Independence

+25 BONUS

I

Evelyn’s expression darkened. “Shut up, I was talking to my son. You have no right to interrupt!”

She turned to Hansel and explained, “Yes, I did go into your study yesterday. Joe waited at the door and didn’t enter. I won’t hide the truth. However, I only opened a drawer to get the file you needed. I didn’t touch anything else. Could it be that Martha had accidentally touched it while cleaning?”

Martha quickly interjected, “Mr. Johnson specifically instructed me to not touch anything in the study while cleaning. I remember it very clearly, and I’m always very careful.”

Hansel said, “It couldn’t be Martha. The study is only cleaned once a week. Yesterday wasn’t the scheduled day for cleaning.”

Ingrid leisurely spooned some gourmet honey and oatmeal into her mouth. “I don’t even have the key to the study room, so it is impossible for me to get in. It seems the only person who could’ve done it was Mrs. Johnson.”

Evelyn was livid when she heard her snide remark. She wanted to tear Ingrid to pieces. “What nonsense are you spouting? Those are my son’s files. Why would I do anything to sabotage them? I’m not a fool. What could I possibly gain from doing that?”

Ingrid shrugged and said, “Who knows? All I’m saying is that it wasn’t me. What’s more, didn’t someone just throw a tantrum a few days ago?”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Actually, it was really a trivial matter. Evelyn had a sharp tongue, so it wasn’t unusual for her to throw a tantrum. However, given the current situation, a strange tension appeared in the air when Ingrid brought it

1. up.

Hansel had already checked and confirmed that no documents were missing. But someone had deliberately switched a page between the two different files as if pulling a prank.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Evelyn had done it. After all, Hansel didn’t return to the mansion or answer her calls these days. It was understandable if Evelyn felt angry and did this to vent her frustration.

“Forget it. The documents are still here, so there’s no need to investigate further. But Mom…” Hansel looked up and added in a calm voice, “Don’t do this again. If the contracts were mixed up, we could lose business that is worth millions.”

With that, he strode away.

Evelyn felt utterly wronged. She hadn’t done anything, but even her son didn’t believe her. “No… Hansel, listen to me…”

“I’m going to the office. Let’s talk later.” Hansel clearly didn’t want to listen to her excuses.

Evelyn watched her son’s retreating figure. For the first time, she was at a loss for words despite feeling deeply aggrieved.

Meanwhile, Ingrid seemed ignorant of the rising tension in the room. She put down her spoon and pushed her bowl away with a look of disdain. “What oatmeal is this? It’s disgusting! Martha, make me another bowl!”

“All you think about is food! A lowly woman like you doesn’t even deserve to enjoy such expensive honey!”

Evelyn was trembling in anger when she recalled how Ingrid had deliberately stirred things up. Clearly, Ingrid was trying to drive a wedge between her and her son. What a malicious woman!

Ingrid frowned and said, “What do you mean by that? Who are you calling a lowly woman? Do you still want your grandchild or not?”

As soon as she said that, Evelyn’s anger flared even more. Ingrid kept mentioning her grandchild repeatedly over the past two weeks. She had endured countless grievances for the sake of the unborn child in Ingrid’s belly, working tirelessly like a donkey at her beck and call.

In the end, not only was Ingrid ungrateful, but she even tried to turn her son against her!

Evelyn could no longer hold back the suppressed emotions she had pent up previously. She cursed, “What nonsense! I’m done serving you! I’d rather not have a grandchild born by a woman like you! Go ahead and do whatever you like from now on!”

With that, Evelyn stormed upstairs. She came downstairs a short while later, dragging her luggage. She called out to Dan, Sarah, and Martha. “Let’s go. We’re heading back to the Johnson estate!“