Your Package Has Arrived!
The call connected and was immediately hung up.
A message popped up on the screen: [Don't call. The child just fell asleep.]
Evelyn froze.
A child?
She hadn't anticipated this at all.
She had assumed the schemer was a mastermind, but they had a child with them?
An image of a flustered mother instantly formed in her mind...
She replied: [Who are you?]
The response was immediate: [Evelyn, I'm doing this for your own good. You must not get a divorce! Only Alexander Vance can protect you!]
Evelyn frowned.
Protect?
Over the years in San Francisco, despite Linda Lowell's attempts to suppress her, she was far from needing protection.
She looked down and typed: [I don't need protection.]
The reply came urgently: [Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet. Evelyn, trust me. I would never harm you! My intentions are only good!]
Good intentions...
Evelyn pondered for a moment.
Marrying Alexander was with Eleanor Vance's consent and hadn't caused any losses.
For an ordinary person, marrying into a top-tier family like the Vances would indeed be considered incredibly fortunate.
She pressed again: [Tell me who you are.]
The response: [I can't.]
Evelyn applied more pressure: [Then how did you know I'm Sophia Ashcroft's daughter? If you knew, why didn't you tell me sooner?]
Years ago, this person had photoshopped images to inform Eleanor, ensuring she remembered those words.
But how did they know something even she herself wasn't aware of?
The reply came: [The later you know, the safer you are.]
Evelyn: ?
She was utterly confused, finding it absurd.
She replied directly: [Without a reasonable explanation, I will get divorced tomorrow.]
The response: [What will it take for you to believe me?]
Evelyn: "..." They were the one who orchestrated her marriage without consent, yet now they sounded more wronged and innocent than her!
She felt like the villain here!
Evelyn continued her questioning: [How did you obtain the marriage certificate for me that day?]
On the date of the marriage certificate, she was in the lab and couldn't possibly have gone to City Hall.
Moreover, she later had that extensive conversation with Eleanor...
The person who obtained the certificate couldn't possibly have been her!
But what about the photo?
Could modern makeup really be that convincing?
The more Evelyn thought, the more perplexed she became.
Another message arrived: [It's too complicated to explain via text. But please, you must believe me. I would never harm you!]
That eerie feeling again.
The words "please" indicated the other person's composure had shattered.
Evelyn seized the opportunity to press further: [I didn't have the marriage certificate today, but Alexander and I have an appointment at City Hall for divorce tomorrow.]
The response: [Why won't you believe me? Someone like me would never harm anyone... Evelyn, you must not get divorced. You absolutely must not!]
Evelyn stared at her phone. [I won't believe you without a clear explanation.]
The other side fell silent, seemingly struggling.
Five minutes later, a reply finally came: [I will come to see you tomorrow morning. Once you see me, you will understand!]
Evelyn frowned.
Tomorrow morning...
They were anxious but unwilling to come overnight, which meant they weren't in San Francisco?
After a moment's thought, she replied: [What time? I have plans at noon.]
She had that farewell lunch with the handsome older man.
The reply was immediate: [I'll be there by 11. I'll contact you then. Please don't go for the divorce in the morning! You must wait for me!]
Evelyn replied: [Okay.]
She put down her phone but felt wide awake.
Standing on the balcony, gazing into the distance, she felt a truth was approaching... Tomorrow might unravel the mystery of the marriage certificate, but what lay behind it all?
A faint sound came from behind.
Turning, she saw Sophia getting up, holding a shawl, and walking over to gently drape it over her shoulders.
Warmth instantly enveloped her, even her heart feeling slightly warmer.
Evelyn's expression softened. "Mom, why are you still up?"
"First time sharing a bed with my daughter, feeling a bit excited." Sophia looked at her. "Evelyn, do you really want to go through with this divorce?"
Evelyn was silent for a moment. "No, I don't."
Sophia hadn't expected such a direct answer. She stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Evelyn's shoulders, and gently rested Evelyn's head against her own shoulder.
She patted Evelyn's back softly, her voice gentle. "Evelyn, love has its sweetness and its bitterness. It's okay to cry if you want to. Mom won't laugh at you."
Evelyn's nose tingled with emotion.
Feelings she had suppressed for so long surged from her chest, impossible to hold back any longer.
She was slightly startled, wanting to say something, but a sob escaped instead.
Large teardrops rolled down.
She didn't know if they were for the love that had ended before it began or for the grievances of the past twenty-two years...
She didn't notice the black Bentley parked on the street outside the courtyard.
Alexander sat silently in the back seat.
The driver didn't dare to breathe too loudly.
Mr. Vance's mood was clearly off today. He had handled a week's worth of work at the company.
He hadn't gone home in the afternoon to deal with international affairs but had stayed at Vance Group.
After work, he hadn't returned to the Vance estate but had come here.
Yet he just sat there silently, staring at the Ashcroft residence...
Just as the driver was about to suffocate, Alexander finally spoke. "Let's go home."
The driver breathed a sigh of relief.
Starting the car, he stole a glance at Alexander through the rearview mirror and saw his boss with his eyes closed, resting.
For some reason, the usually formidable boss now evoked a faint sense of pity...
The car drove back to the Vance estate.
After getting out, Alexander walked silently towards Eleanor's courtyard.
As he approached, he saw the Vance family driver squatting by the door, chin in hand, looking bored.
Seeing Alexander, he jumped up abruptly. "Mr. Vance, you're finally back! There's a package for you, delivered to the main house!"