I bribed a nurse. I got the doctors' chat logs."

Richard's eyes lit up. "This is our big chance, isn't it?"

Cecilia nodded. "I'll send the evidence to you. You know what to do next, right?"

"Absolutely!"

Richard was overjoyed.

He would make this a huge public scandal.

Even if Alexander tried to cover it up, the court of public opinion would crush him.

Alexander had been dominating him since returning to the country.

His every counterattack had been thwarted by Evelyn.

That woman came from nothing, but she was capable.

If he could make them divorce, and force Alexander to marry that mentally ill woman…

He would lose a powerful ally and gain a burden.

Then, Richard would finally be able to compete with Alexander.

Alexander might even end up without an heir.

As he was thinking this, Cecilia sent over the secretly recorded doctor's chat log.

It had been maliciously edited, completely twisting the original meaning.

Richard smirked and posted it directly online.

…

Eleanor sighed repeatedly, looking at Evelyn with deep guilt. "Granddaughter, I… I…"

She didn't know what to say.

Defending her grandson felt like a betrayal of her granddaughter-in-law.

Evelyn said, "Grandma, you don't need to say anything. I understand. This is between Alexander and me. Please, go rest now."

She escorted the elderly woman back to her room.

As she left, she received a message from James Klein.

[Boss, check out this post. What's going on?]

Evelyn opened it.

It was an edited audio recording of doctors, completely altering the meaning.

It made it seem like Alexander had callously abandoned Sophia because of her illness and gotten together with Evelyn.

The comments were full of vitriol.

Evelyn skimmed a few.

They mostly called Alexander a scumbag and her a homewrecker.

She didn't read further and replied to James.

[Suppress the influence influence (rèdù - heat/hotness) - Assuming this means 'heat' as in 'public attention' or 'trending'. Suppress the trending status.]

James replied quickly.

[It's been suppressed. Thomas handled it. Probably on Alexander's orders. Boss, what's going on with Alexander? Is he still at the hospital with that woman? Is he trying to have his cake and eat it too?]

Evelyn frowned.

She was about to reply when James added her to a group chat.

It included her, James, Thomas Watson, and Alexander Vance.

Evelyn was puzzled.

Then James initiated a video call.

Evelyn answered reluctantly.

Alexander did not join.

Thomas connected.

Before Evelyn could speak, James started ranting.

"Thomas, your boss needs to give my boss an explanation today! Don't think you can smooth this over just because my boss is reasonable! What is he thinking? Why is he at the hospital with that woman? What is she to him?"

Thomas sighed. "Ms. Ross, please don't misunderstand the boss. He feels responsible for Sophia Watson. His true feelings are for you."

James sneered. "True feelings? Then how could he stand by and let my boss be called a mistress? How could he still be at the hospital right now if his feelings are true?"

Thomas said, "Ms. Watson saved the boss's life once. He feels he has no choice."

"How did she save his life? Let's hear it. I want to know just how 'no choice' he really is!"

James Klein's voice was cold and hard.

"If we don't get an explanation today, this isn't over. Does the Vance Group think it can just step on people?"

Thomas Watson sighed.

"That was from when they were kids. The boss didn't go into detail. I pieced it together from things Miss Watson said."

James swore more fiercely.

"Childhood stuff is even more ridiculous! Are you certain that Miss Watson is really his savior? Don't tell me he misidentified her again!"

Thomas shook his head.

"Certain. The token was sold by Miss Watson's mother. But we administered a lie detector test. She was telling the truth."

"Is that Miss Watson really mentally ill?"

"Yes. Experts from here and abroad consulted. She has severe claustrophobia and autism. The boss is her only reason to keep living..."

Thomas looked at them, trying to explain.

"Miss Ross, I know you're angry with the boss right now. But he never intended to marry Miss Watson. It was all her one-sided desire! All these years, he's only been helping her get treatment. But every doctor says her illness is too severe..."

Thomas sighed again.

"I've been watching her all these years. Hoping she'd make a mistake. Just one misstep, and I could convince the boss to let her go. But she never did. The only time she overstepped was impersonating Mrs. Vance at the birthday gala. She later explained she was afraid of causing trouble for the boss. After that, she stayed quietly in the psychiatric hospital..."

James felt frustrated.

"So innocent? Then what? Is Alexander supposed to watch over her every time she tries to kill herself? What's the point of my boss being married then?"

Thomas gave a bitter smile.

"I think that's why the boss chose Miss Ross and gave up on Miss Watson. But she did save his life. Can we really stand by and watch her die?"

James fell silent.

As a man, he understood the weight of responsibility.

If Alexander was cruel to Sophia Watson today, would he do the same to Evelyn Ross tomorrow?

Both men were quiet.

Evelyn lowered her eyes and spoke directly.

"The public opinion surge seems odd. Look into it."

Thomas responded immediately.

"We already did. It was the eldest branch's doing."

"Suppress it. Don't let it escalate."

Thomas nodded.

"Understood."

James scoffed.

"The heat is suppressed, but now someone is live streaming from the hospital!"

After hanging up, Evelyn opened the live stream link James sent.

A reporter had started the stream.

Though blocked by Vance family bodyguards, the hospital room was faintly visible.

Sophia Watson clutched Alexander's hand desperately, refusing to let him leave.

Only after her body could handle a heavy sedative did she finally calm down.

Alexander was finally able to break free.

The reporter couldn't get close for an interview.

He spoke into the camera instead.

"Her only salvation is him. Yet Mr. Vance abandons her cruelly. How is that different from pushing her to her death? How can Mr. Vance be so heartless?"

"This is Gossip Daily. We will continue to follow this story."

Evelyn closed the stream.

Alexander's背影 at Sophia's bedside filled her vision.

That背影 had once been as reliable as a mountain.

Now it seemed on the verge of collapse.

Evelyn suddenly felt a pang of心疼 for him.

Night deepened.

Sophia's condition stabilized. She was no longer in mortal danger.

Alexander finally returned to the Vance estate.

He didn't get out of the car. He sat inside and lit a cigarette.

The doctor's words echoed in his ears.

"Miss Watson's will to live is very weak. If you truly won't accompany her going forward, there's no need for further resuscitation. She will undoubtedly attempt suicide a second time... Even if we monitor her constantly, she is determined to die. She'll refuse food and water. What can we do? She has a hundred ways to end her life. If we are even slightly negligent... Mr. Vance, I'm sorry. I cannot guarantee the patient's safety."

Alexander took a deep drag from his cigarette.

He got out of the car.

The老夫人's courtyard was very quiet.

Alexander quietly entered the bedroom.

As he stepped inside, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the sofa in the dim room.

Alexander was startled. He was about to speak when he heard:

"Let's divorce."

Evelyn's voice was very soft.

...

Meanwhile, the delivery driver finally arrived at No. 76 Sunset Village after six hours on the road.

He grew more apprehensive the further he drove.

Because No. 76 was no ordinary villager's home.

An imposing large-tiled house occupied an entire street!

It was clearly the ancestral home of a wealthy, prominent family.

The driver nervously pulled up to the gate and knocked.

Someone came to answer the door.

The driver asked, "Excuse me, is there someone here called Stubborn Fifth?"

The servant frowned.

"Stubborn Fifth? Never heard of him! Go away, go away!"

This was the老板's mail. He had promised to deliver it.

The driver refused to leave. He shouted inside, "Stubborn Fifth! Stubborn Fifth! You have a delivery!"

Elder Howard Vance, who had just entered the courtyard, heard the commotion.

Puzzled, he walked over and asked with a frown, "Whose delivery?"

The servant said, "This delivery driver says it's for Stubborn Fifth. We don't have anyone by that name! I told him it's a mistake, but he won't leave!"

As soon as the servant finished, Elder Howard's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Who did you say?"

"Stubborn Fifth!"

Elder Howard immediately became excited.

He stepped forward to the delivery driver. "Yes, yes! We have that person here!"

Thatguy Alexander, after being rescued and returning home, used to run to the gate every day waiting for letters.

Later, when he went abroad, he repeatedly told him.

If any letters arrived, he must be told.

Even after going abroad, he would call every so often asking if any mail had come...

It's just been these last five years he stopped calling.

He took the mail and said to the driver, "Make another trip. Deliver this mail to Alexander personally!"

Remembering Alexander's repeated words from years ago, he added, "You must place it directly into his hands!"

The delivery driver beside him, thinking of his promise to the老板 to deliver the letter directly to the recipient, immediately said, "I'll go with you!"