Chapter 4 Hard to Take Seriously

Of course, Evelyn hoped she could return, but she had been away from the AI industry for five years. The field had changed completely during that time. Even if she went back, she wasn't sure she could keep up, let alone regain her former glory. Liana noticed her hesitation and gently patted her shoulder. "Evie, you need to be braver. You've already missed so many years, so don't hesitate this time." "If it really doesn't work out, you can always join me in short films," Liana added confidently. "I'm pretty popular right now, and if you stick with me, you'll definitely make a name for yourself." Liana patted her chest with confidence. She was professionally trained as an actress, but her striking looks meant she was always offered the role of the scheming, villainous second lead. Frustrated, she jumped into short films instead—and unexpectedly, she actually became popular. "Thanks, Liana," Evelyn said with a smile. "But I won't steal your spotlight in the entertainment industry, and you're right, I should give it a try." She continued, "Even if it's not for me, I have to do it for the baby." Hearing her words, Liana's expression changed instantly. "Evie, you're pregnant?" "Yes." "Damn it! Hugo really is a bastard!" Liana snapped, crushing the beer can in her hand with a loud squeak. "He flirts with another woman and still gets you pregnant. That's some elite-level time management. Nobody else even comes close." She turned and hugged Evelyn tightly. "What are you planning to do? Are you really keeping the baby?" Evelyn pressed her lips together. Since getting married, Evelyn had always wanted a child, thinking it might finally win Hugo's heart. But Jane's appearance made her realize how foolish that hope had been. Just as she had decided to let go, the baby… arrived. It came suddenly and at the wrong time. But as time went on, she felt less and less willing to terminate the pregnancy. Maybe this was fate. Evelyn gently rested her hand on her stomach, her voice soft but firm. "Yes. Since the baby chose me, I can't take away their right to see this world." "Alright, then keep it. I support you," Liana said with a grin. "Worst case, I'll cut my hair and stand in as the baby's dad. I'll do more short films and earn enough to take care of both of you." Evelyn smiled faintly, warmth spreading through her chest. It didn't matter that the baby didn't have a father. They would give the child double the love, which was far more precious than having a worthless one. … Hugo didn't get home until the early hours, his handsome face betraying the exhaustion he couldn't hide. He didn't turn on the living room light and went straight upstairs in the dark. The bedroom was pitch black. He assumed Evelyn was already asleep and didn't bother waking her, planning to grab his clothes from the closet and head to the study. But when he opened the wardrobe, the side of the closet that held Evelyn's clothes was completely empty. His expression darkened instantly, a shadow of anger clouding his eyes. He turned on the bedroom light. As expected, Evelyn wasn't in bed. He felt the bed and found the sheets cold. She had clearly slipped away some time ago. Since getting married, although Hugo hadn't come home often, Evelyn would always wait for him, no matter how late. She would even make him a plate of spaghetti and cling to him, begging him to tuck her in. He used to find her clingy, but now, with her gone from the house, he felt a hollow emptiness gnawing at him. The void made him restless. Her cosmetics were gone from the vanity, leaving only a single piece of jewelry. It was the wedding ring. The diamond, worn for years, hadn't dulled at all. If anything, it shone even brighter, though the light felt cold and cutting. Just like their marriage, it looked perfect on the surface but had long been fractured underneath. Hugo clenched the diamond ring, both furious and helpless, and muttered under his breath, "You little liar." She said she wasn't angry, yet she ran faster than anyone. The little fox he had raised with his own hands had finally bared her teeth. That bite really stung. … Having just moved into her new home, Evelyn hadn't slept well and woke up early. On the dining table was a breakfast Liana had ordered for her, with a note tucked underneath. "The baby needs nutrition, so make sure you finish all your breakfast today!" Evelyn smiled indulgently. Liana always started work early and often skipped her own breakfast, yet she never forgot anything that mattered to Evelyn. Evelyn opened the takeout bag and started eating while scrolling through her phone. She noticed two missed calls from Hugo, and when she didn't answer, he switched to sending a WhatsApp message. The first message was a photo. Hugo's fingers toyed with a wedding ring, the diamond gleaming against his knuckles, giving it an oddly noble air. "Be home by tomorrow night, or I'll come get you myself." Evelyn couldn't help thinking, "Damn it! What the hell is wrong with him?" After reading the message, Evelyn was so angry she lost her appetite. She couldn't understand how he could be so sure that she would obey his every command. The thought that he expected her to come running whenever he summoned her made her blood boil. Just thinking about Hugo's arrogant, overbearing face made her chest feel tight. She sat down in front of her laptop and wrote a resignation letter without hesitation. She had to make Hugo understand she was serious this time. She wasn't just divorcing him. She was quitting her job, too. … Not long after Evelyn arrived at the company, Larissa Jenning called her and said, "Make two cups of coffee and bring them to the CEO's office." Larissa was the chief secretary who had followed Hugo the longest. She always believed Evelyn had used dirty tricks to climb into his bed, so she openly disliked her. Evelyn frowned. "Find someone else, I came today to—" "Do what you're told and stop talking back. If you've got a problem, take it up with Mr. Grant." Without waiting for her to respond, Larissa snapped and impatiently hung up. Evelyn couldn't help but laugh in frustration. She blamed herself for being too soft in the past, which was why everyone thought they could step all over her. She decisively pulled the resignation letter she had prepared from her bag and headed to the break room to make two cups of coffee. Back when she wanted to get close to Hugo, she had painstakingly studied hand-brewed coffee. Hugo had very particular tastes, and she had experimented countless times to find the flavor he liked best. But now that divorce was inevitable, she didn't feel like catering to him anymore. She tore open two packets of instant coffee, poured them into cups, stirred them, and carried them inside. In the office, Hugo sat behind his desk reviewing documents, radiating a cool, detached air. Hearing footsteps, he didn't look up. His voice was cold. "Finished reflecting?" Evelyn walked over and set the coffee down, her tone just as cool. "Reflect on what? Reflect on how you cheated?" Hugo snorted. "If I really cheated, do you think you'd still be standing here questioning me?" "So, I should be grateful you're not crazy enough to bring your mistress home?" Evelyn shot back. Her repeated use of the word "mistress" made Hugo's brow tighten with irritation, and his throat went dry. He picked up the coffee beside him and took a sip. It tasted cheap, and he didn't continue after that one sip. Looking up and seeing Evelyn's faintly smug expression, he was so irritated he almost laughed. She really had a streak of vengeance. "Did you have fun running away from home?" "Thanks to you, it was very fun," Evelyn replied lightly, a calm, almost amused smile on her face. Seeing her act like a wild horse that had slipped its reins, Hugo's tone grew more serious. "It's fine if you went out to have fun for a few days, but don't forget you're Mrs. Grant. You need to rein in that attitude." The more he tried to press her with his status, the less Evelyn feared him. She shot back without hesitation, "Sorry, I can't rein it in. If you don't like it, maybe you should hurry up and sign the divorce agreement." "You have nothing more to say?" Hugo asked coldly. Evelyn pressed her lips together and handed him another document. "If you have no objections, please sign this one too." When Hugo saw the word "Resignation," his face darkened instantly. His long, pale fingers flipped through the pages, and when his eyes landed on one line, the anger inside him finally erupted. With a loud clang, he threw the pen onto the line of text. "Explain why you're resigning." Evelyn's eyes flickered, and she felt a twinge of guilt. Quitting so abruptly, Evelyn couldn't come up with a proper excuse, so she wrote that her supervisor was constantly obsessed with women and recklessly indulgent, and that his chaotic personal life could one day spill over into work and put the company at risk. Therefore, after careful consideration, she had decided to resign. At first glance, it sounded aggressive and improper, but thinking it over, she wasn't wrong. Hugo really was reckless to the extreme—he had already ended up in another woman's bed. She had only told the truth. Seeing her show no remorse and even look somewhat justified, rage flared in Hugo's eyes, and he felt the sudden urge to strangle her. "Forget it. If you're busy, you can sign it next time," Evelyn said quickly. Under Hugo's piercing stare, a chill ran through her body. Frightened by his abnormal mood, she quietly pulled back the resignation letter. She didn't want to risk her life just to quit a job. Just as she was about to back off, a large hand pressed against her lower back, catching her completely off guard and pulling her into his arms. The move was domineering, his tall frame radiating an intense sense of pressure. The sudden closeness made Evelyn feel suffocated, her lower back pressed against the edge of the desk. "What… What are you doing?" she stammered, panic rising in her chest. "You were complaining yesterday that our married life wasn't enough, and today you're accusing me of being reckless?" Hugo's lips brushed against her ear, his voice low and edged with anger. "Ms. Hart, your reason for resigning is really hard to take seriously!"