Chapter 4

The matriarch lived in a separate villa in the back garden. When she saw Eve, her face lit up.

"My dear, you're finally here! Come, let me look at you. Why do you look so haggard? Has Silas been picking on you?"

The family matriarch, Eleanor Covington, was in poor health and usually stayed at a sanatorium, but she returned to the estate once a week, and Eve was always there to look after her. The old lady adored her more than she liked her own granddaughter, Xigi. She was the only person in the family whose treatment of Eve hadn't changed after the scandal.

Silas followed them in, sounding mock-jealous. "Grandmother, you really do prefer her over your own grandson, don’t you? Besides, who would dare bully her? Eve is expecting—we're all going to spoil her rotten!"

The old lady's eyes widened in delight. "What? Eve, is it true?"

Eve knew there was no hiding it anymore. She nodded awkwardly. "Yes, Grandmother."

Excited, the old lady immediately told Mrs. Hadley, "Go to my safe and bring out the family heirloom!"

Julianne, who had just arrived, nearly screamed in rage. She hadn't even been given the Covington heirloom bracelet after years of marriage, and now it was being handed to Eve?

Xigi stood beside her mother, her eyes filling with indignant tears. "Mom, is she actually giving it to her? She never gave it to you, and you've run this house for years! I don't know what's gotten into Grandma!"

Julianne's face went from pale to a flushed, trembling anger. "Oh, because of that girl... she gets pregnant, and suddenly your brother is snapping at us, and your grandmother is giving away the family jewels? If she actually gives birth to the Covington heir, there won't be any room left for us, will there?"

A look of pure malice crossed Julianne's face. "That child can never be born."

Xigi felt a chill at her mother's tone, but her hatred for Eve was just as deep. Across the room, Eve felt a sudden shiver run down her spine. She glanced toward the shadows and saw two figures quickly retreating.

Dinner was a chore. Silas's father didn't make it home, so the old lady was the only one celebrating.

When they finally got into the car to leave, Eve immediately took off the bracelet. Silas's brow furrowed.

"What are you doing? Do you look down on that bracelet?"

The Covingtons had only been wealthy for three generations, so the jade wasn't actually top-tier; it was only valuable because of its history. But Eve had grown up surrounded by the best of everything as a St. Claire, so Silas assumed she was being a snob.

In a fit of rage, he slammed his hand against the back of her seat. "Don't push it, Eve! Don't forget, when the St. Claires threw you out, this family kept you! What right do you have to turn your nose up at that gift?"

The darkness in his eyes was predatory. He had always played the part of the gentle husband, but was he finally showing his true colors? Did he think she was trapped now that she was pregnant?

Eve fought back the bile and forced a look of hurt onto her face, her eyes welling with tears as she carefully wrapped the bracelet in a silk handkerchief.

"Is that really what you think of me? I just think something this important would be a tragedy to scratch. I'm so honored by the gift, Silas. I just thought it would be safer in our safe at home. When the heir is actually born, then his mother will truly be worthy of wearing it, right?"

She looked deeply at him, playing the part of the wronged wife perfectly. Silas's expression softened. He tugged at his collar and nodded.

"You're right... only the true mother of the heir should wear it."

He's thinking of Melody right now, isn't he? Eve thought, sneering inwardly.

Too bad for them—their little plan was already ruined. She would wait for the perfect moment to shatter their dream right in front of them.

The coldness in her gaze made Silas feel uneasy. "Fine, I shouldn't have snapped at you, but you were wrong, too. I'll let the thing with my mother slide this time, but don't let it happen again, okay?"

He reached out and patted her cheek as a half-hearted peace offering before letting her out of the car. He claimed he had to head back to the office and sent her home with the estate driver. The second his car was out of sight, Eve pulled out a tissue and scrubbed her cheek where he had touched her. She rubbed until her skin was red and stinging, then threw the tissue on the ground in disgust.

Back at home, Eve didn't put the bracelet in the safe. Instead, she dialed a number she hadn't called in years.

"Hey," she said when the line picked up. "It's been a while. I have a design for a set of jade ornaments. I was wondering if you could help me make them?"

"No way!" Walter sounded ecstatic on the other end. "Eve, is that really you? Oh my God, you're the legendary Vivian! If you're coming out of retirement, of course I'll help! But are you serious? Are you really coming back?"