"I'm awake and thinking clearly. It's a blessing from God.
If I don't seize this perfect chance now, I'll never get another one.
I'm not being greedy. I only want the dividends from twenty percent of Sterling's shares!" Scarlett replied smugly.
"You've lost your mind. You're absolutely insane. Twenty percent of Sterling's equity? How dare you ask for such a huge sum?" Audrey stared at her, fuming.
"Second sister, I'm not being greedy. I just want the dividends. Besides, Sterling belongs to our family.
The ones who truly have the right to a share of the property are you, me, and Ethan.
That's more than twenty percent.
And second sister, I fought for this right for you. Instead of being grateful, you yell at me and hit me. You're the crazy one!
I'm so kind, and this is how you repay me!" Scarlett rolled her eyes.
"I don't want any part of it. If you want it, take it yourself. Don't drag me into your schemes.
Scarlett, if you truly see me as your sister, listen to my advice.
Being too greedy will ruin you. We have enough.
What we have now is more than enough to last us a lifetime. Besides, we don't have children. Why do we need so much money? You can't take it with you.
If you push too hard, and things go wrong, you won't even know how you'll die!"
"Second sister, don't curse me, okay?
You know better than I do why we don't have children.
If you're still on their side at a time like this, then you're the crazy one!
Once I get my share of the property, I'll have as many children as I want. If I can't have them myself, I'll have someone else carry them for me!
You can't turn your back on me and then stop me from improving my situation!
You deserve to live your whole life swallowing your pride, not even daring to make your husband's cheating public—" Scarlett ranted irrationally.
"Scarlett!" Audrey shouted.
Scarlett flinched. Maybe she realized she had gone too far, and a hint of regret flickered in her eyes.
"Second sister, if you don't want to stand with me, then we'll go our separate ways from now on.
I won't give up what's rightfully mine.
As for you, if you want to live your current life, go ahead. I won't try to convince you anymore.
Let's leave it to fate!"
Audrey looked at Scarlett with utter disappointment. Without another word, she turned and walked toward the door.
"Second sister, if you don't stand by me tomorrow, our sisterhood ends here!" Scarlett called out.
"Scarlett, you don't have to wait until tomorrow. If you won't change your mind and insist on being reckless, then our bond as sisters ends right now. Do as you please!" Audrey said, opening the door and walking out of Scarlett's office.
Scarlett was so furious she swept everything off the coffee table. She stared at the mess on the floor, then burst into laughter.
Evelyn lay in bed, unable to sleep.
Before going to bed, she had talked with her sister Victoria for hours.
Victoria was acting strangely today, full of energy like she'd had too much coffee. She kept pulling Evelyn into conversations.
Evelyn worried that Victoria might have had a fight with Aiden again.
But Victoria said no. They were fine. Nothing was wrong.
As a result, it got so late that Victoria had to stay over at their mother's house.
Alexander hadn't finished work yet. Evelyn had just called him. He was in a video conference and said he'd be late. He told her to go to sleep and not wait for him.
Evelyn said she would just stay at her mother's house for the night. After work, he didn't need to pick her up. He could go home and rest.
Alexander agreed.
Even though Evelyn had been lying down for a long time, she still wasn't sleepy.
It wasn't the first time Alexander worked late. Sometimes, because of the time difference, he had meetings all night.
But maybe it was because he had just returned from a business trip. They hadn't seen each other for days, and she missed him so much.
She thought about what Victoria had said to her that evening.
"If I ever get married, I want a man who thinks of me first and dotes on me no matter what. That's all I need!"
Evelyn thought of Alexander.
Alexander was truly good to her. He doted on her, just like Victoria said. Even though she wasn't sure if he thought of her first in every situation, there was no doubt that he had always been good to her.
If there was one small knot in her heart, it was about Alexander and Grace.
But sometimes she thought, who doesn't have a past? If she kept dwelling on it, no matter how good life was, it wouldn't work out.
So most of the time, she let it go.
Besides, Alexander had never done anything to betray her. If she kept obsessing over it, she would be the one causing trouble.
Evelyn's mind wandered until she finally fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, she felt someone beside her. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw Alexander lying next to her.
He was frowning slightly, but he was fast asleep.
Evelyn felt a little sad.
She didn't know when he had arrived.
Was he frowning because he wasn't used to sleeping in a strange bed?
Evelyn wrapped her arm around Alexander's waist, snuggled up to him, adjusted her position, and went back to sleep.
She slept until dawn.
When she woke up, Alexander was no longer beside her.
If she hadn't woken up in the middle of the night, she would have thought it was all a dream.
After washing up and changing clothes, she went downstairs.
She thought Alexander would be downstairs, but she didn't see him. So she went into the kitchen to ask her mother.
"Mom, where's Alexander?"
"He left for work after breakfast this morning!" Amelia said.
"Oh, why didn't you wake me?" Evelyn muttered, disappointed.
"You sleep like a log every morning. How could I wake you?" Amelia replied.
"Mom—" Evelyn couldn't help but whine.
"Your congee is still warm. Go eat it quickly! Oh, by the way, Alexander said you don't have to go to the office starting today. It seems your resignation has been approved!" Amelia continued.
"Don't go to work today?" Evelyn thought she had misheard. "I haven't even handed over my work yet!"
"Hand over what? You're just a junior assistant secretary. Do you think the company will go bankrupt if you leave?" Amelia said.
"I still need to hand things over. Otherwise, they might not know what to do with the tasks I was handling!"
"No need. They can call you if they have questions.
I think it's better if you don't go back. You've been complaining about back pain all day.
Didn't you say your lower back hurt when you came back yesterday?" Amelia glared at her.
"That's because I've been sitting too long!" Evelyn said.
"Working in an office means sitting all the time.
Anyway, your resignation has been approved. You don't have to go to work. Isn't that better?
I'm going to burn incense at the temple today. You're coming with me!" Amelia said, leaving no room for argument.