Chapter 116 A Whole Family of Actors!
Donna was ready to be discovered, as long as Joyce and Susan weren't.
"Why didn't you tell me?! Evelyn might not know, but you should! You watched her grow up. Doesn't it hurt to see her suffer?!" Charlie lashed out at Donna.
"It's my fault, Charlie, all my fault," Donna said, standing up slowly. "Don't blame Evelyn, blame me. I didn't care enough about her."
Evelyn's heart tightened, and just as she was about to defend Aunt Donna, Susan, with her fiery temper, suddenly stood up and said, "Charlie, don't blame her. I knew about Evelyn's marriage a long time ago!"
"What?!" Charlie's eyes nearly popped out.
"And me too," Joyce added weakly, raising her hand.
"Joyce! Even you? You've been corrupted by them!" Charlie was dizzy with anger.
Evelyn's eyes welled up. 'Now, even if Charlie wanted to make a fuss, he couldn't blame everyone.'
"Charlie, calm down. They did this for your own good. The less you know, the better for your health!" Simon quickly stepped in, handing Charlie a delicate coffee cup.
Charlie, usually refined, was now so angry he was cursing, almost ready to blow the roof off!
"Wait, no! Don't tell me you two knew as well?" he asked, looking at Landon and Simon.
They exchanged glances and coughed lightly in unison.
'Look at that! This whole family, all actors! Putting on a show right in front of me, while I was the only fool kept in the dark! I, who had been a force in the business world, was now played by my own family!'
He roared in anger, storming upstairs without looking back.
"Charlie, aren't you going to eat?" Joyce called after him, getting no response.
"Joyce, you should go upstairs and talk to Charlie later. You're gentle, and he usually listens to you," Donna sighed.
"I don't dare. I'll just leave some of his favorite dishes and bring them up later," Joyce said, knowing this was serious and feeling scared.
"Charlie always stays in his treasure room when he's in a bad mood. Did he find out?!" Susan broke into a cold sweat. Just then, they heard Charlie's horrified scream from upstairs:
"Call the police! My $100 million Pocotimi wood chair is missing!"
Dinner ended in chaos.
'If it weren't for everyone holding him back, I think Charlie might have driven to Mugden overnight to get the chair back from Byron. The older he got, the more eccentric he became. Plus, you need a thick skin to get good antiques, so Charlie's skin had only gotten thicker, and his temper worse over the years. Nowadays, Charlie probably couldn't find a woman who would like him even if he paid.'
That night, Evelyn and Jennifer talked for a long time. They didn't get enough, so they took a bath together, dried their hair, did skincare, and lay in bed together.
"By the way, Evelyn, do you like the birthday gift I gave you?" Jennifer asked, propping her chin with her hands.
"I love it so much I framed it and hung it in my study at the villa in Mugden. When I hung it up, William thought it was a 3D-printed photo of me! It's so lifelike! He usually doesn't compliment people, but he praised you a lot that day."
Evelyn, full of affection, took Jennifer's soft hand and held it in her palm. "Jennifer, your hands are amazing. How about I buy high insurance for them? You're truly the pride of the Taylor family!"
"Evelyn, stop praising me. My embroidery is far worse than Joyce's," Jennifer said, biting her lip, her cheeks blushing with adorable dimples.
Getting Evelyn's approval made her happy, but what made her even happier was that William also praised her. She probably wouldn't be able to sleep from excitement tonight!
"Not only did you inherit Joyce's singing and dancing talents, but also her skillful hands. I'll introduce you to a top fashion designer someday. You two can collaborate, and I'll make sure you become an instant hit in the fashion industry. How about that?"
"Thanks, Evelyn, but I want to try my luck in the entertainment industry. I studied at the film academy in Mugden and hope to become an excellent actress after graduation," Jennifer said softly, lacking confidence.
Because her mother Joyce had been bullied in the entertainment industry, Charlie strongly opposed her studying at the film academy. She dropped out of school overseas and returned to Mugden secretly, studying for half a year before Charlie reluctantly agreed, but only if she followed the family's arrangements after graduation.
To achieve her dream, she had to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry and change Charlie's view of actors.
"So that's your plan. That's great. You have a dream, and I'll fully support you!" Evelyn hugged Jennifer's shoulders, her eyes showing a hint of worry. "But the entertainment industry is chaotic. As a newcomer without money or background, no one will give you a second look. So, when you go for auditions, don't be shy. Just write 'My dad is Charlie' on your resume. I guarantee you'll have no obstacles!"
"Evelyn, Charlie already hates me entering the entertainment industry. If I do that, I'll just make things worse for him," Jennifer laughed helplessly. "Besides, getting opportunities that way wouldn't give me any sense of achievement. I want to prove my choice was right through my own efforts."
"People should have aspirations. Truly a daughter of the Taylor family!" Evelyn sighed, pinching her delicate face. "I'm just afraid you'll suffer, Jennifer."
'Jennifer was perfect in every way, except she inherited Joyce's gentle and introverted nature. In the entertainment industry, a world where the strong prey on the weak, she would be devoured without a trace.'
"Evelyn, can I ask you a question?" Jennifer pondered for a long time before asking softly.
"Do you want to ask about Edward?"
"Yes." Jennifer nodded vigorously, unable to hide her regret. "Why did you get divorced? Was he not good to you?"
"No, he wasn't bad. We just weren't right for each other," Evelyn answered lightly.
"Well, he's the president of the Wellington family. Presidents must be very busy and have no time for you, neglecting you. So you separated," Jennifer guessed.
Evelyn frowned, "Why don't you guess that he cheated, so I divorced him?"
"That's impossible," Jennifer waved her hand.
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
"With so much money, wouldn't he be afraid of dying before spending it all?"
Evelyn burst into laughter. 'It seems my fierce persona has always been well-established at home.'
At that moment, her phone rang. Evelyn glanced at it; "Edward" was glaringly obvious!
Her face darkened, and not wanting Jennifer to overthink, she quickly put on her slippers and walked to the small living room to answer the call.
"What do you want?"
"You answered quickly this time," Edward's voice was low and magnetic.
"Remember to give a five-star rating, dear," Evelyn's tone was full of sarcasm, clearly not taking him seriously.
Edward's throat tightened, and he said in a deep voice, "I'm getting discharged tomorrow. Come to Riverside Villa."
"Discharged tomorrow? So soon," Evelyn sneered.
"Remember to come to Riverside Villa tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you."
Evelyn coldly refused without hesitation, "I'm busy, and I won't set foot in that place again. Don't contact me anymore. Goodbye."
Edward paused, his voice deep, "You still have many things here. Don't you plan to take them?"
