Ch. 211..220

 

Chapter 211

Not Discouraged

The turnaround of events is always unpredictable. Just moments ago, Lisa was feeling down, accepting the possibility that things might not end well for her, and planning to return home and cry her heart out with Eva to mourn her first rejection. Unexpectedly, this man came back.

Sitting in the car, Lisa's mood was like a rollercoaster. She pursed her lips, feeling incredibly sweet inside. Her courage even grew, prompting her to strike up a conversation with him. "Can I ask you a question?"

Adrian stared ahead, expressionless. "Go ahead."

"What's your name? I simply don't know how to address you since I don't even know your surname."

"Blackwood," someone replied succinctly.

"Blackwood?" Lisa was a little surprised. "So, your last name is Blackwood."

Her reaction made Adrian think of a certain possibility, so he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do we know each other?"

Lisa replied, "No, I just genuinely think that your surname sounds nice."

Adrian thought, Eva is good friends with this person but has never mentioned a word about me. Has she really forgotten me in these five years?

Knowing his surname, Lisa greedily wanted to know his full name. She held back and finally couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Blackwood, can I really not know your full name?"

Adrian's face remained impassive, not giving any response.

Lisa didn't give up. "What about contact details?"

Adrian continued to ignore her.

However, Lisa was not discouraged. Right now, she was sitting in the same car as him, and he was even willing to apologize to her friend for a 'misunderstanding.'

All of these things indicated that this man had good character, someone suitable for a long-term relationship.

She didn't mind his coldness.

Lisa understood very well that this kind of seemingly icy indifference, which appeared to be unmoved by anyone, was actually a rare kind. Once someone held his heart, he would be devoted to her. Lisa loved this kind of special feeling, where you were the only one in his eyes. But she had never had the opportunity to encounter such a man before.

Most men couldn't control their desires and would always treat women, especially the beautiful ones, differently.

Though Michael, who was around Eva, caught her attention.

Although Michael wasn't an iceberg and seemed friendly to everyone, Lisa could deeply sense that while he was polite to others, he maintained a comfortable distance. Except for Eva, it was difficult for anyone of the opposite sex to enter his personal safety zone.

But unfortunately, he was her sister's man, so Lisa couldn't make a move on him.

After finally coming to the United States, she encountered someone she liked even more, so Lisa didn't even have the intention to pursue Michael.

"I won't give up like this."

The more Lisa thought about it, the more excited she became. As long as she could win over Adrian, she probably wouldn't have to change boyfriends frequently in the future. After arriving at the place, Adrian looked at the neighborhood in front of him, squinted his eyes, and finally spoke.

"You live here?"

Lisa nodded, "The scenery here is nice, and it's very quiet. My friend just came back from abroad, so I wanted to find her a place with good scenery. Maybe it will also help her career." "Career?"

"Yeah, my sister wants to start her own business."

Adrian raised an eyebrow without showing any trace.

Never did he expect that one day he would have to understand all of her affairs and past from someone else's mouth.

Thinking about this, Adrian couldn't help but feel ironic. Even so, he was still interested in her affairs.

"Starting a business?" Adrian interlocked his hands and placed them in front of his knees. "Are you both starting a business together?"

"No," Lisa shook her head. "I work at the airport for my old man. He doesn't allow me to start a business. After graduation, he asked me to help in our family's company. Now I'm studying management there." However, after she said these words, Adrian, who was sitting there, didn't react much.

Lisa looked at his appearance, thought for a moment, and spoke again, "My sister wants to open a company."

Sure enough, as soon as she mentioned Eva's matter, Adrian's eyebrows and eyes twitched again.

"What kind of company?"

Lisa wondered, "I'm not quite sure about that. I just vaguely know a little bit, but I haven't asked about the details."

She found it strange. This man seems to be very interested in Eva.

Was it because he did something wrong after getting drunk last night? That's why he was acting like this?

When she mentioned this matter to him before, he seemed to have already lost that memory, making Lisa think he couldn't possibly be interested in Eva.

So, there should only be apology remaining.

Because of the apology, he paid special attention to her. Lisa felt she understood this psychology to some extent.

"In fact, you don't have to worry. My sister is a good person, with a gentle personality and very easy to talk to. Apologize to her later, explain a bit, and we can all have a meal together. Everything will be fine." "Really?"

"Yes, don't worry. I will definitely speak well for you then, and my sister will definitely accept you."

Speak well? After this conversation, Adrian finally glanced at Lisa seriously.

"What's your name?"

Lisa's eyes brightened, and she immediately said, "My last name is George, and you can call me Lisa."

As if to confirm, Adrian asked again, "And your friend? Once I meet her, how should I address her?" "My friend is called Eva, and her last name is Hansen."

"Eva."

Those three words spoken by Adrian felt like they traveled light-years.

The name that used to be so familiar to his lips now sounded unfamiliar, as if he hadn't said that name in a very long time.

Beside him, Lisa was dumbfounded when she heard Eva's name coming from Adrian's mouth, it sounded particularly deep and pleasant.

Why doesn't he pronounce his own name?! Is her name not as pleasant as Eva's?

Lisa immediately regretted not giving herself a more pleasing name. With this feeling of annoyance, they finally arrived at the door. Lisa led Adrian inside.

"Eva," as soon as they entered, Lisa started calling Eva's name.

Adrian followed behind her into the house but couldn't take a step forward when he stood at the entrance. He surveyed the room.

Perhaps because they had just moved in, there were no traces of Eva's life in the house, making it look unfamiliar. But from now on, she will live here. Adrian took off his shoes and calmly walked inside.

 

 

Chapter 212 What Is He Afraid Of?

"Eva?" Lisa searched every corner of the house but couldn't find Eva.

Lisa had no choice but to return to the living room and saw Adrian standing there, so she said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood, it seems like my friend is not home, maybe she went out." Saying so, Lisa had to change the subject, "Why don't you have a seat? Let me make a phone call to check?"

"Alright." Originally, she thought he would decline, but unexpectedly, Adrian sat down on the sofa in a manner that suggested he had plenty of time to wait.

Lisa immediately rushed to the balcony to call Eva. "Eva, where are you?"

"You're home?" Eva, who answered the call, instinctively asked in return.

"I just arrived home, but I didn't see you."

Hearing that she had already come home, Eva breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "I had something to take care of. If you're okay, just stay at home and wait for me to come back. I have something to tell you." "I also have something to tell you..."

"Is it Lisa calling?" Suddenly, Michael's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yes, she's home now."

"That's good."

Originally, Lisa intended to tell Eva about the fact that the man is home and that she wants to apologize to him and have a meal together.

But after hearing Michael's voice, Lisa immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. They are together now, and she doesn't want to be disrespectful.

So Lisa quickly changed her words, "Have fun."

Perhaps Eva was still worried about something, after reminding Lisa not to wander around, she hung up the phone.

Listening to the busy tone in her phone, Lisa took a deep breath and raised her lips. It seems that lunch will only be between her and Mr. Blackwood.

Thinking of this, Lisa put her phone away and turned back. After returning, Lisa saw that he was still sitting in the same place, maintaining his previous posture.

As she entered, his gaze fell directly on her. "Sorry, Mr. Blackwood, my friend had something to do, so it's probably just you and me for lunch..."

"Where did she go?" Adrian interrupted with a cold voice.

Lisa was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "I'm not sure, she only told me that she had something to do."

Was it just a coincidence?

Adrian furrowed his brows displeased. She left just when he was about to come? Did she know he was coming and deliberately avoid him, or was it unintentional? Thinking about this, Adrian coldly asked, "Did she know I was coming?"

Lisa shook her head bewilderedly. "I don't know, I planned to tell her when the time came."

Since she didn't know, it was probably a misunderstanding.

Seeing that he didn't say anything further, Lisa asked, "Mr. Blackwood, what's wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Adrian tugged at the corners of his lips and sneered, "Nothing, I just wanted to see her urgently."

This statement caused a subtle change in Lisa's expression, her gaze becoming more subtle.

"Mr. Blackwood..."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, "What? Is there a problem with wanting to apologize urgently?"

Lisa replied, "No problem, of course there's no problem."

That subtle emotion disappeared without a trace.

Mr. Blackwood is really good, worthy of being the man she's fond of.

She became increasingly determined to win his heart over.

...

After ending the call, Eva put her cellphone back in her pocket. Ruby, who was beside her, immediately seized the opportunity and climbed onto her leg. "Mama, hug me."

Before Eva could react, Ruby was suddenly scooped up by a strong hand, and Michael held her on his lap.

Although Ruby didn't get to be in her mother's arms as she wished.

Michael's embrace was also very familiar, and the little one didn't mind. She even nestled directly into his arms and in her incredibly tender voice said, "Uncle Michael, can I sleep in your arms?" Michael reached out and poked her delicate little nose.

"If you want to sleep, then sleep. When has Uncle Michael ever disagreed?"

"Thank you, Uncle Michael."

Michael thought of something and turned his head to look at Dylan, who was sitting to the side.

"Dylan, come over too?"

The little Dylan sat there, feeling somewhat reserved because he wasn't smiling or being cute.

Facing Michael's invitation, Dylan politely thanked him and then declined.

"Thank you, Uncle Michael, but it's not necessary."

Michael sighed regretfully. "You're always distant with Uncle Michael."

Before Dylan could think of an answer himself, Eva spoke for him, "He's just more introverted, as you know."

"And isn't it enough to have Ruby sticking to you?"

Having a child cling to you all day long is exhausting enough.

But who knew that after Michael heard this, he actually curved his lips and said, "Not enough. After all, as you know, I hope that the three of you, mother and children, can all stick to me." Dylan, sitting beside them, looked up at his mother.

Then he heard his mother say, "Children just cling to you."

"You can act like a child in front of me."

Now Eva finally understood. Ever since they returned to their home country, Michael seemed unable to control himself and his way of speaking had changed a lot.

What was he afraid of? Did he think that after five years, he could still turn back?

With these thoughts in mind, Eva looked at Michael helplessly.

She had wanted to ask Michael if he really had to talk to her like this.

But considering that the two children were present, Eva could only hold back her words and say nothing in the end.

Michael seemed to understand her thoughts and didn't continue with that topic, instead changing to another one.

"So, you plan to live with Lisa after that?"

"She has rented for quite a long time and will probably continue living there," Eva replied softly.

"Where is your company going to be located? If it's too far away, will you also live there?" Michael asked, tilting his head.

Upon hearing this, Eva felt conflicted.

In fact, the location of her company was quite far from here.

Previously, Lisa only knew that Eva was going to start a company but didn't know the exact location. Eva also hadn't expected Lisa to find a place for her to rent.

"In the initial stages of starting a company, it will be busy. If it's too far away, commuting will be troublesome," Michael reminded her.

"Yeah, I know."

Eva nodded, but she hadn't started working on it yet. She would figure out how to handle this issue when she got started.

Michael didn't say anything more, simply handing her a set of keys. "Take these."

Eva didn't take them.

"These were prepared in advance, near the location of your future company. Someone will go there regularly to clean up. If you're busy, you can stay there," Michael explained. Seeing that Eva still didn't take the keys, Michael handed them to Ruby instead.

"Ruby, if you don't want your mommy to work too hard, why don't you accept Uncle Michael's keys on behalf of your mommy?"

 

 

Chapter 213 Rely on Me a Bit More

Eva couldn't help but feel helpless. It was always like this; whenever he gave her something she didn't want, Michael would retreat and pass it to his daughter instead. Ruby blinked her big eyes and accepted the keys without any psychological burden. She even tiptoed to give Michael a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you, Uncle Michael."

Eva looked at her, her expression as expected. Ruby's personality was completely different from Dylan's. She would basically accept the kindness of others, and even had her own little theory. Previously, when Eva taught her not to always take things from Michael, Ruby raised her little face and said, "But Mommy, Ruby didn't take Uncle Michael's things for nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"Uncle Michael always hugs Ruby, rubs Ruby's cheeks, and takes pictures of Ruby. He's putting in effort, you know."

At such a tender age, Ruby had her own insights. She believed that being hugged, having her cheeks rubbed, and even being photographed were all forms of effort.

So Eva argued with her again. "But when Uncle Michael hugs you and takes pictures of you, it's all to help you, right?"

Ruby blinked her eyes. "But Mommy, Ruby didn't ask Uncle Michael to help me. Plus, isn't Uncle Michael interested in you? They say on TV that when pursuing a girl, you have to show sincerity, otherwise how can you win her over?"

At such a young age, she was like a little elf, revealing the complexities of relationships between men and women in a single sentence.

Surprisingly, Eva was persuaded by her. Regardless, when Ruby takes things, Eva had decided to talk to her when they got home later. She definitely couldn't accept such valuable things as the house. If she really did, she would have to pay for it. She already owed Michael too much.

Afterwards, there was no more conversation in the car. They waited until the driver arrived at their destination and turned his head.

"Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen, we have arrived."

The car stopped in front of a private school.

"This is the best private school in Chicago. If you want your little ones to go to school, this is the optimal choice."

"Great, thank you for driving us here. We'll get off and take a look."

When they got off the car, the two little ones also bid the driver farewell warmly.

Originally, Eva had planned to find a school for the two children. She had previously researched this private school, which was conveniently located near her company. Michael got off the car with her.

"Tom has been working here for many years and is familiar with Chicago. He says this school has the best reputation, so you can safely leave Ruby and Dylan here."

"Okay, thank you." Eva expressed her gratitude sincerely.

"What are you thanking me for?" Michael smiled helplessly. "This school was already on your inspection list."

"In the list? If you want to thank me, then you should thank me for accompanying you on this trip. I didn't really do much else." Michael tried his best to integrate into her life.

However, Eva was too independent. She basically did everything herself.

He used to admire Eva's determination to never give up, but as time went on, he preferred her to be a bit softer and rely on him more.

That way, he could feel needed.

The head of the school quickly came over to take them around the campus and introduced them along the way.

Then they were taken to the classrooms for inspection. After looking around, Eva was quite satisfied with the school.

The atmosphere during the children's classes was great, and the teachers spoke softly. The key was that the children cooperated. Overall, it was pretty good.

After seeing enough, Eva didn't directly make a decision but said she would consider it.

The school administrator quickly agreed and provided her with contact information.

"The school will provide transportation, but there's something I need to tell you in advance. Some parents aren't comfortable with having their children take the bus, so they either come to pick them up themselves or have the family driver pick them up."

"Ah, I understand what you mean. Thank you, I will consider it."

"Okay then, take care, and goodbye to the two little ones."

After boarding the car, Michael asked her, "How was it?"

"It looks good, but I want to see some other schools as well." Eva hesitated a bit.

"Alright, I'll accompany you."

Afterward, Eva and Michael visited two or three other nearby schools, but the results were slightly unsatisfactory. Either the hygiene was lacking or the food wasn't up to par.

By the end, even Ruby was tired and fell asleep in Michael's arms.

Seeing her asleep, Eva realized they had been to quite a few places today. She stopped and looked at Dylan beside her.

"Dylan, are you tired?"

Dylan was considerate and obedient. Even though they had walked a long way and he was clearly tired, he forced himself to appear energetic and said, "Mommy, I'm not tired." As she spoke, Eva bent down and picked him up.

"Mhm, mommy is tired. Let mommy hold you."

With her words, Dylan couldn't say anything anymore. "Alright, we're not far from heading back. Let mommy carry you."

Dylan didn't resist anymore.

He gently rested his head on Eva's chest. In the beginning, he could still keep his eyes open and say a few words to Eva, but as time went on, he gradually became silent.

By the time Eva was close to the entrance, she realized that the little one had fallen asleep in her arms.

Seeing him like this, Eva couldn't help but reach out and pinch his little nose, saying with a hint of amusement, "You fell asleep so quickly, and yet you said you weren't tired."

Upon being pinched, Dylan made a muffled sound and snuggled deeper into her arms. Eva didn't expect it and almost dropped him.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly and held him tight.

Michael, who was watching nearby, couldn't help but speak up, "Let me hold him."

Hearing this, Eva was a bit surprised, "You already have one in your arms, isn't that enough?"

"What's wrong?" Michael raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a smile, "Do you think I can't carry two?"

As he spoke, Michael had already taken Dylan from her arms.

Eva said, "It's inconvenient for you to carry them alone."

"I'm strong, it's no problem," Michael said, holding one child in each hand. Both of them slept peacefully in his arms, and even Dylan, who was usually sensitive, didn't wake up when he was handed over to Michael. It seems like they are really tired.

She didn't refuse anymore and followed Michael forward.

Michael didn't know what he was thinking. Probably taking advantage of the fact that both children were asleep, he couldn't help but speak as they approached the car, "Actually, I just want to do more for you, Eva. Don't rush to reject me, give me more chances to show myself. Maybe if you give me some more time, you might find that I'm not bad."

 

 

Chapter 214 She’s Also Worried About You

These self-deprecating words...

Although it wasn't the first time that Eva heard them from Michael's mouth.

But every time he said them, Eva's heart still felt a twinge of discomfort.

Honestly, Michael is really good to her, he cares for her with all his heart. Perhaps there wouldn't be another person in the world who would treat her so well.

Her heart isn't made of stone, and over the years she has truly appreciated his kindness. If it weren't for her two children, maybe... she would really choose to be with him. However, she herself grew up in a single-parent household, and as a single mother, she can't give her children much. She can't spare any energy for dating.

Or rather, she can't divide her attention to anyone other than her two kids.

Thinking of this, Eva could only sigh inwardly.

In the end, she decided to make it clear to him.

"You're great, Michael, you've always been amazing. But... I can't keep accepting your kindness without giving you any response."

Hearing this, Michael smiled faintly, "Then give me a response? Eva, I don't ask for much."

When she remained silent, Michael continued, "If you don't believe me, you can give it a try. Being with me, I will take care of your stress, yourself, and your children." "It's not possible," Eva shook her head, "I simply can't spare any energy for you."

"Who asked you to divide your energy for me? Being with me, you are still yourself. You can do whatever you want, and I'll be there behind you, explaining everything."

"Is that still not possible?" Michael thought seriously and then said, "How about you give it a try? Three months, I'm sure you'll be able to judge whether it's good or bad by then, what do you say?" "Michael," Eva bit her lip, "Don't do this."

Seeing her reaction, Michael said, "I've said so much, but you still won't agree. Alright then, I'll try harder."

The driver came over to open the door, and Michael bent down to help both of them get in.

Eva hurriedly went over to assist.

Eva embraced Ruby in her arms and softly said, "We'll be home soon. Ruby, you can sleep a little longer. I'll wake you up when we arrive."

Ruby, still drowsy, leaned against Eva's thigh and fell asleep again.

As daylight faded and night took over, countless lights lit up in the city. Lisa leaned against the railing of the balcony, and gradually, she spotted the familiar vehicle returning.

Despite her initial gloomy mood, her eyes brightened when she saw the car. She quickly turned around and hurried downstairs to open the door, waiting for Eva and the others to come in. "Eva, you're finally back! I didn't expect you to be gone the whole day. Were you on a date with Michael?"

The word "date" pleased Michael, who smirked and slowly replied, "Let's just call it a date."

Eva, standing beside him, awkwardly explained, "We went to visit schools for Ruby and Dylan today."

"Visiting schools?" Lisa instinctively held her head and looked distressed. "I can't believe I forgot such an important thing. I'm sorry, Eva. I should have gone with you to visit schools today." "It's okay, it's not a big deal." Despite Eva's reassurance, Lisa still felt remorseful.

After all, they were sisters, and she missed such an important event because of a man.

Eva took the two children into the house to change into their home clothes.

After she left, Michael discreetly glanced at Lisa. "How are you feeling today?"

Michael's proactive inquiry puzzled Lisa.

"What?" Seeing that she probably didn't understand what he was asking, Michael had to give her a hint, "About last night."

Upon hearing this, Lisa's face slightly changed. "How did you know about last night? Eva told you, didn't she?"

As soon as she thought about Michael finding out that she had gone to a man's room last night, Lisa's expression turned ugly, and she couldn't help but lose her temper.

"What's wrong with her? I already told her that even though we live together, we're still free individuals and shouldn't interfere with each other. Why did she tell you about my business?"

The frustration filled Michael, realizing that his probing had caused such trouble for Eva.

However, considering Lisa's ongoing entanglement with that Blackwood guy, he couldn't let Eva and Lisa continue living together. Otherwise, it would surely lead to trouble. With this in mind, a hint of sharpness flashed through Michael's eyes beneath the gold-rimmed glasses.

He looked at the complaining Lisa in front of him, mocking her with a slight curve of his lips, and then said, "Lisa, you're roommates. You went out in the middle of the night, and she was just concerned about you."

Lisa held her head, her expression conflicted. "Of course, I know she's worried about me, but I'm an adult now. I have my own thoughts. If she's worried, why couldn't she just message me? Why did she have to tell someone else about it?" "What happened?" Michael pursed his lips and said lightly, "It seems like I haven't made a good impression on you."

Upon hearing his words, Lisa realized that what she had just said would clearly offend Michael. She quickly came to her senses and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blame you. I just... I just want a little freedom." "When you share a place, you have to consider many things..." Michael said thoughtfully, "If you still want to have contact with that person in the future, it's best not to live with her. Otherwise, incidents like today will happen again." Upon hearing this, Lisa fell silent. She felt that Michael was right.

At first, Lisa was happy to be able to live with her, but now it felt a bit awkward. She had a feeling that if she continued to meddle in her affairs, it would drive her crazy. And if they were to argue, it might even affect their sisterly relationship. Just as Lisa was torn, Eva came back.

Seeing that Michael was still here, she said to him, "We should start preparing dinner. How about having dinner here tonight?"

Michael was about to agree when his phone rang. He went outside to answer the call.

He came back five minutes later. "Sorry, I had to leave temporarily due to something urgent," Michael said to the busy Eva. Eva understood. "It's okay, go and take care of it."

When Michael left, Eva called Lisa into the kitchen.

"When you called this morning, you said you had something to tell me," she said.

 

Chapter 215 Leave

Lisa's expression changed. Originally, she wanted to tell Eva about Mr. Blackwood coming to apologize to her, but after hearing Michael's words, Lisa felt that she didn't need to tell her. After thinking it through, Lisa awkwardly smiled and said, "Oh, it's nothing."

Hearing this, suspicion appeared on Eva's face. "When you called me earlier, you said you had something to tell me."

"Yes, that's right," Lisa explained in a flustered manner, "I was just caught up in my emotions at that time, so I had something to tell you, but now there's nothing."

Eva raised her eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Lisa nodded repeatedly.

Although they hadn't known each other for long, Eva felt she knew Lisa quite well. When Lisa lied, she couldn't hide it at all. Her gaze would wander, and she would nod like a chick pecking at grains of rice. So, Eva immediately saw through her lying.

Maybe she just didn't want to tell me, Eva sighed inwardly and didn't ask further.

"Well, since that's the case, I won't ask anymore." Lisa continued nodding.

Eva tied on her apron and was about to start cutting the meat, while Lisa stood awkwardly nearby, not knowing what to do.

Hastily stepping forward, Lisa offered, "Let me do it for you."

Under normal circumstances, Eva would obediently hand her the knife.

However, anticipating what she was about to say next, Eva held onto the knife herself instead of passing it to Lisa.

"I'll handle it."

"Alright." Lisa stood by with her head hanging low.

Observing her appearance, Eva's gaze shifted as she contemplated her opening statement, then she spoke, "So, how did it go? Were you able to get his contact information?"

Upon hearing this, Lisa's expression turned unpleasant, thinking about what she had told Michael.

Noticing her change in expression, Eva assumed she had failed.

Relieved at the thought of failure, Eva thought it would save her from further effort later.

Considering this, Eva softly said, "Earlier this morning, I mentioned that there were some things I wanted to discuss with you. It's actually about him..."

"Eva!"

Lisa suddenly lifted her head, calling out her name. "You went out with Michael today, right? He treats you so well. If I keep you here, would it hinder your relationship? Did he prepare a house for you in your home country? I mean, what if he can't pursue you in the future, would you blame me..."

Upon hearing this, Eva's action of slicing the meat paused abruptly before she stopped altogether. She turned her head to look quietly at Lisa.

This kind of gaze made Lisa feel guilty, causing her to avoid eye contact and awkwardly say, "No, no, don't get me wrong. I'm just afraid of affecting your future, so I wanted to create more opportunities for both of you. And I'm also afraid you might blame me if Michael couldn't pursue you in the future..."

The more Lisa spoke, the softer her voice became, until it was almost inaudible like a mosquito's buzz.

Everyone present was intelligent.

How could Eva not sense the other meaning behind her words?

She looked at Lisa quietly, then after a long while, she said, "Why don't you go out first? Dinner will be ready in a while."

Lisa didn't know what to say for a moment, so she turned her head and left the kitchen silently.

During dinner, both children could sense that something was off. Ruby, who was usually carefree, could still sense the silence at the dining table.

The siblings exchanged glances and obediently behaved themselves, eating in earnest.

When they had nearly finished, they put down their chopsticks together. "Mommy, Aunt Lisa, we're done eating."

Lisa immediately forced a smile for the two children.

Eva glanced at the two of them and reached out to touch their heads after they got up from the table. "Dylan, Ruby, you were very well-behaved tonight. Go rest in your rooms for a while, then pack your bags, okay?" Beside her, Lisa's face turned pale as she bit her lower lip.

The two little ones looked at Eva in surprise, probably not expecting the situation to be so serious.

But in the next moment, Eva smiled again and said, "Tomorrow, you're going to a new school, remember?"

Upon hearing this, the two little ones were reassured and went to pack their bags.

After they left, Eva finished the leftover rice bit by bit.

Meanwhile, Lisa, who had been sitting across from her since asking the children to pack, remained in her seat, looking lost and desolate.

Until Eva finished eating and tidied up, she regained her senses and quickly apologized to her. "Eva, I'm sorry."

Eva smiled faintly and said, "It's okay, you were looking out for me. I'll go find Michael a little later."

In fact, Lisa regretted what she had said earlier, but now that she heard Eva say she was going to see Michael, she couldn't take back her words anymore. She struggled to swallow the words in her throat and remained silent. After cleaning the table and making sure the kitchen was spotless, Eva threw away the trash and made sure not to leave any dirt in her home before returning to her room to pack her luggage.

Since she had just moved in, there wasn't much to pack, and Eva simply tidied up a bit before sitting by the bed and taking out her phone to book a hotel.

After finishing the reservation, Dylan pushed the door open and walked in.

"Mommy."

Upon hearing him, Eva put away her phone and smiled at him. "Dylan, did you finish packing?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"Hmm, how about Ruby?"

"Ruby is ready too, waiting in the room for Mommy."

"Great, then let's go." Eva got up and pulled her suitcase out of the door.

Just as she was leaving, she bumped into Lisa, who had come to find her. Lisa looked at Eva with a hesitant expression and asked, "Are you leaving already?"

"Yes, we'll stay nearby tonight and go to school tomorrow." Eva's calm demeanor made Lisa even more uncomfortable.

"Let me give you a ride."

"No need, I've already called a car."

"Well... alright, take care and let me know once you've arrived."

"Sure." Eva nudged Dylan next to her and said, "Dylan, go get Ruby out, we're leaving."

"Okay, Mommy." Eva watched Dylan enter the room and then turned to Lisa, whispering softly, "Lisa, I know you probably don't want to hear these things from me. But as a friend, I still want to remind you that it's better to find out if the person you like has a girlfriend, fiancée, or is single before falling for them. That's all I have to say, I'll leave now."

After finishing her words, Eva didn't pay attention to Lisa's reaction anymore. She smiled at her and went to catch up with Dylan and Ruby.

As they left, the two little ones said goodbye to Lisa warmly.

Lisa could only smile bitterly and wave goodbye. Finally, the door closed, leaving her standing alone in the empty house, as if no one had ever been there.

 

 

Chapter 216 Losing Composure

When they arrived at the hotel, it was still early, so Eva booked a suite and checked in for half a month.

After completing all the formalities, the hotel staff personally escorted her upstairs.

"Madam, the suite you have booked has a private outdoor pool. However, as it is winter now, the pool area is not open. Also, since you are with two children, it is better not to access it." "Okay." The thoughtful reminder from the staff made Eva gratefully nodding, "I understand, thank you."

The hotel suite conditions were excellent. When the door was pushed open, a faint fragrance greeted them, and there was no dampness in the air.

The staff went in to inspect the equipment and check the divided swimming pool area to ensure everything was in order before leaving.

Eva took out the necessary items and set them up. The two little ones busied themselves by her side, only stopping when she did.

Then the two of them leaned on her leg, looking up at her with their little faces and asking,

"Mummy, did you have a fight with Aunt Lisa?"

Eva didn't want the children to know about the unpleasantness between adults, so she had to come up with another excuse.

"Ruby, we didn't fight. It's just that Aunt Lisa wants to have her own space, just like you and your brother each having a separate room to sleep in. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Ruby tilted her head and said, "But when we stayed there, Aunt Lisa didn't sleep with Mummy either."

"Well, yes, we didn't sleep together. But Lisa paid for the house and she doesn't want us to pay rent. We can't keep staying there without leaving, right?"

At this point, Ruby finally nodded in agreement. "It seems so."

On the other hand, Dylan remained silent the whole time. His character was different from Ruby's, and he naturally thought more.

Eva had no choice but to gently explain, "Don't think too much, the two of you just need to follow Mummy wherever she goes, alright? So just stay with Mummy peacefully." After arranging the two little ones to sleep, Eva opened her notebook and began making plans.

Staying at a hotel was not a long-term solution. If renting a house, she had to find one near her company. Eva started looking for locations and then went on a maternity nurse website. Fortunately, the two children could go to school during the day, so she had the whole day to busy herself with these preparations.

Eva stayed up late and finally fell asleep, her head resting on the table.

Next day, she was awakened by her phone vibrating.

In a daze, Eva took out her phone to answer the call.

"Hello?" As soon as she spoke, Eva's voice became completely hoarse, and her own raspy voice startled her.

"Eva?" Michael's concerned voice came from the other end of the phone.

Eva covered her phone and cleared her throat a few times before approaching again. "It's me."

But Eva didn't know if she caught a cold or something last night, even after clearing her throat, her voice was still unusually hoarse. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, maybe I ate too much spicy food."

There was a moment of silence from Michael's side. "I'm at the door now, and I brought breakfast for you, but I don't have the password for this place." Half an hour later, Eva opened the hotel suite door to let Michael in.

The breakfast that Michael carried had already turned cold in this temperature, and as he entered and saw Eva's pale smile, his face also lost its warmth. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not a big deal, there was no need to bother you with it."

"Tell me," Michael said after a moment of silence, "why didn't you go to the house I prepared for you? Ruby has the keys."

"You know it was Ruby who took them, not me."

"Eva..."

"I'll see what you brought to eat." Eva took the breakfast from his hands and realized it had gone cold, so she took it to the kitchen to heat it up. Michael watched her slender figure, his gaze growing heavy.

She moved in here in the middle of the night, and he had a hand in it.

But he didn't expect her to be so fast, not even saying a word to him.

When would he finally be able to enter her heart?

...

Lisa didn't sleep well last night.

She finally fell into a deep sleep when dawn was approaching.

But she woke up after only a few hours because she was still thinking about today's lunch appointment.

It was quite surprising that Mr. Blackwood, before leaving yesterday, willingly asked for her contact information and arranged to have lunch today.

After assuring him that she would bring someone along, he left.

However, she couldn't bring Eva with her today, so she would have to find a way to explain it to him later.

At this moment, Lisa had completely forgotten the words Eva had entrusted to her.

After freshening up and putting on makeup, Lisa realized it was almost time and left her place, heading to the restaurant where they had agreed to meet.

This restaurant was quite upscale, and she had been here a few times with her friends.

After informing the waiter about her appointment, he led her to the private room upstairs.

"Miss, this way, please."

Upon entering the room, Lisa was surprised to find the cold, noble man already sitting inside.

Subconsciously, she took out her phone to check the time.

Since she valued him so much, Lisa arrived early to avoid traffic or any unforeseen circumstances that could make him angry and ruin any chance of further interaction.

But she didn't expect that she would arrive half an hour early, and he was already there. There were still twenty minutes until the appointed time.

Instantly, Lisa's favorable impression of him increased.

"Mr. Blackwood, hello. I didn't expect you to arrive so early."

Lisa greeted him warmly.

However, the man's gaze didn't land on her; instead, it fell on the empty seat behind her. After waiting for a while and still not seeing the person he was looking for, Adrian's face darkened, and he asked in a deep voice, "Where is she?" Lisa knew he would ask and had already prepared her response.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood, but my friend couldn't make it. She had something else to attend to. However, don't worry, I explained your intentions to her last night, and she has forgiven you."

Lisa had no choice but to say this for now.

Unexpectedly, the man across from her narrowed his eyes dangerously, staring at her.

"She said she forgives me herself?"

His gaze was sharp and intimidating. Lisa felt threatened by his scrutiny.

The man's gaze made her feel guilty.

"Yes." she replied.

The next moment, the man looked at her mockingly and let out a sneer, then turned away and left on his own.

Lisa was left standing alone in place. What just happened?

 

 

Chapter 217 It's All Her House

Adrian walked out of the restaurant with a bad mood.

He had thought that relying on this person would bring that woman here, but he didn't expect... Judging by her evasive eyes, she probably hadn't even been informed about his own situation. Adrian immediately took out his phone and dialed a number.

"I need you to look up someone for me."

When Lisa realized what was happening and chased after him, Adrian's figure had already disappeared.

She had no choice but to take out her phone and contact Adrian.

The phone rang for a while before someone picked up on the other end.

"Mr. Blackwood, what happened just now? Did you get angry because my friend didn't come? I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to deceive you. It's just that my friend moved out last night with her boyfriend, and I didn't feel comfortable telling you in front of him..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a burst of urgent and piercing brake sounds came from the other end, startling her.

"Mr. Blackwood, are you okay?"

After a moment of silence, the man's voice on the other end finally came through, cold as ice and gritting his teeth, "Boyfriend?"

Lisa, still in shock, nodded subconsciously.

"Yes, boyfriend..."

The busy tone on the phone brought Lisa back to her senses, the call had been disconnected.

Lisa stood in place for a long time, thinking about the man's reactions before and after, as well as his quick departure as soon as she stood up.

After connecting the events and conversation, Lisa finally realized what was happening.

She stood there, her face turning pale in an instant.

...

Eva sneezed and Michael immediately handed her his handkerchief.

"It's okay," she politely declined Michael's handkerchief, then sniffed and continued walking ahead.

The real estate agent continued leading the way in front.

"Ms. Hansen, take a look at this next one. It has floor-to-ceiling windows facing south. Just open the curtains and you can see the river view and beautiful night view at night. Plus, it has the three bedrooms you requested, along with a study. This one is currently the most suitable for your requirements..." The real estate agent paused, not finishing the rest of his sentence.

After all, he didn't know if she would like it or not.

Eva went in to take a look and found it to be very satisfactory. The location was also good, close to both the school and the company. "What is the rent for this one?"

"Ms. Hansen, you really like this one?" The real estate agent sounded somewhat surprised, probably not expecting her to choose this one.

"I think it's pretty good."

"I also think it's very nice, but..."

Seeing him hesitate to speak, Eva asked, "What's wrong? Does the landlord have any difficulties?"

"It's not that, it's just that we heard the landlord went abroad and we haven't been able to contact them."

The landlord went abroad? Unable to contact them?

"Do you have a contact number?"

"I did leave one, but that number has expired, and I don't have a new one."

Upon hearing this, Eva felt a bit disappointed. "Then it seems we'll have to look at other options."

"Let me take you to see some others."

The agent scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Actually, besides this building, there is a whole area owned by the same landlord, but we haven't been able to reach them for a long time." "So you mean all these properties have been vacant for all these years?"

"Yes, they have. I heard that it's the property of a big shot from a corporation, but he gave this whole area to his ex-wife after their divorce."

Hearing this, Eva felt a sense of emotion. Men who still remembered their ex-wives after a divorce were rare.

Next to her, Michael felt something was off when he heard this.

"Ms. Hansen, speaking of which, do you have some connection with this ex-wife of the big shot?"

"Connection?"

Could she have a connection with the landlord? Thinking about it, Eva smiled and whispered, "Can fate let me rent her house?"

"If there really is a connection, then maybe it's possible? Ms. Hansen, the landlord has the same surname as you."

"Also surnamed Hansen?"

"Yes, and I heard she's young and beautiful too."

For some reason, upon hearing this, Eva couldn't shake off a feeling that something was wrong.

But she didn't think too much about it.

Everyone took the elevator down together and at the exit, they ran into a well-dressed middle-aged man, presumably the agent's superior.

As soon as he saw him, his face turned dark.

"Why did you bring the clients to this area again? I've told you countless times not to bring clients here. We can't rent it out, do you want to ruin me?"

The middle-aged man came over and scolded the agent.

After finishing, he turned to Eva and Michael and said, "I apologize. This brat here is obsessed with this area and keeps bringing clients here, but we can't rent it out temporarily. I assume he already explained the reason to you." Eva nodded.

"Yes, I already know."

"That's enough scolding, old man. Ms. Hansen has a connection with the landlord, they share the same surname Hansen, and she just returned from abroad."

"Oh, I see. Planning to develop in the country? Then take her to see the property on the southeast side."

"Right, how could I forget about that one? Ms. Hansen, let me take you there."

"Thank you."

Afterwards, Eva followed to see the other property.

Although she wasn't as satisfied as the previous one, she really liked the decor style of the entire house. After some thought, she nodded.

"Ms. Hansen, the landlord requests one and a half months' deposit. Can you accept that?"

"That's fine, but I might be busy recently, so I'll need to prepare if I decide to move in. It might take a few days."

"No problem, I'll handle the paperwork for you. You can leave a deposit, and we'll reserve this property for you."

"Thank you."

While processing the paperwork, the staff member asked Eva to leave a deposit and provided her with the necessary instructions for the next steps.

I would like you to provide the identification card.

Eva took out her ID and handed it to the other party.

After receiving the ID, the expression on the other person's face instantly turned somewhat strange. Instead of processing her paperwork, they showed Eva's ID to other people.

Then, those people turned their gaze towards her.

Was there something wrong with her ID? Could they be suspecting that her ID was fake?

Just as Eva was curious and wanted to ask, the agent from earlier came running with her ID in hand.

"Hansen, Ms. Hansen... is this your ID?"

He looked at Eva in shock, and his speech became hesitant.

"And this name, is it also your name?"

Although she didn't know what was happening, Eva glanced at him and admitted.

"Of course, it belongs to me."

After she admitted, the agent respectfully returned her ID.

"Ms. Hansen, are you here for an inspection today?"

 

Chapter 218 Looking for Her

Eva thought she had misheard. Inspection?

The extremely complimentary attitude of the other party confused Eva. Suddenly, she remembered what the agent had said earlier, that a certain area had been given to his ex-wife by a big shot. Her eyes subtly changed.

Could the big shot and ex-wife mentioned by the agent be referring to her and Adrian?

With the last name Hansen, going abroad, and even being unable to contact them.

Why did it feel so coincidental that now they looked at her ID and called her the boss?

Although she couldn't believe it, Eva still looked at the agent seriously and asked, "You mentioned earlier that you couldn't contact the landlord of that house. Can I see the phone number?" Hearing this, the agent's eyes became noticeably confused.

"Ms. Hansen, the landlord of that house, isn't it you?"

He said that, but he obediently went to find the previous phone number and handed it to Eva.

Eva checked the number and realized that the account given by the agent was her previous phone number, and the ownership of the house was all under someone named Eva. It was all hers...

When she reached this point, Eva stood still in a daze.

After a while, she finally reacted. At that time, she didn't want anything, so she only took a marriage certificate with him, without getting anything else.

When the Hansen family fell, he helped her, making those people afraid to harm her behind his father's back. He also showed her respect, so she regarded it as repaying him.

But she didn't expect him to give her so much?

When did he give it to her?

Thinking of this, Eva immediately asked the agent.

"When did these houses come under my name?"

This question exceeded the knowledge level of the agent.

He scratched his head and awkwardly said, "Ms. Hansen, I don't know about this. At most, we only know who our boss is. Until today, we didn't even know what our boss looks like."

In the end, the agent seemed to understand something.

He looked at Eva in front of him, who had fair skin like snow and a graceful figure like a willow, with delicate and beautiful features that didn't seem human. Then he looked at the man behind her, wearing glasses, tall and gentle. Thinking of certain things, he felt that he too was beginning to understand them a little.

So, his gaze began to flit back and forth between Eva and the man behind her, and then he thought about these houses.

He had already started imagining a melodramatic drama in his mind.

However, before he could examine them further, the gentleman spoke.

"Eva, perhaps there's been a misunderstanding. But before we figure it out, you don't have to rent this house for now. After all, you've already booked half a month at the hotel." Eva nodded.

"Okay."

She did need to clarify what would happen next.

However, if these houses were really under her name, she also knew who gave them to her, as clear as day.

She just wanted to know when these houses were transferred to her name.

On the way back, Michael suggested,

"How about moving in with me for now?"

Eva didn't say anything.

"I've already found three nannies for you. They'll take turns working twenty-four hours a day, so you don't have to worry about your child. You can focus on your upcoming work." Seeing her still silent, Michael smiled and said, "You still don't want to? Then should I charge you rent? That way, you'll be willing to go, right?"

Upon hearing this, Eva looked at him.

"You're willing to charge me rent?"

"Yes, just consider it earning some extra money."

How could he possibly need that money?

"How much? If you want to rent it cheaply to me, then forget it."

"Not cheap. The location is good, and the property prices are high. I spent quite a lot to acquire it. If you want to rent it, it'll be $10,000 per month."

When Eva heard this price, she was taken aback.

Not because she thought it was expensive, as it was normal for prime locations to start at tens of thousands. She was just surprised that Michael actually said it and intended to rent it to her. However, Eva quickly felt more at ease.

"Deal."

Seeing her visibly happy, Michael's gaze behind the lenses flashed a hint of helplessness.

If he didn't collect rent, he was afraid that nothing would work out.

After finalizing the move, Michael called David to help her move that very evening.

There wasn't really much to move, as she had just arrived in Chicago and hadn't brought many things. It was the two children who had a lot of things from their first day of school. Some school supplies, and two sets of uniforms. Eva packed them all in suitcases and checked out of the hotel before leaving.

The hotel reception wasn't displeased that she had only stayed for a day or two; their service attitude remained good.

"Ms. Hansen, thank you for staying with us. Have a safe journey."

Just as Eva left with Michael, a blue Bentley stopped shortly after.

The door opened, and a tall, slender man got out of the car, his handsome face expressionless.

Behind him was a person who hurriedly followed, holding a briefcase in his hand.

"Mr. Blackwood, please slow down."

Adrian walked quickly with a cold face, and Jacob followed behind, carrying the briefcase.

The elevators in this hotel required a card, so they couldn't go up without the qualification to stay here.

So the two of them headed straight to the front desk.

"Sir, how can I help you?"

While asking, the front desk couldn't help but steal several glances at Adrian. This man was so handsome that he made her heart skip a beat.

What luck they had today, as they had just seen a handsome man go out, and now another exceptionally handsome man had arrived.

Unfortunately, the one who went out already had a family.

Adrian remained silent with a stern face.

Jacob, seeing his zombie-like expression, sighed and stepped forward.

"We're looking for someone."

"Looking for someone?"

"Yes, have you had a lady named Eva come to book a room? Where is she staying now?"

The front desk immediately showed a conflicted expression. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that."

Jacob said, "I understand that you need to ensure the safety of your guests, but this Miss and another lady named Hansen have special identities. We are not bad people. Do you think bad people would drive a Bentley and wear suits?" Jacob pointed at Adrian standing next to him like an ice sculpture.

"And besides, don't you recognize him? He has been featured in various reports in the financial magazines."

The front desk hesitated for a moment and looked at Adrian.

Indeed, as Jacob said, this man's temperament did not resemble that of a fraudster, but she genuinely didn't recognize him.

However, someone nearby recognized Adrian.

"I know him. He is Mr. Blackwood from the Blackwood family business. He has been featured in financial magazines, and I heard the editor-in-chief say that it's not easy to interview him."

"But even so, we cannot disclose the information of our guests to you. All I can tell you is that she is no longer in this hotel."

 

 

Chapter 219 Is This a Coincidence?

Adrian, who originally had no expression on his face, narrowed his eyes dangerously upon hearing this. "Not in this hotel? Then where did she go?" "Mr. Blackwood, we don't know that. After all, she is just a guest at the hotel, and it is not our place to know her whereabouts"

Jacob nodded in agreement. "That's true."

"But..." Adrian suspiciously narrowed his eyes and stared at the front desk staff. "Did she really leave, or are you deliberately hiding it for her?" "No, she really left, and it was not long before you came."

Upon hearing this, Adrian's face became even more grim.

She left when he arrived.

Last time it was at her place, she conveniently wasn't there when he went. And now, as soon as he came, she left. Was this a coincidence or intentional? Thinking about this, Adrian swept his gaze over the front desk and asked coldly, "Did she leave on her own?"

The front desk staff were taken aback.

Afterward, everyone looked at each other in confusion.

"No, it's not," Adrian finally couldn't restrain himself and sneered.

He turned around and walked away, no longer patient to listen to what the receptionist had to say next. Jacob quickly followed suit.

"I didn't expect Ms. Hansen to leave so coincidentally, Mr. Blackwood. Should we send someone to find out where she went?" he asked as they walked.

While speaking, he accidentally bumped into someone ahead. Jacob nervously took a few steps back, not expecting the person to suddenly stop, showing panic on his face. "I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood. Did I hurt you?" Jacob asked cautiously.

"A coincidence?" Adrian coldly glared at him, his gaze colder than ice shards on the face. "Do you think it looks like a coincidence?"

Jacob pursed his lips and cautiously asked, "If it's not a coincidence, then is Ms. Hansen intentionally avoiding you?"

After uttering those words, Adrian's face grew even more stormy.

Seeing this, Jacob shrank back in fear, sighing.

Seeing Adrian still standing in place, he asked, "So, Mr. Blackwood, are we still going to look for Ms. Hansen?"

Look for her? Adrian sneered inwardly. To see her with another man?

Adrian turned and walked away.

Jacob couldn't grasp his thoughts at all, so he hurried to catch up.

"Mr. Blackwood, are we going or not?" he asked.

The only response he got was the sound of the car door shutting.

Soon, the car started, leaving in a hurry and even arrogantly spraying exhaust fumes in his face.

Jacob wondered, why is it always him who gets hurt?

...

After arranging accommodation, Eva immediately transferred sixty thousand dollars to Michael.

"Here's six months' worth of rent for you."

Michael smiled and accepted, saying, "Alright, got it."

"How much did the nanny cost originally?"

Considering the cost of three shifts, it was probably quite high, so Eva decided to cut expenses and only hire one nanny.

After all, the two children still needed to go to school, and the nanny didn't need to spend too much time taking care of them.

At night, she doesn't have to work, so she can accompany the children herself.

"Not much. Let's not argue over this money, alright? Over the years, you've brought a lot of benefits to the Cooper Group. Can't I give you a farewell gift?" Eva asked, "Just a farewell gift?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, I'll just hire a month-long maternity nanny. Otherwise, I won't need any of them."

"Okay, as long as you're happy."

In the end, Eva only hired a maternity nanny for three months and paid the rent for him. She felt much relieved, and it was getting late, so Michael left quickly.

After he left, Eva prepared the beds and turned on the heating for the two children, letting them rest. She then entered the study with a notebook.

Michael had thought carefully on her behalf. The study in this house was very large, with a large French window and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf next to it, there was even a small ladder.

Eva really liked this kind of environment.

However, she didn't have the mood to appreciate it at the moment. Instead, she took out her notebook and started searching for information.

The events that happened in the afternoon had been on her mind. If those houses were really under her name, then for so many years, she had felt that she didn't want anything from him. She had even returned the money he had given her, considering it as repayment.

What did it all mean?

Eva opened a webpage and did a search. Some information could be found online, but just as the agent had said, she couldn't find the more detailed things.

If she really wanted to know the dates and all the properties under her name, it seemed that she would have to find someone to help her investigate.

Thinking about this, Eva glanced at the time and then checked her father's lawyer's phone number.

"Ms. Hansen?"

When Luca received Eva's call, he was very surprised. "Is there something wrong with your father?"

"It's unrelated to him. I wanted to ask you if you have any reliable lawyers to recommend to me in America."

"A reliable lawyer? I have a friend in America, but he's currently involved in a lawsuit. Is it urgent, Ms. Hansen?"

"Not too urgent."

"Then let me introduce my junior brother to you. If there's anything Ms. Hansen wants to discuss with him, I'll inform him in advance." "Thank you, Luca."

After hanging up the phone, Eva continued to search for information on her own. After about five minutes, her phone vibrated.

Eva answered the call.

"Hello, Ms. Hansen, this is Kevin."

"Hello, Kevin."

Eva could vaguely hear the sound of chatting and clinking glasses from his end. She guessed that he was probably busy and was about to speak when he said, "Ms. Hansen, shall we add each other on WhatsApp? Luca told me about your situation, and I know what you want to investigate. If you trust me, I can do the investigation for you and let you know the results. As for the payment, I will give you a quote later. Is that okay?" "Okay, thank you."

Eva was quite satisfied with his approach, efficient and quick, without the need for her to say more.

After taking the job, Kevin hung up the phone and said to the others, "You guys keep going, I have work to do."

"Do you still have work so late?"

"It's a job Luca introduced to me, an big acquaintance of his. I can't refuse it. I'll leave first and have a drink with you another day."

Kevin quickly left the table and then added Eva on WhatsApp with his phone. In a short while, Eva sent her personal information to him. When Kevin saw the name she sent, he froze in place.

Eva? This name...

If he remembered correctly, when he helped his teacher with a property transfer before, the recipient of the transfer was...

Call Eva!

To confirm, Kevin immediately stopped and took out his phone to call his own teacher.

 

Chapter 220 I Know You

After Eva sent her personal information, there was no reply for a long time, and no quote was given to her.

She glanced at the time and thought about the sounds she heard on the phone earlier. She guessed that he must be busy today.

Her information had been checked enough, and if she continued, she probably wouldn't find anything else.

In the end, Eva closed her notebook and went to take a shower.

Naturally, she didn't see that Kevin called her after she went to shower. When she finished showering and checked her phone, she found that Kevin had already sent her the information she wanted.

She hadn't opened the files yet, but only saw the table of contents. In her heart, she couldn't help but sigh. Indeed, it was Luca who introduced this person.

The efficiency of this person's work is truly astonishing.

Without looking, she replied to him, thanking him and asking for a quote, before opening the files to look.

Although she had prepared herself mentally in advance, Eva was still shocked by the enormous amount of properties under her name when she actually saw them.

Not only in New York and Chicago, but also in several other cities, she owned properties, and they were not ordinary properties.

Some of the properties had been managed by someone before, so the income from these years had also been transferred to her name.

The area she was looking at today was completed a few years ago.

After completion, she couldn't contact the owner, so it had been impossible to manage or rent out.

Aside from these, Eva finally discovered that she even had shares in the Blackwood family.

The more Eva read through all these things, the more complex her emotions became.

In fact, she began biting her lower lip, as emotions surged in her chest. In a place unknown to her, someone gave her so much. What does this even mean? Does his Vivian know? Does she agree? He gave her so much.

Unable to continue reading, Eva closed her laptop and immediately called Kevin.

"Sorry, Kevin, I would like to ask about the authenticity of this information, of course, this is not doubting your capabilities..."

"Ms. Hansen, I understand what you mean. You find the amount astonishing, so you doubt its authenticity, right?"

It must be said that the other party was indeed astute, immediately understanding her intention.

"To be honest, Ms. Hansen, the first time I worked on this property statement, I was also shocked by the huge numbers, to the point that I doubted its authenticity. But unfortunately, it is real. This property statement was made by myself and my teacher."

"Your teacher?"

Upon hearing this, Eva had a faint, ominous premonition.

"Yes, my teacher is Mr. Blackwood's personal lawyer."

Why didn't Eva think about this earlier? Someone as capable as Luca, who has friends developing abroad, must not be a simple person, let alone his self-teacher.

It seemed quite normal for such a capable person to serve as Adrian's private lawyer in America.

She hadn't thought it through before...

Realizing this, Eva immediately asked, "Kevin, did you tell your self-teacher about this? I'm sorry if it's a rude request, but I have already divorced someone, so I don't really want..."

"You might be disappointed, but my self-teacher already knows about this matter," Kevin said helplessly.

"Since the main documents are with my self-teacher, I went to him to get them, and he asked me about it, so I told him."

Eva didn't know what to say in an instant.

But after all, they were friends in a group, and they discussed everything together, so this seemed normal. She couldn't really say anything.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Hansen. I don't know if this will affect you, but rest assured, my self-teacher is not someone who spreads rumors."

Upon hearing this, Eva calmed down slightly.

"Thank you."

"Ms. Hansen, do you need a professional to handle these assets for you?"

"No," Eva shook her head. "Kevin, do you have time tomorrow? I think we need to meet."

"Tomorrow at noon."

"Okay."

The next day at noon,

The two met at a restaurant.

Although Kevin had already seen Eva's documents when filling out the property form, he was still amazed when he saw her in person.

Eva walked up to him and greeted him, and he was stunned for a long time before reacting.

"Hello, Ms. Hansen."

"Hello, Kevin."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the dishes were served. Kevin was hungry, but sitting across from this exceptional beauty, he felt too embarrassed to eat in front of her, so he could only awkwardly flip through the documents. After Eva shared her thoughts, Kevin was completely stunned.

"Ms. Hansen, are you serious? You don't want any of these?"

Compared to his shock, Eva's expression remained indifferent. "Those are not mine. They should go back the way they came."

Kevin felt like the sun was rising from the west; otherwise, how could he meet someone who didn't want money?

"Ms. Hansen, this money is all yours. It's not illegal, and it can guarantee your financial security for the rest of your life. Are you sure you don't want it?"

"I don't need it. I can still live comfortably without it." He had already helped her once, so if she took these things, how would she repay her debt to him?

"So, Kevin, I'm counting on you for this matter. I will pay you separately for any follow-up rewards, or I can pay in advance now."

Kevin was shocked for a long time before finally nodding.

"Don't worry, Ms. Hansen. Since you have a need, I will handle it for you."

"Thank you."

After she left the restaurant, Kevin called his self-teacher to discuss this major issue.

After handling some miscellaneous matters, Eva started busying herself with her new company.

Just when she found someone to do the company's website, Eva personally wrote a recruitment advertisement and asked him to place it for her.

Placing advertisements also requires a significant amount of money, and the new company also consumes various materials. When it really started, Eva realized that it was even more difficult than she had imagined.

So, in the next half month, Eva was always leaving early and returning late. After half a month, her company finally managed to recruit only three or four employees.

Fortunately, the main management position was filled by someone who had come from a large company.

As a manager, naturally, they started to analyze the problems with Eva. "The main issue is that our company is too small at the moment, and the name of the company is new. After being deceived, many people are unwilling to work for small companies."

Hearing this, Eva glanced at the person. "And what about you?"

The manager paused for a moment with their expression. "What?"

"Why did you choose to work for my small company?"

Hearing this, the person laughed. "I am used to being busy and wanted to find a place to take a break. Plus, I know you."