Chapter 9

Gently knocking on the door, Butler Lu called out to Evelyn, urging her to open up. The silence that followed made him uneasy. Worried, he used a spare key to unlock the door, only to find Evelyn fast asleep, her tear-streaked face evidence of the pain she carried. Seeing her in this state filled Butler Lu with regret. He thought about the lonely days Evelyn had endured in the Jones mansion after he had left to handle other matters. Despite being sent by the Old Master to protect her, he felt he had failed miserably. Standing by her bedside, he whispered an apology, promising to make things right, and wished her a peaceful sleep.

As he stepped out of her room, his resolve solidified. He needed evidence—proof of how the Jones and Smith families had treated Evelyn. Determined, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. On the other end, a voice answered brusquely, “What do you want?” Butler Lu, though offended, chose not to react. The person wasn’t wrong to be cold to him. Instead, he quickly explained Evelyn’s plight, requesting help in investigating the families’ behaviour toward her. The mention of Evelyn’s name transformed the voice’s tone from dismissive to serious and worried. “Is Eve okay? Did something happen to her?” the man asked urgently. Butler Lu reassured him that she was fine for now but revealed that she was being forced to go abroad and had been subjected to consistent mistreatment. Furious but composed, the man promised to gather all the information needed—for Evelyn’s sake alone. With a shared understanding of justice, they ended the call, silently vowing to make the Jones and Smith families pay for their actions.

The following morning, the sun rose with birds chirping melodiously, but Evelyn’s day began under a cloud of worry. She dreaded what lay ahead. Her anxious thoughts were interrupted by Erica’s sharp voice booming through the halls, calling her down for breakfast. Reluctantly, Evelyn joined the family at the dining table. As always, the spread was filled with everyone’s favourites, except hers. Masking her pain with a strained smile, she wished everyone a good morning. Predictably, only Olivia responded, kissing her forehead. The others either ignored her or dismissed her entirely.

Irritated by Evelyn’s presence, Jack snapped, “Eat your food and get lost.” Olivia, unable to tolerate Jack’s behaviour, rose to defend Evelyn, but Evelyn stopped her. She knew any confrontation would only make things worse for her. As Evelyn restrained Olivia, Jack turned his attention to Olivia, urging her to sit down and have her breakfast. The family carried on as if nothing was amiss, ignoring Evelyn’s silent suffering. Butler Lu, observing from the corner of the room, was appalled. While the family believed he was oblivious, he had witnessed everything and knew a storm was brewing.

Later, as Evelyn prepared to leave for college, Mike intercepted her. “Don’t cause any trouble for Edward or anyone else,” he warned harshly. Evelyn’s heart sank at his words. She wondered if Mike would even care if he knew about the bullying she endured, the scars on her body, and the deeper wounds in her heart. Before she could respond, Mike dismissed her coldly, telling her to “get lost.”

Her day at college followed the same grim pattern—praise from her teachers, relentless bullying from her peers, and complete avoidance of Edward. While Edward waited for her at their usual spot, Evelyn was determined never to see him again. Impatient, Edward muttered to himself, “Don’t tell me she was serious about never bothering me again. Wait, why do I even care about that b*tch?”

Luka, aware of Edward’s conflicted feelings, asked slyly, “Where’s Evelyn?” though he already knew the answer. Irritated, Edward snapped, “She’ll be here soon. She loves my money too much not to.” Despite Luka and John’s attempts to defend Evelyn, Edward silenced them arrogantly. An hour passed, and Evelyn never showed up. Luka and John reminded Edward that she wasn’t coming, but their words only fueled his anger. Humiliated that his prediction was wrong, Edward vowed to make her regret avoiding him.

Later, Edward’s girlfriend, Lily, arrived. Complaining about not having a suitable dress for Henry and Amy’s engagement party, she manipulated Edward into taking her shopping. Watching their interaction, Luka and John exchanged disgusted glances, growing more disappointed in Edward.

Evening fell, and Evelyn returned to the mansion after a gruelling day. She busied herself with homework, unaware of the storm heading her way. Suddenly, her door slammed open. Mike barged in, furious, with Erica trailing behind. “What did you do this time?” Erica mocked. Startled, Evelyn stammered that she had done nothing, but Mike refused to believe her. Accusing her of troubling Edward, he demanded Erica bring the whip.

Outside the room, Butler Lu stood hidden, recording everything. He had chosen not to take his evening walk, suspecting the family’s ill intentions. Inside, Evelyn trembled in fear, pleading for mercy, but Mike ignored her cries. Knowing he couldn’t leave visible marks, Mike targeted her back, lashing her brutally for nearly two hours. Erica, indifferent, busied herself in the kitchen, preparing Amy’s favourite dishes for the engagement celebration.

Once Mike left for his study, Butler Lu prepared to intervene, but Olivia, returning from university, arrived first. She was horrified by Evelyn’s condition and rushed to her aid. Tears streaming down her face, Olivia asked, “They did it, didn’t they?” Evelyn nodded weakly, whispering, “It hurts.” Overwhelmed, Olivia tried to carry Evelyn to her room but struggled due to her injuries. At that moment, Butler Lu stepped in, shocking Olivia with his sudden appearance. She didn’t question him, recognizing that Evelyn’s treatment was the priority.

Together, they helped Evelyn to her room. While Olivia treated her injuries, Butler Lu waited outside, determined to speak with Olivia. When she emerged, she wasted no time. “You saw everything, didn’t you?” she asked coldly. Butler Lu nodded, ashamed of Mike and Erica’s actions. He swore to make them pay for hurting the Old Master and Madam’s favourite grandchild.

However, one question lingered in Butler Lu’s mind: “What about Jack?” Olivia’s response was firm and resolute. “I love Jack, but what he’s done to that poor girl is unforgivable. He has to be punished, and I’ll make sure of it.”

As the night deepened, both Olivia and Butler Lu left quietly, ensuring no one saw or overheard them. Unbeknownst to the Jones family, a reckoning was fast approaching.

That’s it for now…

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