Chapter 7 I Thought You Were Dead

Garden Vista Estates.

After getting back from the amusement park, Andy took a shower, changed into clean pajamas, and sat on the living room carpet assembling his newly bought robot.

After working on it for a while, he looked up at the stairs, then toward the kitchen, and pursed his lips.

"Dad," he dropped the blocks and ran over to Luke, who was reviewing documents, "when is Mom coming home? She hasn't been home in forever."

Luke's eyes shifted from the documents.

He reached out and ruffled Andy's hair, his tone flat. "She's busy—working out of town."

"...Is she still mad at me?"

Andy lowered his head, picking at his fingers.

"Because I yelled at her and kicked her out, so she doesn't want me anymore?"

Luke's brow furrowed, almost imperceptibly.

"No." He answered quickly, almost without thinking. "Mom won't stop wanting you. She just needs some time. When she's done with her work, she'll come back."

These words were meant for Andy, yet it seemed as though he was trying to convince himself as well.

After all, how could Evelyn really not want her child?

She was just being difficult, and now she was stuck.

Once she calmed down and thought things through, she would naturally come back.

"Really?" Andy looked up.

"Yes." Luke averted his gaze and returned to his documents, "Go play."

Andy felt a bit more at ease and ran back to his blocks.

Evelyn returned to Oceancrest City a week later.

As soon as she got back, she headed straight to the lab and plunged into the next round of work.

Development had successfully entered the next phase—a critical period. She had to stay focused now; there was no room for mistakes in the experiments.

Just as she and several researchers were discussing parameters, the front desk's internal phone rang.

The assistant picked up, listened for a few moments, then walked over to Evelyn with a somewhat awkward expression.

"Ms. Thomas, there's a lady here to see you. Her last name is Smith. She says she's representing the Miller Group."

Maggie?

Evelyn's hand paused as she was recording data, a flash of coldness crossing her eyes.

She put down her pen and nodded to her colleague. "Continue without me. I'll go check."

In the reception room, Maggie was already seated on the sofa.

She wore a beige suit today, makeup perfect, curled hair fell neatly over her shoulders, looking both capable and elegant.

Seeing Evelyn enter, Maggie immediately stood up, showing a standard professional fake smile. "Evelyn, sorry to disturb you."

Evelyn didn't return the courtesy. She walked straight to the sofa opposite and sat down.

She looked at her calmly. "Ms. Smith, you came all the way from the Miller Group—what's this about?"

Evelyn's tone wasn't exactly friendly, so Maggie didn't waste time. She took a document out of her handbag and gently pushed it across the table toward her.

"It's like this—the Miller Group has re-evaluated its investment in your lab and determined that the risk-to-return ratio no longer aligns with the company's current investment strategy."

Maggie's voice remained soft, but her words were unyielding.

"The company has decided to formally withdraw all financial support for the lab. This is the withdrawal notice. All relevant legal terms and follow-up procedures are included."

Evelyn didn't touch the document.

She just looked at Maggie, even with a faint smile. "Luke sent you?"

Maggie's eyes flickered, then returned to normal.

"This is an official company decision. Mr. Miller authorized me to handle it. Evelyn, according to regulations, from the date this withdrawal notice is delivered, the lab must immediately cease using all equipment and materials purchased with the Miller Group's investment, and terminate all research activities conducted under this project."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across Evelyn's face.

"Of course, we understand that starting a business isn't easy for you, Evelyn. If the lab can't continue because of this and you run into difficulties, you can let us know. Mr. Miller and I can handle it on a case-by-case basis."

Her and Luke?

Handle it on a case-by-case basis?

Evelyn almost laughed out loud.

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking onto Maggie's. "Maggie, are you done?"

A flicker of unease crossed Maggie's face under that steady stare, but she forced herself to nod. "That's basically it. For the specific details, the document..."

"Then it's my turn." Evelyn cut her off.

"First, the Miller Group's withdrawal procedure must strictly comply with the breach-of-contract terms in the investment agreement. All penalty fees are to be paid in full—no reduction, no exceptions."

Maggie froze.

"Second," Evelyn continued, "regarding the usage rights of lab equipment and materials. The Miller Group initially invested eighty million dollars, of which about fifty million was allocated to equipment procurement. That sum—two weeks ago, I instructed my lawyer to return it in full to the Miller Group's public account."

The smile on Maggie's face completely froze.

"What? Returned? That's impossible..." she instinctively objected.

Such a large fund transfer—how could she, as Luke's assistant, be completely unaware of it?

"Didn't you check the company accounts before coming?"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow slightly. "Or did Mr. Miller forget to brief you before sending you here?"

Maggie was speechless, her fingers gripping her handbag strap tightly.

She indeed hadn't checked. She had just been eager to use the withdrawal as an excuse to see Evelyn in a miserable state.

Who would have thought Evelyn had actually returned that fifty million dollars?

"Also," Evelyn leaned back against the sofa, "the lab is currently operating smoothly with sufficient funding. There's no need for the Miller Group—or Maggie—to worry. If there's nothing else, I won't see you out. This is a restricted lab area—no unauthorized personnel allowed."

She emphasized the last few words.

"You—" Maggie's expression darkened as she stood up abruptly, "Evelyn, don't get cocky. Without the Miller Group's support, how long do you think your little lab can survive?"

With that, she grabbed the document and turned to leave.

Evelyn thought she'd finally have some peace, but just before closing time, David hurried in.

"The Miller Group's CEO is here. He's requesting to see you. You should go meet him."

Luke?

A flash of annoyance crossed Evelyn's eyes, but she still took off her lab coat and headed toward the reception room.

As soon as she arrived, she saw Luke seated on the sofa, his expression dark. Maggie stood beside him.

This had to be another one of Maggie's schemes.

The moment Luke saw Evelyn, his expression grew even darker, and he immediately questioned her. "Evelyn, where did you get that money?"

During their five years of marriage, Evelyn had been the one taking care of the child—there was no way she could have gathered fifty million dollars in such a short time.

She didn't want to waste words with him. "How is that any of your business?"

"You tell me." Luke's knuckles turned white. "Legally, you're still my wife. Every word and action of yours reflects on the Miller Group's reputation."

Evelyn understood.

So he came here in a rage just to confirm whether his wife, in name only, had done anything to betray him, whether the money was obtained through legitimate channels.

"Evelyn, you didn't answer my calls. I thought you were dead." A clear male voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Luke turned around.

A tall, casually dressed man stood at the entrance to the reception room.

The man was about thirty-two or thirty-three, with handsome features, wearing large sunglasses, with a distinguished air—clearly wealthy.

He had his hands in his pockets, looking somewhat rebellious, but he immediately grasped the situation in the reception room, a disdainful smile playing at his lips.

"Evelyn, you okay?" The man walked in and naturally stood beside Evelyn, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Luke's pupils contracted slightly, his expression instantly turning extremely ugly.

"Who is he?" He looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn was about to answer when Maggie suddenly gasped softly, looking at Evelyn with disbelief.

"Evelyn, even if you're angry at Mr. Miller, you can't... Mr. Miller is still right here."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the implication was crystal clear.

Luke's face instantly darkened.

"Evelyn," his voice was icy, each word seeming to squeeze through his teeth, "So that's why you suddenly got so tough—you've been seeing another man all along. How did I never realize you were so shameless before?"