Chapter 12
After a busy flurry of activity, Joseph finally brought Evangeline back home.
“M–Mr. Cunningham, I’ve looked into it. The ice bed isn’t sealed. This is the only one that can keep Mrs. Cunningham with you,” Antoine sald carefully, aware not to mention the word “ice coffin“.
“Keep Eva with me? Okay, well done.”
Joseph surprisingly praised him, which made Antoine feel a wave of relief. He hadn’t realized how much he had sweated in the process.
Now, with the ice coffin in the living room and the temperature extremely low, he shivered from the cold.
“Just call me if you need anything, Mr. Cunningham.” Antoine cautiously backed out of the room.
Once outside the villa, he saw Evelyn approaching. “Evelyn, what if Mr. Cunningham finds out we-
”
He wondered what would happen if Joseph found out they conspired together to indirectly cause Evangeline’s death.
Antoine had once believed Joseph saw Evangeline as nothing more than a stand–in. So, for his own career’s sake, he had quickly aligned himself with Evelyn when she returned.
But Joseph’s reaction that night had unsettled him, leaving him with a lingering unease.
Frowning, Evelyn cut him off, “Don’t worry. You just need to make sure that man doesn’t spill anything. Joseph is just shaken up right now. Once I’m with him, he’ll forget about that stand-
in.”
“Alright, then. I trust you, Evelyn.”
Evelyn nodded with an air of confidence. As she walked toward the house, she was lost in thought for a moment.
She and Joseph had been college classmates. Back then, he had been an almost untouchable figure, while she was the stubborn, defiant girl.
Everyone else tried to please him, but she never gave him any special treatment.
It was this attitude, this difference, that caught his attention, and he began to pursue her. After many attempts, Evelyn had reluctantly agreed to go out with him.
Since the Cunningham family was wealthy and prestigious, while Evelyn came from an ordinary background, their relationship was met with opposition from the Cunningham family. Joseph, determined to be with her, had been ready to sever ties with his family and move out to live with her.
“Don’t worry, Evelyn. I’ll stay with you no matter how hard it gets. As long as we love each other, we can be satisfied even with just water.”
When Evelyn saw the small apartment Joseph wanted them to rent, she nearly rolled her eyes. How could she be satisfied with just water? She wasn’t about to live like that.
At that time, a wealthy heir had pursued her. He had invited her to go abroad.
Between a tight life and the freedom and excitement of a faraway place, she had chosen the latter without hesitation.
But not long after Evelyn left for abroad, Joseph, heartbroken, returned to the Cunningham family and began taking over the family business.
Evelyn had thought about returning to him, but the wealthy heir had filmed several videos with her, trapping her.
Only after five years, when the man grew tired of her and deleted those videos, could she finally return home.
At first, she was anxious, wondering if Joseph had forgotten her. After all, a man with his background could have anything he wanted, including women.
But Brandon and Madeleine had proudly told her that Joseph had never forgotten her.
“Evelyn, you were happy abroad, but we thought it would be safer for Joseph to continue being your backup.
“He was in such a bad state, drowning his sorrows in alcohol. So, we told him you had a sister. Although she’s not as good as you in everything, she does resemble you and is easy to manipulate. She’s perfect as a stand–in to cheer him up.
“Don’t worry, Evelyn. As long as Evangeline stays by Joseph’s side as your substitute, he’ll never forget you.”
“The only trouble is, Joseph married Evangeline, but it shows how deeply he loves you. That’s why he clings to your stand–in so desperately. Come back soon, Evelyn.”
Evelyn had been overjoyed when she heard this.
Indeed, when she returned, Joseph didn’t hold her sudden departure against her. Instead, he treated her even better than before. Perhaps losing her had made him cherish her more. But soon, Evelyn started to feel something was wrong.
Joseph pampered her on the surface, but they hadn’t made any real progress. He still refused to marry her.
Evelyn had once wondered if he had fallen for Evangeline, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
Whenever she and Evangeline had issues, Joseph always stood by her side, never once supporting Evangeline. So, it seemed that his only problem was with her sudden departure and ber
past relationships with other men.
Now, seeing him lose control over the loss of a stand–in, Evelyn kaew this was an opportunity. She could use this to force him to confront his true feelings and fully accept her again. With that in mind, Evelyn confidently walked into the living room.
