Chapter 6

Evelyn's POV

That night, Gideon stormed back.

As soon as he entered, he slammed a diagnosis of "mild concussion" on the table.

"Mia, you're absolutely unreasonable! Lydia is such a pure and kind girl, and you could actually hurt her? Starting today, you stay in your room and reflect. Without my permission, you're not to step one foot out!"

Mia sat on the sofa holding a cup of coffee, surprisingly calm.

"Gideon, are you sure I pushed Lydia?"

"Of course! If not you, then who? Did Lydia roll down by herself?"

"Perhaps."

I walked forward at the right moment, holding a tablet.

"Gideon, to ensure the house's security, I installed surveillance at the stairwell a couple days ago. It was meant to prevent thieves, but it captured something interesting."

Gideon's expression changed instantly.

I tapped the video and played it.

In the footage, Lydia's clumsy acting was laid bare, even capturing the look she snuck at the door to see if Gideon had come in.

After watching the video, Gideon's face turned from blue to white. What a sight.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out.

"Gideon, does this count as... faking a fall for fraud?" I asked with a smile.

Gideon took a deep breath, crumpled the diagnosis into a ball, and stuffed it in his pocket.

"This matter... perhaps Lydia accidentally slipped. She was just frightened and spoke nonsense. Mia, since it's a misunderstanding, let's move on. Don't be too petty. After all, Lydia is a guest."

That's it? Moving on?

Not even an apology?

Mia was about to explode when I gently pressed her hand.

"Gideon's right. We all live under one roof. Why hold grudges? But Lydia's balance really is concerning. She should hold the railing when using stairs from now on. Otherwise if she falls again next time, the surveillance might not always be running."

Gideon glared at me and went upstairs to Lydia's room.

I knew he was going to comfort that schemer, but it didn't matter.

What mattered was that the seed of doubt had been planted in Gideon's mind. Though he was protecting Lydia, someone as selfish as Gideon would never tolerate being played for a fool.

Lydia's sob story not only failed to hurt Mia, but actually made Lydia lose points with Gideon.

This was my welcome gift to Lydia.

Lydia's fall didn't manage to hurt Mia but left herself bruised and swollen, hiding in her room for several days without daring to show her face.

But this didn't make Gideon settle down.

Soon, the Lancaster Corporation's annual charity gala was about to begin.

This was a major event in elite circles and a key step in Gideon's plan to transfer assets.

Two days before the gala, Gideon came to Mia with a thick document.

"Mia, we need to set an example at this gala. I want to establish a charitable trust fund in your name and donate part of your shares in Lancaster Entertainment specifically to support education in remote areas."

It sounded noble.

I stood nearby pouring water and glanced at the document.

On the surface it was a charitable trust, but the terms hid traps. Though the actual controller and beneficiary were written vaguely, after layers of investigation, everything ultimately pointed to an offshore shell company belonging to Gideon.

Once Mia signed, those shares would vanish into the fund, never to be seen again, while Gideon would get the reputation of a "philanthropist."

I sneered. Perfect.

Using this "document," Mia and I would prepare a surprise for Gideon.