated this feeling of losing control. He screenshotted the post and sent it to Evelyn:
[This post—was it about me?]
"Matthew." Marigold's voice came from the hospital bed.
Matthew looked up.
She leaned against her pillow, her gaze briefly sweeping over his phone. "You looked pretty focused just now. Good news?"
Matthew locked his screen and set down his phone. "Nothing. Feeling better?"
"Much better." Marigold got to the point. "About Evelyn... I'd like to discuss something with you."
Matthew's expression cooled. "That doesn't seem relevant to our engagement."
"I don't mean any harm." Marigold smiled, her tone carrying no hostility. "After we're married, you're not planning to end things with her, are you?"
Matthew nodded. "We both know this is a business arrangement. We've discussed this before."
"After we marry, I won't interfere with your private relationships." Marigold met his gaze directly, her tone calm and clear. "But publicly, nothing can damage my reputation or the Quinn family name."
"As long as it doesn't become public knowledge, do as you please. In return, I'll fulfill my duties as your wife and maintain the necessary appearances."
She paused briefly. "This is a practical understanding based on reality. What do you think?"
Matthew looked into her calm, rational eyes, appreciating her directness. "Fine."
"Then we're in agreement." Marigold said nothing more, picking up her water glass and drinking with composed grace.
Matthew looked away, checking his phone. Evelyn still hadn't replied.
---
S City, the hotel.
Evelyn didn't sleep well. Since getting pregnant, she'd been waking up to use the bathroom more often. Around 2 AM, she woke again.
After using the restroom, she picked up her phone from the nightstand.
Two unread messages, both from Matthew.
First: [How did things go?]
The second was a screenshot of her post from three months ago, followed by: [This post—was it about me?]
She stared at those words, her breathing catching.
A sense of absurdity pierced her chest, followed by a bitter ache spreading through her.
About him?
How could it be?
That was the night her grandmother died. The last person in the world who truly loved her, gone.
She'd requested leave with trembling hands and gone back alone to handle the funeral arrangements.
Her assistant had processed the request email—Matthew was traveling for work and probably never even saw it.
Which was fine. As his kept woman, she'd never expected him to notice.
But people are greediest when they're vulnerable.
During those unbearable nights, forbidden thoughts crept in: if he knew, would he... ask? Even just one question?
Even just a simple "I'm sorry for your loss."
She'd never bothered him unprompted. That was part of their arrangement.
But she'd been in so much pain then—enough to foster impossible hopes that some warmth might reach her across the ocean. Even just a little.
Nothing came.
Ninety-plus days, complete radio silence.
Her world was collapsing and rebuilding itself in cycles while his world continued perfectly ordered, completely separate from hers.
That pathetic hope quietly died out inside her, bit by bit.
And now he was asking if it was about him?
Evelyn's lips twisted, her eyes burning, but she didn't let the moisture fall.
She didn't reply. Just turned off her phone.
It was all in the past.
Grandma was gone. That darkest, coldest road—she'd already walked it alone.
Now, she wouldn't show her vulnerability to anyone.
She lay back down, her hand gently resting on her stomach. There was new life here, a new connection.
She had to move forward.
---
Early the next morning, Evelyn's phone buzzed nonstop.
Johnson calling. His voice was anxious on the other end.
"Miss Arden! Miss Arden, are you up? We need to meet! Right now! I'm waiting for you at the site!"
She didn't answer immediately. Only after Johnson had worked himself into a nervous wreck did she respond coolly. "I know."
She hung up before he could ramble on.
She didn't rush. Took her time washing up, changed into sharp, professional clothes.
When the car approached the testing grounds, she could see a huge crowd at the entrance from far away.
Johnson was pacing back and forth at the front.
Kevin instinctively moved to shield Evelyn, but she strode directly toward the entrance.
"Mr. Johnson, so urgent you came out to wait for me personally?" Evelyn spoke with an even expression.
Johnson's face changed.
The panic he'd expected from her, the forced composure—none of it appeared.
She just stood there, spine straight, eyes calm.
His side had dozens of people, yet somehow she alone suppressed half their momentum.
Thinking about yesterday's series of "surprises"—the tax audit, police questioning, those old cases being dug up... Johnson's molars started aching again.
This damn woman couldn't be underestimated!
But he wasn't a coward either. In front of all these people, he definitely wouldn't back down!
Johnson clenched his jaw, his smile not reaching his eyes.
"Miss Arden, impressive moves! But our contract issue—reporting me to the authorities probably won't solve it!"
"I'll say it again—if you want the test flights to go smoothly, you need to show some real sincerity!"
"Oh?" Evelyn replied pleasantly. "You want to see my sincerity?"
"The site—I don't need it anymore." Evelyn's words were shocking.
Johnson froze, but then Evelyn continued lightly, each word cutting:
"Your side can compensate me ten times the damages."
Kevin barely suppressed a laugh at Evelyn's sudden statement.
He quickly covered it with a cough.
Johnson's face instantly turned bright red. He finally understood—this woman had just played him in front of everyone!
He was about to curse when his phone started ringing repeatedly.
His right-hand man's voice came through, barely containing panic, saying several old cases had been brought up this morning.
The cases weren't huge... but they were all closely tied to their boss Murphy's interests.
'Mr. Murphy, who the hell did you piss off?'
When Johnson looked at Evelyn again, his eyes held wary uncertainty.
This woman was no joke.
Evelyn watched him hang up, her tone still as casual as if discussing the weather:
"So now, can we sit down and talk this through properly?"