Chapter 405

Evelyn smiled, genuinely pleased she could assist Rosalind. The concerns about Victoria Hudson and Liam Blackwood had long faded from her mind.

As Rosalind prepared to take a bite of her pie, she hesitated. "Cassandra, I saw in the papers that one of your paintings sold for millions. Is that true?"

Evelyn's soft smile remained as she set her fork down, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Some do, yes. But not all. The more common pieces range from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand."

Rosalind frowned. "Why such high prices?"

Evelyn exhaled slowly. "Talent matters, but fame and hype drive the market. When I first started painting online for charity, my grandfather secretly bought one of my pieces for two million."

She paused, swirling her water glass. "I donated every cent to rural schools. That’s when my name exploded overnight, and everything snowballed from there."

Rosalind nodded in understanding. "So now the public sees your work as collectible masterpieces. People even replicate your style."

Evelyn gave a small, acknowledging tilt of her head.

Between bites, Rosalind mused, "The world of the wealthy is beyond me. But I envy you—having someone who loves you that deeply."

Evelyn caught the fleeting sorrow in Rosalind's eyes when she mentioned family.

"How is your father doing?" Evelyn asked gently.

Rosalind's fingers tightened around her fork. "He passed last month." Her voice wavered as she stared at her plate.

Evelyn froze, regret tightening her chest.

Rosalind had poured every penny into his treatments, even taking on debts. The surgery had seemed successful—until it wasn’t.

Misfortune always struck hardest where life was already fragile.

Evelyn reached across the table, squeezing Rosalind’s hand. "I’m so sorry."

Rosalind mustered a bright smile, shaking her head. "It’s okay. Really."

After a beat, Evelyn shifted topics. "Rosalind, weren’t you a volunteer counselor at a psychiatric hospital?"

Rosalind confirmed with a nod. "I provided free therapy for depression patients."

Evelyn considered this before offering, "There’s a part-time position available. Pays two thousand a day. Interested?"

Rosalind’s eyes widened. She clutched her chest dramatically. "What kind of job pays that much? You’re not recruiting me for something illegal, are you?"

Evelyn laughed, tossing a napkin at her. "Do I look like a criminal mastermind to you?"

Rosalind grinned. "Just checking."

"You’d be perfect for this," Evelyn said earnestly.

Curious now, Rosalind leaned in. "Alright, what’s the job?"

Evelyn lowered her voice. "Psychological counselor and caregiver for Donovan Blackwood."

Rosalind frowned. "Who’s that?"

"Liam’s older brother. He was a decorated anti-narcotics officer before... well, before everything went wrong."

Evelyn’s expression darkened. "He’s blind, paralyzed, and completely broken. Lost all will to live."

Rosalind’s hand flew to her mouth, eyes glistening. "An anti-drug officer? I’d do it for free. Tell me where to sign up."