His Perfect Wife Strikes Back

177 I'm Always Here

I took a peek at Frade, who was fast asleep, and slipped out of bed with my bare feet on the carpet. I carefully pushed open the door and went into the living room to reply to a text message from an unknown number.

I need to talk to you about the recording of my mother. (Eva)

A second later, Daley sent me a URL.

Open the computer and paste the link. (Daley)

So I turned on my laptop, and when I clicked on the link a dialog box appeared.

This is the only way we can talk to each other without being watched. (Daley)

I need the recording of my mother. Tell me where it is. (Eva)

Whatever you need it for, I can get you a copy of the file. Trust me, the originals are safest with me. (Daley)

Then he transmitted a file, and I clicked receive. The file was downloaded onto my computer.

Are you and the baby okay? (Daley)

We're fine. Are you in Mexico? (Eva)

I can't tell you where I am, but I'm safe. Did you get my divorce papers in the mail? (Daley)

Yes. (Eva)

All right. Good luck with Frade. (Daley)

My fingers were on the keyboard trying to type something, but I didn't know what to say to him. When I looked up at the screen again, the dialogue showed that he had gone offline.

My conversation with Daley was over. Feeling a little lost, I shut off my laptop.

I didn't go back to my room until it was almost dawn. Instead of going back to bed, I went straight into the bathroom to take a shower. As the hot water from the rain shower washed my body, I couldn't help stroking my lower abdomen.

When am I going to get out of this mess?

As I stepped out of the bathroom in my bathrobe, my cell phone rang. My heart skipped a beat. Did Daley call me?

When I picked up the phone, however, the ID showed the caller was in the United States and it was an unfamiliar number.

"This is Eva," I said.

"Good morning, Eva," Ian's voice came over the phone. "Mr Blanton would like you to join him for breakfast."

"Can I refuse?"

"I'm afraid not," Ian said in a relaxed tone.

"Where is it?"

"We'll send a car to pick you up in 10 minutes."

"Do you need my address?"

"We know where you are. See you in 10 minutes." Ian hangs up.

No doubt Mickle had followed me after I left his house. They knew exactly where I lived, and I wondered if someone was lurking somewhere with a telescope watching my every move.

"Who called you?" Frade's voice came from behind me.

"It's Ian," I turned to him. "He said Mickle wanted to invite me to breakfast. They'll send a car for me in 10 minutes."

"He wants to invite you?" Frade frowned. "Sounds more like an order."

"No matter what, I have to cooperate with him first." I took off my bathrobe to change.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Frade hugged me.

"I think I can handle it," I said, grabbing a T-shirt and putting it on. "Do you need to go to work today?"

"Yes," Frade said. "I have a shareholders' meeting. Maybe I'll be busy until tonight."

"I'll wait for you," I said, putting my head on his shoulder.

"All the trouble will pass." He stroked my hair. "Trust me!"

I believe you, I thought.

Ten minutes later, the car Ian had sent to pick me up was parked outside the manor. I kissed Frade goodbye and got in the car to meet Mickle.

The driver took me back to Mickle's house again. This time the car stopped in front of another house. When I got out, Ian was standing next to the car.

"Good morning, Eva. Mr and Mrs Blanton are inside waiting for you." Ian helped me out of the car.

"Did he just invite me?" I asked curiously.

"Not just you, of course, but Mia," said Ian. "Mia stayed here last night."

"That does sound like her."

Mia wants to be the President's Daughter. I can't imagine how she begged Mickle to stay last night.

"Eva, please come with me," Ian said, and led me through the house into a garden.

Under an awning, Mickle and his wife sat at a round table. Mia sits next to Mickle. They seemed to be talking. When I approached them, Mickle's wife saw me first. She didn't say anything to me. Instead, she nudged Mickle on the arm with her elbow.

"Eva, you're here." Mickle looked up at me. "Sit down."

I took the empty seat next to Mia. Mickle's wife says, "Hi, Eva! Nice to meet you."

"Hello, Mrs. Blanton," I replied politely.

"You can call me Catherine!"

Catherine, that name sounds like a good match for her.

"Sir, can we start now?" Ian whispered in Mickle's ear.

"OK!" Mickle nodded.

Before I could figure out what was going on, Ian waved at the people standing under the trees. Soon the men came, some with cameras set up near us, others tidying Mickle and his wife.

"What is this?" I asked, puzzled.

"They're going to film us having breakfast with our father." Mia looks at me. "My sister, are you going to wear this dress to the camera?"

It turned out that Mickle didn't really want to invite me to breakfast, just to create the illusion of harmony with us. No doubt, it was an attempt to give the public a sense of purpose and to make him look good.

"Eva, I'm afraid you need a change of clothes," Ian said to me. "The clothes you're wearing are too plain for the camera."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with what I'm wearing," I said, "And I didn't bring any extra clothes."

"We have clothes," Ian said. "And there's a changing room inside. We're shooting in five minutes, so please get dressed as soon as you can."

Ian's tone was so irresistible that I had to take the clothes he provided and walk into the house. I found a changing room and changed.

While I was arranging my clothes in the mirror, I looked like a lady in a Chanel suit. This is clearly not my style.

"It's a nice dress," a voice said from outside the door. "But it doesn't suit you!"

I realized that the door was open. A man in a wheelchair was looking at me carefully.

"Have I met you before?"

I frowned at the stranger in front of me. Did he know me?