A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

“No! Mr. Boyd, I understand!” Evie stumbled down the stairs, leaving Yvan’s house with a wild thought racing through her mind. She needed to cool off. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

After Evie left, Logan glanced at Yvan and asked casually, “Is she the one you brought home last night?”

Yvan remained silent.

Logan chuckled, although his laughter seemed to sting. “Well, Mr. Boyd, you have your freedoms. I won’t pry. But she doesn’t even hold a candle to that lady who came knocking some time back.”

“Logan, do you think because you’re my son, I won’t do anything to you?”

For the first time, Logan felt a shiver run through his small frame under Yvan’s icy tone, and he stammered, “I understand, Mr. Boyd.”

Logan’s voice was more distant than before.

Yvan, frustrated, clicked his tongue. Logan took the cue and left the room without further bothering him.

As soon as the boy was gone, Yvan’s face fell, and he dialed a number, “Carl? It’s me. Check into what Matilda was up to last night.”

Meanwhile, Matilda returned to her studio the next day, dusted off the sparse layers of neglect. and settled back in front of her computer. Even though Yvan had given her five million, she wasn’t about to fall into decadence; she’d just had a rough day and ended up at a bar, where a friend introduced her to a charming young man.

Just as she booted up her computer, a woman appeared at the door. Matilda looked up to find Willow Simpson standing there.

The name Willow wasn’t unfamiliar to Matilda. Back when she was the Thompson family heiress, she had brushed shoulders with the equally prestigious Simpson family and had met the haughty and headstrong Willow. Spoiled by her family, the little princess hadn’t changed much in five years, still exuding an air of arrogance.

Willow glanced at Matilda, who was lounging in her office chair, sizing her up.

Matilda had slimmed down since they last met.

Willow remembered feeling secretly heartbroken when Matilda married Yvan, even toasting to them at their wedding. Now that the flames of love had turned to ash, Willow was ready to make her move–as long as Matilda was no longer an obstacle.

With that intent, Willow approached confidently, smiling. “Do I need to introduce myself?”

Matilda returned the smile. “No need, Miss Willow Simpson. I remember you quite well.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Willow said as she took a seat across Matilda, getting straight to the point, “No beating around the bush–I’m here to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?” Matilda raised a questioning eyebrow.

Willow lifted her chin with her usual pride, “Yes, I’ve heard you’ve been badgering Yvan since you got back, so I’m here to propose a trade. Give up on him, and in return…”

“Me, badgering Yvan?” Matilda laughed lightly, not bothering to correct her misconception but simply giving her a cool look, “Go on.”

Willow was briefly taken aback by Matilda’s indifferent attitude but quickly recovered, clearing her throat. “I’ve learned that you’ve angered Yvan, and you’re practically blacklisted. So, I offer the Simpson family’s influence to get you out of this mess, and in exchange, you stay away from Yvan forever. How does that sound? If you bother him again, I’ll make sure to cut off your income stream.”

It seemed Willow thought she could easily manipulate Matilda, like a plaything in the palm of her hand.

Matilda chuckled. “Where’s your confidence coming from?”