Chapter 5

After Evelyn had completed her work at hand, she received a call from Michael, who repeated Lucas' words to her. She immediately understood what Lucas wanted. Since he had indeed been involved with Tiffany during the marriage, he had indeed cheated on her, making Tiffany the mistress. Making Evelyn handle the situation was just a precautionary step on his end. If someone were to dig up their scandal in the future, he would be able to clear their name with the fact that his "wife" had been the one to handle all public opinion back then and had helped in clearing Tiffany's name. That way, Tiffany would be spared from all accusations and no one would accuse her of being a homewrecker. Lucas was indeed very considerate of Tiffany. The consequences he had mentioned? It was merely his way of telling her that no company would accept her if she refused to follow his instructions. He was warning her that he'd destroy her chances of survival. Throughout their three years of marriage, she had done everything she could to be a good wife to him. From the day they were married, she had decisively cut off all of the ties from her past, yet he had never even shown her an ounce of sincerity. She was drained. With a mocking smile, Evelyn answered indifferently, "I'm on sick leave today. If you insist on forcing me to settle the whole ordeal while being sick, then you're violating the law. We can settle this in court." She had already resigned and divorced Lucas, so she didn't need to care whether he was happy or not. After getting off work, Evelyn was in her car when she received a message from her father, Derek Harrison. "Your brother has been released from prison. We're holding a party for him at home. Would you be attending?" Although he had phrased his words into a question, she knew that Derek did not wish to see his disgraceful daughter come home and cause a scene. Back then, Derek had found out about her relationship with Blake. He had been humiliated by their relationship, and he believed that she was immoral and shameless. If it weren't for the fact that she still had some worth and could be married off into influential families like the Grants, he would have severed all ties with her a long time ago. However, the party was for Blake, the most important person to her. After debating in her mind, she touched up her makeup, making herself look healthier and livelier before driving to the Harrison residence. If it weren't for Blake, she would not stay in touch with the Harrisons. A housekeeper stiffened the moment she saw Evelyn. Frowning, she asked, "Ms. Reed, what brings you here?" Evelyn ignored them as the Harrisons residence wasn't her home. It had been so for a few years, and even the housekeepers there were not welcoming, choosing to look down on her. "Evelyn?" Lily Harrison came down the stairs and scowled when she saw Evelyn. She continued with a cold expression, "How can you be so shameless? Blake has just returned home, yet here you are clinging to him? Do you have to ruin everyone's mood to feel satisfied?" Lily was Derek's illegitimate daughter and the result of her father's affair. She had the same birthday down to the year as Evelyn and began carrying herself with an air of arrogance, acting as if she wasn't an illegitimate daughter as she mocked Evelyn. "If you're so dignified, you should move out of my mom's house. That would really show me how honorable you are," Evelyn retorted impassively. Her mother, Naomi Reed, had bought that house after selling her paintings at a high price. However, Derek was now living comfortably with Selina and Lily in that house. Evelyn just could not understand how Lily dared to act high and mighty when she was only enjoying what Naomi left behind. "Evelyn!" Lily's expression fell momentarily before she seemed to have remembered something. Then, she smirked. "I'd like to see if you're still able to keep that smile of yours in a minute." "Who is she?" A curious female voice interrupted their argument. The noise had traveled to the living room, and two figures emerged while they held each other intimately. Jessica instinctively tugged Blake's shirt when she saw Evelyn's face. "She's so beautiful." Blake glanced at Evelyn momentarily before turning back to look at Jessica. Then, wrapping his arms around Jessica's waist, he explained, "She's my sister, just like Selina. Don't tell me that you're jealous of my sister." Jessica blushed before she playfully punched Blake in the chest. Then, she turned to Evelyn, asking, "I didn't know Blake had two sisters. What's your name?" Evelyn was at a loss for what to do as she looked at the scene before her. She had never expected Blake to bring his girlfriend back home. It was obvious that Blake was treating the relationship seriously since he had brought her back to meet his family. Blake, the man who had once wanted to marry her and give up on everything for her, no longer existed. He would now just treat her the same as Selina. Her throat felt dry as she answered, "I'm Evelyn Reed." Jessica was surprised before her expression became thoughtful. Then, she asked the one question that made Evelyn and everyone from the Harrison family uncomfortable. "Why isn't Harrison your last name?" Seeing Evelyn's refusal to answer, Jessica smiled confidently and elaborated, "My name's Jessica Clark, and I'm Blake's—" "She's my girlfriend," Blake interjected nonchalantly as he looked at Evelyn properly. "I've finally met someone that I want to consider marriage with. You should treat her with respect."