Chapter 198
Chapter 198
She remembered what the doctor had said earlier. Matthew was still recovering from a serious illness—he couldn't handle this kind of stress.
These matters could wait until he was better. Then she'd deal with them all at once.
And when that time came, she'd make them pay a hundredfold!
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Kate's excitement deflated. Though disappointed, he never questioned Evelyn's decisions and didn't press further.
Evelyn noticed the disappointment in his eyes.
She pulled out her phone and tapped away. A second later, Kate's phone chimed.
He opened it, and his eyes went wide.
A massive transfer had just hit his bank account!
"This much?" Kate perked up instantly, the disappointment in his eyes swept away by those bright, shiny numbers.
Over the years, he'd helped Evelyn dig up plenty of information.
At first, when she transferred money to him, he'd been resistant. It felt wrong to accept it.
But one time Evelyn had lost her temper and told him straight: 'Fair pay for fair work! If you don't take it, you can forget about having me as your sister!'
After that, Kate went from uncomfortable to gradually accepting it. Now his eyes lit up whenever he got paid.
He didn't have much desire to spend money usually, but he loved watching his balance grow bit by bit.
"Thanks!" Kate flashed Evelyn a grin.
"Don't mention it." Evelyn waved her hand generously. "I haven't had much time for Chloe and Caleb lately. Since you're back in the country, take them out more often."
"Theme parks, stuff like that—you can go wherever. Buy whatever you want. I'll reimburse you."
"No problem!" Kate was even happier now.
No one knew that he, a hacker, absolutely loved watching cartoons!
Going to those places was basically his happy place.
"Oh, should I bring Mon along too? I remember she really likes that stuff." Kate added casually.
"Little brat, who says I need you to take me? I'm an adult!" Monica's voice came from behind him.
Kate turned around. Monica was smiling brightly, but the moment he saw the person beside her, his smile vanished, replaced by instant wariness.
Gone was his casual demeanor. He straightened up, his face serious.
"Mon, who's this?"
Before Monica could answer, Henry extended his hand and naturally shook Kate's.
"Kate, hello. I'm Henry, Mon's husband."
Kate's pupils dilated. He whipped his head toward Monica, his lips twitching.
"Hus—husband? Mon, when did you get married? Wait, when did you even start dating?"
In his mind, Monica had always been single from birth, just like him!
Kate's feelings at this moment could only be described as... complicated.
He'd had two older sisters, both single career women who dominated the business world. He'd bragged about them to countless people.
But now, in less than a month!
One had been sweet-talked into a relationship by her baby daddy, and the other had secretly gotten married!
"You guys chat. I'm going to check on Matthew." Henry said warmly to Monica and the others, then looked at Evelyn. "Is he awake?"
"Yes, he's resting in his room." Evelyn nodded.
The moment Henry left, Kate burst out:
"What's going on with you two? How did you both get bewitched by these scumbags!"
"And you didn't even let me vet them for you!"
Monica laughed, her eyes crinkling. "You, a little brat, vetting them for us? My husband is wonderful! You should worry about your own perpetually single status first!"
Hearing her defend Henry, Kate was beside himself with frustration:
"Those flirty eyes of his scream trouble! Getting you to marry him so fast—total scumbag move!"
Monica laughed so hard she could barely stand, leaning on Evelyn's arm for support.
Evelyn couldn't help but laugh too.
"Wait, didn't Kate call Matthew a scumbag before too?" Monica wiped tears from her eyes, grinning at Evelyn.
"Stop teasing him." Evelyn suppressed her laughter and glanced at Kate.
"Hmph, I'm done with you two! All you do is laugh!" Kate huffed, his face flushing red. "I'm going back to be with Chloe and Caleb!"
Evelyn couldn't stop him and could only shake her head with a wry smile.
She knew Kate wasn't really angry. He just saw her and Monica as family—like a younger brother reluctant to see his sisters get married. That kind of awkward protectiveness.
She let him go.
In the hospital room, Henry and Matthew chatted for a while about recent industry developments.
Monica and Evelyn walked in side by side.
"Where's Kate?" Henry asked.
"He went home first." Monica suppressed a laugh. "He's still upset. Thinks you're a scumbag and that I was tricked into marrying you."
Henry's eyes fell on Monica's face, full of affection.
"Kate's not wrong."
"I'll testify—I liked you too much. I'm the one who tricked you."
Monica's face turned bright red, like a cooked shrimp.
Evelyn was speechless.
She hadn't even eaten yet, and here she was getting force-fed sickeningly sweet dog food.
The four of them shared lunch in the hospital room.
The caregiver had brought the meal up from the hospital cafeteria—simple but hearty.
Matthew's appetite was better than it had been the past few days. He finished everything Evelyn served him.
After lunch, Henry and Monica had plans for the afternoon and left first.
Evelyn walked them out.
At the elevator, Monica reluctantly held Evelyn's hand, her eyes bright.
"Eve, I'll come see you tonight! I'll bring you little cakes!"
Evelyn tapped her forehead, smiling and shaking her head. "No need. If you come again, I'm afraid Mr. Phillips will get jealous."
"You should spend more time with Mr. Phillips instead, silly."
Monica's face flushed again. Before she could protest, Henry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her into the elevator.
Evelyn pushed open the hospital room door. Matthew was leaning against the headboard.
He held the file she'd organized, flipping through it page by page.
Light from the window fell across his profile, softening his features.
He looked up, saw Evelyn enter, and set the file aside.
"They're gone?"
"Yeah."
Evelyn walked over and sat back down in the chair beside the bed.
Matthew's hand reached out and gently took hers.