After the Shaw Family left, only the Lawson Family and Janet Chandler remained in the spacious living room.

Old Mr. Lawson was so angry he took several sharp breaths. "Don’t think that just because you sent the Shaw Family away, this matter is over. You’re becoming more and more absurd! I originally had high hopes for you, but look at what you’ve done! How could you do something like deceiving your own father?"

As soon as Old Mr. Lawson finished speaking, Janet Chandler went on the offensive. "Don’t you change the subject. What happens inside the Lawson Family has nothing to do with me. But my daughter has been grievously wronged in this affair. Her relationship with Mason is completely innocent, yet she’s been targeted like this—her career was almost ruined. How are we going to settle this score?"

Old Mr. Lawson’s face was grim; he didn’t want to bow his head to Janet Chandler.

But in the current situation, they were clearly in the wrong and on the back foot.

And if they didn’t give her a satisfactory solution, this woman would absolutely not back down.

Old Mr. Lawson had no choice but to turn his gaze to Mason Lawson and say coldly, "You caused this mess, you clean it up!"

Eve Vaughn also looked at Mason Lawson with worry, afraid he would be put in a difficult position.

Even though they had argued and were giving each other the cold shoulder, she was still terribly worried.

Mason’s deep gaze swept over her delicate face before he slowly walked over and calmly shielded her behind him.

Then, he said to Janet Chandler, "Aunt, I’ve already had my assistant take the contract to the hospital. The endorsement contract for Joanna to represent the Lawson Group remains in effect. As for Calypsos Television, I believe the Shaw Family, for the sake of their own reputation, won’t trouble her any further."

Janet Chandler hadn’t expected Mason to handle things so efficiently. Her expression finally softened. "Ah, Mason, you’re still the one who dotes on our Joanna the most. I already heard from her. When her contract was terminated and she was asked to pay damages, you fronted tens of millions for her. In the end, the bond between you and Joanna is still there. For your sake, I’ll let it go. I won’t make things difficult for the Lawson Family."

Janet Chandler said this deliberately for Eve Vaughn to hear.

She wanted this little girl to know that even if Mason hadn’t immediately agreed to forgive Joanna Sullivan, he still had Joanna in his heart.

This would keep the girl from getting over her head and clinging to Mason.

Sure enough, Janet Chandler’s words made Eve Vaughn’s face turn pale, and a dense ache spread through her heart.

She subconsciously looked at Mason, but he didn’t even glance her way.

’So,’ Eve Vaughn thought, ’it’s not just me he’s good to. He can be that good to others, too.’

Tens of millions—a sum like that—he could throw it down for Joanna Sullivan without a second thought.

He could lie to her, tell her that he and Joanna Sullivan were in the past. But she couldn’t lie to herself.

In that instant, a chill ran through Eve Vaughn. ’What if Mason is only good to me because he can see Joanna Sullivan’s shadow in me?’

’How tragic would that be?’

Just then, Old Mr. Lawson said to Mason, "Since Eve Vaughn is also here today, you listen to me carefully. End things with her immediately, or else you can take her and get the hell out of the Lawson Family! And don’t you ever come back! Everything the Lawson Family owns will have nothing to do with you. You’d better think it over carefully!" Eve Vaughn’s heart leaped in shock, terrified that Mason would actually give up everything for her.

’Although,’ she thought, ’it seems I’m not that important to him anyway.’

’The most important person in his heart, the one buried deepest, is probably his first love, the one he shared so many years with, isn’t it?’

’Joanna Sullivan is the one who’s most important.’

At this thought, Eve Vaughn found a sense of release.

Even if Mason didn’t choose her, she wouldn’t be heartbroken. She would just consider it fate opening up a new life for her—a life without Mason Lawson.

Otherwise, if she stayed with him, she’d have no official status, and she wouldn’t even be qualified to be the one in his heart.

So what was the point of being with him, really?

The Third Madam was terrified when she heard her father-in-law’s words. She rushed to Mason’s side and pleaded earnestly, "Mason, your father isn’t bluffing this time. Hurry up and make your stance clear! You and Joanna were always a good match. Even if you were with Joanna, your father wouldn’t be this angry. Are you really going to abandon this family, abandon your parents?"

The Third Madam was afraid that Mason would act rashly and defy the old man as he did last time.

If something like that happened again, Mason would have no way to come back from it.

Eve Vaughn’s heart pounded. She couldn’t help but hold her breath. She was afraid to hear his answer, yet she longed to hear it.

At this moment, the first branch of the family took the opportunity to kick him while he was down.

Autumn Woods was heard saying, "Dad, who knows how many storms the Lawson Family has been through because of Eve Vaughn. This time, because of Mason, our family is in the eye of the storm again. Can you imagine how the outside world is laughing at us? Last time, Julian stumbled because of Eve Vaughn, and you punished him so harshly. Now that it’s Mason’s turn, you can’t be biased, can you?"

Last time, they hadn’t taken the opportunity to completely crush Mason when he and the old man had their falling out, and they deeply regretted it. This time, they had to learn their lesson and do whatever it took to make Old Mr. Lawson and Mason turn against each other.

They even hoped Mason would choose Eve Vaughn, so he could never return to the Lawson Group.

Ethan Lawson chimed in, "Dad, Mason practically rules the Lawson Group by himself now. He probably thinks his wings have grown and stopped taking you seriously long ago. But we can’t let him continue this foolishness and endanger the Lawson Family’s century-old foundation. First it’s a scandal with Eve Vaughn, then it’s with Joanna Sullivan. Sooner or later, it’s going to affect the Lawson Group’s reputation."

They were practically staging a coup, trying to force the old man’s hand and make him sever ties with Mason right then and there.

As long as they got rid of Mason, their own path would be smooth sailing from then on.

The Third Madam shot a covert glare at the first branch, her heart in her throat, terrified that Mason would choose Eve Vaughn.

If that happened, her twenty-plus years of careful upbringing would all turn to dust.

Just as all eyes fell on Mason, awaiting his decision...

Mason suddenly chuckled. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, out of respect for the Lawson Family’s and Dad’s honor, I didn’t want to expose this. But since you don’t want peace in this family, I guess I’ll just have to tell the truth."

Old Mr. Lawson looked at his eldest son’s family with suspicion. "What have you done now?"

Then, he said to Mason, "Whatever you have to say, say it. Things are already such a mess today, there’s nothing more I can’t handle. Go on!"

Mason said, word by word, "Dad, let me explain why that scandal about me and Joanna started last night. It began because Joanna was at a dinner party where someone tried to molest her. I happened to be eating nearby, saw it, and rescued her. And the person who tried to molest Joanna... was Big Brother!"

Old Mr. Lawson’s sharp, questioning gaze immediately fell on his eldest son.

Both The Third Madam and Janet Chandler were stunned.

The Third Madam cursed, "Ethan Lawson, you are shameless! At your age, how could you do something like this? Joanna is my niece! You’re worse than an animal!"

Janet Chandler was even more furious. "Ethan Lawson, you just wait! I’m calling the police! I’m going to report you for rape and see you put in jail!"

Ethan Lawson’s face changed dramatically. He roared, "Nonsense! Mason, your own private life is a mess, don’t you dare try to drag me down with you!"

A cold smirk played on Mason’s lips. "Big Brother, ’the only way to keep a secret is to not do it in the first place.’ I’m afraid you don’t know that Sister-in-law has been having you followed for a long time. She’s got plenty of photos—all evidence of you messing around with young models and celebrities. I can even give you the name of the private investigation agency she hired. I’m sure if you offer them a better price, they’ll tell you the truth."

Ethan Lawson’s expression grew uglier and uglier as he looked at his wife.

Autumn Woods looked even more guilty. She immediately shot back, "What are you looking at? You’re the one who’s done so many dirty deeds. So what if I investigated you? If you’ve got the guts, then don’t do them in the first place!"

A loud SLAP! landed on Autumn Woods’s face. Ethan Lawson, fuming, said, "I can’t believe the woman I sleep next to would hire a detective to investigate me! This is absurd!"

"Ethan Lawson, you dare hit me?" Autumn Woods roared. "I’m telling you, I have plenty of evidence of your affairs! Worst-case scenario, we get a divorce, and I’ll make sure you leave with nothing!"

Just like that, the husband and wife erupted into a huge fight, and the scene quickly spiraled out of control.

Mason had successfully shifted the conflict from himself to the first branch of the family.

Julian Lawson and Charlotte Vaughn, who had been watching the show, now panicked and rushed forward to stop their parents.

But it was useless!

The Lawson Family’s living room descended into chaos, no different from a brawl between shrews and ruffians in a back alley.

Old Mr. Lawson flew into a rage, roaring, "All of you, shut up! Do you all think I’m dead?"

Unfortunately, his voice was drowned out by the arguing of the first branch’s family.

A moment later, The Third Madam cried out, "Old Mr. Lawson, what’s wrong? Old Mr. Lawson! Someone call an ambulance!"

Old Mr. Lawson had literally been angered to the point of passing out.

Too much had happened today, with one twist after another. Even though Old Mr. Lawson had weathered many great storms in his life...

...seeing his children acting like this, one after another, the nearly eighty-year-old man finally grew so furious that his vision went black and he lost consciousness.

In the past, Mason would have certainly been worried.

But now, he thought about his mother, locked away somewhere by the old man. Old Mr. Lawson had even deliberately concealed whether she was dead or alive.

He had long since grown cold-hearted toward Old Mr. Lawson.

The others, to show their loyalty, all followed the ambulance to the hospital after it arrived.

Even Janet Chandler went.

After all, she was still prepared to humble herself before Old Mr. Lawson to win a sliver of a chance for her daughter to marry into the Lawson Family.

Only Mason didn’t go.

He took Eve Vaughn’s hand and left the Lawson residence.

He led Eve Vaughn all the way to the car, his expression dark.

Eve Vaughn asked cautiously, "Aren’t you going to check on your father?"

Mason said as he drove, "So many people are there. I’m sure he’ll be fine."

Since he said that, there was nothing more for Eve Vaughn to say. In any case, she had never been able to influence any of Mason’s decisions.

On the road, Mason suddenly spoke. "You were quite brave back at the Lawson residence today, weren’t you? Trying to act tough again? If Regina Shaw hadn’t had a conscience and told the truth, today wouldn’t have gone so smoothly."

Recalling his earlier misunderstanding of her, Eve Vaughn retorted, "Why wouldn’t it have gone smoothly? After all, I’ve already latched onto a powerful connection like the Shaw Family, haven’t I? I’ll find a way to get them to pull me up!"

Mason heard the pique in her voice and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

Eve Vaughn’s heart sank. She looked at him nervously.

The man’s cold, stern face held a complex expression. He reached out, tilted her chin up, and said, "You have a way? If you have a way, then why did the Shaw family of three leave without giving you a second thought?"

Eve Vaughn’s eyes were red as she said resentfully, "That’s because I deserved it! Anyway, I don’t need you to worry about me. The person who needs your concern is Miss Sullivan."

The young woman was so stubborn, and her words were harsh, but her act of putting on a brave front still made Mason’s heart ache with pity.

He sighed softly. "I know I was a bit harsh with my words last time. But you’ve seen it now—these are the consequences when things blow up. That’s why I wanted to smooth things over that day."

Eve Vaughn suddenly looked at him and asked softly, "Mr. Lawson, can you answer a question for me?"

Mason’s dark eyes showed a hint of confusion. "Go ahead."

Eve Vaughn took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. "Is it... were you so good to me back then, always helping me, because I look like Miss Sullivan? If I didn’t look so much like her, you never would have noticed me, would you?"

In Mason’s dark, deep eyes, an emotion she couldn’t decipher swirled.

For a long, long time, he didn’t answer.

But his silence was already an answer for Eve Vaughn.

She forced a smile and said self-deprecatingly, "I knew I looked like your first love from the first time I went to the hotel to find you. A man like you can have any woman he wants, so for you to be so good to me, there had to be a reason. I guess I’m just being melodramatic, insisting on getting a clear answer."

"Evie..."

Mason called her name hoarsely, unable to bear it.

Eve Vaughn continued, "People are like that. If you’re just acting, just an outsider, maybe you can be a good actor. But once you get invested, once you fall in, you start wanting more. But Mr. Lawson, what I want is something you can’t give me."

Mason’s brows furrowed deeply, as if they had once again touched on a topic he loathed.

His tone was displeased. "What is it that you want that I haven’t given you?"

Eve Vaughn said sorrowfully, "At first, I thought you just couldn’t give me marriage. But you endured such a harsh family punishment for me, so I thought I was important to you, and I was willing to be with you. But now, I’ve suddenly realized that to you, someone else is more important than me. Maybe the only reason I ever entered your heart was because I was basking in another woman’s glow. Honestly, I can’t really accept that."

Mason loosened his tie in frustration and said coldly, "This all comes back to you being angry that I saved Joanna Sullivan that day. Why have you become so aggressive? Have I ever said she’s more important to me than you are?"

Eve Vaughn sniffled and said, word by word, "But that night, the one who was left behind... was me. Isn’t that enough to show your choice?"