Chapter 2

Evelyn's POV

Mia's face instantly turned deathly pale. She stared at my phone as if it were a monster.

"This... this must be fake, right? Evelyn, do you need money? Just tell me if you need money. Why would you make something like this to deceive me?"

Mia was still being stubborn, but I could see her hands were trembling.

I played another segment, the part where I haggled with Gideon.

"Gideon, isn't five million a bit low? After all, Mia's been good to me. If I betray her, I won't be able to survive in this circle anymore."

"Five hundred fifty thousand. Not a penny more. Evelyn, know when to be satisfied. Once I gain control of the Lancaster family, you'll have your share of benefits."

When the recording finished, I slapped the check on the table.

"This is the down payment from Gideon. The rest he said he'd give after the job is done. Mia, do you still think Gideon's just protecting his pride?"

Mia picked up the check with trembling hands. After seeing the signature and seal clearly, she suddenly let out a scream, grabbed the wine bottle, and rushed toward the door.

"I'm going to kill Gideon! That bastard! I'm going to kill him!"

I grabbed Mia around the waist and dragged her back, throwing her onto the sofa.

"What can you do besides get yourself killed if you go now? If you charge into Gideon's office with a wine bottle, you'll just prove you're mentally unstable! Gideon already has a draft of the psychiatric evaluation ready. He's just waiting for you to make a scene!"

Mia collapsed on the sofa, sobbing. She cursed while crying, cursing Gideon, cursing herself.

I poured Mia a glass of warm water and watched her vent with cold eyes.

"Are you done crying? If you're done, listen to me."

I sat across from Mia. "Gideon dares to do this because he has someone backing him. That Lydia? You think she's just Gideon's assistant at the company? She's your own father's illegitimate daughter, born just a few months after you."

Mia's head snapped up, disbelief written all over her face.

"My father... that's impossible! My father loves me so much!"

"Your father loves you? If he loved you, would he make you marry a fraud like Gideon? If he loved you, would he keep you away from the core business all these years? Wake up. In your father's eyes, you're just a tool for marriage alliances. Now that the tool isn't useful anymore, he wants to replace it with a new one."

I had to be harsh, or Mia would never wake up.

Mia sat there in a daze, her eyes vacant, as if her entire worldview had collapsed.

"Then... what should I do? Evelyn, help me. I can't let them succeed!"

Mia finally grabbed my hand, her nails digging into my flesh. It hurt, but I didn't shake her off.

"Listen. Starting today, you need to cooperate with me in putting on an act."

I leaned close to Mia and lowered my voice. "Gideon wants you to play crazy? Then you'll go crazy for him. But you'll do it under my control."

"This five million. I'll take half, and the other half is your investment capital."

Mia looked at me, the fear in her eyes gradually transforming into ruthlessness.

She wiped away her tears and picked up the check, kissing it fiercely.

"Fine, Evelyn. I'll listen to you. Keep all five million. As long as you can destroy them, you can have everything I own!"

I smiled and put the check away.

"I don't need everything. Fair compensation for work done. Now go wash your face and change your clothes. Gideon will be back tonight. Your show is about to begin."