Chapter 8

Harold ran downstairs, glaring at Beverly. "I won't let you do that! Daddy, this is the house you designed yourself! My toys, my slide, my pool, and the swing that Cindy built for me in the backyard… I like everything about this house, and I don't want Mom to ruin it!"

Beverly looked at him emotionlessly, making him duck behind Evan a little fearfully. As far as he remembered, she'd always looked at him gently and lovingly. She'd never fixed him with such a cold gaze.

He couldn't help feeling diffident. Could it be that Beverly had found out that he was secretly meeting Cindy after class that day?

He shrank back and whispered to Evan, "Daddy, talk to Mom."

Evan smiled gently and rubbed Harold's head. "Look at how your mother marked the calendar for your birthday. She's smashing everything so we can renovate for the celebration. Besides, someone new will be joining our family soon. It's high time we changed the layout of the villa. That's your plan, right, honey?"

Beverly gave a noncommittal hum.

Harold looked at her doubtfully. Then, after a while, he approached her and wrapped his arms around her neck, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I misunderstood you, Mom. I knew you loved me the most."

The night before, Evan had told him off for giving away Beverly's wedding band, which she treasured more than anything. Evan said it was a symbol of their love, and it was just as important as Harold himself was. That was why she'd been mad at Harold and had refused to sleep with him.

Harold had intended to apologize that morning, but it seemed he didn't need to worry about Beverly ignoring him at all. She loved him beyond everything else, and she would forgive him, no matter how big a mistake he made. Even if she were mad, she would get over it soon enough. He didn't need to apologize at all.

Beverly looked at Harold's face, which lit up with his innocent smile. Her heart softened, and she hugged him. However, he broke free almost immediately and circled to the other side of the table to have breakfast. Beverly's arms stiffened in midair.

"I have a question, honey. Why do you want to smash your favorite car?" Evan crouched before Beverly and held her hand. He couldn't help feeling startled when he realized how cold it was.

She looked into his tender eyes as the memories of what she'd witnessed the night before flashed in her mind. Her eyes reddened, and she said, "I don't like it anymore, but I don't want it to end up on the market."

He looked at her dotingly. "Alright. I won't let anyone taint your things, even if you no longer like them."

"Where will we stay, then?" Harold asked through a mouthful of sandwich.

"We'll move back to Gray Manor. That way, we can spend time with your grandmother too."

Evan's words ruined Beverly's plan to move to an apartment near the company. In the past, she'd loved being with Heather, so she knew Evan would suspect something was up if she refused to move to Gray Manor.

"Yay!" Harold danced with joy. He figured Beverly wouldn't dare to lecture him if he had Heather on his side. The latter would even give him ice creams and lollipops.

Evan got up and left the room, heading to the backyard. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Beverly saw him rest a hand on the swing in the backyard, gently stroking the flowers entwined around the ropes.

Cindy had built that swing. A wave of nausea crashed over Beverly, and she averted her gaze.

She put down her cutlery and got up. "I'm going to work."

Alfred followed her while wheeling her suitcase. After leaving out everything that had to do with Evan and Harold, one suitcase was enough to hold her things.

She thought about how she'd constantly placed herself last to accommodate them. She found herself laughable.

In the backyard, Evan watched as Beverly left. He narrowed his unfathomable eyes slightly, noticing how much weight she'd lost.

He said into the phone, "Something must've been bothering her for the past few days. She won't talk to me, but she'll talk to Camelia. Tell Camelia to ask her what's going on."

Calvin sounded apprehensive on the other end of the line. "Evan… do you think Beverly knows about you and Cindy?"

"That's impossible!" Evan said firmly.

"Uh, right. Impossible." Calvin went along with it and added, "I'm sure Beverly wouldn't be so calm and quiet if she knew. She would've demanded a divorce and tried to leave you."

Evan's heart twinged at the mention of Beverly leaving him. Seeing her get into the car, he hung up and quickly strode after her. She rarely went to work without waiting for him.

Unfortunately, the car door shut before his very eyes, and she didn't spare him a glance as she focused on the road ahead of her. He could only stand there and watch as she sped off.

He returned to the dining room, where he saw that Beverly had left her food untouched. He asked, "Didn't she eat at all?"

A maid answered, "She didn't. Mrs. Gray looked like she wasn't in the best of spirits; she probably didn't have an appetite."

That was odd. Even if Beverly didn't have an appetite, she would still take a few bites of whatever Evan had prepared. Then, she would compliment his cooking and kiss him to comfort him.

Evan frowned as he remembered the suspicion Calvin had brought up over the phone.

…

Beverly was a consultant in Gray Corporation's IT department and occasionally gave the manager suggestions. Sometimes, when there were attacks from hackers or if some of the employees made errors in their work, she would secretly assist them. No one was aware, though.

Her résumé indicated that she'd furthered her education abroad for two years. In truth, she'd spent those two years working for James. She'd later left the organization and given up her career so she could marry Evan.

When leaving, she'd promised James that she wouldn't let anyone know about her true identity and capabilities. And so, to her colleagues, she was just someone with connections who had no proper skills but couldn't be offended.

That was why the IT manager didn't dare say anything when she handed in her resignation. He wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, "Mrs. Gray, is this because we've done something wrong?"

"No, I'm the one with the problem. It has nothing to do with you," Beverly said calmly.

"Should I bring this up with Mr. Gray so that he can approve it?" the manager asked.

In truth, the question was pointless. He figured Evan had to be aware of Beverly's resignation. Anyway, Evan hung on Beverly's every word. He wouldn't object to her resignation, even if he didn't want it to happen.

Beverly said, "That's not necessary."

"I'll pass this to HR for them to file it in, then."

Beverly nodded. She left the manager's office and returned to her own.

Shortly after, Camelia arrived. The Shaw and Gray families went back a long way, and Camelia and Evan were childhood friends who'd grown up together.

When Beverly had first gone to the Gray family, she and Camelia had quickly become friends. Whenever Evan upset her, Camelia would even stand up for her. Aside from Evan, Camelia was the one she trusted the most.

"Bev, Calvin betrayed me! He hooked up with Cindy Beech, the bitch!" Camelia threw herself into Beverly's arms as soon as she entered the office. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears, which made Beverly's heart clench painfully.

Despite years of knowing Camelia, Beverly had only seen her cry once, and that had been at her wedding. This was the second time.

"That's not what happened, Cammy. Calvin didn't betray you." Beverly felt even worse when she thought about what had happened the day before.

"Don't try to cover up for him. The rumors have spread throughout our social circle!" Rage tinged Camelia's voice. "I'm calling off our engagement!"

Beverly knew Camelia adored Calvin and was determined to marry him. He, too, loved and cared for her deeply. Even if she were mad at Calvin for helping Evan cover up his affair, she couldn't sit by and watch as Calvin and Camelia's engagement was ruined because of her problems.

Beverly didn't want Camelia to also experience the torment of being hurt and betrayed by the person she loved. They were best friends, and she believed Camelia wouldn't tell anyone else the truth.

She said, "Cammy, Cindy isn't Calvin's mistress. She's Evan's. He betrayed me!"

At that moment, her office door swung open. Evan had arrived.