CHAPTER 2: The Woman Who Wanted Everything
The day Evelyn decided to go to the mansion was the day she received a strange envelope.
Inside were several photos.
Victoria meeting a man at a hotel.
Victoria signing documents in a café.
Victoria handing money to someone wearing a Reed mansion staff uniform.
There was no message.
Only one printed sentence:
“If you still love your son, stop the engagement.”
Evelyn did not know who sent it.
She did not know the whole truth.
But a mother’s heart told her she had to see Alexander.
She called him.
No one answered.
She called his secretary.
The secretary said Alexander’s schedule was full for the entire day.
In the end, Evelyn took a taxi to the mansion herself.
A maid opened the door for her, looking uneasy.
“Mrs. Parker… Mr. Reed didn’t say he was expecting guests today.”
“I only want to see Alexander for a few minutes.”
“But Miss Victoria…”
Before the maid could finish, Victoria’s voice rang out from the staircase.
“Who let you in?”
Evelyn looked up.
Victoria stood above, wearing a champagne silk dress, her hair neatly pinned up, a small diamond necklace around her neck. She was so beautiful she almost did not seem real.
But her eyes were cold.
“I came to see my son,” Evelyn said.
Victoria walked down a few steps.
“Alexander is resting. He doesn’t want to see anyone.”
“Let him tell me that himself.”
Victoria laughed.
“You still don’t understand, do you? He is no longer the poor little boy from your old house. He is Alexander Reed. Every minute of his time is worth more than the house you live in.”
The maid lowered her head, not daring to look.
Evelyn tightened her grip on the envelope in her hand.
“Money does not turn a mother into a stranger.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“But clinging does.”
For the first time in her life, Evelyn looked straight at her with firm eyes.
“Are you really that afraid of me meeting Alexander?”
Victoria’s smile faltered.
Evelyn took the envelope from her bag.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding. But I know you don’t love my son.”
Victoria’s face changed.
She looked at the envelope, then at Evelyn.
“Who gave you that?”
“So it’s true.”
Victoria quickly stepped down and tried to snatch the envelope.
Evelyn moved back.
“I will give this to Alexander.”
“You won’t!”
Victoria’s sharp voice echoed through the grand hall.
Evelyn turned and began climbing the stairs, determined to go straight to her son’s study. She moved slowly, each step heavy, but she did not stop.
Victoria followed behind her.
“Stop.”
Evelyn did not stop.
“I said stop!”
Evelyn reached the middle of the staircase. She turned her head, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
“Victoria, if you truly love my son, you won’t be afraid of the truth.”
That was the sentence that made Victoria lose control.
A few seconds later, Evelyn was pushed down the staircase.
When Evelyn woke up, she saw a white ceiling.
The smell of disinfectant lingered in the air.
The steady sound of medical machines echoed beside her.
Someone was holding her hand very tightly.
She turned her head and saw Alexander sitting beside the hospital bed.
He no longer looked like the cold billionaire from the magazines. In front of her was only a son with red eyes, messy hair, and an unshaven face after many hours without rest.
“Mom…”
Evelyn wanted to speak, but her throat was dry.
Alexander immediately stood up to get water.
“Don’t try to talk. The doctor said you need to rest.”
Evelyn looked at him.
There was no blame in her eyes.
And that hurt Alexander even more.
If his mother had scolded him, he could have endured it.
If she had cried, he could have apologized.
But she only looked at him with the same gentle eyes as before, as if he were still the ten-year-old boy running home with scraped knees.
Alexander lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.”
Evelyn blinked softly.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” he said, his voice breaking. “For not listening to you. For leaving you outside of my life. For letting someone else hurt you in the very house I once promised would be yours.”
Evelyn weakly lifted her hand.
Alexander quickly held it.
She whispered:
“I don’t need a big house…”
Tears fell onto the back of her hand.
“I only need you to live kindly,” Alexander finished for her.
Evelyn nodded slightly.
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At that moment, Alexander knew he had lost too much.
But at least he still had a chance to make things right.
