Independence

Everyone was overjoyed at the news.

Thank heavens! They were finally free from this woman who plagued them! Hooray!

For the first time, they all felt that Evelyn had truly come through for them.

Soon, Ingrid was the only person left in the mansion. Dumbfounded, she stared at the empty living room.

Meanwhile, at the Johnson estate, Tina had just walked through the door when she saw Evelyn on the couch, getting a shoulder massage from a masseur.

“Mom? You’re back?”

“Yes.”

“Weren’t you staying at the mansion to serve… I mean, take care of Ingrid?”

It had been more than half a month. Why had her mother suddenly returned home without any warning? Something was off!

Evelyn snorted coldly, “Don’t mention her. Just hearing her name annoys me!”

“What’s wrong?” Tina sat down beside her. “What happened?”

Evelyn began to vent her frustrations. She recounted to Tina every single grievance she had suffered while staying at the mansion.

By the end of it, she even asked the masseur to stop massaging. Evelyn stood up with her arms crossed, cursing Ingrid furiously, “I’ve never met a woman more vile than her! If I had known, I would’ve let Hansel be with Miranda instead!”

At least Miranda was better than Ingrid in terms of integrity, manners, and class! The more Evelyn thought about it, the more she regretted everything.

Tina felt tears welling up in her eyes when she saw how upset her mother was. She was furious on her mother’s behalf. It seemed that one slap last time wasn’t enough. She should’ve hit Ingrid a few more times!

Evelyn felt utterly wronged when she brought up Hansel. “What’s more, your brother actually believed that bitch’s words. He thought I was the one who tampered with his documents and refused to admit it! He’d rather trust that bitch over me! How could he not believe me, his own mother?”

Tina exclaimed indignantly, “Hans had gone too far! I’m calling him right now…”

She wasted no time and immediately pulled out her phone. Evelyn didn’t stop her, either. Why should she take the blame for something she didn’t do?

The phone rang for half a minute before it was answered.

Tina said, “Hans! Did you know that Mom came home?

Hensel was in a private room with Calvin. They were talking about a potential partnership.

+25 BONUS

The market and demand for miniseries had recently exploded. Calvin invested in several media companies at just the right moment and made a huge profit. However, money was never enough.

He wanted to bring Hansel in as a partner so they could expand the pie and grab a larger share. They had nearly finalized the deal and arranged for their subordinates to meet the next day to sign the contract.

That was when Tina’s call interrupted them.

“Home? Which home do you mean?” Hansel asked.

“The Johnson estate, of course! She was so upset by you and Ingrid that her vertigo nearly flared up again. And you two? One of you is enjoying life in the mansion while the other is living it up in a bar!”

Tina could hear the noise in the background. There was loud music and drums, so Hansel was clearly at some entertainment venue.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

Evelyn played along and supported her head in her hands, moaning softly.

Hansel frowned. “Is Mom okay? Did you take her to the hospital?”

Tina scoffed, “Now you’re worried? Why weren’t you more concerned earlier? You and Ingrid are cut from the same cloth! Mom took care of her out of the kindness of her heart, and yet Ingrid deliberately made her life difficult.

“And you actually believed Ingrid over our own mother. Hans. I’m so disappointed in you!”

With that, Tina hung up immediately.

Hansel held the phone to his ear with a dazed expression on his face.

Disappointed?

Possibly…

He curled his lips in a mocking smile.

Although Calvin hadn’t heard the whole conversation, he had gathered enough from Hansel’s words that it was likely a family matter.

Given Hansel’s current situation, he had no idea how to comfort him.