Chapter 22
Lydia was getting doubtful, wondering if Evalina really had found some solid backup. After all, Evalina looked so confident and not at all guilty. But after waiting for more than ten minutes, there was still no sign of anything happening.
Lydia couldn’t stay seated any longer. She stood up abruptly and waved her hand. “You’re just talking a big game, Evalina. I overestimated you. Stop pretending you’re with some powerful guy. Does this make any difference?”
She then turned to the manager and shouted, “This woman’s trying to play us, and we need to teach her a lesson.”
The manager’s face turned red with embarrassment and anger when he felt being outsmarted by Evalina. “Get her outta here,” he barked.
Just then, a deep voice rang out. “Hold up, everyone.” A tall, dark figure suddenly appeared, blocking the doorway. His sharp features and amber eyes held a piercing gaze that swept across the room, his natural charisma filling the space.
It was Hugo–Everyone’s shocking eyes snapped to him. They stared, too shocked to react for a moment.
Evalina’s eyes darted around nervously. For a hot second, she thought Hugo wasn’t gonna show. But he did.
She shoved past the security guards and threw herself into his arms, leaving everyone else with their jaws dropped. “Honey, you’re finally here! Check it out; these jerks are all over me, grabbing me with their grimy hands. You’d never get rough with me like that. How dare they!”
Hugo was already ticked when he got there, and Evalina’s sob story almost made him blow a gasket. She was totally overacting, and it was super annoying. But with her crying in his arms, there was no way to dodge it.
He kept his cool and aimed his anger at the troublemakers. He sneered, “Who’s behind this?”
Lydia felt a chill run down her spine, pondering, ‘This can’t be right. I’ve heard from Jason that Evalina’s husband is some old rich dude. But here is Hugo. The Hugo Hayes!‘
Lydia couldn’t wrap her head around it. She’d finally gotten the upper hand on Evalina, and now it looked like Evalina might stage a comeback.
Before anyone could get a word in, Hugo spoke up again, “Not gonna talk, huh?”
“Mr. Hayes.” Lydia quickly composed herself, flashing a pitiful look. “We had no clue Evalina was with you… with all the guys she’s got around her, it’s tough to keep track.”
Vanessa was still in shock, but she snapped out of it. “That’s a bunch of BS, Evalina’s never had a guy in her life!”
She glanced at Hugo, still trying to figure him out. ‘Is he really Evalina’s husband? This can’t be true. Evalina must’ve pulled some strings to get Hugo here…
Evalina’s smile turned cold. ‘Nice try, using this chance to trash me. But you’re gonna be disappointed. If Hugo was really my loving husband, he might care. But I’m not Olive, so why would he care who I’m with?‘
“Yeah, back in school, Evalina always had a bunch of guys after her. Teachers and professors all liked her. She’d get A’s without even cracking a book. With all that going on, who’d have thought she’d end up with you, Mr. Hayes?” Lydia kept pushing.
Evalina’s smile got even bigger. When she looked at Hugo, she put on her best sad face. “Honey, you don’t believe what they’re saying, do you? They’re just jealous of our close relationship and trying to bring me down.
“I mean, they’ll never have a husband like you, a powerful hot guy who only has eyes for me.”
