Chapter 117 Blind Date List
'So, Nicole's moving into Riverside Villa with Edward as his wife, huh? If I were him, I wouldn't want my ex's stuff around either. Makes sense.'
"So you think it's clutter? Just toss it then. No need to ask me," Evelyn said coldly.
"What about the gifts you gave me? Should I throw those away too?"
Evelyn smirked. "Those weren't from me, but from Lily. She might've valued them, but to me, they're just trash."
Edward was speechless, struggling to respond.
"Next time, contact my secretary. I don't answer unknown numbers. Goodbye."
"Evelyn."
"Are you done?" Evelyn snapped, annoyed.
"What about those performance costumes? You always took such care of them. Are you giving those up too?"
Edward's tone grew stern. "If you don't come get them, I'll assume they're abandoned and deal with them myself."
Evelyn hesitated. Those costumes were Joyce's prized collection, each one crafted with care. Joyce had lent them to cheer up Byron, insisting they didn't need to be returned. Evelyn couldn't let Edward waste Joyce's kindness. She sighed. "I'll have William pick them up tomorrow."
"You come in person," Edward demanded. "If your secretary comes, I won't let him in. I'll be waiting for you tomorrow. That's final." He hung up.
"Damn it!" Evelyn fumed at the darkened screen. 'It's just a few clothes, and he thinks he's got leverage over me! Fine, I'll go!'
The next morning, Evelyn and Jennifer got dressed and headed to the dining room for breakfast, arm in arm. Landon had an early meeting, so only Charlie, Donna, Joyce, Susan, and Simon were at the table.
"You two lazybones, what took you so long? We've been waiting," Simon teased.
"Jennifer and I haven't seen each other in ages. We chatted all night," Evelyn yawned, her eyes bloodshot. But Jennifer looked refreshed, her skin glowing.
Charlie, at the head of the table, glanced at Evelyn disapprovingly, his eyes dark from lack of sleep. That chair probably never imagined it would cause the richest man in Hameen to be heartbroken and sleepless.
Evelyn, unfazed, ate and drank as usual. Once given, a gift is never taken back. Charlie had to accept it.
As breakfast wrapped up and Evelyn was about to leave, Charlie spoke coldly, "Evelyn, do you still have feelings for Edward?"
Everyone tensed up. Evelyn calmly replied, "No."
"Does that mean you've completely moved on from the divorce?" Charlie pressed.
"Charlie, we've known each other for twenty-four years. If you have something to say, just say it," Evelyn said, dabbing her lips with a napkin.
"Then I'll be direct. Hubert Diaz!" Charlie called out. Hubert, the chairman's chief secretary, hurried over and handed him a document. Charlie tossed it in front of Evelyn.
"What's this?"
"A list."
"What kind of list?"
"A matchmaking list," Charlie smirked.
Everyone was stunned. Jennifer dropped her fork, and Simon nearly spat out his coffee, coughing.
"Charlie!"
Evelyn stood up, eyebrows raised. "Are you getting back at me?"
Charlie calmly sipped his coffee. "You're my daughter. Why would I get back at you? Now that you're divorced, people will talk. Edward can remarry, so I need to set you up too. Whatever Edward has, you should have as well."
"If he's lost his mind, should I lose mine too?" Evelyn fumed.
"Anyway, I've decided. This list was compiled overnight by Hubert, featuring all the eligible bachelors nationwide around your age. Prepare yourself. Starting next month, you'll meet at least five a week, with weekends off." Charlie's serious expression showed he wasn't joking.
Evelyn nearly flipped the table. "I don't care! I'm not going! I won't meet them!"
"If you don't, you'll give up the CEO position."
Evelyn was furious. "Charlie, you promised that if I helped build KS WORLD, you'd make me CEO of KS. How can you go back on your word? Aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation?"
"If ruining my reputation can give my daughter a happy marriage, it's a small sacrifice." Charlie's face was full of determination.
Evelyn gritted her teeth. "I'm not going on blind dates. Let whoever wants to go!"
"Then the CEO position can go to whoever wants it too."
Charlie narrowed his eyes. "Don't forget, the Taylor family still answers to me."
Breakfast ended on a sour note. Evelyn felt like she had swallowed a bunch of dry sticks, burning in her lungs.
As a child, whenever she was upset, she would run to the back garden, hide in the rock cave, and carve curse words on the stones or cry. Now, at twenty-four, she hadn't changed. She went to the rock cave to sulk.
"Evelyn! I knew you'd be here!" Simon bent down, peeking into the cave.
"Do you think Charlie is getting back at me for stealing his chair?" Evelyn asked angrily.
"Well, not entirely. Charlie probably wants to help you move on from the negative impact of the scumbag Edward and start a new life," Simon said, sitting beside her.
"Starting a new life by constantly throwing men at me? I'm his daughter, not some pervert. Do I look like I can't live without a man?"
Evelyn tossed a pebble into the pond, making it skip a few times. "Men are just burdens! If he wants to date, let him!"
"But you know how Charlie is. He's vengeful and doesn't play fair."
Simon whispered, "He said if you don't go on dates, you can't be CEO. I think he means it."
Evelyn felt a chill. "So, Simon, what should I do now?"
"How about this, give me a copy of that list."
"What? Are you going to take care of them one by one for me?" Evelyn's eyes sparkled.
"I'll check them out for you, picking a few good ones for you to meet. You can keep one around for fun." Simon grinned mischievously.
Evelyn's eyes widened, and she raised her fist to punch him. Just then, her phone rang. Edward's name flashed on the screen, annoyingly prominent.
Already in a bad mood, Evelyn answered the call, ready to vent. "Why are you calling so early? Edward, don't you have any shame?"
"Have you left yet?" Edward ignored her sarcasm, his voice calm.
"No!"
"Then come out now."
Edward paused, his voice low and steady. "I'm outside your house."
