Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123 Unwelcome Advice

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Lydia sent a message, “Lucy, you might not be aware, but Elena was brought in through Ryan. I’m not trying to stir things up, but when someone relies on connections and ignores company policy, it makes her difficult to manage.”

Lydia was even more hostile than Elena had expected.

Elena thought for a moment before replying.

Elena sent a message, “Has she submitted the field results yet?”

Lydia replied, “Not yet.”

Elena sent å message, “Then we’ll talk after the results come in.”

Lydia replied, “Understood.”

After sending the last message, Lydia tossed her phone aside and shoved her laptop forward in frustration.

She could not understand what headquarters had been thinking, appointing someone like Lucy as executive president. Lucy had been in the role for a while now and had barely responded to anything, and when she did, it was brief and detached, which felt like a complete lack of professionalism.

And then there was her attitude about Elena.

Lydia had laid out her concerns in detail, and Lucy had brushed it off with a single line about waiting for results. Did that mean if the interview turned out well, the rule–breaking would simply be ignored?

Elena did not care what Lydia thought.

She transferred the footage from her phone to her laptop and began editing the report.

She had a strong feeling that once this piece was published, it would create serious trouble for Nathan and Victor.

That, however, was not her concern.

She immersed herself in her work so completely that she did not notice when someone entered the hospital room. It was not until Sophia cleared her throat softly that Elena looked

1. up.

“Mom.”

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Evelyn stood inside the room.

She wore a muted blue dress that accentuated her poise and quiet authority.

“Aunt,” Sophia greeted as well.

Evelyn responded lightly, her gaze falling on the bandages wrapped around Elena’s leg before turning to Sophia. “Sophia, give us a minute. I need to speak with Elena.”

“Of course.”

Sophia stepped out. Alexander had gone to the office early that morning, and without hesitation she pulled out her phone and called him.

Inside the room, only Elena and Evelyn remained.

Evelyn adjusted her skirt and sat down beside the bed. “I heard both you and Alexander were injured. I came to see how you’re doing.”

“Thank you,” Elena said politely.

“When are you planning to resign?”

Evelyn did not circle the topic. “I came because I want your answer. Your job is risky and doesn’t pay much. Once you’re discharged, set a date and quit.”

It was not a suggestion. It sounded like a directive.

Elena knew Evelyn was not as unreasonable as Victoria, but she was not easy

either.

“I really enjoy my work,” Elena said steadily. “I’m not planning to resign.”

Since she was a child, she had known what she wanted to do. This was not a random choice. It was the career she had committed to long ago.

Evelyn clearly had not expected refusal. She paused, then her tone sharpened. “If you needed financial security before, I could understand. But now you have everything. Even without your adoptive parents‘ inheritance, you have the Kingsley family. You have Alexander. Why insist on such a demanding job that brings so little return?”

“I just genuinely love what I do,” Elena replied patiently.

Her voice remained respectful, but her position did not waver.

“If you pour all your energy into work, how are you going to take care of Alexander? How are you going to have children?” Evelyn’s concern shifted.

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“Alexander isn’t young anymore, and his health has never been ideal. You’re his wife. You have responsibilities. The daily logistics can be handled by staff, but when it comes to children, you need to prioritize it.”

Evelyn was clearly uncomfortable having this conversation, yet Alexander’s marriage was final, and Walter approved of Elena, so she had no choice but to accept it and move forward.

When Elena did not respond immediately, Evelyn assumed reluctance. “If you insist on working, then have the child first. After that, Alexander can start a company for you or even buy you a building so you can collect rent and keep busy without exhausting yourself.”

Elena felt a headache building.

Evelyn was not being malicious, only persistent about grandchildren. But having a child was not something she could accomplish alone, and after Alexander’s car accident, she did not even know what was medically possible. She did not dare mention that, afraid it would hurt Evelyn.

Just as she was trying to figure out how to gently redirect the conversation, Sophia walked back in holding out her phone.

“Aunt…”

“What is it?” Evelyn asked, slightly irritated at being interrupted.

“Alexander wants to talk to you.”

Evelyn glanced at the screen, saw his name, and took the call reluctantly.

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