Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Myrtle Stevens left with nothing.
Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Myrtle Stevens left with nothing.
Eileen Stevens rolled her eyes. "You can't be talking about me, right?"
Lynx Black nodded. "Who else could it be?"
Eileen shivered involuntarily, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin. "Please, don't say that. It would be the end of me."
As she spoke, she sensed the atmosphere around her growing heavier.
Eileen glanced at Lynx's smug expression and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She whipped around to see Niles Hawke, his face dark and unfriendly.
Eileen forced a dry laugh. "You... what are you doing here?"
Niles narrowed his eyes. "I came to hear how Caelan Cooper plans to turn his sights on you."
Eileen awkwardly grinned. "That's nonsense! It's all Lynx's fault—he's always spouting nonsense."
Niles reached out and ruffled her hair, asking, "You haven't been bullied, have you?"
Eileen shook her head. "No, I came out on top. It's just... my grandpa isn't doing well."
Niles turned to Lynx. Lynx immediately reported, "He just got a bit worked up. He'll wake up soon; a few days in the hospital and he'll be fine."
Niles nodded. "Alright, let's go grab something to eat."
He took Eileen's hand and led her out of the hospital, while Lynx complained, "Hey, take me with you!"
Niles replied, "You can eat with Hyrum."
Lynx sulked, "I can't eat in front of him!"
Niles Hawke took Eileen Stevens to a nearby restaurant for dinner. "This place just opened, and Hiram recommended it. Let's see if it suits your taste," he said.
Eileen smiled and replied, "I’m not picky; everything suits my taste."
Niles raised an eyebrow. "Why aren’t you picky?"
In his mind, everyone had some level of pickiness when it came to food. For example, Hiram Hawke, the youngest of the Hawke family, had been spoiled as a child and was incredibly particular about what he ate. Their family had gone through numerous chefs just to please him.
So, when Hiram grew up, he made it a point to hire a chef who could cater to his tastes, opening a restaurant called "Xiang Cuisine" that served only his favorite dishes.
Even Niles, while not overly picky, had his preferences. But ever since he met Eileen, it seemed she truly wasn’t picky at all. Whether it was a high-end restaurant like Xiang Cuisine or a roadside stall, she enjoyed whatever he took her to.
Eileen casually replied, "I didn’t have the luxury of being picky before; I just ate whatever was available."
Niles paused, thinking she was referring to her childhood experiences with the Stevens family, and felt a pang of sympathy. "You can be picky now."
Eileen beamed at him and said, "But I really love roasted chicken. If there are chicken legs, I won’t eat anything else."
Niles nodded seriously. "Got it."
During dinner, Niles asked, "I heard from Hiram that you signed Anne Ross for a variety show?"
Eileen nodded. "Yeah, she’s been dealing with a lot of injuries lately. After finishing this drama, she needs a break. Once the weather warms up next year, she wants to try a variety show to boost her exposure."
Niles paused for a moment before asking, "What about Calvin Brooks?"
Eileen Stevens replied seriously, "Calvin Brooks is going to rehearse for the Spring Festival Gala after finishing his TV drama, and he has a concert planned for next year."
Niles Hawke nodded in satisfaction, likely sensing that Eileen and Calvin didn't have much of a connection.
The next day, the Cooper family indeed sent over the divorce papers, along with all the dowry that Myrtle Stevens had brought into the marriage.
The lawyer stood in the Stevens family living room and said, "Mr. Cooper believes that the main reason for the marriage breakdown is Ms. Stevens's fault. Therefore, aside from the jewelry, clothes, and bags that Mr. Cooper gifted to Ms. Stevens, she cannot take anything else from the Cooper family."
Myrtle Stevens sat on the sofa, pale and trembling, as she looked at the items Caelan Cooper had returned. Her voice shook as she said, "He’s really leaving me with nothing?"
The lawyer nodded slightly, "Ms. Stevens, the accusation of infidelity during the marriage is enough to ruin your reputation. Mr. Cooper is being considerate by not making this a bigger issue. Please cooperate and sign."
Myrtle softly asked, "What about him? Why isn’t Caelan Cooper here? I want to see him. Even if we’re getting divorced, I want to do it face to face!"
The lawyer, with a hint of exasperation, replied, "Ms. Stevens, once you sign the divorce papers, someone will handle the divorce certificate for you. You should have an idea of why Mr. Cooper isn’t here in person."
Myrtle swayed slightly, murmuring, "He really despises me... Does he not even want to look at me one last time?"
The lawyer had little patience for her emotional outburst and pushed the documents forward again, saying, "Ms. Stevens, please sign."
Davina Evans, sitting beside Myrtle, gently placed a hand on her shoulder and urged, "Just sign it!"
Myrtle was taken aback, "Mom, even you...?"
Davina sighed, "Myrtle, your father is right. It’s a blessing that this hasn’t escalated and hasn’t affected the company or the Stevens family's reputation. The Cooper family is willing to let us down easy; we can’t hold out any longer!"
Myrtle closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She picked up the pen and slowly wrote her name, saying, "Alright, you can go now."
The lawyer took the divorce agreement, checked it over, and nodded slightly. "Ms. Stevens, this afternoon, the divorce certificate will be delivered to you. From now on, you and Mr. Cooper will have no ties."
"Mr. Cooper asked me to tell you that all your belongings are here. From now on, please do not step foot into the Cooper family again. Goodbye."
The lawyer finished his business and left immediately.
Myrtle Stevens, however, had no tears left to cry and no strength to weep. She sat on the sofa, staring blankly into space.
Davina Evans sighed and said, "Myrtle, your father means that you should go abroad for a while to avoid the storm. Staying here will only remind you of everything."
Upon hearing this, Myrtle let out a hollow laugh. "Mom, has Dad given up on me? I listened to you and went after Caelan Cooper, and now I’m following his lead into this marriage alliance, and now you both just want to wash your hands of me?"
"You taught me to use surrogacy to marry into wealth, and you showed me how to hold onto a man with a child. Now that it’s all fallen apart, you plan to send me away to fend for myself?"
Davina, hearing this, replied with irritation, "Myrtle, how can you say that to your mother? I’m only doing this for your own good! Everything I do is for you!"
She continued, annoyed, "Who told you that you couldn't keep the child? You even tried to pin everything on Eileen Stevens, but that plan had so many holes. If it were foolproof, how could it have been discovered?"
Davina believed that what had worked for her in the past, when she used a child to secure Finlay Stevens, would also work for Myrtle. But this time, she had hit a brick wall with Eileen Stevens, leading to a disastrous outcome.
Myrtle threw her head back and laughed, tears streaming down her face.
Grabbing Davina's shirt, she laughed maniacally, "Me? Full of holes? Mom, you’re the one who’s confused! It’s Eileen Stevens who’s too clever!"
"Now I’ve lost the child, my marriage is gone, and I didn’t even get the shares. All of this is thanks to Eileen Stevens! Just watch, no one in this family can outsmart Eileen Stevens!"