Chapter 883 The Reason

Chapter 883 The Reason

Back in the day, the Grey family twisted Rita's arm to marry Evan by dangling Evelyn over her head.

Now, the Smith family wanted to call off the engagement, using Evelyn as leverage again.

Everyone knew Evelyn was her Achilles' heel. They could push her buttons whenever they wanted.

She never had a real choice.

Rita shot a death glare at Dylan, her eyes red and furious, but Dylan just stared back, cool as a cucumber.

He knew Rita had no other option but to go along with his plan.

Rita bit down on her lip so hard it turned white, finally letting go when the pain got too much. "Dylan, can you give me a few more days to think it over?"

Dylan smirked and said, "Evan's gonna be super busy these days and won't have time to come back. I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. I expect the answer I want by then."

Those words crushed Rita's last bit of hope.

But she wasn't ready to give up. She pulled out her phone to call Evan.

No luck—the phone had no signal.

Dylan grinned and pointed upstairs. "The house has a signal jammer. Your calls can't get out. If a call comes in, as long as you don't say anything stupid, I might let you answer it."

Dylan's move cut off her lifeline to Evan.

With no way to reach Evan, she was on her own. But how could she outsmart the sly Dylan?

Rita felt like a ton of bricks was crushing her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Dylan went on, "Rita, if you really love Evan, you know what's best for him. Unless you don't love him at all and are just using him to get away from the Grey family."

Rita clenched her fists. "Loving him means respecting him and listening to what he wants."

"Respect him? If he fails, who's gonna respect him? If he takes over the Smith Group, no one would dare disrespect him. It's survival of the fittest out there." Dylan's smile turned icy, sending chills down Rita's spine.

This side of Dylan scared her.

After what felt like forever, she finally spoke. "You were the one who pushed for the marriage. Why do you want us to break up now?"

Dylan replied, "You know why. Before, I wanted Evan to marry you because he wasn't strong enough to go up against Lonnie and Conrad. He needed to lay low. Marrying a woman from a less powerful family was a way to protect him."

Dylan continued, "Now, Evan's ready to fight for the Smith Group, and he's determined to win. He needs a family that can back him up. If your Grey family had kept its status, even if you couldn't help him, you wouldn't drag him down."

Dylan's gaze grew sharper and more intimidating. "The Grey Group declared bankruptcy at the worst possible time. To outsiders, it's like Evan lost an arm."

Dylan added, "If Evan doesn't cut ties with the Grey family fast, his supporters will start to doubt him. I love Evan, and I don't want to see him lose this inheritance battle."

Rita got it, she really did. But she still clung to a tiny shred of hope, wishing for another way out.

She'd been engaged to Evan for over two years, and during that time, he'd treated her like gold.

Evan made her believe the world wasn't all bad, that someone could actually love and respect her.

He'd often tell her, "Scaredy-cat, as long as I'm around, you don't have to be scared of anything. Just go after what you want. You've got a gift for music, so chase it. I know you'll make it big."

He'd also say, "Scaredy-cat, once I take over the Smith Group, I'll bring your sister to Girona. No one will ever threaten you again."

And then there was, "I don't know if I'm nuts, but how did I fall for a timid woman like you?"

He said he liked her and wanted to marry her.

They'd planned to tie the knot after she graduated college.

Everything was going according to plan. So how did it all go sideways?

It was almost a joke that the Grey family, the ones she despised most, had pushed her to Evan.

And now, because of the Grey family, she had to leave him.

Dylan kept pushing, "Rita, if you really love Evan and want the best for him, you should be on my side."

Rita let out a deep breath and said, "Of course, I love Evan and want the best for him, but I don't think your way is good for him."

Dylan's face darkened. "Then tell me, what's good for him? Letting him get lost in a relationship? Letting him lose this fight? Do you even know what he'll face if he fails?"

Rita knew. But she wished she didn't, so she could just act on impulse for once.

Dylan saw her hesitation and kept pressing, "Rita, Evan's dad and brother are both gone. He has to finish what they couldn't. Until he takes over the Smith Group, he can't afford a single mistake. If he still loves you after that and wants you back, no one can stop you two from getting married."

Hearing this, Rita smiled. "You know Evan better than I do."

Rita understood everything, but for Evelyn and for what Dylan claimed was for Evan's good, she had to play along.

Girona was freezing, and so was Rita's heart, but Evan's touch was warm and burning.

That night felt like a trip to hell for Rita.

She knew Evan was furious, but she still said something to hurt him when it was over.

"Evan, no matter how much I hate the Grey family, they're still my family. I don't want to see the Grey Group go bankrupt. I want the Grey family to rise again."

She added, "Don't blame me, because I need to give birth to the first great-grandson of the Smith family to secure my position, so I can help the Grey family stand up again."

Evan stared at her with bloodshot eyes, like he wanted to tear her apart. "You'd rather be with the Grey family, who treats you like a pawn, than with me"

She wanted to say no. She wanted to say she wanted him. But she couldn't.

She forced a smile and said, "In the end, we'll still be together. Does the reason matter?"