C6 Good News

Eve's lips twitched slightly. She released his arm and sighed inside.

If she could remember correctly in her past life, Matt and his other bad friends would end up in jail just a few months from now. They would be caught by the authorities in drug trafficking and money laundering.

That incident made headlines in the city, tainting the family's name and bringing down its reputation. Although Matt had always been a troublemaker, no one expected that he'd go to that extreme.

It was also at that time that the family found out he hung out with bad company. However, it was too late as the authorities didn't take the situation lightly. No amount of money and connection could bail him out.

The incident affected his grandfather so much that he ended up on his deathbed earlier than anticipated.

Matt confessed that he was manipulated into the act by his friends due to his rich background and wild ways. He'd always lived in his brother's shadows and felt useless in the family. All his acts were to seek attention, not knowing that they'd someday land him in trouble.

"And you can't lie to my face that my friends deal in drugs," Matt went on. "We only party all the time and make full use of our youthful life while it lasts. Believe me, our hands are clean."

"You only see what they show you at the moment." Eve rolled her eyes. Maybe those people hadn't revealed their true color to him yet. "See, Matt. You'd better not tell Grandpa about this. If not, I'll really tell him about your wayward friends and other things you're doing and you don't want your family to know."

Matt looked speechless and blinked twice. "Evelyn, y-you..."

"It's a deal then." Eve dusted her hands and walked away. She really had no idea about those other things, but his expression convinced her that he was hiding more secrets.

She walked into some servants on her way downstairs and instructed them to quickly clean up the mess. "Make sure you use a liter of disinfectant and another liter of perfume."

"Y–Yes, Ms. Maxwell," The servants answered in unison, covering their noses.

Eve headed to the garden area, and from afar, she could see the old man and Ethan engaging in a conversation.

At first, it seemed like they were discussing something important, but as she walked closer, they didn't seem to be discussing. They looked like they were arguing about something.

The old man was holding a phone tablet and his expression wasn't a pleasant one. While Ethan sat across from him with that familiar stubborn look on his face.

'Oh, no! What is going on?' Eve hurried up to hear what they were arguing about. It shouldn't be because of her. The old man didn't see the cow dung and that should be the only thing to upset him this morning.

"I know you dot on that girl, but this is too much. How could you waste such an amount of money because she had caused trouble?" Said the old man's grumpy voice.

Eve arrived at the scene only to realize that the two were arguing about her. Obviously, what happened at the store a while ago had already reached the media.

"You, Silly girl." The old man pointed his cane at her. "Can you be more sensible sometimes? I know you're not so fond of my grandson, but you can't keep causing a scene wherever you go."

Even though the old man didn't hate her at this time, her tantrums always upset him. Everyone in the family knew that she didn't love Ethan. Even now, the old man thought she caused a scene at the store on purpose.

"Grandpa, how could you say that?" Eve put on a sad expression and squatted down to hold his arm. "Those people bullied me at the store and Ethan protected me. Now, isn't that an act you should applaud?"

The old man opened his mouth but no words came out. He stared at her as if she was an alien.

"Grandpa," Eve whined. "You can't blame Ethan for standing up for me. As a family, aren't we supposed to protect each other? If Ethan hadn't saved me at the store and you heard about it, wouldn't you be mad at him for doing so?"

Now the old man was rubbing his eyes. As if that wasn't enough, he also rubbed his ear.

"What has come over her? Is she alright?" His question was directed at Ethan as a big frown formed on his head.

Ethan didn't form any answer because the confused look on his face was the same as his grandfather's.

"Evelyn, did you hit your head somewhere?" The old man placed a palm on her forehead to feel her temperature.

Eve pouted her lips, sighing inside.

"Of course not, Grandpa." Eve shook her head. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Why then are you acting weird?" His confusion heightened. "I can swear you're someone else with my granddaughter-in-law's face. That silly girl, what is she up to now?"

"But I'm your granddaughter-in-law, Grandpa. Aren't I kneeling in front of you right now?"

"Yes, you're kneeling in front of me, and that's the weirdest thing."

Eve could understand the old man's confusion. In the past, she wouldn't even spare him a glance, and throughout her past life, she didn't stop making his blood pressure shoot up at every opportunity she got, especially after she got into his bad books.

"Grandpa, thinking too much will have a toll on your health. Please don't be mad at Ethan. Can you stand others bullying someone you care about?"

The old man was quiet.

"Also, I promise that will not repeat itself. If you let Ethan go this time, I'll tell you a piece of good news."

"What good news?" Ethan's grandfather looked skeptical.

"Erm, well..." Eve cleared her throat and straightened up to whisper in his ears. "Ethan and I are currently working hard on an important project. Very soon, you'll hear tiny cries everywhere in this house."

"Babies!" The old man was quick to understand.

"Yes, Grandpa." Eve nodded. "Ethan and I are working hard to fulfill your wish."

The old man had always wanted to see his great-grandchildren, but Eve wouldn't even let Ethan touch her. And as months passed by after their wedding and she didn't get pregnant, the old man couldn't hide his grief.

"So the rumors about last night are true." The old man chuckled, his expression brightening. "Good job, Evelyn. Give me healthy and fat great-grandchildren, and I'll be the happiest old man on the planet."

"You have my word, Grandpa. We won't fail you." Eve raised her palm and made a promise gesture. "By the way, Grandpa. Ethan and I want to apologize for leaving the party. We hope you're not upset."

"Silly girl, how can I still be upset when you've made me this splendid promise?" He patted her hair dotingly. "Go now and work very hard on this project, a great reward awaits you."

Ethan didn't get a chance to say a word. He glanced between Eve and his grandfather as they both spoke happily, looking more confused than ever.

And as they both left the ancestral mansion, Ethan, in fact, kept a distance from her. Eve could feel his wariness toward her.

In the end, he asked the driver to take her home and he took another car to the company.