LOGINHe wasn’t sure when it began, but when he looked at her now, he no longer saw someone weak and easily bullied. He just felt protective of her.
“Evelyn, there’s something you need to understand.”
“Hmm?”
She looked up, her eyes soft and confused.
Meeting her innocent gaze, Nicholas explained, “If you’re too kind, people will walk all over you. Don’t let anyone push you around. If someone offends you, you retaliate immediately.”
“For example, what happened last night. You should learn to defend your own interests. If you can win the fight, fight. If you can’t, run. And get even later.”
Evelyn seemed unsure.
Did he mean she should settle accounts with him?
She pressed her lips together. “So I’m supposed to walk up to you right now and slap you?”
Nicholas froze. “…”
“You want revenge on
The next day.Evelyn tied her hair into a neat bun and changed into the light blue puff sleeve dress Liam had prepared for her.Gloria knocked and entered the master bedroom, glancing toward the brightly lit walk in closet. “Ma’am, I’ve placed your shoes on the carpet. Breakfast is ready. Mr. Drake is already in the dining room.”“Alright. I’ll be down after I finish changing.”The weather was perfect today.Bright sunshine, an average temperature of twenty four degrees.Evelyn slipped on a pair of flat white leather shoes, slung a small cloud shaped crossbody bag over her shoulder, dabbed on some moisturizer in front of the mirror, then went downstairs.In the dining room, she pulled out a chair and sat across from Nicholas.She picked up her fork and lowered her head to eat strawberry jam pancakes. The man opposite her placed a fried egg into her bowl of noodles. “How long will
Evelyn watched him walk closer.Nicholas stopped by the bed and bent down to pick up the jar of body lotion lying on the sheets. He turned it over in his hand, examining it. “I’ve never seen you use this before.”Her vanity table was filled with bottles and jars. Some were for night use, some for mornings, some for spring, some for winter.Nicholas could not tell them apart, but he knew they were all for her face.He had not realized there was also something for the body.Hearing him, Evelyn explained, “My skin’s been a bit dry these past two days. My calves were peeling, so I used some body lotion.”Nicholas opened the jar and smelled it.The scent was very light, a soft milk fragrance.No wonder she always smelled nice. He had thought it was because she used that milk body wash. He had even tried it himself, but it never smelled the same.He had once wondered if body wash favored bea
Gloria laughed. “Men are basically children at heart. If we are talking about childishness, Liam is actually the worst. Mr. Drake is not that bad. Miss, Mr. Drake is really a good man. Once he finishes his work, just coax him a little.”Not that bad?Evelyn thought to herself that Nicholas was the most childish of them all.She finished the soup and handed the empty bowl back to Gloria. “I know. Don’t worry.”That night.Nicholas finished handling work in the study. By the time he closed his laptop, the sky outside was already dark.Before shutting everything down, he received a video call from his friend Vance. The other man was at the Dawson Residence in the UK. In the frame behind him were the British flag and walls covered with military and political charts.Nicholas glanced at him. “Helping Edward handle a few shady cases again?”Vance was Mr. Dawson’s adopted s
After more than half an hour of back and forth, Evelyn finally managed to leave the hospital with Nicholas.Before they left, the doctor repeatedly warned them that she was still young and that stress related psychological reactions had to be taken seriously. It would be best for her to return every three days for follow up checks.Nicholas, clearly enjoying the situation, agreed without hesitation and said he would bring her back in a couple of days.Evelyn was speechless.Inside the elevator, before the doors even closed, Evelyn chose the farthest corner from Nicholas and leaned against the wall.She was still wearing the rabbit ear hat, the brim covering most of her face.From Nicholas’s height, all he could see was her puffed up cheeks, clearly sulking. He pressed the button for the B2 garage, then walked over and stopped in front of her, bending slightly to look into the hat.First he saw her soft pink lips, then her small
Evelyn was taken to the hospital.In the hallway outside the ward, the medical staff deliberately sent over a warm looking head nurse to speak with her. The woman walked up to her, her voice careful and gentle.You saw something disturbing.If you feel unwell anywhere, tell me.Evelyn said nothing.She sat on the bench and turned her head to look at the woman beside her. Seeing her move, the head nurse’s eyes brightened.Good girl, is your head hurting?Evelyn had been about to answer. But when she noticed the hopeful look on the nurse’s face, she chose silence instead.Before this head nurse, three other nurses had already spoken to her.Same hallway. Same bench.No matter what she said, they all assumed she was lying. Then they would return to their colleagues and speak in voices full of pity and concern, saying her condition was serious, that something was wrong mentally.At this moment, the head nurse stood up. With a sympathetic air, she gently patted Evelyn’s hair and straighten
Henry was consumed by remorse. “Xenia…”It was his own failure to judge people.Xenia had been kind her entire life. How could she ever harm a five year old child?He had believed that even the cruelest animals would not hurt their own offspring. Only now did he realize that not every mother loved her child. That woman, just to frame Xenia, had poisoned her own son, forcing Ivor into a full blood replacement and the intensive care unit.And he, in an attempt to compensate Ivor, had chosen to transfer the company shares to the child ahead of time.He had been disastrously wrong.Henry lifted his head, his eyes reddened. “Mrs. Drake… what happened to your parents has nothing to do with Xenia. Please, show mercy and let her go.”Everyone in the circle now knew she was Nicholas Drake’s wife.And Xenia was in her hands.To deal with an unarmed middle aged woman would be effortless for her, easier than crushing an ant.Evelyn said nothing.She took out her phone and calmly opened a photo.I







