Chapter 148 Treasures and Trash
Tourists trickled out of Rose Garden, leaving just Evelyn and Nicole among the flower beds.
As the light faded, Evelyn's bare face still looked radiant, making Nicole both envious and jealous.
Despite everything, she had to admit Evelyn's stunning. Evelyn was married to Edward for three years, even if just in name, how could Nicole not feel anxious and resentful?
Nicole gritted her teeth, strutted up to Evelyn, and flicked her hair, dropping her usual meek act. "Got a new boyfriend already? Impressive. But you should've done this sooner. No matter how you cling to Edward, he won't look at you again."
Evelyn glanced at her like she was nuts. "Why would I want him to?"
Nicole was momentarily speechless, cursing inwardly.
"Since we're here, I might as well share some good news. Edward and I are getting engaged soon. It'll be at my birthday party."
"Congrats, but I don't have a gift for you," Evelyn replied lazily, sounding totally uninterested.
Seeing Evelyn's indifference, Nicole's anger flared. "No matter how stubborn you are, you must be furious inside. But what's the use? In the end, I'm with Edward, and you're the laughingstock of Mugden!"
"Nicole, every time you see me, you're either clamoring that you're going to get Edward or bragging about your relationship with him. Is your life that boring? Besides Edward, do you have nothing else to show for?" Evelyn sighed, feeling that talking to Nicole was beneath her.
"What did you say?!" Nicole fumed.
"I get it, you want to flaunt your new status and marriage into wealth, but find a better audience. What you treasure is trash to me. How pointless."
'Trash?!'
Nicole's face turned red and white with rage. "Evelyn! You're just jealous! The more you curse, the more you care about me being with Edward! You're calling Edward trash to vent your frustration. After all, you're the one who wasted three years and got dumped!"
Evelyn's eyes suddenly turned icy, like daggers piercing Nicole's heart, making her shiver.
"People need to know when to stop. My patience doesn't mean you can push your luck, and my kindness doesn't mean you can talk nonsense. I'll remind you one last time, don't mistake my politeness for weakness. Otherwise, your days ahead won't be so easy, Ashley."
The name "Ashley" hit Nicole like a thunderbolt, making her tremble with fear, her face ashen.
Her blood ran cold as she took a step back in panic.
"What's wrong? Why that look?" Evelyn smiled sweetly. "Isn't Ashley your alias in Mythorica? I've never seen someone so scared of their own name."
"I don't know who Ashley is. Never heard that name. I don't know what you're talking about!" Nicole's breathing grew rapid as she desperately denied it.
After all, Ashley was once a promiscuous, gold-digging woman, a far cry from the pure image she showed Edward now! If Edward found out she slept with different men every week and even had a baby, everything would be ruined!
Evelyn's dangerous, beautiful eyes narrowed as she got closer, bending slightly with a cold, knowing smile.
"Faces and names can change, but your actions leave traces. I don't keep it to myself out of kindness; it just doesn't concern me. But if you provoke me again, don't blame me for exposing you."
Nicole's heart pounded, her body shivering as if Evelyn had drained all her blood.
When Edward came out of Rose Garden, Evelyn and Gilbert were already gone.
After talking with Gilbert, Edward sat alone in the cold wind for a long time, like a dried-up fossil.
By now, it was late.
Edward had someone take Nicole back to the hospital and returned to Riverside Villa with Bart.
On the way, Bart was so anxious that his suit was soaked with cold sweat. He blushed with shame and kept apologizing to Edward, "I'm sorry, Edward. Punish me however you want! It's all my fault. I didn't do a good job investigating. I didn't know the person communicating with me was from the Alexander family! It's all my fault."
Bart choked up as he spoke.
Edward, deep in thought, opened his eyes and coldly mocked, "How old are you? Crying over this?"
"But this isn't a small matter," Bart said, still teary-eyed.
"People from the Alexander family haven't appeared domestically for over a decade. It's normal you couldn't find their information." Edward closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath. "Even if you found it, the result would be the same. He wouldn't cooperate with us. There are several similar rose gardens in the country. Contact them all, and we'll find a supplier."
"Yes, I'll handle it tomorrow!" Bart rubbed his eyes and sighed helplessly. "Mr. Alexander really went all out for Mrs. Wellington. Such a big project, he just gave it away. Any normal businessman would think twice, right?"
These words were like a thorn, deeply piercing Edward's heart. He asked gloomily, "Bart, was I really that bad to Evelyn before? Was I really that terrible?"
Bart was speechless. 'Though I am straightforward, I am not stupid.' Having just messed up a task, now Edward was giving him a tough question, making him feel like sitting on pins and needles.'
"It's okay, I won't blame you. Just speak your mind," Edward said, seeing through his hesitation.
"Well, Edward, actually, you weren't that bad to Mrs. Wellington. Everything she ate, wore, and used was the best. Luxury cars and black cards, you gave them without a second thought," Bart answered.
"Byron arranged our marriage. It was in name only. I never hesitated to give her what I could," Edward said, rubbing his high nose bridge, feeling a knot in his heart.
"If Mrs. Wellington had always seen it as a contractual marriage, planning to leave after three years, then you weren't bad to her," Bart said seriously, frowning. "But unfortunately, she was sincere. She loved you wholeheartedly, cared for you, day in and day out. No matter how you neglected her or how the Wellington family bullied her, she never complained. To a woman who saw you as her husband, you were indeed too heartless and cruel for those three years. The money you gave her was humiliation in the eyes of a woman who loved you."
Edward's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
All the turbulent emotions gathered in his heaving chest, and he tried hard to suppress them.
But thinking of the words "she loved you," his strong, resilient bones seemed about to be crushed by this emotion.
