Chapter 512

He could only be there for her in silence, from the shadows where she’d never notice. Later on, Eve got pregnant and quit school. He realized any chance with Eve was gone. So, he left the country to move on, forcing himself to stop dwelling on her. When he finally returned and took over the family business, he heard she’d broken up with Charles. It was then he showed up at an event where she was, playing the part of an award presenter. Watching her, so talented yet always outshined by Dahlia, tugged at his heart. He bought her artwork and casually mentioned a shared memory from the past. But it was clear she didn’t remember him at all. His unwavering feelings were just a fleeting moment in her mind, never significant.
Compared to Charles, Brooks felt out of place in Evelyn’s heart with zero confidence. “What if…” Brooks began but stopped himself, calming his thoughts. He swallowed back the question that almost slipped out: “What if Charlie hadn’t died?” He was still digging for answers and couldn’t bring up Charlie, not wanting to give Evelyn false hope. He feared that if he did, Eve might crumble again.
“What if what?” Evelyn prompted, curious about the unfinished thought. “Nothing,” Brooks said, leaving it at that. “You should chill on the couch; I’ll whip up breakfast,” he suggested, gently guiding her to the sofa. “Nah, I’ll help you,” Evelyn insisted, joining him to make breakfast for the two of them. Breakfast was ready in no time, and after they ate, Brooks headed to work while Evelyn went to the mall.
With her mom set to be discharged next week, Evelyn was at the mall to pick out clothes for Josephine and a birthday gift for Mabel. The jewelry for Mabel’s birthday was nearly complete. In a few days, she planned to drop it off at the Andersons’ and bring along a birthday present for Mabel. Knowing Mabel’s taste, Evelyn bypassed big brands and hunted for unique, indie designer pieces. She walked straight into a boutique known for its distinct style, and her eyes quickly landed on something perfect for Mabel. Just as she was about to ask the clerk to wrap it up, a familiar voice chimed in, “I’m taking this.”
Evelyn recognized that voice instantly-it was Dahlia. She didn’t bother turning around, acting like she hadn’t heard. Dahlia wheeled herself into the store, stopping beside Evelyn and giving her a challenging look. Ignoring Dahlia, Evelyn handed her card to the clerk and said, “Charge it, please.” But the clerk hesitated, knowing better than to cross Dahlia.
This whole mall was under Jenkins Enterprises, and everyone knew Charles had a soft spot for Dahlia. Any shop under Jenkins had to give her special treatment. Those who didn’t know better had faced harsh consequences before. The clerk, not wanting trouble, awkwardly told Evelyn, “Sorry, Ms. Dahlia has claimed this.” Then, in a hushed tone, added, “You can pick something else, and I’ll give you a ten percent discount.”
Evelyn frowned at the clerk’s response, “I was here first for this dress.” “So what?” Dahlia cut in, her tone dripping with arrogance. She fished out a card from her bag, flaunting it between her fingers. “This is the mall’s top-tier VIP card, courtesy of Charles,” she bragged. “With this card, I get first dibs on anything here. What makes you think you can compete with me?”
She rolled closer to Evelyn, lowering her voice as she continued, “While you were begging Charles for money for your kid’s hospital bills, he gave me a card with no spending limit.” “Since I got back to the city, I haven’t worried about money, not even once.” “And now, even if you’re Debbie, even if he knows I tricked him, he hasn’t taken away my privileges. He still cares about me.”
Dahlia’s words weren’t as confident as they seemed. She knew Charles was fed up with her, but she enjoyed getting under Evelyn’s skin. Watching Evelyn struggle gave her satisfaction. The previous night, Charles stormed off in anger, and security had to bring back Sandy, who was hurt. When Dahlia called Charles, she found herself blocked. She knew he was really mad, but he adored Sandy. His anger would pass, and she was certain Sandy would play the victim, pout, and Charles would forgive her. She firmly believed that since Charles treated Sandy so well despite her deceit, he genuinely cared for Sandy. And with Charlie, the little troublemaker, out of the picture, how could Sandy lose? Sandy was her ace in the hole. With Sandy around, she could keep living the high life, with a limitless card and a luxurious villa at Greenrose.