Chapter 4

Charles smiled gently as he held Evelyn's hand and said,

"Evelyn, I hope our family never has to be apart, year after year."

Evelyn's expression softened, and she replied, "You're wishing so sincerely. Heaven will make it come true."

The two of them smiled at each other, warm and perfectly in sync.

I had once begged Evelyn to float lanterns with me and make wishes too, but back then she had smashed the lantern I made and coldly said,

"If you have time for useless crap like this, you'd be better off copying the house rules a few more times and learning some manners."

I didn't want to keep watching, so I turned to leave. But Evelyn spotted me.

She called out, "Are you here to float lanterns too? Good. Charlie's hands are too delicate for rough work like this, so you can make the lanterns for him."

"He wants to make a few more and pray for the whole family to stay safe."

I was just about to refuse when Charles came over and draped an arm warmly around my shoulder.

"Evelyn, take the kids to the pavilion to set the lanterns afloat. My brother can keep me company."

Evelyn glanced at me, then nodded and left.

The second she turned away with the children, a sharp pain shot through my wrist.

Charles was digging his fingers hard into my arm, mocking me in a voice only I could hear.

"Edward Hartley, you're pathetic. So what if you're the Hartley family's real bloodline?"

"Your parents don't love you. Your wife doesn't love you. Your kids don't love you either.

"Dress a beggar in rich clothes and he still looks miserable. If I were you, I'd have died of shame by now."

I jerked my hand back in pain, and in the next second, Charles stumbled backward toward the pond.

He even cried out, "Evelyn, help-"

At the last second, Evelyn rushed over and caught him before he could fall in.

Before I could say a word, five-year-old Samuel pointed at me and shouted,

"I saw it. Edward Hartley pushed Dad into the water. He was trying to kill him!"

My heart went cold in an instant.

The next second, Evelyn turned to me, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"Edward Hartley, Charlie thinks of you every single day. He even keeps telling your parents to treat you better, and this is how you repay him?"

"No wonder your parents didn't want you. You really don't deserve to be loved."

Her words cut into my heart like a blade.

Evelyn knew full well that no one had ever loved me, yet she still stepped right on the part of me that hurt the most.

Charles had pulled this kind of cheap setup on me more than once over the years.

I used to explain myself every time.

But today, I didn't want to anymore.

I turned around and went straight back to my room. In these final few hours of my life, I just wanted to wait for death in peace.

But not long after I entered my room, Evelyn followed me in.

Her tone was icy. "You think hiding here lets you avoid what you did?"

I looked up at her and said each word slowly and clearly.

"I didn't push Charles. If you don't believe me, report it to the authorities."

I refused to admit fault. Evelyn's dark eyes deepened, anger flaring inside them.

She strode over and grabbed my arm.

"Even now, you still won't reflect on yourself? Stop lying. You need to apologize to Charlie-"

Her hard yank pulled at the wounds on my back, and I couldn't stop a sharp hiss of pain.

Evelyn froze mid-sentence. When she saw the blood soaking through my back, her expression changed.

"What happened? You're hurt? Why didn't you say anything?"

Before I could answer, she frowned and called for the servants.

"Go get a doctor. Have him treat my husband's wounds."

But just then, a maid came running in from outside, shouting, "Lady Foster, Mr. Charles says he has a headache. Please go see him right away."

The moment Evelyn heard that, she forgot all about me and turned to leave in a hurry.

All she left behind was, "I'll send someone with medicine later."

I didn't stop her. I just watched her rush away.