Faking Illness

Mrs. Charlotte Evans spoke bluntly, making Jasper Cheng's face flush with anger. He clenched his fists and snapped, "Who are you calling useless!?"

Lana Evans, fiercely protective, couldn't stand anyone criticizing Jasper Cheng. She jumped in, "Fourth Aunt, that's out of line! You're an elder, how can you talk down about my husband's family like that!?"

"Talking down about them? Am I making things up?" Mrs. Charlotte Evans spat, "Lana Evans, your husband's family has business, a house, and farmland. If you're sick, let them pay for your treatment! Didn't you say your husband's family treats you well, and your husband dotes on you? Why can't they even fork out a little silver for a doctor? Is that what you call caring? And you, Jasper Cheng, have you no shame? Your wife is sick and you won't pay for her treatment, but you come here to your father-in-law to make a scene. Aren't you afraid people will mock you behind your back? Are you even a man? Show some backbone!"

Jasper Cheng's temper was never good—spoiled since childhood, he wasn't used to being scolded. Mrs. Charlotte Evans's harsh words made his blood boil, and he charged at her, ready to strike.

Susan Evans saw trouble brewing and quickly stepped in to stop Jasper Cheng.

There was plenty of bickering, but Susan Evans didn't want to offend Mrs. Charlotte Evans completely. After all, they still hoped to use Sam Evans to squeeze some silver out of the Yuan family in the future. They couldn't afford to burn all their bridges.

Susan Evans had just managed to hold Jasper Cheng back, but Lana Evans flared up even more. "Fourth Aunt, you can't talk about my husband's family like that! You owe my husband an apology!"

"Apologize? Are you out of your mind?" Mrs. Charlotte Evans shot Lana Evans a look like she was an idiot.

Lana Evans was about to explode, shouting, "You apologize to my husband right now!!!"

Lana Evans's shout made everyone's eardrums ache. Mrs. Charlotte Evans winced and rubbed her ears. "Lana Evans, aren't you supposed to be seriously ill? You look full of energy and your face is glowing—you're not sick at all. You're just faking it to fool your father, aren't you!"

The moment Mrs. Charlotte Evans said "faking it," all three of them were caught off guard. They rushed to explain to Sam Evans, "Dad, I really am sick. I just couldn't stand seeing my husband being wronged, so I got a little loud... Dad, I would never lie to you."

"Whether you're sick or not, a pulse will tell." A deep male voice sounded from behind.

Everyone turned to see Dr. Rowan Lin with his hand on Mrs. Wang's shoulder, accompanied by Su Li and Little Lin. The four of them stepped into the courtyard.

Dr. Rowan Lin exuded an impressive aura, making Susan Evans and her group feel the pressure. Even Susan Evans's voice dropped a notch, "Just the other day, Lana Evans went to a clinic, and the doctor clearly said she was seriously ill."

"Really? Which clinic did you go to, and what exactly did the doctor say Lana Evans's illness was?" Dr. Rowan Lin raised an eyebrow at Susan Evans, whose heart skipped a beat under his sharp gaze. She couldn't help but sweat, thinking Mrs. Wang's second husband looked hard to get along with—life after remarriage must be tough for her.

Lana Evans noticed the newcomers stirring the pot. She glanced at the unfamiliar man, knowing only that he was Mrs. Wang's new husband—a doctor.

Lana Evans whispered, "Mom, just stick to the story that I'm really sick. What do they know? I slipped the clinic doctor some silver, so I'm sure we can get away with it!"