Evelyn Vale’s words made Grandfather Blackwood’s expression turn cold.
Across the room, Aunt Eleanor looked at Claire Vale with undisguised disgust.
She had never liked Claire.
The girl always appeared fragile and delicate, but there was something about her that Aunt Eleanor had never been able to warm up to.
Claire was too calculating, too careful with her words.
She was nothing like Evelyn.
Evelyn was bright, healthy, straightforward, and impossible to misunderstand.
Aunt Eleanor had always preferred that kind of personality.
Now, after hearing Claire curse Alexander, her dislike only deepened.
I knew there was something wrong with this girl.
How dare someone who is always pretending to be so delicate curse my son?
Evelyn wasn’t finished.
She crossed her arms and glared at Claire.
“Don’t think that just because we share the same surname, you’re my sister.”
Claire’s face stiffened.
Evelyn’s voice was merciless.
“You’re simply a burden your mother brought into our household.
We’re not related by blood, and I don’t owe you sisterly affection.”
Claire’s eyes widened.
“If you dare curse Alexander again, pack your things and get out.”
“No…”
Claire immediately shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes.
“I didn’t curse Alexander…”
Her voice was weak and pitiful.
But Evelyn wasn’t buying it.
Claire had expected the old Evelyn—the foolish, hot-tempered girl who could easily be manipulated into looking like the villain.
Unfortunately for her, that girl was gone.
Evelyn stared at her coldly.
“Then swear.”
Claire froze.
“Swear that if you ever said Alexander would never stand again, you’ll pay for those words with your life.”
The entire room went silent.
Evelyn’s eyes remained fixed on Claire.
She knew Claire wouldn’t dare.
Claire feared death more than anything.
In her previous life, the woman had always been obsessed with protecting herself.
She avoided even speaking about death, as though merely mentioning the word could somehow shorten her life.
There was no way Claire would willingly swear such an oath.
After all, she still dreamed of spending a long and happy life with Damien.
As expected, Claire’s lips trembled.
“I…
I really didn’t say those things, Evelyn.”
Tears finally rolled down her cheeks.
“Why are you accusing me like this?
We’re sisters…”
Of course, she wouldn’t swear.
All she could do was cry.
Grandfather Blackwood’s patience finally ran thin.
“Enough.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but the single word immediately silenced the room.
“Stop crying.”
Claire hurriedly wiped her tears.
“Think carefully before you speak from now on.”
Then his expression softened slightly as he turned toward Evelyn.
“And you, Evelyn.
Don’t be so hot-tempered all the time.”
He paused.
“A young woman should know how to be gentle.”
Although his words sounded like a reprimand, there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
There wasn’t even the slightest trace of genuine anger.
In truth, Grandfather Blackwood rather liked Evelyn’s fiery personality.
She was bold.
Straightforward.
Fearless.
What you saw was what you got.
She was far more pleasing than people who constantly hid their true intentions behind weak smiles and soft words.
Evelyn immediately pouted.
“I can’t be gentle.”
Grandfather Blackwood raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve been like this since I was little.
It’s too late to change me now.”
Grandfather Blackwood burst into hearty laughter.
“Then don’t change!”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t change at all.
If you suddenly became gentle and obedient, you wouldn’t be my Evelyn anymore.”
Aunt Eleanor couldn’t help smiling as well.
“I like Evelyn’s temper.”
She glanced toward Claire.
“She’s honest and straightforward.
At least you always know where you stand with her.”
Evelyn’s eyes brightened.
“Exactly!”
She deliberately raised her chin.
“If someone offends me, I’ll give them a slap so hard they’ll remember it until tomorrow.”
Her tone was playful.
But her eyes slowly shifted toward Claire.
Claire’s face became paler.
She knew perfectly well that Evelyn wasn’t joking.
Not anymore.
At the stairwell, Alexander Blackwood remained quietly seated in his wheelchair.
His lips were pressed into a thin line.
His expression was calm and unreadable.
No one could tell what was going through his mind.
But there was something different in his eyes.
A faint warmth.
Alexander himself hadn’t noticed it.
How could he remain completely unaffected?
A girl had just stood in front of everyone and defended him without hesitation.
And that girl was Evelyn.
Beautiful, vibrant, and fearless.
He wasn’t heartless.
He simply wasn’t accustomed to being cared for.
Especially not by her.
“Commander, your fiancée is really fierce.”
He grinned.
“I like fierce women.”
Alexander slowly turned his head.
His cold gaze landed on Mark.
Mark immediately shivered.
“I mean fierce women like Sister-in-law!”
He hurried to explain.
“Not that I like Sister-in-law!”
He paused.
“Wait…”
His face twisted in confusion.
“I do like Sister-in-law…”
Alexander’s expression became even colder.
Mark’s forehead broke into a nervous sweat.
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
He waved his hands frantically.
“I mean I like fierce women, and Sister-in-law is fierce, but I don’t like her in that way!”
He stopped.
Then his expression became even more confused.
“Although…
I do like her.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
Mark nearly burst into tears.
“I’ll stop talking!”
He lowered his head in defeat.
“Every time I explain it, I make it worse.”
He quickly grabbed the handles of Alexander’s wheelchair.
“Commander, I’ll push you back to your room.
You should lie down and rest.”
Alexander remained silent.
But then…
The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
A faint smile.
The first smile he had shown since his injury.
Even Alexander himself didn’t realize what had caused it.
Nor did he realize something else.
He hadn’t been annoyed when Mark called Evelyn Sister-in-law.
He hadn’t corrected him.
He hadn’t even objected.
Mark noticed.
His eyes immediately lit up with amusement.
Ah.
So that’s how it is.
His commander was simply too embarrassed to admit it.
He secretly chuckled.
The usually cold and intimidating Alexander Blackwood was actually shy when it came to women.
Especially when it came to his own fiancée.
Mark decided he would have a serious conversation with his commander later.
What was there to be embarrassed about?
She was already his fiancée.
Soon enough, she’d be his wife.
And when that day came, Mark would make sure his commander learned how to treat his wife properly.