Chapter 614

Growing up, Evelyn’s mom was always gentle and endlessly patient with her. She’d never raised her voice, never spoken to Evelyn the way she had just now.
“Mom, what’s going on? Why won’t you let me go to Country Y?” Evelyn asked, her tone filled with confusion.
Josephine caught herself immediately, realizing how out of character she’d just sounded. The mere mention of Country Y always brought the Rochette family to mind her heart would clench with fear, and she’d lose her grip.
Years ago, to keep Eve safe, Josephine had faked her own death and fled Country Y. Even after escaping, she never really felt safe-she was always looking over her shoulder, never settling in one place for too long. The fear that the Rochette family would find them and drag Eve back to that cruel world never left her.
“Eve, can you not go to Country Y?” Josephine didn’t answer Evelyn’s question directly. She just took her daughter’s hand and looked at her, eyes searching.
“Mom, I want to know why,” Evelyn replied softly, squeezing her mother’s hand back.
Her mom had always been her biggest supporter, the person who stood behind every dream and every decision. She never tried to stop Evelyn from doing anything she wanted-especially not something as important as this competition, something that mattered so much to both her and Charlie. There had to be a
reason.
Josephine’s words caught in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Eve the truth. She never meant to. She knew if she demanded that Eve stay, even if Eve didn’t understand, even if she was disappointed, Eve would do it for her.
But she also understood this competition meant everything to Eve, and not just for herself Charlie was counting on her too.
After a long, heavy silence, Josephine finally spoke, her voice gentle again. “It’s nothing, sweetheart. I just… I missed you for so many years, and now that I finally have you back, the thought of you leaving, even for a little while, makes me anxious. I just don’t want you so far away from me.”
She forced herself to let go of that old fear. So many years had passed with no sign of the Rochette family. Surely by now, they believed Eve was gone, too. And anyway, Country Y was a huge place. Eve would only be there for two weeks. What could happen?
“Mom, I’ll be careful. I promise.” Evelyn could tell her mom wasn’t telling her everything, but she didn’t push She knew her mother loved her reore that anyone, in the world, and every decision was for her sake.
That night Evelyn booked her ticket. She planned to fly out two days early to settle in and get familiar with the place Everything was ready; all that the plane to Country Y.
was left was to boardy, all that
Meanwhile, Brooks found out which flight Evelyn had booked. He called his assistant and told them to get him a seat on the same flight. He planned to stay for two weeks.
Of course, news like this didn’t stay quiet for long. Wiona heard about Brooks’s sudden travel plans almost immediately, and she didn’t have to guess who he was chasing after.
“Brooks, there’s nothing in Country Y that only you can handle. Let Joey go instead,” Wiona said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
“Mom, I have to go this time,” Brooks replied, voice low and steady. No way was he letting Evelyn go to Country Y alone.
“If you want to give me a heart attack, then by all means, go!” Wiona shot back, standing her ground.
Mother and son stared each other
down, neither willing to back off. The standoff dragged on until Wiona’s face started to turn pale. Brooks Couldn’t risk his mother’s health-he just couldn’t.
“I’ll send Joey,” he finally said, giving in.
Wiona only relaxed when she heard what she wanted. She took the medicine Brooks handed her and swallowed it.
After settling his mom in to rest, Brooks stood for a moment, thinking. Then he picked up his phone and dialed Charles.