Chapter 9 The Peace Talks Are Interrupted

The CEO’s office, top floor of the Miller Group.

Luke stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the busy city below.

The glass reflected his slightly furrowed brow and mildly irritated expression.

Several days had passed since the unpleasant meeting at the lab.

Evelyn hadn't contacted him again, and the divorce agreement remained in his drawer.

Beneath the irritation, he felt something more complicated.

Though he never thought he'd done anything wrong—after all, the initial investment was Evelyn's idea, and he pulled out because her constant fighting with the family was affecting the company's image and family stability.

But now...

Luke felt a vague unease.

Evelyn seemed to have genuinely gained the confidence and ability to break free from his control.

With that thought, he walked to his desk and pressed the intercom. "Mia, come in for a moment."

Mia quickly pushed the door open. "Mr. Miller."

"Go get the Starlight series jewelry set we bought at last quarter's auction," Luke instructed.

It was a diamond jewelry set, simple yet elegant in design and quite valuable, originally intended as a gift for an important business partner's wife.

Mia was a bit surprised, but her professionalism kept her from asking questions. "Yes, Mr. Miller."

Mia was efficient; within minutes, a gift box wrapped in deep blue velvet was placed on Luke's desk.

Luke picked up the box, looked at it briefly, then set it down.

He didn't think giving jewelry had any special meaning—he just figured this kind of gift best showed value and was the safest choice.

He had his driver prepare the car to head to Evelyn's lab.

Meanwhile, at Garden Vista Estates, Maggie was keeping Andy company in the playroom, where they were building a castle with blocks.

She looked distracted, checking her phone every now and then.

Mia was one of her informants, she knew immediately when Luke asked for that jewelry set.

Was he going to meet Evelyn?

And with such an expensive gift?

Maggie felt anxious.

No, she absolutely couldn't let Luke and Evelyn meet alone.

Her eyes darted around and landed on Andy, who was focused on stacking his tower; an idea quickly formed.

When Luke arrived at the lab, it was still early in the morning.

He didn't go up right away; instead, he sat in the car for a while, organizing what he wanted to say.

Finally, he took a deep breath, grabbed the gift box, got out of the car, and headed toward the lab building.

Shortly after the receptionist called up, Evelyn came out.

She wore a simple white lab coat over a light gray sweater and pants, with her hair loosely pinned back and her face expressionless.

Only for an instant, when she saw him, a flash of annoyance crossed her eyes.

"What do you want?" She stood at the hallway entrance, making no move to invite him in.

Luke suppressed his displeasure and held up the gift box. "I want to talk. About the investment withdrawal—there were some misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "The withdrawal notice, the official documents stamped by the Miller Group's legal department, and the ones personally delivered by Maggie—what misunderstanding could there be? Besides, I've already paid back the money. We're even. Is there anything else?"

"Evelyn," Luke said in a patient tone, "don't be so aggressive."

"The withdrawal process had some execution problems from the staff. I wasn't fully aware of all the details beforehand, and I admit Maggie didn't handle it properly."

This was as close to an apology as he could manage.

However, Evelyn just looked at him quietly, her eyes showing no emotion at all.

"So what? Mr. Miller, you came all this way just to tell me this—and then what?"

Luke was momentarily speechless.

"This," he paused, holding out the gift box, "is a gift. Let's just let the past be the past. We still have Andy, after all. There's no need to make things to be so tense between us."

Evelyn's gaze fell on the elegant velvet box, but she made no move to take it.

Her expression carried a hint of absurdity, as if she couldn't understand his behavior.

Then she let out a sarcastic laugh and shook her head lightly.

"Luke, do you think that as long as you make a small gesture and give something expensive, everything in the past can be erased, I should be grateful to you, and everything goes back to normal?"

"That's not what I meant..."

"Then what do you mean?" Evelyn interrupted him.

"Luke, in your mind, can everything be measured with money and things—including your wife's dignity and career?"

Luke's face darkened. "Evelyn, don't be ungrateful. The fact that I came here at all shows respect."

"Respect me?" Evelyn instinctively stepped back.

How had she ever fallen for this man?

Just then, Luke's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled out his phone irritably, and upon seeing Maggie's name flash on the screen, immediately answered it.

"Luke, something's wrong!"

Maggie's shrill, tearful voice immediately came through, with Andy's heart-wrenching cries in the background.

"Andy suddenly has terrible stomach pain and is rolling around. He's thrown up several times. I called the doctor, but the child keeps crying for his daddy. Please come back quickly—Andy needs you right now!"

Andy's piercing cries came clearly through the phone. "Daddy, Daddy, my stomach hurts so much, I want Daddy..."

Luke's heart tightened, his expression changing dramatically.

"What happened? What did the doctor say?" he asked urgently, no longer paying attention to Evelyn beside him.

"The doctor said it might be acute gastroenteritis, but the child is so young and reacting so severely that I’m scared being alone. Can you please come back quickly? Andy keeps calling for you..."

Maggie's voice trembled, filled with helplessness and fear.

Luke looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn had clearly heard the phone conversation; her face showed no expression as she looked at him coldly.

The next second, he made his decision.

"I'm coming right now!" Luke said firmly into the phone before hanging up.

He looked at Evelyn and said quickly, "Andy's suddenly sick; the situation might be serious. I have to go back immediately. Keep the gift for now—we'll talk about today's matter another time."

He shoved the gift box into Evelyn's hands and, without waiting for her reaction, turned and strode away.

Evelyn stood there, watching Luke disappear, the sarcastic smile on her lips deepening.

She turned and walked back into the lab, carrying the gift box.

Several researchers were busy working and looked up at the sound of footsteps.

Evelyn's gaze swept across them and landed on Betty, an intern.

The girl was bent over recording data, with a faded red string bracelet on her wrist.

"Betty," Evelyn spoke.

Betty looked up, somewhat confused. "Ms. Thomas?"

Evelyn walked over and placed the deep blue velvet gift box on the lab bench before her.

"This is for you."

"What?" Betty and the colleagues nearby were stunned.

"The style might be a bit old-fashioned. If you don't like it, you can sell it or give it to someone else."

Evelyn's tone was flat, as if discussing something trivial. "Consider it a celebration of our project's first phase success."

With that, she didn't spare the box another glance and walked straight to her office, closing the door behind her.

Betty stared at the obviously expensive gift box, flustered and blushing deeply.

David, beside her, pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat. "If Ms. Thomas gave it to you, just take it. Work hard."

"Oh, okay."