Chapter 175 Invitation
After getting back to Mugden from Yatuok, Bart kept a close eye on Evelyn.
Edward got word that Evelyn's pattern hadn't changed. She was still busy with hotel stuff and hadn't left Mugden.
Edward sat in his office, staring out the window, worried. 'With Ada's wedding coming up, is she not concerned? Or has she ditched the Alexa plan for something else?'
The incidents at Rose Garden, Tiffany's arrest, and intervention of the Starhaven project made Edward wary of Evelyn.
Just then, the phone rang. Edward hit the speaker button.
"Edward, Mr. Clark is here to see you," the secretary said.
"Send him in."
Eric walked in and flopped onto the sofa like he owned the place.
"I've told you, don't come here without a reason. I'm not as free as you," Edward said, not even looking up from his paperwork.
"Who do you think you are?" Eric mocked, crossing his legs.
"If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out." Edward snapped his pen shut and sat up.
"Jessica's been back for a few days. Susan invited you over for dinner."
"I'm swamped. I can't think about dinner until Ada's situation is sorted," Edward replied.
"How long has it been since you saw Susan? She just got back from abroad and wants to cook for you. You're being rude!" Eric pouted. "She even got all your favorite ingredients. If you don't come, she'll be really disappointed."
Edward sighed, "Alright, I'll go."
"That's the spirit! Jessica will be thrilled. You might not be popular with the Wellingtons, but the Clarks love you!" Eric's eyes lit up.
Edward suddenly remembered Jessica's overly friendly behavior at the concert hall and felt uneasy.
Back then, he held Jessica's hand because she was a cute ten-year-old and his best friend's sister. But now, she was an adult. She might be immature, but he could't be inappropriate. Just as Edward was about to speak, a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Come in."
"Edward! I've finished investigating Mrs. Wellington and Gilbert, and the connections between the Alexander and Taylor families!" Bart walked in, holding documents.
Eric blinked.
Edward almost broke his pen, his face darkening.
"Edward, you have a guest. I'll leave," Bart said awkwardly, stepping back.
"You're already here, and I'm not an outsider," Eric said with a smirk, grabbing an orange from the fruit plate and peeling it. "What's the matter? Still upset?"
"Eat your orange and mind your own business," Edward said, lowering his eyes, though his heart skipped a beat.
"Why shouldn't I ask? I was the one who pursued Evelyn first. You and Gilbert came after me!" Eric said, chewing on a piece of orange.
"So what if you pursued her first?" Edward's eyes flashed with hidden possessiveness. "She married me, and she'll never be yours."
"What's the point of bragging about being a divorced ex-husband?" Eric shot back, eyes wide. "If you had the guts to divorce Evelyn, why don't you have the guts to win her back? What's the point of sending Bart to investigate? By the time you're done dithering, she and Gilbert might already have kids!"
Edward's heart trembled, but he kept his tone cold. "Who said I want Evelyn back? I'm investigating because she took another one of my projects and teamed up with Gilbert, which could affect the Wellington Group's future plans."
"Fine, whatever you say," Eric sneered, tossing an orange peel at him.
Edward caught it, his face pale with anger as he crushed the peel.
Bart tried to keep a straight face. "Edward, it seems Mrs. Wellington and Gilbert don't have any special relationship. For the past three years, she's been by your side and hasn't looked at anyone else. I haven't found any connection between her and the Alexander family in the past ten years either."
Edward's expression softened slightly. 'So, Evelyn hasn't been won over by Gilbert. It's probably just his wishful thinking.'
"But a few days ago, I found out that Elbert took Randy and Gilbert to Hameen, probably to visit Mr. Taylor. Considering the long-standing relationship between the Taylor and Alexander families, Elbert might be planning to marry his sons into the Taylor family!"
'Marriage alliance?!' Edward and Eric were both stunned.
A massive sense of crisis swept over Edward.
Eric looked at Edward's slightly reddened eyes with a smirk. "Even if it was Gilbert's wishful thinking, if Elbert proposes and Mr. Taylor pressures her, Evelyn might agree."
Edward's face darkened.
"You might soon be attending Evelyn's wedding," Eric teased, eating an orange segment.
A surge of anger rose in Edward's throat. "Impossible. Evelyn would never agree to a family-arranged commercial marriage!"
"How sour!" Eric said.
"Eric!" Edward snapped.
"I said the orange is sour. Why are you so worked up?" Eric replied.
That evening, Edward went to the Clark family with Eric as promised. Though familiar with the Clarks, he brought valuable gifts, all top-quality health supplements.
Susan was delighted to see Edward, preparing a table full of delicious dishes, mostly his favorites and some of Jessica's.
"Susan, you're being too biased!" Eric pouted, holding his knife and fork. "None of the dishes I asked for are here."
"You've been eating my cooking for over twenty years. Edward doesn't come around often, so I have to treat him well." Susan's eyes were full of affection as she looked at Edward. "Edward, these are all your favorite dishes. Eat more."
"Thank you," Edward replied with a smile, picking up his knife and fork.
"Edward, eat more!" Jessica said, deliberately choosing the seat next to him.
