Chapter 13: Not Worthy

Robert Tinder freezes, scared by his boss's violent reaction. Evan impatiently grabs his tablet to check the news. He has no patience for Robert's slowness today. He opens the news app, and a huge headline catches his eye: Scandalous Baby Cover-Up! Howel's Announce Plans for an Heir to Hide Evan's Philandering Ways! Ex, Leonie Summer Already Lives in His House! Which Woman Will He Choose?

"Who gave them permission to print this?" he asks.

No journalist would dare to print something he hadn't approved, and no one in his family would approve such a headline. Unless…

"Your wife did, sir," Roberts says, confirming Evan's suspicions, "She told the media to report that Miss Summer lives in this house with you. She wants to threaten the family's reputation."

"Has she succeeded?" Evan asks.

He throws the tablet in Robert's direction. It slams into the floor and the screen shatters.

"I've already ordered all outlets to recall the news," Robert says.

Evan frowns. His face is severe and threatening. Yesterday, Avery tried to publicly announce a divorce. Last night, she snuck around with other men and stood him up. And now she's trying to force him to marry Leonie? It's too much.

"Avery Howel," he thinks, "Don't think I can't persuade you to behave!"

Out loud he asks, "Where is she?"

"One of the maids said your grandmother invited her to tea."

"Ah, this won't end well for Avery," Evan thinks.

At the other end of the house, a maid knocks on the doors to Mrs. Florence Howel's sitting room.

"Mrs. Avery Howel is here to see you," she announces.

Mrs. Howel lifts her gaze from her steaming cup of black tea. She only intends to glance at Avery, but she's shocked by the woman's blatant disrespect. Avery is standing silently in the door, refusing to even look at her grandmother-in-law. Worse, she's still dressed in the pajamas she slept in.

"What's wrong with you, Avery?" Florence Howel asks, "What do you mean by this disrespect? I graciously invited you to tea and you respond with such terrible manners!"

"Grandma," Leonie soothes, "Avery must have only just awoken. She probably didn't have time to get dressed."

Florence Howel makes a disapproving sound and sips her tea. Avery enters the room and sits casually on one of the upholstered chairs. Florence opens her mouth to speak, but Avery interrupts her.

"Grandma, I didn't come to listen to you talk nonsense," she says, "Please just say what you want to say so I can leave."

"Nonsense!" Florence thinks, outraged, "The nerve of this upstart young woman to speak to me that way!"

The wrinkles on her face deepened with anger. Gently, Leonie strokes her back.

"Grandma, she might not be fully awake yet," she murmurs.

Grandma sips her tea and her expression calms.

"Very well," she says, "I asked you to come to inform you that Leonie and Evan had sex last night. From now on, I consider both of you as my granddaughters-in-law. Though you are Evan's legal wife, you have failed to perform your marital duties. I want you to understand that Leonie now takes precedence over you."

Avery straightens in her chair and looks at Leonie. The woman is wearing an off-the-shoulder dress today, flaunting the bluish-purple spots on her neck. She has not attempted to cover them with makeup. Realizing that Avery is looking at her neck, Leonie pretends to rearrange her hair, giving Avery a better view. The hickeys extend up to her ear and down to her clavicle.

"Oh, is that all?" Avery leans back with a lazy yawn, "I thought there was some emergency. Did you wake me up for this? Grandma, you may be old and have difficulty sleeping, but we are young and shouldn't be bothered so early in the morning."

Florence Howel has never been treated with so much contempt in her life. She can feel her blood pressure rising with anger.

"What is wrong with your attitude?"

"Would you like to teach me what attitude I should have?" Avery asks

"Why, you little—"

"Grandma, don't be angry," Leonie soothes, "Maybe we've been too hasty. Evan hasn't given me any special status yet. It was just one night, and he may never want to see me again."

"Stupid child," Florence says, "Evan has already given you that status. He chose you over Avery; he had sex with you instead of Avery. For all we know, you could be carrying his child right now. If you have his baby, you will be far more important and special than Avery even though she's his legal wife."

Florence Howel pauses and gives Avery a quick, cold glance, "Besides, if you have Evan's child, I'll arrange things so you can become his legal wife."

"Grandma, this should be Evan's choice," Leonie says shyly. She blushes up to her ears, "Besides, last night, we had some help—"

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Florence Howel turns to look at Leonie, "Child, you were already on his mind."

In a colder voice, she questions Avery "I heard you sent Leonie and Evan a candle with a special fragrance last night?"

"Yes, I did," Avery admits, "What's wrong with that?"

"Do you remember the law?" Florence asks, "Possession of any kind of mind-altering drug is forbidden. Anyone who violates the law will be punished severely."

When Evan was fourteen years old a maid drugged him and attempted to seduce him. The Howel family was furious, and they exerted their political power to pass a harsh ban on all drugs. The family is still especially sensitive about aphrodisiacs.

Florence Howel slaps the carved armrest of her sofa, "Come on, grab the young mistress," she orders the maids, "Hit her and see if she dares to use drugs again!"

The maids rush toward Avery. Avery grabs a teacup from the coffee table and slams it to the ground. The delicate cup shatters, and small pieces of porcelain scatter across the floor. The maids are frightened and they back away. Avery steps away, too.

"I sent a specially scented candle," she repeats calmly, "What's wrong with that?"

"It's alright to send a candle, but it's illegal to add anything that might harm Evan."

"What kind of illegal things do you think I added?" Avery asks, "I just sent a nicely scented candle. Why are you so worked up? Grandma, as an elderly woman, you should show some concern for your blood pressure."

"Do you want to deny your guilt?"

"Was there some sort of drug in the candle?" Avery asks, "Do you have any evidence?"

She knows she sent a fragrant candle to Evan, but it was a normal candle. She just wanted to set the mood for seduction, to help ensure that Evan would sleep with Leonie. If there was a drug in the candle, someone else must have added it.

"Anyway," Avery thinks, "This isn't the first time something suspicious has happened here."

"Evidence?" Florence is outraged, "Leonie's words are the evidence! Do you insist on denying your guilt? Shame on you!"

She gestures to the maids, "Tie her up!"

"Which one of you dares to touch me?" Avery asks.

She glares at the maids. Her expression is so cruel and threatening that the maids don't dare to move even half a step.

"Grandma, forget it," Leonie says, "I don't think Avery meant to hurt anyone. I believe she's kind."

"Is she? Don't be stupid, child. She just wanted to seduce Evan herself. She didn't suspect that Evan would seek you out. Besides, anyone who uses a disgusting drug like that should be punished, no matter their intentions."

Avery smiles as if the whole conversation is a joke.

"Look at me, do you think I need drugs to seduce my husband?" Avery gestured to herself, even in pajamas she's beautiful, "You must be confused, Grandma. Let me explain, I don't need to seduce him because we've already had sex."

"Sex?" Florence Howel looks shocked.

"Avery, how can you lie to your grandma this way? You've been Evan's wife for three years, and everyone knows you tried every possible method to seduce him. But Evan wouldn't even touch you!" Leonie shouts, "You don't honestly expect us to believe that Evan would make love with you if he wasn't drugged! If you play with fire, you always get burnt, Avery, and I sure hope you get torched!"

By the end of her speech, Leonie is so angry her entire body shakes. Even though she's lost her temper, she knows Mrs. Florence Howel will take her side and defend her against Avery.

Avery tries to stifle her laughter, but she can't hold it in.

"Don't misunderstand me," Avery says, laughing, "I did seduce Evan, and it wasn't easy, but I didn't resort to drugs. Maybe it was easier for you to get my husband into bed, Leonie because you drugged him yourself. Regardless, I warn you not to take your time with him for granted. I'm still his wife, after all."

"I…I didn't…you sent the candle last night," Leonie stutters.

"She will be his legal wife sooner or later," Florence says, "Don't think you can remain his wife much longer."

Avery is tired of the conversation. Distractedly, she plays with her ring.

"Do you think I want to be Evan's wife?" she asks, "Everyone thinks Evan Howel is some sort of treasure, but honestly, he's not even worth the paper it takes to divorce him. Whoever wants him, can have him. It's none of my business anymore."

The maids gasp. Though they may find Evan Howel overly demanding, Avery is far too bold to speak so flippantly about him. Suddenly, there's a shout from the doorway, and the doors fly open. A tall, imposing figure stands on the threshold, listening.

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