The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot
Chapter 178: A Trap

Chapter 178: A Trap

"What’s wrong?" Gracia asked, noticing Evelyn’s worried expression. She moved closer to glance at what Evelyn was reading, but Evelyn quickly turned off her phone. Even Avery beside her frowned in confusion.

"It’s a company announcement," Evelyn lied with a smile. Turning to Avery, she added, "Right, Avy?"

"Haha, yes!" Avery played along with an awkward laugh. "We have a lot of meetings lined up this month."

Gracia’s eyes subtly widened in surprise, her earlier suspicion melting away and replaced by an amused smile. "You both run a company?"

Penelope clung to Gracia’s arm, a smile plastered on her face. "Yes, our daughters started an interior designing company. It’s called AWE." She looked at the young and talented best friends duo, her heart swelling with pride.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Gracia asked with a small pout. It had been ten days since they had been together, and Evelyn hadn’t mentioned anything about it.

Evelyn scratched her brow and murmured, "I forgot about it."

"That’s what she always does, Aunty!" Avery added with a huff. Leaving Evelyn, she clung to Gracia’s arm and took her to sit on the couch. "We started the company together, but I’m the one who suffers all the time. I handle everything while this ungrateful woman just designs and woos our clients."

Gracia blinked in surprise, a chuckle escaping her lips. Avery hadn’t changed at all. She was still full of life, which warmed Gracia’s heart. Patting Avery’s head, she replied, "Evelyn is lucky to have a childhood friend like you, sweetie."

Avery grinned at the compliment. She looked at Evelyn and flipped her hair back, making Evelyn shake her head with a smile. But Jonathan was not pleased at all. He loved his niece, but his daughter-in-law had taken a special spot in his heart.

"But isn’t designing the most important job in your company, Avery?" he chirped, making everyone turn to him. When Avery looked at him in disbelief, he added nonchalantly, "Anyone can do the administration."

"Did you just roast me, uncle?" Avery asked with a gasp.

Everyone stifled their laughter, especially Theodore, who was sitting right beside Jonathan. When he felt his daughter’s glare shift to him, he zipped his mouth. No, he was neutral and wouldn’t take sides.

"I’m just stating facts," Jonathan replied seriously. Turning to Evelyn, who had now settled beside Zevian and Kiana, he added, "It’s because of her designs that your company is breaking records."

Avery scoffed loudly. With a sneer, she added, "Yeah, yeah! After all, she is the hot shot of our company."

The room buzzed with laughter at her words, and Avery finally broke into a smile too. Jonathan was speaking the truth, and she couldn’t help but agree. It was fun when Evelyn’s identity was still a secret, known only to her, and she kind of missed it.

Meanwhile, Gracia looked at her daughter, her eyes moistening with tears. Proud was an understatement for what she was feeling right now. Seeing Evelyn laugh so heartily with her family eased all her regrets about the past. Life seemed to be finally treating her better after all these years of suffering, and she swore to protect her happiness from being snatched away again, even if it meant cutting ties with her husband, William.

Evelyn, who was playing with Kiana, felt her mother’s eyes on her and looked up. Her brows furrowed, sensing her mother’s emotions. Gracia looked at her and gently shook her head with a smile, reassuring her that she was fine. They exchanged smiles before chatting with the people beside them.

Lucius and Rita, who had been observing the family from a distance, were happy too. Realizing their job was done for the day, they decided to head back home.

"I will inform her," Rita said to Lucius, and, at his nod, she rushed to Evelyn’s couch. "I will see you tomorrow, Ma’am," she said to Evelyn. Turning to Gracia, she gently bowed and nodded with a smile.

Evelyn glanced at Lucius and nodded. "Let me escort you out," she said, her voice a little strained. With a smile, she got up from the couch, and Zevian stood up too, realizing something was bugging her.

As they walked out of the mansion, Lucius made sure no one was around and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Zevian and Rita also looked at Evelyn, waiting for her to speak. They had noticed her pale face earlier and guessed it was related to that.

Evelyn took out her phone and showed the chats. "The person who texted me Mom’s location, he texted me again."

"The one who told us about the ship port when Madam went missing from the asylum?" Rita asked in confirmation, leaning forward to read the chat.

[What if she dies again?]

Those words struck the trio, making their minds race in confusion. Was this a warning or a subtle threat to harm Gracia?

"I’m not sure if they are worried she might get hurt or if they are threatening to hurt her," Evelyn expressed with a sigh. They thought Vespera would be safest since it was their territory, but it seemed like they made a mistake.

Lucius copied the number to his phone and forwarded the messages. "It might also be a trap," he said. When the others looked confused, he continued, "They might have wanted us to bring Gracia here, hence they helped us back in Lobo’s city. It would be easier to target her here than in a foreign land."

Evelyn’s chest tightened at his words. Every word he said made sense, and dread gripped her heart. No, she couldn’t lose her mother again! Zevian wrapped an arm around her, offering her the comfort she needed. She leaned closer, trying to stay positive.

"Don’t worry. We will trace it quickly," Lucius assured her, his tone confident. The number seemed to be AI-assisted, trying to cover its origin, but it would be easy for his team to find it. Rita agreed, finding the task not difficult for the big brains of their organization.

"Thank you," Evelyn murmured with a small smile.

"You should head inside," Lucius suggested, gesturing toward the door. When the couple nodded, he added, "Until his birthday, I suggest you guys stay here. Gracia might be uncomfortable, and your house is not safe right now."

Zevian nodded in agreement. It might be hectic to travel since the Reign mansion was located on the outskirts, but it was worth it. Evelyn could work from home most of the time and go to the company only if it was extremely important.

"Bye!" Rita waved at them before following Lucius. The couple watched them hop into the car and drive away before returning to their family.

"I just want her to be safe and happy," Evelyn murmured, her eyes fixed on Gracia, who was smiling warmly at Avery. She would do anything for that smile to last forever.

"We will make sure of it," Zevian assured her, his words bringing a smile to her face. She looked up at him, grateful to have married him. Without him, she wouldn’t have a clue that her mother was alive and waiting for her somewhere.

"Let’s go on a date this weekend," Evelyn suggested with a cheeky smile.

Zevian’s face lit up at the idea, and he nodded with a smile. Every time they went, it was disrupted, and they needed to complete it. But their peace was short-lived as Evelyn’s phone chimed again.

[Trying to find me? Don’t!]

Even before Evelyn could reply, another message popped in, worrying her.

[I am not your enemy.]

Zevian took the phone and typed back:

[Then who are you? Our aide?]

There was a frustrating pause for a few seconds, and the couple just stood at the door, confusing everyone.

"Why are you guys standing there?" Avery asked with a frown. Even Gracia had a nagging feeling that Evelyn was caught up in trouble and couldn’t help but worry.

Evelyn and Zevian glanced at each other. They turned to the group and nodded, walking over to them. Kiana smiled as her parents settled on either side of her, but their tense expressions made her crease her brows in confusion.

"Is something wrong?" Kiana asked Evelyn, who shook her head. The little girl then turned to her Daddy, who simply smiled and pinched her nose.

"I will go check in the kitchen," Rosalind suggested with a smile. She got up, and Penelope decided to join her, hoping to have a private conversation with Gracia through her.

"Let’s join her, Gracia," Penelope suggested with a smile.

Gracia hesitated for a second before nodding. She glanced at Evelyn, and when her daughter smiled, she walked away with the other two ladies.

"What’s wrong?" Avery asked the moment the ladies left. Even Theodore and Jonathan, sitting across from them, looked at the couple in confusion.

Even before Evelyn could reply, her phone chimed again.

[Yes. I can never be your aide. If she gets in my way, I won’t hesitate to kill her.]

The message caused Evelyn’s heart to skip a beat. No... Did she put her mother’s life in danger again? Was she going to die again because of her?