Chapter 71
Evelyn thought, if only Emily had grown up in the Arden family, how wonderful that would have been. Grandpa and Grandma were so kind to people, and Mom and Dad were such good people, too. If Emily had grown up here, she surely would have been happy.
But fate had pushed her elsewhere. She met Alice, who loved her like her own daughter.
But in the end, she married into the Gray family—thinking it would bring her happiness—only to meet such a fate.
Evelyn's fingers clenched the photograph.
She stared at that melancholy face in the picture and murmured, "Mom, I won't let those who harmed you get away with it."
Evelyn sat on the floor for a long time.
Until the evening sun streamed through the window, falling on the photograph, dyeing that melancholy face a dusky yellow.
She carefully put away the photograph and wiped the tear stains from her face.
By the time she walked out of the Arden Villa, it was nearly dark.
The bodyguards were waiting at the door. They saw her emerge looking lost and distraught.
They exchanged glances, hesitating over whether to tell Susan that Evelyn didn't look well.
Evelyn looked at them and smiled. "It's nothing. Just saw some old things and got a bit emotional."
She paused, then added, "You've waited for me all this time. Thank you for your hard work."
"Let me treat you all to dinner. It might not be anything fancy, but it's definitely a Seaside City specialty."
The bodyguards froze for a moment, then all broke into smiles.
Evelyn was really so down-to-earth.
They'd all been with Susan for years.
Which of the younger generation in the Gray family wasn't arrogant and haughty? Who among them would think to treat the bodyguards to dinner like Evelyn?
At the alley entrance, Betty's noodle shop.
"Betty, six bowls of seafood noodles!" Evelyn pushed through the door. "Extra noodles and extra seafood!"
Betty beamed with joy. "Coming right up! Have a seat, have a seat!"
She ushered the bodyguards to sit down while curiously glancing at them. "Who are these people?"
Evelyn smiled. "People protecting me at work."
Betty's eyes grew even softer. "Good, sit down. The noodles will be right out."
Six steaming bowls of seafood noodles were brought out, filled to the brim. The bodyguards didn't stand on ceremony and dug in heartily.
Evelyn ate slowly, her mind still dwelling on everything she'd learned.
After finishing the noodles, she sipped her tea, thought for a moment, then sent Ronald a message: [Ron, I came to Seaside City for something. Just letting you know I'm safe. Don't worry.]
She knew Ronald was thoughtful.
After what happened at the cemetery last time, he must have been worrying about her.
If there was time on this trip, maybe they could meet so he could see with his own eyes that she was fine, and put his mind at ease.
She was lost in thought when the door curtain lifted and a man strode in.
He walked straight to Evelyn's table and plopped down across from her. "You're Evelyn?"
Evelyn looked up.
The man was in his thirties, wearing a loud floral shirt with a thick gold chain around his neck.
He stared at Evelyn, his gaze direct. Not in a leering way, but with something else in it.
Evelyn gestured with her eyes for the bodyguards who'd started to stand to stay seated, and asked with some curiosity, "Who are you?"
The man grinned. "I'm your uncle, Paxton Arden, the biological son of the Arden family who was left out in the world."
Evelyn froze.
"I came back this time to claim my inheritance of Father's Arden Villa." Paxton crossed his legs. "If you're smart, you'll hand over the property deed right now."
"Seeing as you're my niece, I won't make trouble for you." He waved his hand.
Five or six thugs immediately rushed in from outside, surrounding their table.
The bodyguards instantly stood up, blocking Evelyn.
The thugs hesitated.
Paxton had said they were coming to intimidate a woman, right?
Why did this woman have so many bodyguards?
But Evelyn wasn't looking at those men.
She was still processing what this man had just said.
Uncle? The Arden family had such a person?
Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad—none of them had ever mentioned him.
Evelyn looked at the man across from her, who claimed to be her uncle.
Floral shirt, gold chain, a face full of thuggish attitude.
Behind him, those thugs—every one of them slouching, yet their eyes fierce.
"Well?" Paxton said, legs still crossed. "Made up your mind? Are you handing over the property deed or not?"
Evelyn said nothing.
She picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Seeing her calm and unhurried manner, the thugs actually felt a bit uncertain.
"You—" Paxton was about to speak when Evelyn set down her teacup and looked at him.
"You say you're my uncle," she said slowly. "What proof do you have?"
Paxton hesitated, then pulled a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket and slapped it on the table. "See for yourself."
Evelyn picked up the paper.
It was a money transfer receipt. The name on it was indeed Grandpa's.
Judging by the dates, they started decades ago and continued until Grandpa's death.
She set down the paper and looked at Paxton.
"That's it?" Just a money transfer receipt—what did that prove?
Seeing Evelyn didn't believe him, Paxton grew irritated. "I didn't want to put it so crudely. Your grandmother couldn't give birth to a boy, so Father had me with someone else."
Hearing this, Evelyn became even more certain this man absolutely wasn't part of the Arden family.
She knew Grandpa's character very well. He would never do such a thing.
But... why was this man so confident?
Evelyn thought for a moment, then spoke slowly. "When Grandpa passed away, why didn't you come?"
Her question made Paxton flush with anger and embarrassment. "Never mind why I didn't come! The Arden Villa is partly mine! I'm here today to take what's rightfully mine!"
Evelyn looked at him, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.
That smile was faint, tinged with mockery. "Grandpa's gone, and every piece of trash comes crawling out..."
"You!"
"I don't have time for this," Evelyn cut him off. "Go through legal channels."
"If you really are part of the Arden family, you'll get every penny that's yours."
Paxton's expression darkened. "You're playing me?"
"I'm stating facts." Evelyn stood up. "As for the rest..."
She swept her gaze over the thugs. "You'd better take these people and leave."
"These bodyguards are professionals. If a fight breaks out, they might not be able to walk out of here."
The thugs' faces changed.
Evelyn didn't look at him again. She told the bodyguards, "Let's go."
The bodyguards escorted her outside.
Paxton sat there, his face ugly, but ultimately didn't dare to stop them.
Walking out of the noodle shop, Evelyn stood at the alley entrance and took a deep breath.
"Miss Arden," a bodyguard said quietly, "that man..."
"Ignore him," Evelyn said. "Let's head back."
The car drove toward their accommodation.
Evelyn leaned back in her seat, watching the streetlights flash past the window, but her mind was still turning over everything.
Susan coming to search for her granddaughter, and this man appearing out of nowhere claiming to be her uncle...
This trip to Seaside City was turning out to be anything but peaceful.