Evelyn laughed softly.
"That’s true. That’s why Alice... Make sure to keep all important docunts in a secure place, like your ID, marriage registry, and everything else..."
"Yes, Mom. You need to be careful from now on." Stella added.
Alice smiled at Evelyn and Stella, her eyes softening.
"You both are such kind and intelligent girls. Thank you, Eve. Thank you, Stella. Don’t worry too much... I’ve already thought about all of this, especially after what William did to ."
Stella frowned suspiciously. Evelyn, however, smiled knowingly.
"Mom," Stella said slowly, "what exactly did you do?"
Alicia lifted her glass of ocha, her voice calm but her eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction.
"I’ve kept all my important docunts, jewelry, and valuables in a safe deposit box at the central bank. And no one knows about it. Not even your Father."
Stella gasped and dramatically raised both thumbs high above her head.
"Wow. My mommy is such a genius!"
Alicia shot her a glare before chuckling.
"Hahaha, don’t praise too much. I know I’m smart. But I’m weak and, apparently, I’m also kind of stupid when it cos to love."
That earned a laugh from Stella.
"Well, yeah. I an, for a woman that brilliant, you really fumbled hard in the romance departnt, Mom. If it were , I’d have thrown that howrecker straight into the gutter."
Evelyn nearly choked on her sushi while Alicia laughed softly, shaking her head.
"Stop wasting your anger on him and her mistress..." Alicia teased. "You’ll only give yourself wrinkles and heart disease. Let’s just enjoy our lives. Go on, eat your sushi."
Stella pouted but obeyed, stabbing a piece of tuna with her chopsticks.
anwhile, Evelyn turns to see Alicia.
"Alice, have you thought about moving out? I can arrange a safe place for you and Stella. Sowhere quiet, away from William Walters, the press, and all the family drama."
"That’s sweet of you, Eve, but there’s no need. I actually have a few properties of my own. Under my maiden na, and only I know about. Stella and I can move into one of them."
Stella almost dropped her chopsticks.
"Wait, what? You... have properties? And you didn’t tell Father about that? And how am I just finding out about it now?"
Evelyn raised an amused brow. "Good question, Stella."
"Well, not everything your father owns actually belongs to him," she said slyly. "So of the properties are under my na. I bought them using my dividend shares, and a few belonged to before I even married him."
Stella blinked.
"Wait, wait... are you saying Grandpa secretly made you rich this whole ti, and you just let Dad walk around acting like so self-made king?"
Alicia chuckled.
"Not that rich, sweetheart. Your Father is definitely wealthier than I am. But if sothing happens to him and his wealth ditches us, we won’t be holess and starve, at least."
"I’m glad to hear that, Alice. And... you still have those company shares, right?" Evelyn asked seriously.
"Walters Group?" Alicia tilted her head, smiling faintly when Evelyn nodded. "Of course. That was your grandfather’s gift to when I gave him a granddaughter. William can’t force to sell or sign them over."
Evelyn’s eyes softened. "Good. Keep them close. You might need them sooner than you think."
Alicia nodded. "All the docunts are safe. And every year, when the dividend money cos in, I invest it. So, I’ve built quite a bit of my own savings too."
"Tsk, tsk. Mom, you’re just like sister Eve. You two were secretly plotting to beco businesswon while I’m over here morizing anatomy terms."
Evelyn and Alicia can’t help but laugh.
"Did you forget, Stella? Alice majored in business managent, rember?" Evelyn asked.
"Oh, right," Stella muttered. "That explains a lot."
"Yes," Alicia said with a smile. "But that was long ago. I’m just a housewife now, Eve."
"Just a housewife?" Evelyn’s tone softened, but her eyes said otherwise. "You’re stronger than you think, Alice."
Alicia didn’t answer, but the way she looked down and smiled showed she heard her daughter loud and clear.
Then Evelyn straightened, switching to her businesslike tone.
"There’s sothing else I want you to do. Tomorrow, there’ll be a shareholder eting. I need you to attend, Alice. Sothing big will happen, and you should be there to witness it."
Alicia didn’t hesitate. "Alright. I’ll be there."
That was that. The serious talk was over.
They spent the rest of lunch laughing, for once not talking about William Walters, the scandals, or the looming chaos that tomorrow might bring.
Instead, the conversation shifted to Oliver and his upcoming birthday.
"Eve," Alicia said, narrowing her eyes like a mother hen, "you’d better not keep waiting to et my grandson."
"I promise," Evelyn laughed. "You’ll et him soon. I’m throwing a small birthday party for him in two weeks."
Stella, who had been slurping soba noodles, nearly choked.
"Little Oliver’s having a birthday party? Where? You’d better invite too, sis! Oh no, I need to buy him a present! Ugh, I forgot his favorite character...?"
Evelyn smiled warmly.
"Of course you’re invited. You’re his aunt, after all. And no need to buy him anything. Just co, that’ll make him happy. Oliver is always happy when he learn his family is not just his mother and father."
The conversation circled back to Oliver; how he looked, how mischievous he could be, and how he apparently inherited both his parents’ stubborn streaks.
For once, laughter filled the room.
By the ti they finished lunch, the heaviness that had followed Alicia for months seed to lift a little. Her eyes looked brighter, her shoulders lighter.
"Alright, I need to go now..." She reached for her purse, "I have to get going. My husband is probably looking for already."
"Ugh. You and your ’crazy-rich’ husband. Do you two ever get tired of being disgustingly in love?" Stella teases her.
Evelyn gave her a faint smile, "Not really. It’s kind of fun watching him lose sleep because of ."
Alicia laughed softly.
"Eve, don’t bully your husband too much," Alicia added.
"I’m not," Evelyn said with an innocent smile.
As they all chuckled, a sudden knock ca at the door.
"I’ll get it," Stella said, hopping up and walking over.
When she pulled the door open, her eyes widened in disbelief, "B–Brother-in-law..." she stamred.
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