The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot
Chapter 187: A Better Gift

Chapter 187: A Better Gift

Evelyn stared at the worn-out keypad phone that Lucius’s team had retrieved. Lucius handed her a pair of gloves, and she slipped them on before carefully taking the device from him.

Her eyes scanned the phone, its surface scratched and faded from years of use. She pressed the power button, and the screen flickered to life, displaying a snake game that seemed to play on its own, followed by a loud beep. She attempted to unlock the phone, but nothing worked.

"Whoever this was, they’ve modified the phone’s system to their advantage," one of the tech experts explained, his tone laced with frustration. "It’s almost impossible to extract data without triggering its failsafe mechanisms."

Evelyn’s heart sank at the words. "So, there’s no way to trace the owner?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

Lucius sighed and shook his head. "We might’ve had a chance if we’d intercepted the phone before it was left here. But now that it’s abandoned, it’s effectively a dead end."

Zevian’s sharp gaze swept the area. "What about CCTV coverage? Any chance we can catch the person who left it here?"

"Unfortunately, there’s little to no surveillance in this part of the city," Lucius replied, his expression grim. "Even if there were, the chances of identifying someone this cautious are slim."

Evelyn’s grip on the phone tightened as a heavy sigh escaped her lips. She pressed the power button again, hoping for a breakthrough. This time, the screen flashed, and a message began typing itself.

"There’s a message," Evelyn murmured, her voice barely audible over the tension crackling in the air. Everyone crowded around her, their curiosity piqued.

Lucius read aloud as the words appeared on the screen: "Stop searching for me. Instead, use your time to protect her. I don’t want her to die again."

Evelyn’s chest tightened at the cryptic warning. Was this a threat, or was someone genuinely trying to help? Her mind raced, torn between skepticism and a faint glimmer of hope.

Another line of text appeared: "And I mean no harm to her! I was only trying to protect myself by warning you guys."

Lucius’s brows furrowed as he read the words. "Whoever this is, they’re playing a fickle game," he said, his tone clipped. "They seem conflicted, almost as if they’re trying to decide whether to help us or hinder us."

Evelyn’s hand trembled slightly as she turned off the phone, the message repeating itself in her mind. She handed it back to Lucius, her thoughts clouded with worry. "Please try to find them. We need answers," she said firmly.

"We’ll try our best," Lucius assured her. He gestured to his team, who began preparing to secure the phone for further analysis.

Zevian stepped closer, his presence grounding her. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, his touch warm and steady. "No one’s going to reach her," he said, his voice calm yet resolute. "Don’t worry."

His words worked like a balm, easing some of the tension that had gripped her. Evelyn nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you," she murmured.

Lucius escorted them to the car. Before parting, Zevian pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her close as if to shield her from the storm raging around them.

"I’ll be back late tonight," he said, his voice soft but steady. "Don’t wait up for me."

Evelyn looked up at him, her eyes filled with both concern and affection. "Alright. But take care of yourself," she replied, leaning into his chest one last time before reluctantly pulling away.

Zevian placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I will. Go rest."

With a final glance, he watched as Rita led Evelyn to the car that would take her back to the office. The drive was quiet, Evelyn lost in thought as the events replayed in her mind. Rita occasionally glanced at her through the rearview mirror, sensing her unease but choosing to give her space.

------

When they reached the office, Evelyn stepped inside, straightening her posture as if shedding the weight of her worries. As she entered, Gracia rushed toward her and enveloped her in a tight hug.

"I couldn’t wait," Gracia admitted, her voice trembling with emotion. "Avery already showed me the Happy Homes project."

Evelyn’s earlier anxiety melted away as she hugged her mother back. Gracia’s tears dampened her shoulder, but Evelyn didn’t mind. "Thank you," Gracia whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "This means more to me than I can ever put into words."

"It was all your son-in-law’s plan," Evelyn said with a soft smile, giving credit where it was due. She gently wiped away Gracia’s tears. "You should thank him properly."

Avery joined them, her grin was as wide as ever. "Yes, Aunty! He’s the investor and mastermind behind it all," she chimed in. "You should gift him something big to show your gratitude."

Evelyn’s brows furrowed as she crossed her arms. "Why should she gift him anything?" she asked, her tone playful. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she added, "She already gave him the best gift: her beautiful, intelligent daughter. Right, Mom?"

Gracia burst into laughter, nodding in agreement. "You’re absolutely right," she said, kissing Evelyn’s hand. "But I’ll still wait for my gift."

"What gift?" Avery asked, her curiosity piqued.

Gracia’s smile widened as she replied, "A grandchild."

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed crimson as Avery whistled teasingly. "Oh, oh!" Avery said, her laughter filling the room. "I’ll book a nephew, Evy! I’ll be his godmother."

"Yes, a grandson would be better!" Gracia added, joining in the banter.

Evelyn buried her face in her hands, her embarrassment evident. "Mom!" she grumbled, making the ladies laugh even harder.

The playful teasing continued as they sat down for lunch, the atmosphere light and filled with warmth. They discussed the project and shared stories, the laughter and discussion stirring Evelyn away from her depressing thoughts.

---

Later that night, Gracia sat on the bed with Evelyn’s head resting on her lap. Her other hand gently caressed Kiana’s hair as the little girl slept soundly beside them. They had spent the evening together, listening to Kiana’s animated recount of her day, playing games, and enjoying a cozy dinner in the garden.

Evelyn glanced at the clock, her frustration mounting as the minutes ticked by. She had missed Zevian terribly throughout the day, and her impatience grew with each passing second.

"I’ll leave now," Evelyn said, sitting up. "You should rest early."

Gracia shook her head with a small smile. "Let me keep you company until he gets here," she teased. "Otherwise, you’ll just end up staring at the clock and grumbling."

Evelyn chuckled, settling back into her mother’s comforting presence. After a few minutes, the sound of footsteps reached their ears. Zevian entered the room, having heard from the butler that his wife was there.

"Ian!" Evelyn sat up on the bed and walked over to him. "Did you have dinner?" She asked, her pout making him smile.

"Yes." He replied, before greeting Gracia with a nod. "Is she asleep?" He asked, turning to his daughter who was snoring loudly, clinging to her rabbit plush.

Gracia nodded with a smile. Walking over, she moved closer and hugged him, surprising Zevian. He looked at Evelyn who smiled, moving back and giving the two to bond.

"Thank you, dear," Gracia murmured, breaking the hug. "That project meant a lot to me," she added, making Zevian break into a small smile.

"You should be thanking Eva." He replied, turning to Evelyn. If she hadn’t remembered it and shared it with him, it would have never come true.

Gracia smiled at his gesture, it was heartwarming that he cared and loved her daughter so mych, more than her. "Well, I am hoping to recieve a bigger surprise soon." she joked, making Evelyn slightly pout.

"Mom!" She grumbled making Gracia chuckle out loud.

"Alright. It’s quite late. You guys should ho and rest." Gracia said with a smile. Exchanging a warm hug, Evelyn left with Zevian to their room.

Once Zevian finished taking a shower, he quickly joined Evelyn in bed. Evelyn snuggled closer to his chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was soothing, and for a fleeting moment, she forgot about the chaos of the day. Zevian’s fingers gently combed through her hair, his touch warm and reassuring as he pulled her closer.

"What surprise was she talking about?" Zevian’s deep voice broke the silence, filled with curiosity.

Evelyn froze momentarily, her cheeks heating as the words replayed in her mind. She hesitated, debating whether to tell him or brush it off, but the gentle squeeze of his arms coaxed her to speak.

"She wants another grandchild soon," Evelyn finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze dropped to her hands as she fidgeted with his shirt.

Zevian’s laughter erupted, rich and hearty, echoing in the quiet room. Evelyn’s blush deepened as she swatted his chest lightly.

"It’s not funny," she grumbled, her pout making him grin wider.

"It’s a wonderful idea actually," Zevian replied, his tone softening as he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "And something we can definitely consider."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. With a sigh, she replied softly, "All I want right now is for Sophia to crumble to pieces."

Zevian nodded, his thumb tracing circles on her arm. "Revenge is better served cold, Eva," he murmured, his voice steady and calm. "We need to hit her when she’s at the peak of her joy, to make the fall even more devastating."

Evelyn sighed deeply, her head resting on his chest again. She couldn’t argue with him. But the urge to see Sophia’s empire crumble was overwhelming. She couldn’t wait for her to see Gracia and only hoped for the month to pass quickly.

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