Outside the hospital's ward-

Evelyn sat quietly on a chair in the corridor. She wore a simple white T-shirt, her legs slightly bent, revealing a delicate ankle that shimmered under the lights.

Her voice was calm and crystal clear.

"You want me to marry into the Lewis family, fine. But I want my mother’s money back..."

Before she could finish, a sharp, condescending voice cut her off. "Evelyn, look at yourself. What right do you have to make demands?"

Evelyn looked up to meet the eyes of the woman: Linda Carter, her father’s second wife.

She had always held disdain for Linda. This woman was a home wrecker who clawed her way into the Carter family. Years ago, her arrogance had forced Evelyn’s mother out, and then conveniently shipped Evelyn and her grandmother abroad.

Now, after more than a decade, they’d gone through great effort to bring her back to marry into the powerful Lewis family.

Evelyn masked the hatred in her eyes behind the glint of her black-rimmed glasses. Her tone was soft and unassuming.

"Aunt Linda, you’re the one begging me now. If my conditions are too much, we don’t need to continue this conversation.”

Linda was enraged by her retort and her voice became louder. "Evelyn, you're the one who can marry into the Lewis family! Besides, your mother has already agreed to this marriage with the Lewis family. Do you still want to break off the engagement? Can you afford to offend the Lewis family?"

"Yes..." Evelyn nodded and the corners of her lips curled up a little. "But has the Lewis family ever truly accepted this marriage?”

Her mother and Mrs. Lewis had been close friends since they were young. Later, the two families lived together and became neighbors. They were very close. After giving birth to a son, Mrs. Lewis immediately came to the Carter family and got engaged to the two children.

Now that the Carter Family had been defeated, they desperately wanted Evelyn to marry into the Lewis Family and climb up this high branch.

"Of course not..." Linda started to reply, but her husband shot her a sharp look.

"Evelyn, don't listen to your aunt's nonsense. The Lewis family has always kept their promise. How can they not accept this marriage?" George Carter said in a soft voice instead of saying anything, "This marriage was arranged by your mother and the wife of the Lewis family-"

Evelyn interrupted him, "Dad, I heard that something went wrong with Elijah Lewis's leg. He can only sit in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and he doesn't have any hope of inheriting Lewis Enterprises."

Hearing this, George and his wife became flustered.

Evelyn observed them with quiet satisfaction. Then, in an almost innocent voice, she continued,

“I understand the Lewis family is offering generous terms just to find someone who’ll bear children for Elijah... and since Aunt Linda doesn’t want cousin Rachel to suffer, you’ve decided I’m the more convenient choice.”

Hearing Evelyn's words, George recalled the debt he owed her in the past decade or so. His face was burning, but he still tried his best to put on a calm facade. "Back then, your mother and Mrs. Lewis were best friends..."

"That's right," Evelyn said. "If it weren't for Elijah being crippled, you would have already shoved Rachel into the Lewis Family."

George immediately became angry from embarrassment. "Evelyn, Is this how you speak to your father?"

"Old Carter, What are you even talking to her for?" Linda cut in and glared at Evelyn. "You're lucky to be able to marry into the Lewis Family. If you don't know how to express your gratitude, you're still trying to make a fool of yourself. You really don't know what's good for you!"

"Auntie, Then why don’t you send Rachel if it’s such a blessing?"

Anyway, whether she went or not was not important to the future plan. It was not the only way for her to take back her mother's property.

"It's just a little longer."

Evelyn stood up and was about to leave.