Chapter 136 Peace Restored

Chapter 136 Peace Restored
An hour later, Lily knocked politely on the door. She carried a bowl of warm soup, its aroma filling the room.

“Sorry to disturb you, Young Master, Madam. Madam Lavina asked me to make sure Madam Alice finishes this soup,” Lily said with a wide smile as she took in her employers’ intimacy.

“Put it here, Lily. Thank you,” Evan replied.

After Lily left, Evan picked up the bowl. “Let me feed you.”

“Evan, my hands aren’t broken,” Alice laughed softly.

“But a husband’s orders are absolute. Open your mouth,” Evan said as he blew gently on the spoon before offering it to Alice.

Alice accepted the spoonful obediently. As she ate, they chatted about lighthearted things. About Lavina’s flower garden that had begun to bloom, about Alice wanting to learn how to cook again after the baby was born, and about their plan for a short vacation once Alice had fully recovered.

“I want to go somewhere with no phone signal,” Alice said. “Just the sea, the sand, and you.”

“Good idea. I’ll buy a small island if I have to,” Evan replied casually.

“You’re being ridiculous, Evan!” Alice lightly hit his arm.

“I’m serious. If it gives you peace, I’ll do it,” Evan said as he set the now empty bowl on the table.

Night slowly fell, and the garden lights below turned on one by one. Evan turned off the main light and switched on the soft bedside lamp. He climbed onto the bed and lay beside Alice, pulling the blanket over both of them.

“Sleep, love. I’m not going anywhere,” Evan whispered into Alice’s ear.

Alice closed her eyes, feeling the protection of Evan’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. She felt deeply sleepy and calm. But just as she was about to drift off, she felt a faint vibration from Evan’s phone on the nightstand.

Evan glanced at the glowing screen in the darkness. A message had come in from his private number, known only to his personal intelligence team.

He slowly loosened his hold, moving as quietly as possible so he wouldn’t wake Alice. He picked up the phone and read the message.

“Young Master, we have just searched Viktor’s secret apartment. We found a black box labeled ‘Alice Smith,’ and inside are childhood photos of your wife with a man whose face has been deliberately crossed out in red. The photos were taken in front of the Nathaniel building ten years ago.”

Evan stared at the screen for several seconds. The message about Alice’s childhood photos and the man whose face had been scratched out sounded strange at first, but as he searched his memory, he recalled something.

They were merely old photos from the Smith family archives that Viktor had once stolen in an attempt to dig up a scandal that never actually existed. The man was just a distant relative of Alice who had passed away long ago and held no influence whatsoever.

Evan let out a long breath. He placed the phone back on the nightstand with the screen facing down. He did not want something so trivial to disrupt the peace they had fought so hard to reclaim.

He lay back down beside Alice. She shifted slightly, seeking a comfortable position, then buried her face against Evan’s chest again. The room was utterly quiet, filled only with the ticking of the wall clock and the steady rhythm of their breathing.



The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains that had not been fully closed. Alice fluttered her eyes open, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. She turned to the side and found the bed empty, but she could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom.

A moment later, Evan emerged wearing only black trousers, his hair still damp and a towel draped over his shoulder.

“You’re awake?” Evan asked with a faint smile as he leaned down to kiss Alice’s forehead.

“I am. What time is it?” Alice stretched, feeling far more refreshed than the day before.

“Almost nine. I didn’t wake you on purpose. You needed a long rest,” Evan replied. He sat on the edge of the bed, took Alice’s fingers, and gently stroked them. “How’s your stomach? Still hurting?”

Alice touched her belly and shook her head. “No, it doesn’t hurt anymore. The baby seems happy this morning too.”

“That’s good. Lavina is waiting in the dining room. She prepared a small breakfast celebration to welcome you home,” Evan said.

“A breakfast celebration? Grandma is always over the top,” Alice laughed softly, though her heart felt warm.

Evan helped Alice get ready. He even insisted on putting her house slippers on for her. They went downstairs together at an unhurried pace. In the dining room, the table was filled with various dishes, warm chicken porridge, toast, and freshly cut fruit.

Lavina sat at the head of the table, her face bright with joy. Beside her, Zavian was reading news on his tablet while sipping coffee.

“At last, our newlyweds are coming down!” Lavina exclaimed happily. “Alice, come here, dear. Sit next to Grandma. You need to eat plenty.”

“Thank you, Grandma. This is too much for breakfast,” Alice said as she sat in the chair Evan pulled out for her.

Zavian set his tablet aside and looked at Alice with a much gentler expression than usual. “You look healthier, Alice. That’s good. This house felt very empty while you were in the hospital.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Alice replied sincerely.

Breakfast passed in a warm, comforting atmosphere. There was no talk of Selena, no mention of Viktor, and no discussion of prison. They talked about the flower garden Alice wanted to redesign, Lavina’s plans to host a charity event, and the development of Alice’s pregnancy.

“I’ve arranged for the best obstetrician to come to the house every week,” Zavian said. “You don’t need to go out often just for routine checkups. Your safety and comfort are the priority.”

“Dad, I’m not a prisoner,” Alice protested with a laugh.

“Not a prisoner, Alice. You are the Nathaniel family’s jewel. We are simply protecting you,” Zavian replied firmly, though his tone carried a hint of humor.

After breakfast, Evan invited Alice for a leisurely walk in the back garden. They strolled slowly along the path lined with blooming roses. A gentle breeze carried the soothing scent of earth and flowers.

“Evan, look at that,” Alice pointed toward a large wooden swing beneath an old oak tree. “I remember the first time I came to this house. I thought it was such a frightening place.”

Evan chuckled softly and wrapped an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “And now?”

“Now this place is the safest place in the world for me,” Alice replied as she leaned her head against Evan’s shoulder when they stopped in front of the swing.

“I promise to keep it that way,” Evan whispered.

They sat on the swing, moving back and forth slowly. Evan held Alice’s hand, feeling their wedding rings touch.

“About Edwin and Vinnie,” Alice began hesitantly. “Are they really going to be in prison for a long time?”