“The engagement dresses obviously need to match. If I choose mine and Conrad doesn’t choose his, our outfits won’t look good together. Plus, they need to be tailored.”
“Mr. Conrad says it’s up to you to decide, but he doesn’t have much time. He’s confident that he’ll look good in anything, so, Miss Daisy, you can pick whatever you like.” Ford’s tone was robotic, completely devoid of any inflection.
Daisy hung up disappointed, staring at the dresses lining the walls. She suddenly lost interest.
“Irene, I just have this feeling something’s going to happen.”
“No way, Miss. You’re overthinking it. The invitations are already being sent out. You’re about to become Mrs. Conrad. How could anything go wrong now?”
Daisy said, “That bodyguard…”
Irene smiled faintly. “Miss, you must be tired. There’s no bodyguard, nothing like that at all.”
******
Evelyn had the phone call abruptly ended by Hunter, and it left her feeling miserable, especially since she had once been so eager to hear any news about Conrad. Now, that news felt like a death sentence.
As soon as she received the doctor’s notice about her nutritional meals, Evelyn nearly lost her mind. It felt like everyone in the world was against her, and nothing ever seemed to go right.
Just then, Booth called, and Evelyn quickly picked up the phone.
Booth patiently asked, “How are you feeling lately? I’ve contacted a doctor who’s really good with surgeries. Let’s get rid of the child sooner rather than later. Set your terms.”
Evelyn nearly failed to hide her expression. But Booth was now her only ally. She couldn’t afford to completely alienate him.
“You want me to get rid of the child? Fine, but you need to find Lillian for me. I want to see her.”
“No way! Don’t even think about it! Why do you want to see Lillian?!” Booth responded with caution. “Don’t go crazy now, Lillian is not someone you can just approach! Didn’t the last lesson teach you anything?”
Evelyn pursed her lips, stubbornly saying, “I just want to meet her, I’m not going to do anything. What are you so afraid of?”
Booth refused to agree.
Evelyn quickly shifted the topic, “Fine, I won’t bring up Lillian, I don’t want to tarnish your dream girl in your mind. But do you know someone named Chloe?”
Booth paused, confused. “You know Chloe? My uncle even let you meet her?”
He was pretty sure Lillian hadn’t even met Chloe, had she?
The only time he’d seen Chloe was when he was a child, back at the Brown family estate.
Evelyn smirked. “I met her once before, and I felt a connection. I want to meet her again. I promised to buy her a gift. I’m pregnant, and you’re turning your back on me? I can’t even see Chloe?”
“Why do you want to meet her? I don’t even have any connections with her.”
“I’m about to lose my own child, and you won’t let me see someone else’s? Booth, don’t go too far.”
Booth fell silent for a moment, then thought it over. “I’ll see what I can do, but Chloe’s identity is complicated. My uncle wouldn’t let me meet her for no reason.”
“Complicated? How complicated? Is she… your uncle’s daughter?”
Booth sighed in exasperation. “My uncle’s too young to have a daughter that old. Chloe’s father saved my uncle’s life, and my uncle treats her like family.”
So that’s how it was. Was Conrad repaying someone for saving his life by using someone else’s eyes?
Even though Evelyn knew how terrible and despicable Conrad was, she still couldn’t let go of him. It frustrated her to no end.
How could someone as great as Conrad not love her?
Evelyn said, “Then I really should thank her, Booth. This is my one wish-please help me. If you take me to meet her, I’ll get rid of the baby in my belly. You’d be helping me fulfill something.”
“… Why do you have to meet her?”
“Do you want me to get rid of the baby in my belly or not?”
Booth thought it over, knowing that Evelyn couldn’t cause too much trouble. “Alright, I’ll ask around. But you better not cause any trouble.”
“Okay.”
Finding Chloe wasn’t difficult. Although she was being protected and raised outside the family, she visited the Brown family estate twice a month-on the first and fifteenth-to chat with Old Mrs. Brown.
Old Mrs. Brown was quite fond of her and always felt that the house was livelier with a child around.
Booth found out when Chloe would be coming and arranged for someone to pick up Evelyn. He cautioned her repeatedly, “I’ll bring Chloe over soon. You just need to talk to her for a bit, give her the gift. My uncle’s people are watching her closely. If anything goes wrong, we’re both in trouble!”
Evelyn, of course, smiled and nodded in agreement, waiting for Booth, that fool, to bring Chloe over.
It was Evelyn’s first time stepping into the sprawling complex of the Brown family’s mansion.
No surprise-it was the number one family in City N.
In such a high-value area, they managed to have such a large private estate.
Meanwhile, her family had spent their entire lives struggling, never even getting a taste of what the land here felt like.
Evelyn sat in the shade, staring at the distant sea, and once again, the bitterness and hatred surged within her.
Just when she was about to lose patience, Booth finally showed up, bringing with him a little girl in a princess dress.
Compared to the photo, the little girl had already grown taller. White tights, black shoes, and a lovely puffed princess dress that made her look like a character straight out of a fairytale.
Chloe held a stuffed bunny and wore a sweet smile on her face.
As she walked, Chloe held Booth’s hand, looking up and asking, “Is Uncle really waiting for me here?”
Booth looked a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, but how about I introduce you to a girl today?”
Chloe tilted her head. “A girl? But my aunt doesn’t know I’m out yet. She’ll be worried.”
Booth grew uneasy. “Why would she be worried? We’ll go back soon. This girl really likes you. Don’t you remember her? She’s bringing you a gift.”
Chloe didn’t remember meeting any girl.
But the person was already right in front of her.
Evelyn stared at the innocent girl in front of her, who had no idea what was going on.
When she looked up, her face was truly cute. Too bad her eyes were vacant, unfocused.
Evelyn really wished she could dig out the girl’s eyes herself. This little girl was already blind, but now she was going to make her blind too, just because of the eye transplant?!
She really must have been lucky to be born at all-otherwise, a blind girl like her would have been left to die in an orphanage long ago!
“Oh, Booth, my gift fell in the car. Could you go get it for me?” Evelyn spoke suddenly.
Booth furrowed his brow. “Are you serious? It’s so much trouble. Fine, stay here and don’t run around with Chloe!”
Evelyn smiled lightly. “Okay.”
Chloe furrowed her brow, clutching her bunny. “Brother Booth, I don’t like being here. Can you take me back to Auntie?”
Evelyn gently took her hand. “Hello, Chloe. I’m Evelyn. I met you before and I really liked you.”
Chloe shook her head. “But I don’t know you.”
“That’s okay. It’s enough that I know you, Chloe.”
Booth said, “I’ll be right back. Don’t wander off.”
As soon as Booth left, Evelyn’s smile faded.
“Evelyn, you’re hurting me.”
“Is this hurting you? You probably don’t even know what real pain feels like!” Evelyn quickly looked around and then picked up Chloe. “I’ll take you back to Auntie, okay?”
“No, put me down! I don’t like you!” Chloe protested, clearly uncomfortable with how hard Evelyn was holding her.
Evelyn didn’t care, holding her tightly and walking toward the fence.
Hunter’s people had told her they would be waiting here.
She didn’t have much time left. Her eye transplant was only a couple of days away!
She didn’t want to become blind, and she couldn’t escape Conrad’s control.
She knew that she had to forge her own path.
She would never just sit back and let fate take its course.