Chapter 513

Nathan White turned his head, his gaze falling on the note in her hand.

Before he could see it clearly, Amelia White shoved Jane Evans away.

"You mute, stay away from my son! He's going to marry a proper young lady from the Evans family!"

Jane stumbled back, staring at them in a daze, unable to make a sound.

She watched helplessly as Nathan was dragged away by his mother.

Her eyes reddened.

A dull ache tightened in her chest, but her body was too weak to stand steady.

Nathan and Amelia's figures disappeared outside the door.

Her vision darkened, and she collapsed softly to the ground.

...

Nathan walked out of that low-rise residential area, his face shadowed.

He looked back every few steps, his eyes filled with reluctance.

Amelia gripped his arm.

"Stop looking! Let her be the unattainable love in your heart! That's enough! Mom is doing this for your own good. Life with a mute is so inconvenient. Separating now lets you remember her fondly. If you really got together, it'd be nothing but petty troubles!"

Nathan's voice was hoarse.

"Mom, it wouldn't be like that. Jane and I get along so well..."

Amelia glared.

"What do you mean 'it wouldn't'? Listen to me, I know best! Tomorrow, I'm taking you to meet Miss Evans!"

Nathan wanted to refuse.

But Amelia cut him off first.

"If you don't go, I'll kill myself right in front of you!"

Amelia meant what she said.

Nathan still remembered, from when he was a child, his parents arguing.

His mother had screamed about jumping out the window.

And she really did leap from the third-floor window.

Fortunately, she was caught by a clothesline halfway down, saving her life.

After that, his father never dared to defy her again.

She ruled the household...

At this moment, Nathan deeply understood the helplessness his father had felt back then.

...

John Evans saw Evelyn Ross off, bought groceries, and headed back.

At the alley entrance, Justin Evans was blocking the way again.

He held a thermal lunchbox, forcefully shoving it into John's hands.

John frowned.

"Take it back. We don't want it."

Justin sneered.

"I know you're proud. You won't eat anything from me. But what about Jane? She's weak, she needs nourishment. Just tell her you bought it."

John still wanted to refuse.

But his gaze fell on the bag of plain vegetables he was carrying.

Who would believe that in New York, they had fallen so low they couldn't even afford meat...

Thinking of Jane's pale face, John's jaw tightened.

He didn't insist on returning the lunchbox.

Justin leaned against the wall.

"Don't mention me. I'll bring food every day from now on. You just say you made it."

John sighed.

"Fine. Just don't keep showing up in front of Jane. It upsets her."

"I know."

Justin turned to leave.

John asked, "Where are you going?"

Justin didn't look back.

"Going home to learn how to make dim sum. Jane loved it before. Seven tomorrow morning, meet here."

John: "..."

The old Justin was truly awful, truly bad.

But the current Justin... made it hard for John to hate him completely.

John shook his head, carried the lunchbox into the courtyard, and immediately saw Jane collapsed on the ground.

His heart clenched.

He rushed over and helped her up.

"Jane, what's wrong?"

Jane woke up groggily.

Seeing her brother, her eyes reddened.

She wanted to gesture something, then stopped.

She knew both her brother and Justin cared for her.

If they found out Nathan had chosen his mother over her, they would surely hold it against Nathan...

Jane thought for a moment, then signed.

"It's nothing. I went out to use the restroom. I was too tired and fainted."

John carried her back to the room and tucked her in.

He looked back at the thermal lunchbox.

It was his own fault for being useless...

Wanting to nourish his sister, yet having to rely on Justin's charity...

He gave a bitter smile.

Carrying the lunchbox into the kitchen, he poured the porridge into their own bowl.

A while later, he brought the bowl into the room.

It was chicken and rice porridge, warm, soft, and easy to digest.

But Jane ate absentmindedly.

Her mind was full of Nathan...

She wondered how he was!

She wanted to message Nathan.

She fumbled for her phone, only to find the screen was shattered and wouldn't turn on.

Using her brother's phone to message him would give it away...

She'd have to wait until her phone was fixed.

...

The next day.

The White residence.

Amelia White sat on the sofa, sobbing into the phone.

"...That little mute is too seductive. She's completely bewitched my Nathan! Sigh!"

"Thank goodness Nathan still listens to his mother. Your idea was perfect. As soon as I picked up the kitchen knife, he obeyed immediately!"

"That wasn't really a threat. If Nathan really disobeyed, I could have killed myself! My son, whom I raised, why should he go to that mute?"

"Yes, I'm taking Nathan to meet Miss Evans today, to settle the marriage arrangement. Once Nathan has a new girlfriend, he'll naturally forget that little mute!"

Amelia hung up the phone and went upstairs to knock on Nathan's door.

The door was locked from the inside.

Amelia banged on it forcefully.

"Open the door! Nathan, if you don't open it, I'll climb in from the outside! If you're not afraid I'll fall to my death, I'll climb!"

The door opened.

Nathan looked haggard, with heavy dark circles under his eyes.

He had clearly not slept all night.

Amelia pulled him.

"Don't wear that gloomy face! I'm taking you to the Evans family. I'll show you how much they cherish their daughter. I'll show you the good life you can have later!"

Nathan was like a puppet, letting himself be manipulated.

Mother and son went downstairs, got in the car, and drove to the Evans residence.

Amelia tactfully brought up the marriage proposal to Mrs. Evans.

But Mrs. Evans slightly furrowed her brows, studying Nathan for a long moment.

She knew Amelia thought her daughter, having grown up outside, wasn't worthy of a wealthy family.

Mrs. Evans didn't see it that way.

With her overseeing things, and three older brothers doting on her, anyone who wasn't blind or foolish would know to treat her daughter well.

Her daughter's status was right here.

But then Mrs. Evans remembered Jane was mute...

She pondered for a moment, then looked at Nathan again.

This young man seemed suitable...

Mrs. Evans had watched Nathan grow up.

He was honest, principled, stubborn, and had no deceitful schemes.

The White family's status was a notch lower, but that didn't matter.

With the Evans family's support, it wouldn't be an issue.

Moreover, one-third of the Evans family fortune was meant for her daughter...

Mrs. Evans lowered her eyes.

"Alright. Let the two young people get to know each other first. How about this: send me a photo of Nathan, and I'll forward it to Belle. I'll also show you a photo of Belle. Let's see if they find each other visually appealing first..."

As she spoke, Mrs. Evans picked up her phone and opened a photo of Jane Evans.