Chapter 346 Be Careful of This Man
Tonight, Charlie and Landon are both out of town, traveling abroad for a project. The house is mostly filled with women.
Gilbert, nominally speaking, isn't a stranger. It was late at night, and everyone was keeping an eye on Joyce after something happened to her. Not wanting to disturb the family, she took Gilbert to the parlor.
Unexpectedly, Nancy was there too.
"Nancy, you're still up?" Evelyn was a bit surprised and then introduced her, "Ah, this is my friend."
"Mr. Alexander, I remember seeing you at Joyce's birthday party last time."
Nancy smiled slightly at Gilbert, "Besides a few brothers, Evelyn has never had a male friend around. You're the first."
"It's my honor that Evelyn chose me as her friend." Gilbert's deep eyes held a smile, looking very sincere, "It's even more of an honor to have the chance to meet the future First Lady of Aurora Isle."
Evelyn was a bit taken aback; she didn't expect him to say that.
Nancy's expression remained calm, "I'm just Evelyn's sister. My husband is just an ordinary congressman of Aurora Isle. I can't bear what you're saying."
Gilbert curled his lips, noncommittal.
"Evelyn, you entertain the guest. I won't disturb you." Nancy slowly stood up.
Although Evelyn was smiling, she clearly felt that something was off between Nancy and Gilbert, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Nancy left.
As soon as she closed the door, her expression darkened. She took out her phone from her coat pocket and dialed her assistant.
"Any progress on what I asked you to investigate?"
"Yes, the background check on Gilbert has been sent to your private email."
"Got it."
Since it was getting late, Gilbert didn't want to disturb much longer and left shortly after.
Back in the car, Curtis immediately smiled happily, "Mr. Alexander, Ms. Taylor's attitude towards you is getting better. Not only did she accept your gift, but she also invited you in."
Gilbert adjusted his glasses, his expression not showing much satisfaction, "Drive."
Evelyn neither accepted his gift nor invited him in.
Everything was still the same as before; It was his initiative, his wishful thinking.
Evelyn had never taken a step towards him.
"Edward has been completely rejected by Ms. Taylor and is out of the picture. Looking around Ms. Taylor, there's no one better than you. You and Ms. Taylor will definitely end up together!"
Gilbert loosened the Windsor knot of his tie and asked lightly, "Are you implying that I'm not as good as Edward?"
Curtis shivered, almost scared out of his wits, "No!"
"Evelyn may have let go of Edward, but Edward hasn't truly let go of her, so we can't be careless."
Saying this, Gilbert looked out the window with dark eyes.
"By the way, Mr. Alexander, there's progress on what you asked me to investigate." Curtis said with a grim face.
"Go ahead."
"Last time, when you and Ms. Taylor were attacked at the stables, someone indeed tampered with the horses. Our people tested the blood samples of the horses and found a stimulant that interferes with the animal's brain nerves.
"Not only that, our people conducted a secret carpet search inside and outside the stables and finally found this in the trash can."
Curtis took out a plastic bag from his briefcase, which contained a syringe, "After checking the surveillance, we found that the culprit was indeed Randy's man."
Gilbert half-closed his eyes, full of mockery, "Randy, like Calvin, is not a good person. Randy doesn't have Calvin's skills; he does things sloppily and can't make it to the big stage. He's not even worth my effort to deal with."
"But we can't just let it go, it's too humiliating!" Curtis gritted his teeth.
"Of course not." Gilbert leaned back leisurely, closing his eyes to rest, "If he breaks one of my ribs, I'll break three of his. If he breaks one of my arms, I'll take one of his legs. That's fair, right?"
Curtis nodded repeatedly, "Fair, absolutely fair!"
Gilbert chuckled lightly and shook his finger. "If Evelyn had been the one injured, would I have spared his life until now?"
***
Evelyn took a bath and did a thorough skincare routine from head to toe, finally easing her heavy mood a bit.
"Evelyn, are you asleep?" Nancy's voice came from outside the door.
"Not yet, Nancy! Come in!"
Nancy opened the door and entered.
Evelyn turned around while patting her cheeks, watching Nancy walk over in a light blue silk nightgown.
"Evelyn, where did you get a horse? It's so golden, brighter than the lights in the yard, almost blinding me." Nancy looked curious.
"It's Gilbert's horse." Evelyn continued her facial massage.
"Is it his horse, or did he give it to you?"
"His. He wanted to give it to me, but I didn't take it."
"Your favorite animal is a horse, and he gave you a very precious one. You could resist such a big temptation; it seems you really want to draw a clear line with him." Nancy nodded thoughtfully, murmuring to herself, "In that case, I'm relieved."
Unexpectedly, Evelyn's ears were sharp and she heard it, "Nancy, what did you say? Relieved? Why?"
"I can tell Gilbert likes you a lot. The way he looks at you is full of affection."
Evelyn felt a headache just thinking about it, "I know, he confessed to me. What should I do? So many people like me. But I'm just not into the love stuff anymore."
"Why? Because Mr. Wellington hurt you?" Nancy teased gently.
"That wasn't hurting me; at most, it was like being bitten by a dog! It hurt!" Thinking of Edward, Evelyn's hand applied more force, almost slapping her face swollen.
"Aunt Susan was so happy to see that horse; she's riding it in the backyard now." Nancy smiled, changing the subject.
"What? Aunt Susan is riding that horse?" Evelyn suddenly stood up from the chair, her eyes wide open, "I haven't even ridden it yet!"
"Just let her ride it. You always give away expensive jewelry without a second thought, but you can't bear to let someone ride a horse?"
At that moment, Susan's hearty shout came faintly from outside the window.
Evelyn held her forehead, "Alright, as long as she's happy."
Nancy slowly sat down on the sofa, pursing her lips, hesitant to speak.
"Nancy, you must have something to say to me, right?" Evelyn walked over and sat close to her, intimately linking arms, and asked in a low voice, "Is it about Gilbert?"
"I remember Gilbert visiting us when he was a child. You seemed to have a good relationship with him," Nancy said lightly.
"Yes, in elementary school, we were classmates."
Evelyn squinted her beautiful eyes, lost in memory, "At that time, he was bullied by classmates, and I helped him out. He was grateful to me, so he stuck to me during school and after school.
"Because of my family background, no classmates played with me; they all kept their distance. I could only be his playmate.
"Honestly, that childhood time was quite happy. Later, he and Angela went to Aurora Isle, and we didn't contact each other for fifteen years."
"Fifteen years without contact means that when he reappeared, he was essentially a stranger to you," Nancy said thoughtfully.
"Yes, I didn't recognize him at first sight."
"Evelyn, I'm not against you making friends. Elbert and Father are good brothers, so his son wouldn't mess with you. But..."
Nancy thought of the file she had her people investigate on Gilbert, her expression darkening, "This Gilbert is far from simple. I privately investigated his background. His business in Aurora Isle is huge, with a wide range of interests, very complex.
"The social situation in Aurora Isle is not as simple as here. Organized crime and drugs are rampant, and collusion between officials and businessmen is blatant and commonplace. Wade's first task after taking office is to tackle drug trafficking and corruption."
Evelyn couldn't help but feel anxious, "Nancy, the road ahead for you and Wade will be tough!"
"Don't change the subject." Nancy's expression gradually became serious, "In Aurora Isle, to do business on Gilbert's scale, it's impossible not to be involved in organized crime.
"I also heard that he was secretly summoned by the prosecutor for drug-related issues but was ultimately released due to insufficient evidence."
"What did you say?" Evelyn's pupils contracted.
"Although there was no evidence, and he returned safely without being convicted, the fact that he was investigated indicates serious suspicion.
"And the person who handled his case was Wade's student, known for being upright and incorruptible, not someone who would falsely accuse anyone."
Nancy tightly grasped Evelyn's hand, full of worry, "Evelyn, it's fine to be ordinary friends. But don't get too close to someone with that kind of danger potential."
Evelyn's long lashes trembled, and after a moment of contemplation, she nodded lightly, "Nancy, I'm an adult. I've been through storms, seen the most brutal battlefields, and the darkest sides of human nature. I understand what you're saying. I'll keep it in mind."
Five days later, in the evening
A line of black luxury cars drove into Riverside Villa, parked in front of the main entrance.
First to get out were several bodyguards in black, with golden badges on their chests, symbolizing they were from the Clark Group.
The doors of three cars opened simultaneously, and Jessica and Sophia got out first.
"Grandpa!"
Maurice, with graying temples and a cane, got out of the car with Jessica's support, his face cold.
"Dad, take it slow." Sophia also hurried to help.
Maurice coldly stared at the entrance of Riverside Villa, taking a deep breath, "Last time, when you came to discuss the marriage, Edward didn't show up at all?"
Sophia bit her lip, shamefully nodding, "Yes."
"How useless you are."
Jessica secretly pouted, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction with Sophia as well.
"You know Edward's character. If he doesn't want to do something, even Patrick can't make him. Tiffany, his stepmother, is of no use either." Sophia explained in a trembling voice.
Since Jared's death, their family had been supported by Eric.
Without Eric, Maurice wouldn't even consider her.
"You are Jessica's mother. She was wronged, and you couldn't do anything." Maurice was furious, hitting the ground with his cane, "The Clark family is a top-tier family in Mugden, feared by everyone. Now, because of Edward, I have to personally handle this."
"Dad, it's all my fault. I'm useless." Sophia hung her head, continuously admitting her fault.
"Grandpa, Mom tried her best. Please don't blame her." Jessica clung to Maurice's arm, obediently speaking up for Sophia.
"Edward is too arrogant, too disrespectful!" Maurice's eyes flashed with anger, "His recent actions show he doesn't take us seriously at all! He better marry Jessica. Otherwise, the Clark family will be their lifelong enemy!"
In the nightclub's private room
Debra was having a wild party with a group of friends, two nearly naked male escorts dancing closely with her.
At this moment, her assistant approached, kneeling on one knee at her feet, "There's a situation at Riverside Villa."
"What is it?" Debra asked lazily.
"The Clark family is there. Probably about the marriage again."
"What's the big deal? Sophia went there a few days ago and didn't even see Edward, leaving in disgrace."
"This time is different. Not only did Sophia come, but Maurice is here too!"
Debra's eyes suddenly widened, and she sat up abruptly, "Who did you say?"
"Maurice, Maurice! I heard they came with quite a show, probably to demand an explanation."
"Interesting, very interesting!" Debra slapped the sofa hard, her eyes gleaming, "Prepare the car! Let's go watch the show!"
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