As Eleanor Vance’s voice faded, the courtyard fell into complete silence.
All eyes were fixed on Alexander Vance.
Evelyn Ross noticed his thin lips pressing together and quickly intervened. “Grandmother, I’m feeling a bit cold. Shall we go inside?”
Eleanor immediately became concerned. “My dear, are you cold? Let’s go in right away. You mustn’t catch a chill while trying to conceive…”
She took Evelyn’s hand and led her toward the house. “This is your home now,” she said firmly. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ll stay here from now on.”
Evelyn sighed and rubbed her temples.
She glanced back discreetly at Alexander.
Their situation was complicated, with their marriage entangled in too many interests.
Besides, they hadn’t openly addressed their relationship yet. They had to be cautious.
Margaret Evans couldn’t hold back. “Alexander, your grandmother is confused. This girl has tricked her! She has no morals and doesn’t belong in the Vance family. Don’t you make the same mistake!”
Alexander didn’t explain. His tone was cold. “Sister-in-law, you have no say in how Grandmother runs her household. And one more thing—”
He scanned the security team, his voice icy. “You dared to lay hands on my guest in Grandmother’s courtyard. Don’t bother coming back tomorrow.”
With that, he strode into Eleanor Vance’s residence.
The beaten security guards began to protest. “Mr. Vance, Mrs. Evans told us to do it! We’re innocent!”
Thomas Watson arrived promptly and stepped forward with a smile. “Innocent? You can’t even tell who the real master of this house is. Get out now, or I’ll make sure you never work in San Francisco again.”
The guards fell silent and slunk away.
Thomas surveyed the remaining onlookers, his expression warning. “The show’s over. Remember your employment contracts. Know what to say and what not to say.”
The servants quickly lowered their heads and dispersed.
In moments, only Margaret, Isabella, and Julian remained in the courtyard.
Margaret spat toward the doorway in frustration. She turned to Isabella, annoyed. “You spoke up without knowing the full story! I thought we could really drive that little tramp out!”
Isabella hung her head meekly. “Mother-in-law, I was wrong.”
Margaret took a deep breath. She noticed Julian’s distracted gaze and grew even angrier. She glared at Isabella. “I don’t care what tricks that woman used to enchant the old lady and those two men. Isabella, you must find a way to get rid of her! Otherwise, forget about having any authority in this household!”
She stormed off.
Isabella stood alone, thinking about how Evelyn was protected by both Eleanor and Alexander. She looked at Julian, who was still staring dreamily toward the house, and felt a tightness in her chest.
She lowered her head. “Julian, I forgot some of my personal things. I’m going home to get them.”
“Okay,” Julian replied absently.
Isabella returned to the Ashcroft residence in a fury.
If she couldn’t drive Evelyn away, someone else could—someone Evelyn would listen to.
She walked into the living room with a worried expression. William and Sophia Ashcroft were watching TV. William looked surprised. “Didn’t you move into the Vance residence? Why are you back?”
Sophia remained cold, still upset about Isabella’s insistence on marrying into the Vance family.
Isabella spoke softly to William. “I came back to get some clothes. I also wanted to mention that Evelyn… isn’t doing well at the Vances’.”
William didn’t respond.
But Sophia looked over. “What’s wrong with Evelyn?”
Isabella sighed. “She’s been acting very familiar with Mr. Vance. There’s been a lot of gossip in the household.”
Sophia frowned immediately. “Evelyn is staying at the Vances’ to care for Mrs. Vance. Why is there so much idle talk? I trust her character. Don’t mention this to me again!”
Isabella had expected this.
She seethed inwardly. Sophia had never trusted her this much!
Fortunately, she had come prepared…
Isabella lowered her head. “I thought so too, but today everyone at the Vances’ was talking about a photo. It’s an intimate picture of Evelyn and Mr. Vance…”
She took out her phone and showed the photo to Sophia.
Sophia frowned at first, thinking it was staged. But as she looked closer, her pupils contracted sharply.
William exploded beside her. “…Shameless! How could I have such a disgraceful daughter! She’s married and still fooling around with Mr. Vance?”
Isabella’s voice trembled. “Because of her, my mother-in-law now thinks I’m the same kind of person. She’s pressuring me to drive Evelyn out of the Vance household… But Evelyn won’t listen to me. Today, she openly defied Mrs. Evans at the Vances’, saying even if Mrs. Vance herself tried to kick her out, she wouldn’t leave… She also said… also said…”
William frowned. “Said what? Spit it out!”
“She said her mother lived with our family for years, and Mrs. Vance should learn from you, Mother, to be more tolerant. That it’s normal for men to have multiple women… Father, Mother, with her causing such a scene, how can I hold my head up in the Vance family?”
Sophia spoke sharply. “Impossible! She would never say those things!”
Isabella bit her lip.
William was furious. “How is it impossible? Sophia, you’re too trusting! It’s a fact that she’s living at the Vances’! It’s a fact that she’s being inappropriate with Mr. Vance! No wonder Mr. Vance helped arrange a hospital bed for her last time and has been looking out for her ever since. They’ve been involved all along! Only someone as kind-hearted as you would believe she hasn’t changed!”
Sophia stared at him in disbelief.
Whenever Evelyn was mentioned, William’s attitude felt foreign to her.
Why did he always assume the worst about his own daughter?
She suddenly remembered yesterday, when Evelyn said she wasn’t William’s daughter… She had fainted afterward, but she had heard those words clearly.
She had thought it was just anger talking at the time.
But seeing how William treated Evelyn…
Sophia spoke suddenly. “William, is Evelyn really your daughter?”
William froze, his expression shifting slightly.
Sophia didn’t miss the subtle change. She frowned. “Is it true? Is Evelyn not your daughter?!”