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Evelynughed softly.
“That’s true. That’s why Alice… Make sure to keep all important documents in a secure ce, like your ID, marriage registry, and everything else…”
“Yes, Mom. You need to be careful from now on.” Ste
added.
Alice smiled at Evelyn and Ste, her eyes softening.
“You both are such kind and intelligent girls. Thank you, Eve. Thank you, Ste. Don’t worry too much… I’ve already thought about all of this, especially after what William did to me.”
Ste frowned suspiciously. Evelyn, however, smiled knowingly.
“Mom,” Ste said slowly, “what exactly did you do?”
Alicia lifted her ss of ocha, her voice calm but her eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction.
“I’ve kept all my important documents, jewelry, and
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valuables in a safe deposit box at the central bank. And no one knows about it. Not even your Father.”
Ste gasped and dramatically raised both thumbs high above her head.
“Wow. My mommy is such a genius!”
Alicia shot her a re before chuckling.
“Hahaha, don’t praise me too much. I know I’m smart. But I’m weak and, apparently, I’m also kind of stupid
when ites to love.”
That earned augh from Ste.
“Well, yeah. I mean, for a woman that brilliant, you really fumbled hard in the romance department, Mom. If it were me, I’d have thrown that homewrecker
straight into the gutter.”
Evelyn nearly choked on her sushi while Aliciaughed softly, shaking her head.
“Stop wasting your anger on him and her mistress…” Alicia teased. “You’ll only give yourself wrinkles and heart disease. Let’s just enjoy our lives. Go on, eat your
sushi.”
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Ste pouted but obeyed, stabbing a piece of tunal with her chopsticks.
Meanwhile, Evelyn turns to see Alicia.
“Alice, have you thought about moving out? I can arrange a safe ce for you and Ste. Somewhere quiet, away from William Walters, the press, and all the family drama.”
“That’s sweet of you, Eve, but there’s no need. I
actually have a few properties of my own. Under my maiden name, and only I know about. Ste and I can
move into one of them.”
Ste almost dropped her chopsticks.
“Wait, what? You… have properties? And you didn’t tell Father about that? And how am I just finding out about it now?” @
Evelyn raised an amused brow. “Good question, Ste.”
“Well, not everything your father owns actually
belongs to him,” she said slyly. “Some of the properties are under my name. I bought them using my dividend shares, and a few belonged to me before I even
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married him.”
Ste blinked.
“Wait, wait… are you saying Grandpa secretly made you rich this whole time, and you just let Dad walk around acting like some self–made king?”
Alicia chuckled.
“Not that rich, sweetheart. Your Father is definitely wealthier than I am. But if something happens to him and his wealth ditches us, we won’t be homeless and
starve, at least.”
“I’m d to hear that, Alice. And… you still have thosepany shares, right?” Evelyn asked seriously.
“Walters Group?” Alicia tilted her head, smiling faintly when Evelyn nodded. “Of course. That was your grandfather’s gift to me when I gave him a
granddaughter. William can’t force me to sell or sign them over”
Evelyn’s eyes softened. “Good. Keep them close. You might need them sooner than you think.”
Alicia nodded. “All the documents are safe. And every
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year, when the dividend moneyes in, I invest it. So, I’ve built quite a bit of my own savings too.”
“Tsk, tsk. Mom, you’re just like sister Eve. You two were secretly plotting to be businesswomen while I’m over here memorizing anatomy terms.”
Evelyn and Alicia can’t help butugh.
“Did you forget, Ste? Alice majored in business management, remember?” Evelyn asked.
“Oh, right,” Ste muttered. “That exins a lot.”
“Yes,” Alicia said with a smile. “But that was long ago. I’m just a housewife now, Eve.”
“Just a housewife?” Evelyn’s tone softened, but her eyes said otherwise. “You’re stronger than you think, Alice.”
Alicia didn’t answer, but the way she looked down and smiled showed she heard her daughter loud and clear.
Then Evelyn straightened, switching to her
businesslike tone.
“There’s something else I want you to do. Tomorrow,
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there’ll be a shareholder meeting. I need you to attend, Alice. Something big will happen, and you should be there to witness it.”
Alicia didn’t hesitate. “Alright. I’ll be there.”
That was that. The serious talk was over.
They spent the rest of lunchughing, for once not talking about William Walters, the scandals, or the looming chaos that tomorrow might bring.
Instead, the conversation shifted to Oliver and his uing birthday.
“Eve,” Alicia said, narrowing her eyes like a mother hen, “you’d better not keep me waiting to meet my grandson.”
“I promise,” Evelynughed. “You’ll meet him soon. I’m throwing a small birthday party for him in two weeks.”
Ste, who had been slurping soba noodles, nearly
choked.
“Little Oliver’s having a birthday party? Where? You’d better invite me too, sis! Oh no, I need to buy him a present! Ugh, I forgot his favorite character…?”
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Evelyn smiled warmly.
“Of course you’re invited. You’re his aunt, after all. And no need to buy him anything. Juste, that’ll make him happy. Oliver is always happy when he learn his family is not just his mother and father.”
The conversation circled back to Oliver; how he looked, how mischievous he could be, and how he apparently inherited both his parents‘ stubborn streaks.
For once,ughter filled the room.
By the time they finished lunch, the heaviness that had
followed Alicia for months seemed to lift a little. Her eyes looked brighter, her shoulders lighter.
“Alright, I need to go now…” She reached for her purse, “I have to get going. My husband is probably looking for me already.”
“Ugh. You and your ‘crazy–rich‘ husband. Do you two ever get tired of being disgustingly in love?” Ste
teases her.
Evelyn gave her a faint smile, “Not really. It’s kind of
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fun watching him lose sleep because of me.”
Aliciaughed softly.
“Eve, don’t bully your husband too much,” Alicia added.
“I’m not,” Evelyn said with an innocent smile.
As they all chuckled, a sudden knock came at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Ste said, hopping up and walking over.
When she pulled the door open, her eyes widened in disbelief, “B–Brother–inw…” she stammered.
66
Thank you so much for the <i>Golden </i><i>Ticket </i>& Power Stones. Please continue<i>. </i>We need to <i>raise </i>the rank to give this book <i>more </i>
opportunities. Xoxo^
–
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Creator’s Thoughts
Sara Lili
<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.