Between the Dream I Don’t Need to Continue or the Old Friend I Never Expected

"Evelyn?"

Lucas rushed in. Seeing Evelyn crumpled on the floor, weeping hysterically, his eyes reddened with instant heartache. Rage clouded his judgment.

"Daniela Bates, you have some nerve!"

He pointed a trembling finger at me and roared, "Kneel down and apologize to Evelyn! Now!"

I stood immediately.

Walked over to Evelyn.

And without a moment's hesitation, dropped to my knees. My voice was eerily calm. "Evelyn, I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay?"

Evelyn's sobbing cut off abruptly. She froze, tears still streaming down her face, her eyes wide with shock.

Even Lucas stood stunned, a flicker of guilt flashing through his gaze before he could mask it.

"Husband, can I get up now?"

I looked up, my expression soft and submissive. "The project Dad assigned has just started. He's old, and I don't want him to worry."

"Huh?" Lucas blinked, snapping back to reality. His voice dropped. "Get up. Hurry and go work."

The fire in his eyes extinguished instantly.

Evelyn wanted to escalate the situation, but I had already knelt and apologized. I had robbed her of her momentum. She had no choice but to swallow her frustration.

Lucas carried her out of the room. I sat back in my office chair and returned to my unfinished work as if nothing had happened.

Not long after, Lucas returned.

"Why did you hit her?"

I glanced at him but didn't argue. I simply stood up and lowered my head like a child caught stealing candy.

"Do you know how heartbroken she was?"

"If she's still not satisfied, I can go apologize again." My absolute obedience left Lucas with nowhere to vent his anger.

"Did you *really* hit her?" Skepticism crept into his tone.

"I didn't..."

I paused, then corrected myself. "I hit her. It's all my fault."

"Who are you trying to fool?"

Lucas strode to the computer and pulled up the study's surveillance feed. On the screen, Evelyn's provocation, my silence, and her self-inflicted violence played out in crystal clarity.

"You were obviously wronged—why didn't you say anything?"

His voice carried a slight tremor.

A bitter smile crossed my lips. "I don't want to trouble you."

When my family first went bankrupt, I was bullied constantly. Back then, Lucas would stand in front of me, frowning as he asked the same question: *Obviously you were wronged—why didn't you say it?*

But things were different now.

Back then, he pitied me. Truly wanted to protect me.

Now? He betrayed our marriage first and only offered scraps of guilt afterward.

"Evelyn loves me very much. You know that."

Lucas sighed, helplessness seeping into his tone. "I can't let her down, so don't take her behavior to heart."

"Don't worry, I won't." I nodded lightly.

He walked to the door, then stopped. Turned back to me. "Old Li on the board of directors has a family emergency and plans to withdraw his shares. I'll provide the capital—you buy the shares under your name."

I sat back in my chair, my fingers drumming a rhythmic beat on the tabletop. With my left hand, I picked up my phone and sent a quick WeChat message: *Put the Li deal on hold.*

After sending it, I deleted the chat history and threw myself back into work.

Evelyn didn't come to trouble me again that night, but her voice echoed through the thousand-square-meter villa. With that kind of vocal projection, it was a pity she wasn't an opera singer.

Early the next morning, after preparing breakfast, I left for the Group ahead of them. Lucas and Evelyn sat at the dining table, feeding each other and sharing intimate kisses between bites.

"Lucas, I just got back to the country and I'm bored. Can I work at the Dickerson Group?"