Chapter 29: This is the Evelyn Vance He Loved
“Shane!” Nash exclaimed, her disbelief evident.
Her eyes
twinkled.“Are
you
my
interested in sister herself, or in Caleb’s wife? Evelyn and Caleb are still in the midst of a divorce. Are you enjoying the thrill of forbidden fruit without the consequences?”
Nash wore a knowing smirk.
The room felt like a freezer; the icy pressure emanating from Caleb made even Ducky’s legs
emble. Shane’s eyes, usually warm, were now cold.
“Did you come from Dunhuang?There are so many murals there,” Shane retorted, his tone sharp.
Nash stammered, “I…”
་
“And here’s someone who blurts out their true feelings,” Shane continued, his voice laced with
sarcasm.
Nash, flustered, weakly countered, “You’re talking about yourself!”
Oh, Oh, you
know me so well,” Shane said, turning to Caleb with a smirk.“You’re inseparable from this… individual.No wonder Evelyn wants a divorce.”
“You two aren’t from the same world,” Shane sa
ntly.“You’re not good enough for her,”
ver since the news of his marriage to Caleb’s eyes widened, a storm brewing within the Evelyn, people had whispered their disapproval.He could have married into one of the top families, yet he chose Evelyn.The Vance family was wealthy, but not high society. Evelyn had struck gold.Everyone said he’d done her a favor.Especially since Evelyn was only adopted into the Vances at 18.Caleb’s grandmother had invested significant time and effort grooming Evelyn to be a perfect heiress.
Yet Shane was claiming Caleb wasn’t good enough for Evelyn. It was ridiculous. Had someone spiked Shane’s IV with something?
“Love is blind, I guess,” Nash said, arms crossed.
Caleb scoffed coldly.“So Mr. Shane prefers leftovers.”
Caleb turned to see Evelyn standing at the doorway, unsure how much she’d overheard. He approached her with Ducky.“The divorce cooling–off period ends next Monday. I’ve scheduled a 2:30 PM appointment at the courthouse. Evelyn, will you be there?” Evelyn had initiated the divorce. Yet, it was Caleb who challenged her to go through with it. He’d lost all patience and wanted to be rid of her. He was eager to see her regret her decision. Meeting Caleb’s handsome face, Evelyn felt nothing.
“Fine.
Next Monday afternoon,
at the
courthouse.No ifs,
or ands,
buts.”
The air around Caleb grew colder. He left with Ducky.. Nash passed Evelyn, giving her a knowing smirk.
Evelyn entered the room, her expression calm.“Professor Shane’s here; he’s chatting with your doctor.”
The doctor explained that Shane’s injury was near his heart. If not for the metal buckle on his jacket that had deflected the bolt, the crossbow’s force likely would have pierced him.
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< Chapter 29: This is the Evelyn Vance…
Zoey, her eyes full of concern, rested her hands on the bed.
“Does it hurt, Uncle Shane?”
“It does…”
“I’ll blow on it.”
Zoey tiptoed and blew on Shane’s bandage.
Shane said, “It feels better.”
Zoey smiled, revealing her small white teeth.
Menu
Shane’s eyes drifted to Evelyn.“Curious about what Mr. Fu and I talked about?” He’d noticed her standing at the door. Even if she hadn’t heard everything, she’d
everything, she’d get the gist. Evelyn shook her head.
She could guess what Shane had said to enrage Caleb, forcing him to abandon his composure.
She knew what Caleb meant by “preferring leftovers.“She was the cold rice on his plate, tasteless but not quite disposable.
She told Shane plainly, “The best revenge isn’t marrying another man. That’s just proving your sex appeal. My value isn’t defined by whether men want me.”
mansion. She would rise to Caleb’s level.No, heights beyond his wildest dreams.
Evelyn smiled.“The best revenge on anyone who’s hurt you, man or woman, is to surpass them!”
She wouldn’t hide anymore, a nameless woman she would surpass him. She would rea
Evelyn realized Shane was watching her intently.A fleeting look of alarm crossed her face.
Shane looked away.“You’re back to your old self.“This was the Evelyn Vance he loved.
“Hmm?”
His voice was muffled; she didn’t quite hear him.
He lowered his lashes, a lazy smile playing on his lips.“About the Fu family’s little prince wielding dangerous weapons at school…if you don’t want to get involved, I can handle it. After all, I’m the victim.”
Evelyn nodded.“As the victim, you have every right to demand compensation and an apology from the Fus and the school.”
Evelyn looked at her daughter. Adults can control their emotions; children cannot.Keeping Zoey and Ducky in the same school would lead to more conflict.Even if Zoey changed schools, they’d still see each other.
“Zoey starts elementary school next year. The Fus planned for her and Ducky to attend the same prestigious school, but I want to transfer Zoey to another top school. Besides that school, there’s…”
“Second Factory Elementary,” Shane finished.Second Factory, a shorthand for steel and munitions factories, was where children of influential families went during a specific era. Now, it wasn’t about money; it was about connections.
Shane sounded confident.“I’ll have my dad write letter of recommendation…” Evelyn smiled.“No need to bother the Professor. Second Factory has a special admissions program for gifted kids. Zoey recently joined the city’s sports team, and that’s why I’m
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< Chapter 29: This is the Evelyn Vance…
considering transferring her.”
Shane was curious. “What sport is Zoey doing?”
Mens
Zoey, perched on the bed, counted on her fingers.“Boxing, swimming, weightlifting, discus…yesterday I learned table tennis!”
Evelyn’s pride was evident.“She learns so fast.Her coaches say she’s…a natural athletic prodigy. They’re debating which sport she should focus on.”
Shane said, “The Summer Olympics are in Paris in six months. We could take Zoey to watch.” oey, immersed in the Olympic atmosphere, pumped her small fist.“I’ll shine in Paris!” Evelyn laughed, ruffling her hair.“It’s just to watch, sweetheart.Shining on the world stage takes time!”
Shane disagreed.“You got into MIT at fourteen.Why can’t Zoey shine at the Olympics at five and a half?”
Hospital Billing Window:
“810,000 dollars?” Caleb checked with the clerk again.
“Yes, sir. The patient used high–end imported materials, so it’s not covered by insurance,”
Caleb:…
It wasn’t about insurance. He clearly felt Shane was gouging him, but he couldn’t complain. He had to pay.
