Chapter 4
Evelyn suddenly adopted a pitiful expression. “Don’t be mad, Eva. I didn’t do anything with Joseph last night. We were just discussing the script. Don’t be angry with him. If you have to take it out on someone, take it out on me… Ah!”
The moment Joseph appeared with a plate of soft-boiled eggs, Evelyn leaned back and collapsed onto the soft carpet. “Evangeline! What did you do to Evie?”
In a fit of anger, he threw the plate toward Evangeline.
The plate hit her forehead, swelling it instantly. Meanwhile, the eggs splattered across her face with the yellow yolk dripping down. It was scalding and sticky, blurring her vision.
“I didn’t push her,” Evangeline said softly. A deep sense of desolation suddenly flooded her heart.
It had been five years. Even if Joseph had treated her as a stand-in, she thought he at least trusted her character. Yet, it turned out there wasn’t even the smallest shred of basic trust between them.
When Joseph saw her disheveled face, the swelling on her forehead, and her red eyes, his anger momentarily faltered.
Suddenly, he just wanted to help her wipe her face clean.
“Joseph, my leg hurts so much. I think it’s broken,” Evelyn cried out while grabbing onto him. “Don’t blame Eva. She didn’t mean it. It’s all my fault.”
Her face was contorted in pain, but she was still speaking up for Evangeline. Joseph’s heart melted at the scene.
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Evie. How can loving someone be wrong? The only one who’s wrong is the extra person!”
When he looked at Evangeline again, there was no warmth in his gaze. He coldly ordered, “Evangeline, apologize to Evie on your knees, and we’ll let this go.”
“I didn’t push her,” Evangeline said softly.
“It’s okay, Joseph. She doesn’t have to apologize. Ow, it hurts so much… My leg’s not broken, right?”
“Is your injury very bad, Evie? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”
Joseph quickly scooped Evelyn up in his arms but then suddenly lifted his foot and kicked Evangeline. “Get on your knees! I’ll ask for your apology to Evie once we get back!”
Caught off guard, Evangeline collapsed to the floor. Her knees slammed into the broken plate. It sent sharp pain through her body.
Tears rolled down her cheeks in an instant.
Joseph paused, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes. “Why are you crying? Does it hurt that much?”
Just as he was about to check on Evangeline, Evelyn tightened her grip around his neck.
“I’m so envious of Eva’s acting skills. She can cry on command. Truly a gift from the heavens. Unlike me, I’m so stupid. I still can’t cry convincingly. Thank goodness you’re here to protect me.”
As she spoke, tears cascaded down her face.
Joseph immediately snapped back to reality.
Evelyn, who couldn’t act in a crying scene, was now crying so heartbreakingly. Her pain must be real. Meanwhile, Evangeline’s acting had always been praised. Of course, she was faking it to gain sympathy.
He almost fell for it.
“Stop with your schemes, Evangeline! I’m warning you. If you mess with Evie again, I won’t spare you!” he shouted in disgust.
With that, he tightened his embrace around Evelyn and stormed out.
The scene before her felt painfully familiar. When Joseph first met Evangeline, he had held her in his arms just like this, carrying her away from danger.
But now, the man who once protected her was carrying someone else. He left her with nothing but deep wounds.
Even though Evangeline had already decided to stop loving him, she couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart. It was as if an invisible hand was gripping her chest, causing unbearable pain.
Since Joseph had made his stance clear, the household staff, who had been watching the scene unfold, quickly avoided her.
Evangeline limped upstairs and tended to her wounds by herself.
Meanwhile, Joseph’s and Evelyn’s names appeared again on the trending topics. He had rented out an entire hospital floor and hired numerous experts, all for Evelyn’s leg checkup.
After he learned that Evelyn had neither external nor internal injuries, his mood lightened. He had Antoine organize a giveaway on the Cunningham Group’s official website.
It felt like a nationwide celebration.
Watching the comments flood in, with fans thanking Evelyn, Evangeline sent Joseph a message. “Let’s get a divorce.”
Normally, Joseph would take ages to reply, but this time, he responded immediately.
