Chapter 4
When they saw us, both of them immediately stood up, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.
"Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton, you're finally back," Jacob said, bowing and scraping.
Darcie, who had been so arrogant before, now lowered her head and said quietly, "Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton."
She practically dragged out the words "Mrs. Sutton," sounding like she could barely stand to say it.
Robert ignored them, walked straight to the head of the table, and sat down. He unbuttoned his suit jacket with deliberate calm.
"Mr. Burton, is there something you need?" Robert asked bluntly.
Jacob rubbed his hands together, forcing a nervous smile.
"No, no, it's nothing. It's just... Darcie was acting out and ended up offending Mrs. Sutton at the party earlier. I brought her here so she could make amends," he said.
As he spoke, he gave Darcie a firm nudge. "Apologize to Mrs. Sutton, now!"
Darcie bit her lip, her face shifting between red and pale, but she still gave me a reluctant bow.
"Mrs. Sutton, I'm sorry. I didn't realize who I was talking to. Please be the bigger person and don't hold it against me," she muttered.
I didn't say a word. I just picked up the cup of coffee the butler had just brought over and blew gently on the steam.
The tension in the living room was almost unbearable.
Jacob was sweating bullets.
He knew Robert was putting the whole matter in my hands.
If I didn't let it slide today, the Burton family would be finished in Stuawell.
When I stayed silent, Darcie's face flashed with irritation, but she quickly swallowed it back.
With a sudden thud, she dropped to her knees.
"Mrs. Sutton, I swear I know I messed up! Please, I'm begging you. Just forgive me!" Darcie sobbed.
Tears streamed down her face, making her look heartbreakingly pitiful.
If I were still Evelyn in the past, maybe I would've softened and let it go.
But I was Mrs. Sutton now.
I set my cup down with a crisp click.
"Ms. Burton, please get up," I said, my voice cool and distant.
I fixed my gaze on her, speaking with an indifferent tone. "An apology should come with real sincerity.
"I heard you recently acquired a 16th-century masterpiece, 'Evening on the Spring River,' at auction. Is that true?"
Darcie froze. Jacob's face changed, too.
That painting was Darcie's baby. She dropped twenty million dollars on it at auction and showed it off on her socials every chance she got.
"What... what are you after?" Darcie asked, watching me with suspicion.
I just smiled lightly. "It's nothing, really. I looked at the painting on the internet, and I like it. I want to see it in my study tomorrow morning."
I added with a light shrug, "But if you can't bring yourself to part with it, that's up to you."
With that, I stood up.
I said, "Robert, I'm feeling a bit tired. I'll head upstairs and rest for a while."
Without sparing them another glance, I headed straight upstairs. I knew Robert would handle the rest.
That night, I slept especially well.
Early the next morning, I walked into my study, and sure enough, "Evening on the Spring River" was already hanging in the most prominent spot on the wall.
Sunlight streamed through the window, making the river in the painting look like it was actually flowing.
Robert was watering a pot of clivia. When he saw me come in, he turned and smiled at me.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"It's too valuable," I said.
He replied, "Not at all. Spending twenty million dollars just to make everyone in Stuawell respect you? That's a steal."
He set down the watering can and walked over to me.
He said, "Evelyn, remember this. As the matriarch of the Sutton family, you don't need to be merciful to anyone. Your kindness will only turn into a knife others use to hurt you."
Robert's words were like a key, unlocking the final lock inside me.
Yeah, ever since I chose to marry him, I stopped being the sheltered little princess who needed someone to protect her.
I had become a queen. I was his equal, fighting right alongside him.
Just then, his phone rang. He picked up, listened for a moment, and his brow furrowed.
"Did they find Harry? Bring him back," Robert said.
After hanging up, he looked at me, his expression complicated.
"Harry's been found," he said.
My heart sank. The runaway groom was coming back.
Harry was "invited" back three days later.
I made sure the butler told me exactly when he arrived.
That afternoon, I slipped into a vivid red silk robe, the neckline cut just right to show off my elegant collarbones.
I lounged lazily on the living room sofa, legs crossed, idly flipping through a book of poetry in a foreign language.
Robert was right next to me, taking a rare break from work. He patiently snipped at the roses he'd just brought in from the garden, using a silver pair of scissors.