Chapter 16
Heather had a maid get a cold compress to bring down the swelling on Evan’s face, showing no sign of resenting Beverly for slapping him.
“The more a man’s wife hits him, the more obedient he becomes. The only problem is that he’ll make a fool of himself before everyone in the company if he shows up with a handprint on his face.”
She couldn’t help thinking that this was all Cindy’s fault. If not for her, Evan wouldn’t have gotten slapped in the first place. Fortunately, Cindy had already been sent abroad.
Still, that didn’t mean Heather would indulge her. She would freeze the cards Evan had given Cindy to teach her a lesson-the only way to make sure she stopped stirring up trouble was by making her suffer.
Lance had a bit of food before excusing himself to accompany Harold and Theresa. Meanwhile, Christina remained at the dining table with everyone else.
Heather said, “Christina and her family purposely made this trip home when they heard you guys were moving in with me. They’ll be spending a few days here, so remember not to get too caught up in your work while they’re here, okay?
“Come home earlier every night.” She scooped some food onto Beverly’s plate. “You can have Theresa spend more time with you while she’s here.”
She glanced at Beverly’s belly. “There’s an old belief that being around children will help increase your chances of conceiving. After all, children love being around each other.”
Heather was indirectly pushing Beverly to have children again. However, Beverly didn’t say a word and merely listened indifferently.
Their relationship had been amicable for close to ten years; this was Beverly’s first time ignoring Heather. The latter faltered slightly before putting more food onto Beverly’s plate.
She said, “It’s your mother’s death anniversary in a few days, Bev. Is there anything special you want to prepare for this year’s ritual? If you don’t, I’ll just prepare the usual things. I’m sure she’s watching you from heaven and will bless you with a daughter.
31
Beverly looked into Heather’s eyes. Her usual docile, gentle gaze was now sharp and cold. It made Heather’s scalp tingle.
What right did Heather have to talk about Elaine? Beverly couldn’t imagine how devastated Elaine would be if she knew her so- called best friend was bullying her daughter.
“Mom, Beverly is on her period and doesn’t have much of an appetite. That’s too much food,” Evan said.
“Oh, okay.” Heather chuckled and scooped up some of the food on Beverly’s plate.
Even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes couldn’t conceal her true intentions as she patted Beverly’s hand and said, “No wonder you look so pale. You must be upset because you’ve failed to conceive again.
“You’re still young, so you have many more chances for that. I’ll make some nutritious meals for you and Evan to boost your health. I’m sure you’ll have good news soon. You won’t let Elaine down.”
In hindsight, Beverly realized that Heather often brought up Elaine whenever she herself wanted to encourage Beverly to have more children. She made it sound as if Elaine would be the most disappointed if Beverly failed to conceive, not Heather herself.
Naturally, Beverly didn’t want to let her mother down. With that pressure weighing her down, she’d grown more desperate and anxious to have a second child. However, it was precisely because of that physical and emotional burden that she’d later lost her second child after conceiving it.
It was a nightmare she would never be able to move past.
Yet now, she knew the truth. Someone else had already given Evan a second child–and a girl, to boot.
Heather was the mastermind who’d murdered Beverly’s love and destroyed her family, yet she acted innocent and continued to manipulate her under the guise of being kind.
Beverly pushed Heather’s hand away and said firmly, “I won’t ever have another child with Evan.”
Both Heather and Christina turned to look at her when they heard that. A hint of surprise flickered in Heather’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant.
She went back to looking like the proper matriarch of an affluent family and softened her voice. “Bev, Harry must be lonely on his own. When you and Evan grow old, Harry will have to bear the burden of inheriting such a massive fortune alone.
“My heart breaks at the thought of all the pressure he’ll be under. I’m sure you don’t want to see him exhausted from that, right?
11
“Are you sure Harold is Evan’s only child?” Beverly’s gaze turned colder.
