Stubborn Fifth!

Alexander Vance strode quickly toward the car door.

He stared down at his phone screen.

A live stream was playing, showing the scene outside the Ross family home.

Sophia Watson's mother had backed Evelyn Ross into a corner!

Alexander was frantic with worry.

He didn't even hear the driver from the Vance family estate, starting the car immediately.

Reporters were swarming Evelyn.

"Mrs. Vance, her mother is begging you like this. Do you really have no reaction at all?"

"A life is at stake. How can you be so cold?"

"Are you and Mr. Vance really going to stand by and let Miss Watson die?"

"Since he promised to marry her, why did Mr. Vance go back on his word? Was it because you interfered? Mrs. Vance, don't you feel any guilt? Aren't you afraid in the dead of night?"

The reporters' questions grew increasingly harsh.

Live stream comments scrolled wildly:

—Oh my god! A mistress taking the wife's place?

—A promise is a promise. Abandoning her when she's sick is just evil!

—This is pure betrayal!

—If Miss Watson knew how the person she saved would treat her, would she have even bothered?

—A real-life version of the farmer and the snake!

—The worst part is this Mrs. Vance. Not saying a word. Playing dead?

…

Alexander slammed his foot on the accelerator.

He knew Evelyn was strong, but these comments still enraged him.

He ran red lights, speeding down the road.

He would personally clear Evelyn's name!

As he turned a corner, Evelyn's cool voice came through the live stream.

"Since everyone is so concerned with our private affairs, I'll make things clear today."

Alexander frowned deeply.

Evelyn never liked to explain herself. She must have been pushed to her limit.

"Did any of you play house when you were children?"

The reporters were taken aback. One answered, "Yes."

"Did you tell a girl you would marry her when you grew up? Did you actually follow through?"

The reporters fell silent.

A reporter arranged by the main branch quickly retorted, "It's not the same! Miss Watson saved Mr. Vance's life!"

Evelyn looked at the person. "So she developed depression because she saved Mr. Vance?"

The reporter was speechless.

Evelyn lowered her gaze calmly. "Five years ago, when Mr. Vance found Sophia Watson, she was being beaten by her parents. They were about to sell her to an old man as a wife. Mrs. Watson, you didn't love your daughter so much back then."

Mrs. Watson's face changed. She cried out, "I just wanted her to get married! I didn't want her dead!"

"Do you know how her illness started?"

Evelyn scanned the crowd. "You only care about whether Mr. Vance abandoned her. But have you considered the cause? Her parents' abuse drove her to despair! Mr. Vance was merely her medicine! Since when do we blame the medicine for a death, instead of the actual perpetrator?"

The reporters fell silent again.

Evelyn took a step forward. "Sophia Watson developed severe depression five years ago. If she had been married off, she would either be living in a daze or would have taken her own life long ago! She wouldn't be as she is now, rationally stating that she'll die without Mr. Vance!"

Both the reporters and the live chat went quiet.

Evelyn continued. "Over the years, Sophia received treatment both domestically and abroad at great expense. Mr. Vance built a psychiatric hospital for her here. He has been at her beck and call for five years… Can any of you claim you would do the same?"

"Now her condition has worsened, and she's threatening to jump. And you blame the medicine for not being administered in time? Why not ask the actual perpetrators why they hurt her?"

Evelyn turned sharply to Mrs. Watson. "You claim you want what's best for your daughter. Are you even fit to be a mother?"

Mrs. Watson swallowed hard. "I don't care! My daughter is dying because of Mr. Vance! You say I abused her? Where's your proof?"

Evelyn gave a cold laugh. "Everyone on the street knows you abused your child. Ask any elderly neighbor. The police can gather the evidence."

"But you've reminded me. I'm calling the police right now to report you for abusing Sophia Watson to the point of mental illness!"

Evelyn immediately took out her phone and called the police.

Grace Lorenz arrived quickly, filed a report, and took Mrs. Watson away.

Thinking of the money promised by the main branch, Mrs. Watson struggled and shouted, "Mrs. Vance! Are you really going to abandon my daughter? You have to see a rescue through to the end! She saved his life! How can he shift his affections to someone else! You homewrecker!"

The reporters pressed again. "Mrs. Vance, everything you said makes sense. But the medicine can't be stopped now. What are you and Mr. Vance going to do?"

Evelyn looked directly into the camera, her gaze resolute.

Driving, Alexander suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. He pulled the car over sharply.

After the screeching halt, he heard Evelyn's cool voice.

"Since everyone is here, I'll make a clarification. I am not a mistress. Mr. Vance and I fell in love freely. He never had a romantic relationship with Sophia Watson. He only wanted to help her get treatment. As for the medicine issue…"

Evelyn stared straight into the lens, her peach-blossom eyes filled with determination.

"Don't worry. The medicine won't stop, because Mr. Vance has chosen to divorce me."

Alexander's heart clenched violently. He could barely breathe.

She said it…

She said it in front of all the reporters.

Alexander punched the steering wheel.

She had preserved his reputation. Made everyone think he was a good man…

But he never wanted to be the good man!

Alexander watched as the reporters left, satisfied. The comments began praising them…

The live stream ended. He received her text: [City Hall, 2 PM. Bring all your documents this time.]

Alexander stared at the message, his eyes red. Finally, he replied: [Okay.]

He didn't remember driving home.

As he parked, the driver from the Vance estate was waiting. "Mr. Vance, why didn't you let me finish?"

The driver wiped his sweat and sighed. "That package… The old master said I must tell you. It's the package you've been waiting for most. The one you've been anticipating. It was sent to Stubborn Fifth!"

Stubborn Fifth…

Alexander's head snapped up. "You said… who?"