CHAPTER 74: NEXT STOP? ALEXANDER

"By ensuring you don’t walk into that house empty-handed," he snapped back. "So no one, not Benjamin, not Olivia can treat you like you are beneath them."

"But I am not empty handed, I have my shares from our company and—"

"Which is not enough," Gregory interrupted her. "I want you to have something which is at par with what they have."

Evelyn did not say anything at first then she whispered, "I didn’t even want to marry anyone right now."

Gregory’s voice gentled. "But you will sometime in the future and Alexander is a good man.".

"My decision," she said quietly, "should still have been mine, dad."

Gregory closed his eyes and then he said something that froze Evelyn mid-breath.

"Alexander wasn’t involved."

Evelyn blinked. "What?"

"He didn’t know," Gregory repeated. "I never told him a thing. I spoke to Margaret Reid. She is the one who suggested the shares, she is the one who handled everything. Alexander only came by today to give the documents because Margaret instructed him to."

Evelyn’s heart sank, hard.

"Oh my God—" she whispered.

Gregory watched her carefully. "He didn’t trick you, Evie. He didn’t manipulate anything."

Patricia slowly leaned to her side and whispered, "So, we yelled at the wrong Reid?"

"Patricia," Evelyn hissed, mortified.

"What? Just clarifying," she shrugged.

Evelyn pressed both hands to her face and regret punched her chest so hard she almost swayed.

"I yelled at him for nothing," she murmured. "I told him to get out. I—I didn’t even let him speak."

Patricia placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Then let’s go fix it."

Evelyn took a shaky breath.

"Yes," she said, turning toward the door. "I need to see him."

Patricia perked up. "So we are going to Reid Enterprise?"

"No." Evelyn’s voice hardened with resolve. "Not yet. First I need to see someone else."

Patricia blinked. "Please don’t say we are going to see Madam Reid."

Evelyn didn’t answer but the storm in her eyes said everything.

Patricia groaned. "Great, we are gonna die today."

And the two women walked out, leaving Gregory alone in the silence of his office relieved, guilty and worried all at once.

....

[Pauline’s House]

The quiet elegance of Pauline’s house wrapped around Evelyn like a thick blanket of nerves.

The helper led her and Patricia through the long corridor until they reached Margaret’s private sitting room.

The helper knocked once.

"Madam, Miss Evelyn Carter is here to see you."

A short pause followed before Margaret answered, "Send her in."

Evelyn swallowed, tightening her grip on her handbag.

Patricia nudged her arm lightly. "Deep breath, babe. Worst case scenario—she throws you out and I cushion your fall."

Evelyn shot her a look that earned a mischievous grin.

The door opened.

Margaret sat near the window with a porcelain teacup in hand.

"Well," she said. "I wondered how long it would take for you to come."

Evelyn froze for half a second.

Patricia whispered, "Oh my god she predicted your arrival like a final boss."

Margaret’s gaze flicked to her. "You must be Miss Patricia."

Patricia straightened as if she was being interviewed by the Queen herself. "Yes, ma’am. Lovely to finally meet you."

Margaret lifted a brow. "Lucas talks a lot about you."

Patricia nearly choked and Evelyn resisted the urge to cover her face.

"Sit, both of you," Margaret said, placing her teacup down with a soft clink.

They sat and Evelyn clasped her hands on her lap, trying to gather her courage.

Margaret watched her with patience.

Finally, Evelyn exhaled shakily. "I came because I need to make something clear."

"Go on," Margaret encouraged quietly.

Evelyn lifted her chin. "I didn’t agree to marry Alexander for the shares. I didn’t even know about them and I don’t want them. I don’t need anything tied to money or power or inheritance." Her voice cracked slightly. "I don’t want anyone to think I said yes for that."

Margaret’s lips curved with a knowing and almost amused smile.

"Oh, child," she murmured, taking another sip of tea. "I know."

Evelyn blinked. "You do?"

Margaret leaned back. Her eyes warmed up but were sharp. "Do you really think I would insult you by believing you could be bought?"

Evelyn’s throat tightened and her eyes burned.

Margaret continued. "I did not bribe your father. I merely explained tradition. Every woman who enters this family, if she chooses to and proves herself, receives shares. Pauline has them, I have them too. It keeps the family balanced and protected."

Her eyes softened. "If anything, you deserved them the moment I met you."

Evelyn’s breath caught in her chest.

"I know your heart," Margaret said. "You came here to justify yourself because you care. Because you are honest and you don’t want anyone to think less of your intentions."

She reached forward, covering Evelyn’s trembling hand with her own. "And that alone proves you deserve those shares more than anyone who has ever stepped into this family."

Evelyn’s eyes finally filled with tears she had been controlling for a long time. "I just didn’t want things to start like this. Not with secrets or misunderstandings."

"And they won’t," Margaret assured her. "Because you came to me and that shows character. Most people in your situation would have hidden or accepted quietly or let the world think what it wants but you came to confront it."

She squeezed Evelyn’s hand once.

"That is why you will not only fit into the Reid family but—" she added softly, "you will elevate it."

Patricia sniffled loudly beside them.

Both Evelyn and Margaret turned.

Patricia was wiping her tears with a tissue, dramatically blowing her nose. "Sorry, sorry it’s just—this is so beautiful like a K–drama with rich people trauma but classy."

Evelyn groaned. "Patricia."

Margaret chuckled—a rare, elegant sound. "She is entertaining. I see why Lucas likes her."

Patricia widened her eyes in shock and looked at Evelyn.

Margaret smirked and quickly added, "I mean, he likes your presence, not you."

Evelyn let out the tiniest laugh through her tears, the tension melting from her shoulders.

Margaret watched her, the warmth returning to her eyes.

"Evelyn—" Margaret said softly, "do not doubt your worth, not for a single second. You are not an asset being traded, you are a woman my grandson chose and I would gladly welcome into this family."

Something inside Evelyn finally cracked. It was relief, gratitude and maybe even hope.

"Thank you," Evelyn whispered.

Margaret’s smile was soft, almost grandmotherly. "You are most welcome, my child."

Evelyn then got up and said, "I have to go."

"Great—" Patricia followed her suit. "What is the next stop? Alexander’s office?"

"Oh, he is not in the office," Margaret informed. "He is at home."

Evelyn looked at Patricia and said, "Let’s go."

The two of them greeted Margaret and left.

.....