The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot-Chapter 49: Spiking Drinks

Evelyn stood in front of the Wright mansion, shivering slightly as the chilly night air wrapped around her. She never imagined she’d return here after her marriage contract with Zevian was set, yet here she was, with just one call from her father.

"Why are you standing out here?" Elias’s voice cut through her thoughts as he descended the mansion’s grand staircase. He quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulders, guiding her inside. "Let’s go. It’s freezing tonight."

Inside, Evelyn was greeted by the sight of a beautifully decorated mansion. The chandelier lights had been changed, casting a bright, warm glow that made the entire hall feel almost festive. So, it was all a trap to win favors. She thought with a light scoff.

"Oh, you’ve arrived," Sophia greeted them as she approached, dressed in a casual yet elegant party gown. Her warm smile made Evelyn’s skin crawl, the rage to expose her soon growing within her.

Annabelle joined her mother, attempting to hug Evelyn, but Evelyn quickly stepped back. Seeing her rudeness toward his sweet daughter, William scowled but kept his expression neutral. He needed to hold back his venom until the job was done.

"How are you?" Evelyn asked, her eyes fixed on William as he approached them. Darah expressed concern that Sophia had strictly prohibited anyone from getting too close to him. She was also managing all his medications, a gesture that outsiders called her deep love for William, but Evelyn knew better.

"Better," William replied, his voice low. He hesitated, but feeling Sophia’s gaze on him, he added, "And how are you?"

Evelyn blinked, taken aback by the concern in his voice. It had been months since he had spoken to her directly, let alone with any emotion. Struggling to keep her feelings in check, she nodded. "I’m fine."

The awkwardness between them was palpable, even to the Wright household staff who observed from a distance. Some of them quietly hoped this was a first step toward mending their broken relationship, longing for the days when William and Evelyn, though distant, still cared for each other before Sophia’s arrival.

"Shall we move to the dining room?" Sophia suggested, breaking the silence. Elias eagerly helped his sister reclaim the chair beside him, excited to share dinner tales with her again.

"It would have been lovely if Zevian were here too," Annabelle commented sitting beside William, in the chair that once belonged to Gracia, Evelyn’s late mother. Evelyn hadn’t dared to sit there, but this con artist occupied it without hesitation.

Evelyn glanced at her father, her eyes subtly wide with shock. When he didn’t scold Annabelle but warmly smiled at her, she realized he had fully accepted her as his true daughter. A sharp pain pierced her heart, seeing him shower Annabelle with the kind of love she had craved all her life.

"Is he busy, Evy?" Sophia asked, pulling Evelyn from her thoughts.

Evelyn shook her head. "No, I asked him not to join me." Her words shocked everyone, even the maids setting the table glanced at each other.

"What?" William’s frown deepened, the mask of kindness he wore slipping away, with frustration creeping into his voice.

"I was afraid you arranged this dinner just to persuade him to start working on your resort projects," Evelyn said, her voice steady and unapologetic. "I didn’t want to be your bait to win him."

The room fell silent, tension crackling in the air. Evelyn had just slapped all of them with facts, declaring she was not a fool to fall for their sudden care. Even Elias who had no clue that they invited Zevian scowled, having foolishly believed that his father wanted to mend his relationship with Evelyn.

"Why would you think that, Evy?" Annabelle murmured, reaching out to hold William’s hand, soothing him with a pout. "Papa genuinely wanted to have a family dinner."

Evelyn’s heart twisted at the sound of the nickname, one she had used for him as a child. But after her mother’s death, she lost both the right to call him and his love.

"Oops, I must have misunderstood," Evelyn said with a bitter smile. "But after being betrayed so many times, it’s hard not to be suspicious of his intentions." Her words were a sharp reminder of the past, of his betrayals, especially how William had arranged her marriage to Nicholas without a second thought.

William’s fist clenched under the table, his anger barely contained. He had expected her to behave like this. She had always been difficult, growing more defiant and cruel as she aged, fueling his resentment toward her. Before he could unleash his fury, Sophia interjected, her voice smooth and calming.

"Let’s not argue tonight," Sophia said, clapping her hands lightly. "This is our first dinner together as a complete Wright family. Let’s enjoy it."

The maids resumed their service, one of them carefully placing a glass of freshly uncorked wine in front of Evelyn.

"Cheers," Elias said, raising his glass. Evelyn forced a smile, clinking her glass with his before taking a small sip.

Across the table, Sophia observing her keenly, hid her smirk behind her glass. In just a few hours, the paparazzi would have a field day with the news she had planned.

The dinner proceeded smoothly, Evelyn and Elias busy in their banter. She had sipped only a little of her drink as instructed by her dear husband. But Sophia was fine with it, confident that Evelyn’s emotions, would do the rest of the drug’s work.

"Shall we play cards?" Elias suggested as they finished dinner.

"You have an exam tomorrow, Eli. You should be studying," Sophia quickly interjected before Evelyn could agree.

"Maybe this weekend," Evelyn said, smiling at her brother. "Come to my place. Even Kiana wants to see you again." Despite Elias’s reluctance to part from his sister, he nodded, looking forward to the weekend.

"I should get going," Evelyn announced, directing her words at William, who had remained silent since her remark about Zevian.

"Yes, it’s quite late," Sophia agreed, glancing at the time. She hid her satisfaction behind a polite smile. "Our chauffeur will take you home."

Before Evelyn could respond, William cut in. "Come to my study," he ordered, already walking out of the dining room.

Evelyn sighed but followed him. Sophia clenched her jaw but didn’t object. Her hidden plans for this dinner were fulfilled, and she should let her husband fulfill his too for helping her carry it out. She thought with a smirk, before quickly sending Elias to his room.

Evelyn closed the door behind her as they entered his dimly lit study. William walked to his desk to pick up a file, and her eyes fell on the pillbox beside it.

"Since you already know what this is about, I won’t waste time," William began, dropping the pretense Sophia had coaxed him to try to win over Evelyn’s heart. "Reign Constructions has halted our resort project. It’s worth millions and is crucial for both companies. Tell Mr. Reign to resume it."

Evelyn stared at her father, disappointed but not surprised. She had hoped, even if just for a moment, that he might have changed, but only to be hurt again. Brushing off her thoughts, she said, "I thought I made it clear on my wedding day that we are strangers. I am no longer your biological daughter nor your puppet to boss around."

"I don’t want to be connected with you either!" William snapped, his frustration finally breaking through. "But we’re caught in a web. We can’t sever our ties, no matter how much we wish to."

Evelyn sighed, her emotions swirling inside her. "Please don’t try this again, I am not going to help you," she said, turning to leave.

William scoffed loudly. "Blame me for raising you all these years as a part of this family. You have taken away my wife and my business is your current target. Great!"

Evelyn flinched as his words pierced her heart like daggers. "I think I have paid enough for my sins, Mr. Wright. Please stop using it on me again and again!"

"And now you’re putting a price on her death? Good job, Evelyn. Gracie would be proud to see what a fine girl she raised, especially one who wasn’t even hers, to begin with," William spat, using the cruelest weapon he had.

Tears stung Evelyn’s eyes, but she turned and walked out of the room, knowing that if she stayed, he would break her completely. Her head felt heavy, and she shook it, trying to clear her thoughts as she hurried toward the exit.

Sophia watched from the upstairs landing, her smirk growing wider. She pulled out her phone and texted her team, instructing them to move forward with their plan.

An hour later, John, who had been waiting outside for Evelyn, grew suspicious and decided to check inside the mansion. He stopped a staff member to ask about her, only to receive shocking news.

His eyes widened in fear as he quickly dialed his boss’s number. "Bo-boss, Mrs. Reign is missing. The staff says she already left, but I didn’t see her leave the mansion!"

"She must’ve been kidnapped again!" he added, panic seeping into his voice.