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 outside."

"...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, but he also seemed to be saying them to himself.

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 looked away, returning 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 rushed to the lab and threw herself into the next round of work.

Development had successfully entered the next phase—a critical period. She had to stay focused and not make any 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, last name 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: "You guys continue, 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 flowing down, 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 her pleasantries, walking straight to the opposite sofa and sitting down.

She looked at her calmly: "Maggie 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 in front of her.

"It's like this—the Miller Group has re-evaluated its investment in your lab and determined that the risk-to-return ratio doesn't align with the company's current investment strategy."

Maggie's voice remained soft, but the content was hard as iron.

"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 stop 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 face 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, looking directly into Maggie's eyes: "Maggie, are you done?"

Maggie felt a bit scared under her gaze but forced herself to nod: "That's basically it. For specific details, the document..."

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

"First, the Miller Group's withdrawal procedure should strictly follow the breach of contract terms in the investment agreement. The penalty fees must be paid in full, not a cent less."

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 for equipment procurement. That money—two weeks ago, I had my lawyer return the full amount 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, not know about it?

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

Evelyn raised an eyebrow slightly, "Or did Mr. Miller forget to tell you when he sent you?"

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 running well with sufficient funding. 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 face turned ugly as she stood up abruptly, "Evelyn, don't get cocky. Without the Miller Group's support, how long can your little lab last?"

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

Evelyn thought she'd finally have some peace, but near closing time, David rushed over in a hurry.

"The Miller Group's CEO is here and wants to see you. You should go check it out."

Luke?

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

As soon as she arrived, she saw Luke sitting on the sofa with a dark expression, Maggie standing beside him.

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

Seeing Evelyn enter, Luke's 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 taking care of the child—there was no way she could have gathered fifty million dollars in such a short time.

Evelyn 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. Your every word and action represent 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 hooking up with another man all along."

"How did I never realize you were so shameless before?"