Chapter 422

"That's not what I meant."

Alexander Hamilton let out a cold laugh, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Then who were you performing for just now with that self-sacrificing act?"

"I'm sorry."

"Evelyn," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and strained, "if you don't love me, then stop toying with me. As you wish, we'll be strangers. I won't disturb you again. Let's each live our own lives."

The conversation ended bitterly.

Inside the taxi, Evelyn leaned back against the seat, exhaustion washing over her like a tide.

Alexander had thrown her own words back at her. Though spoken in anger, they left her speechless.

She had been the one to suggest they become strangers. And now, she was the one reaching out.

The ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts.

"Sis!" Emily Anderson's voice was frantic. "Mom took the long-distance bus back to our hometown this morning!"

Evelyn rubbed her temples. "Didn't I ask you to talk her out of it?"

"I tried! But Mom and Dad don’t want to burden you. They said they’d figure out a way to raise the money first..."

"...I see." Evelyn paused. "Has Peter contacted you?"

"How did you know? He just called to invite me to the new ski resort."

Evelyn's chest tightened. "What did you say?"

"I refused," Emily said firmly. "With everything going on at home, how could I even think about fun? But Peter is so kind—he invited Dad and me to dinner at his place tonight. Since Mom’s not home, we thought..."

"Emily," Evelyn cut in abruptly, "didn’t you say you wanted to try Western food?"

"Huh? When?"

"That time when Vivian’s dad treated us."

"Oh..." Emily's voice softened. "I just wanted to try something new. Mom and Dad have never had Western food before."

"Give me twenty minutes. I’ll take you all out."

"But we need to save money..."

"One meal won’t break us."

By the time the taxi pulled up to the neighborhood gate, Andrew Anderson and Emily were already waiting by the curb.

"Evelyn," Andrew said as he got into the car, frowning slightly, "Western food is so expensive. Aunt Lucy just invited us over..."

"Let Peter spend more time with Aunt Lucy," Evelyn said gently. "He’s been busy with work lately and rarely gets to see her."

The excuse seemed to satisfy her father.

Emily sat quietly in the back seat. Ever since that night at Celestial Club, she had become unusually obedient.

"Sis, where are we going?"

Evelyn hesitated, flipping through her phone. She wasn’t very familiar with Western restaurants.

Vivian Dempsey’s call came unexpectedly.

"Evelyn, I'm back."

The exhaustion in her voice made Evelyn’s heart clench. "Grandma Dempsey—"

"Grandma’s condition is stable. It’s my own problem." Vivian gave a bitter laugh. "I might need your help from now on."

"What happened?"

"The factory... the bank is foreclosing on it."

Evelyn’s breath caught.

That unfinished dinner—this must have been what it was about.

"Is there no way to stop it?"

"There is," Vivian said hoarsely. "If Alexander withdraws and Banyan Group continues the partnership, we can save the factory."

Silence stretched between them.

"I just found out," Vivian whispered, her voice breaking, "that for the past five years, it was only because of you that Alexander let my family barely scrape by..."

Evelyn tightened her grip on her phone. "Let me think about this."

"I'm sorry..."

"It’s not your fault."

After hanging up, Evelyn chose the highest-rated Western restaurant she could find.

Andrew showed little interest in steak and ended up ordering fried rice. Emily, however, eagerly sampled every new dish.

On the way home, Evelyn repeatedly warned her father and sister to stay away from Peter Harrison.

Though puzzled, Andrew was too preoccupied with their financial troubles to press further.

The next morning, Evelyn stood face-to-face with Vivian.