The Meeting!

Evelyn Ross didn't care about the five million dollars.

The debt Leo Lowell owed was a trap set by her own people.

The money would just circle back into her pocket eventually.

Leo lowered his voice.

"Transfer the money now."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

"Tell me the secret first."

"No. Money first!"

"…"

Evelyn knew her uncle's nature all too well.

A secret he dared to price at five million from Isabella Ashcroft was definitely worth far more.

She still remembered the incident with the two hundred thousand dollar deposit.

If she paid first, Leo would never tell her the truth honestly.

Evelyn scoffed.

"Forget it if you don't want to sell."

She waited quietly.

Sure enough, Leo panicked.

"I'll sell! I'll sell! Evelyn, come save me! The debt collectors are going to kill me! I'm hiding in the suburbs, too scared to show my face!"

Evelyn looked down.

"Didn't you ask Isabella?"

"Of course I did!" Leo's voice was full of resentment.

"She said she can't come up with that much money! The Ashcroft family has billions in assets. She can't get five million? She's clearly climbed to a higher branch, doesn't care about the Ashcrofts anymore, is letting things slide, isn't afraid I'll reveal the truth, that's why she won't help me!"

Leo's tone turned pleading.

"Dear niece, come save me. You won't regret it! This secret is worth ten million!"

Evelyn's voice was flat, feigning disinterest.

"You say it's worth that much? I need to weigh its value first."

The less she cared, the more panicked Leo became, and the more information he revealed.

Evelyn was playing psychological games with him.

Hounded by debt collectors for days, Leo was on the verge of a breakdown, his nerves stretched to the limit.

He immediately cried out, "It's worth it, absolutely worth it! This concerns you and the Ashcroft family!"

"What connection could I possibly have with the Ashcroft family?"

Evelyn continued fishing for information.

But Leo slammed on the brakes.

"I can't say any more unless you pay!"

Evelyn understood.

Leo, a street-smart hustler, wouldn't reveal more.

She asked, "Where are you?"

"I'll send you my location on WhatsApp. Bring the money."

"Fine."

The call ended.

Leo sent his location via WhatsApp.

Evelyn walked out of the villa area and stood by the roadside.

She touched her swollen cheek, about to call a ride on her phone, when the familiar black Bentley pulled up in front of her.

The rear door slowly opened.

Alexander Vance was on an international video call with his laptop.

The man was speaking in French, his deep voice exceptionally pleasant.

He glanced sideways at Evelyn, and his gaze abruptly fixed on her cheek.

His words halted.

His voice turned cold as he switched to say, "J'ai quelque chose, continuez." (I have something to attend to, continue.)

He took off his headset, closed his laptop, and gestured for her to get in.

Then he opened the car fridge, took out an ice pack wrapped in a towel, and handed it to her.

"Put this on it first."

"…"

Evelyn stared at him, puzzled.

"Why do you have these in the car?"

Alexander's gaze was indifferent, his tone casual.

"Thomas gets injured often. We always keep some on hand."

Thomas, who was driving: ??

As the boss's personal assistant, he didn't recall getting injured often!

Clearly, after Miss Ross arrived, the boss, worried, had followed her out.

During his meeting, he kept looking outside, ran into Ryan Roland, heard Miss Ross had been hit, and immediately sent him to the supermarket to buy these.

But he didn't dare expose the truth.

Evelyn understood.

"I see."

She got in, took the towel, and pressed it against her face.

The burning sensation immediately subsided, and her mind cleared a little.

But her eyes swept over a supermarket receipt.

Though just a glimpse, she saw it was purchased recently.

For some reason, the suppressed grievance suddenly surged up again, her nose tingling with酸楚.

Evelyn remembered when she was little, her deskmate got hurt at school.

He was tough when teachers and classmates asked, but after school, seeing his mom waiting at the gate, even though the injury didn't hurt anymore, he cried his eyes out.

She never understood it then.

But at this moment, she suddenly understood that feeling.

…So pathetic. Regressing as she got older.

Evelyn turned her head, pressing the towel harder against her cheek, her eyes aching intensely.

She tried hard to control it, but the deeply buried grievance, fermented over the years, surged up with intense emotion, impossible to suppress.

She took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Mr. Vance, can I borrow your shoulder for a moment?"

Alexander's body stiffened, his face instantly paling.

Evelyn realized her abruptness and was about to retract her words when she saw the man cough lightly, lean closer to her, pat his shoulder, and say, "Only five minutes."

"…Okay."

Evelyn buried her head in the crook of his shoulder, and the tears finally broke through.

She never knew one person could cry so many tears.

Since she was old enough to understand, she had never cried like this.

Because she knew when others cried, someone would care.

She had no one.

Five minutes later, looking at the large damp patch on the man's suit, Evelyn felt embarrassed.

Just as she was unsure how to apologize, Alexander handed her a tube of anti-swelling ointment and a box of blood-activating capsules.

Evelyn: "…"

Such a minor injury really didn't require this.

Not wanting to ruin the moment, she silently took them and said softly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Quiet returned to the car.

Evelyn sat up straight.

After crying, most of her emotions were vented, and her mood gradually calmed.

Only then did she notice the car was heading to the hospital.

Remembering her task, she quickly took out her phone.

"Can we go here first instead?"

"Okay."

The car changed direction, soon heading toward the suburbs.

It was an abandoned hospital.

The night was deep, the streetlights dim, making the dilapidated building appear especially desolate.

Evelyn took out her phone and sent a WhatsApp message to Leo: [I'm here. Where are you?]

Leo replied quickly: [Room 303. Hurry.]

Evelyn went straight to the third floor.

Alexander's jaw was tight, following closely behind her, uneasy.

They soon reached 303.

Evelyn knocked on the door.

"Uncle, it's me."

Leo's voice came from inside.

"Come in."