Chapter 8 Have You Fulfilled Your Duties as a Husband?
"Oh dear! Nicole! Are you OK?" Tiffany exclaimed in shock, but she couldn't help but laugh.
Edward quickly stepped forward and bent down to pull Nicole up from the ground, but she refused to get up.
Nicole's knees were hurting. She cried, "Edward, I'm in so much pain from falling. Please carry me."
Evelyn crossed her arms and coldly looked at Nicole on the ground.
Nicole was being theatrical. Whenever she was with Edward, she would immediately start acting pitiful.
"Edward, Ms. Brown... she pushed me!"
Nicole timidly hid in Edward's arms, casting a sinister glance at Evelyn.
"Nicole, what did you say?" Edward was completely taken aback.
"Are you sure it was me who pushed you?" Evelyn wasn't angry; instead, she laughed. She watched Nicole's performance.
"Could it possibly be that I pushed myself to the ground?" Nicole's voice, which had always been gentle, was now raised in anger.
"That's not impossible. After all, you look so sickly, almost dying. Maybe a gust of wind just blew you over." Evelyn replied calmly.
"You... you're cursing me to death!"
Nicole's face turned red. "When I was walking over, I clearly felt your hand push me. Are you too afraid to admit it?"
"Ms. Adams, this is a society based on the rule of law. There are cameras everywhere. Accusations won't work."
Suddenly, Evelyn's clear and peaceful eyes slightly darkened, her presence pressing. "Once I find evidence, I can definitely sue you for defamation."
Edward felt his eyes widen. He could see that Lily was completely different now.
She was no longer the gloomy, lonely, submissive wife.
Nicole was clearly overpowered by Evelyn's strong presence and looked to Tiffany for help.
"Oh dear, it's a misunderstanding. It's all a misunderstanding!"
Tiffany secretly glanced at the camera above her head and smiled as she defused the situation. "Nicole, it's probably just that you lost your balance and fell. You happened to bump into Lily, so you thought she pushed you. It's all a misunderstanding!"
"Nicole, are you sure it was because you lost your balance?" Edward looked down at Nicole in his arms, his tone slightly aloof.
"I thought she pushed me..."
Edward narrowed his eyes.
Nicole felt flustered and argued, "If she had moved out of the way, I wouldn't have fallen! It was clearly intentional! And my bracelet broke. My grandmother had handed it down to me, and it's an heirloom from the Adams family. If it wasn't for her, the bracelet wouldn't have broken!"
"Ms. Brown, I know you're upset about your divorce from Edward, but you shouldn't take it out on me this way. Is it my fault that you two separated?"
As she spoke, Nicole started crying again.
She really cried like a faucet.
"First of all, I am not upset. On the contrary, I should thank you for helping me escape from a miserable existence. I no longer have to be a desperate wife waiting all day and night." Evelyn raised her chin slightly in defiance.
‘Waiting all day and night?’
Edward's handsome face froze.
"Secondly, if this bracelet is really a family heirloom, then you should be thanking me today."
With that, Evelyn walked over and picked up the broken half of the bracelet, holding it up to the light. "It's a fake," she said.
"What?" Nicole was extremely shocked. Even Tiffany was stunned.
"The gemstones in this bracelet are filled with glue. Wearing it for a long time is actually harmful to your health. Toxic substances can seep into your skin and affect your circulatory system."
Evelyn waved her hand and threw the broken half of the bracelet into the trash bin. The gemstone bracelet that Byron had given her on her fair wrist was the biggest mockery against Nicole.
"Mr. Wellington, Ms. Adams is going to be with you now, so you should at least buy her some nice jewelry."
"Lily." Edward frowned, somewhat displeased.
"There's a gemstone mouse on the vanity table at Riverside Villa. If you don't mind, you can take it and make a new bracelet." Evelyn brushed off imaginary dust from her hands, as if touching Nicole's bracelet would dirty her own hands.
Nicole thought, 'A mouse... a mouse?! This bitch Lily is clearly insulting me!'
She was infuriated. She wanted to retort, but Evelyn had already gracefully walked away.
Outside the hospital, Evelyn couldn't help but laugh at the stupid look on Nicole's face, knowing she couldn't argue back.
"Lily," Evelyn heard Edward's magnetic and pleasing voice, and she turned around indifferently.
A gentle breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, adding a touch of beauty to her pure desires.
Edward squinted his eyes and walked up to her.
"Is there something else, Mr. Wellington?" Evelyn remained expressionless and cold. "If Ms. Adams still cares about her bracelet, then you can tell her I'll buy her a car full of bracelets tomorrow."
"Earlier in the ward, you were talking to Grandpa..."
"Oh, that thing, don't overthink it. I didn't want him to get angry," Evelyn's gaze softened as she mentioned Byron.
"Consider us even."
Evelyn felt confused.
"You pretended to be someone else, deceived everyone, and married me. Consider us even. I won't tell Grandpa or anyone in the Wellington family," Edward said gloomily, his eyes secretly examining her.
Evelyn widened her eyes in disbelief.
"But you have to tell me, why did you use a fake identity to marry me? No, I should ask this way."
Edward's handsome figure approached her slowly. "What was your purpose in using a fake identity to approach Grandpa?"
Evelyn suddenly felt heartache and discreetly stepped back.
But she forgot that there were steps behind her. She stepped on nothing and exclaimed as she fell backward!
But the next second, she felt a warm touch on her waist. Edward securely held her waist.
Their eyes met. Evelyn blushed quietly, and Edward was breathing heavily.
Even now, she still found Edward's appearance astonishing, completely in line with her aesthetics.
Thirteen years ago, Evelyn was only eleven years old. In the terrifying darkness and pouring rain, she would never forget his eyes, shining like stars.
Edward had saved her life. Without him, she wouldn't have made it to this day.
But now, Edward was breaking her heart as if she was approaching death once again.
He bounced his arm and helped Evelyn regain her balance.
"Thank you," she said.
"Answer my earlier question," Edward insisted.
"I'm no longer your wife. I have the right not to tell you."
Evelyn smiled coldly, turned around, and said, "Since you said we're even, why bother asking me this question? Even if I used a fake identity, I haven't done anything to harm you in these three years, have I?"
Suddenly, Edward grabbed her arm, looking gloomy. "We haven't filed for a divorce yet. Legally, you're still my wife. So you must let me know your identity!"
"I have nothing to say!"
Evelyn was breathing heavily and crying. "Mr. Wellington, you constantly emphasize duty. Don't you think it's ridiculous? For these three years, you haven't fulfilled your husbandly duties. What right do you have to demand my wifely duties from me?"
"Lily, even if you don't say it, don't think I can't find out!" Edward forcefully pulled her into his arms, and they were so close they could feel each other's breath.
He was not someone who easily got angry, but Evelyn had been continuously provoking him since she left.
She was truly formidable!
"Then go ahead and find out. Why ask me?" Evelyn forcefully broke free from his grasp and left without looking back.
Edward watched her cold and graceful figure as she walked away. He remembered her fiery red lips and her sharp black high heels, which seemed like weapons. He felt inexplicably annoyed.
He thought, 'Why has she turned into this? Is she trying to cater to Landon's taste? She's cunning and fickle. I really don't understand why Grandfather likes her!'
"Mr. Wellington, Ms. Adams said she sprained her foot. She's crying and wants you to go up and see her," Bart gasped as he caught up.
Suddenly, the roaring engine of a sports car shook the earth.
"Ah! It's... it's Mrs. Wellington!"
Edward was stunned. He saw Evelyn driving a sports car with half of her face covered by black sunglasses. She arrogantly zoomed past him!
She was driving a top-of-the-line limited edition supercar, Bugatti's La Voiture Noire.
"Mrs. Wellington... turns out she's a hidden rich woman, damn!" Bart looked at the car with envy.
Edward's face darkened, and his hand slowly clenched into a fist.
"Go after her!"
