Chapter 25 Chapter Twenty-Four

For the next two years, Kate worried about Alexandra.The kid keeps having accidents.On a summer vacation at the Blackwell family's estate in the Bahamas, Alexandra and Eve nearly drown while playing in the pool.Fortunately, a gardener came quickly to save her.The following year, when the two girls had a picnic together at Palisades Cliffs Park, Alexandra somehow slipped off the edge of a cliff and was lucky enough to catch a small tree growing on a steep rock. He didn't fall to his death. "I wish you had been more attentive to your sister," Kate told Eve. "She doesn't seem to be able to take care of herself as well as you can."

"I know," Eve said gravely, "I'll definitely watch what she does, Grandma." Katie adores both granddaughters, but in different ways.They are both seven years old and equally beautiful and lovely.Long soft blond hair, beautiful facial features, and McGregor's eyes. Although they look the same, they have completely different personalities. Alexandra's gentleness reminds people of Tony, while Eve is like Kate— -Stubborn, self-willed. A driver drives the two of them to school every day in a Rolls-Royce.Alexandra was embarrassed to let her classmates see that she had a car and a driver.But Eve is proud of it.Kate gave them a certain amount of pocket money every week and asked them to record their expenses.Eve always spent the money in less than a week, and then borrowed it from Alexandra.Eve learns to alter the ledger so that Granny can't see it.In fact, Kate knows it too, but she can't help laughing, she is a smart accountant at only seven years old!

Initially, Kate had fantasized that one day Tony would recover, leave the mental hospital and return to Kruger-Brent Ltd.But over time, that fantasy slowly dissipated.Although Tony may be able to leave the mental hospital briefly and come back, accompanied by a male nurse, it is tacitly understood that he will never be able to return to the outside world. In 1962, Kruger-Brent Ltd. was thriving, and the need for new leadership became more and more urgent.Kate celebrated her seventieth birthday this year.Her hair was all white, but her health was among the best among women.The body is tough and the spirit is hale and hearty.However, she knew in her heart that sooner or later she would be abandoned by time, and she had to prepare early.For the benefit of the family, but also to protect the survival of the company.Brad Rodgers is a good manager, but he's not part of the Blackwell family.I'm going to hold out until the twins are old enough to take over the company.She thought of Cecil Rhodes' last words:

"Too little has been done—too much has not been done." The two sisters are already twelve years old, and they are about to become a pair of slim young girls.Kate used to spend as much time with them as she could, and now she cared more about them.It's time to make an important decision. In the week of Easter, Kate and the two sisters took the company plane to Dark Harbor.The sisters have visited all the Blackwell family properties except Johannesburg.They have a soft spot for Dark Harbor.They like this free world and this isolated island.They love sailing, swimming and water skiing, and Duck Harbor provides them with a place for these activities.Eve asked Kate if she could bring some classmates, which she had done in the past, but this time her grandma said no.Grandma, that majestic and dignified person, came in now to drop a present, and now came in to kiss her on the cheek.Occasionally, they are also warned how to treat others as girls.On this day, Kate wanted to be alone with them, and the girls felt that things were a bit unusual.Grandma ate every meal with them, and took them on boats, swimming, and even horseback riding.Kate is an expert at riding horses.

The two girls looked strikingly alike, both beautiful, fair-haired girls.Yet Kate was more interested in their differences than their similarities.Kate sat on the veranda watching them play tennis, making mental comparisons.Eve is a leader.And Alexandra is just a follower.Eve is stubborn, while Alexandra is easy-going and humble.Eve is a natural athlete, and Alexandra still has her share of surprises.Just a few days ago, the sisters went out to play in the small sailboat, and Eve was at the helm. The wind blew from behind the sail, and suddenly the sail boom swept over and hit Alexandra on the head.Because she didn't dodge in time, she was swept over by the sail and nearly drowned.Fortunately, a nearby boat helped Eve to rescue her.Kate wondered if all this happened because Alexandra was born three minutes after Eve.But it didn't matter what the reason was, because Kate had already made up her mind.She no longer hesitated, she put the bet on Eve's side, it was a bet of tens of billions of dollars.She will find a satisfactory husband for Eve.When she retires, Eve will take over Kruger-Brent Ltd.As for Alexandra, she will enjoy the glory and wealth for the rest of her life.She is available to work in a charity that Kate has set up.Yes, that arrangement was perfect for Alexandra.She is such a lovely compassionate child.

※※※ The first step in realizing the plan is to get Eve into a good school.Kate chose Briar Ridge, an excellent school in South Carolina. "My two granddaughters are very lively." Kate said to the headmistress, Mrs. Chandler, "but you will find that Eve is smarter. She is not an ordinary girl. I believe that you will give her a lot of care in all aspects." .” "All the pupils here are well looked after, Mrs. Blackwell. You only mentioned Eve. How is her sister?" "Alexandra? She's a lovely child." There was something derogatory in that.Kate stood up. "I will check their academic performance regularly."

Somehow, the Headmistress felt that this was a warning. ※※※ Both Eve and Alexandra love the school, especially Eve because she feels free to be there without being disciplined by her grandma and Solange Duna.Although Shinanling's school rules are very strict, it doesn't worry Eve, because she is very good at taking advantage of school rules.The only thing that bothered her was Alexandra being with her.When Eve first heard the news about going to Briarridge, she begged, "Can I go by myself? Please, Grandma?" Kate said, "No, dear, I think you'd better go with Alexandra."

Eve buried her anger deep in her heart, "Then do as you say, grandma." She is always so polite, well-behaved and amiable in front of grandma.Eve knew who had the power.My father is a madman, locked up in a mental hospital, and my mother is dead.Grandma now controls all the property.Eve knew their family was rich, and while she didn't know exactly how much, it was sure to be a lot—enough to buy all the pretty things she wanted.Eve just loves pretty things, but she has a problem, and that's Alexandra. ※※※ One of the sisters' favorite activities at Briar Ridge School is their morning riding lessons.Most girls have their own dedicated horses.Kate gave each of them a horse for their twelfth birthdays.Jerome Davies, their riding teacher, had the students ride their horses in circles, jumping first a foot high, then two feet high, and finally four feet high.Davis is one of the best equestrian teachers in the country, and several of his former students have won gold medals.He was good at spotting some riding genius.The new girl, Eve Blackwell, was one, and she never had to think about anything in her movements, the way she held the reins, her position in the saddle, and so on.She became one with the horse, and Eve's blond hair flying in the air as the horse climbed over the rail was a wonderful image.Nothing could stop her, Davis thought.

Young groom Tommy was fond of Alexandra.Mr Davis watched as Alexandra saddled and prepared to mount her.Alexandra and Eve wear different colored bands on their sleeves so the teacher can tell them apart.Eve helped Alexandra put the saddle in place while Tommy was busy helping another student.Davis was called to the main building to answer the phone, and that's when there was a commotion. The story that Jerome Davies was able to piece together later went like this: Alexandra jumped on her horse, rode a lap, and started jumping the first hurdle, when, out of nowhere, her horse jumped wildly Jumping wildly, Alexandra was thrown off a wall, knocking her unconscious.The wild horse's hoof almost caught her in the face.Tommy carried Alexandra to the infirmary, where the doctor diagnosed a mild concussion.

"It's not broken, it's nothing serious," he said. "She'll be all right in the morning, and she'll be able to ride again." "But she could die!" Eve screamed. Eve refused to leave Alexandra's side.Mrs. Chandler thought how touching she had never seen such a devoted sister. Mr. Davis has finally tamed Alexandra's horse.When he was about to remove the saddle, he found blood stains on the seat rug.He removed the saddle and saw a piece of sharp serrated metal from a beer can still lodged in the flesh of the horse's back where the weight of the saddle had pressed it in.He reported the incident to Mrs. Chandler, who immediately launched an investigation, and the girls who were nearby at the time were all questioned.

"I'm sure," said Mrs. Chandler. "Whoever put the metal piece there thought it was a joke, but it could have very serious consequences. I'm going to find out who did it." No one came forward to admit it.Mrs. Chandler talked to them one by one in the office.Every student said they didn't know.When Eve was questioned, she seemed a little embarrassed. "Do you know who did this to your sister?" asked Mrs. Chandler. Eve looked at the carpet, "I don't want to say." She whispered. "Then what did you see?" "Please don't, Mrs. Chandler..." "Eve, Alexandra may be seriously injured. The students who did this must be severely punished to prevent similar incidents from happening again." "It wasn't the students who did it." "What do you mean?" "It's Tommy." "The groom?" "Yes, ma'am. I saw him, and I thought he was just girting the horse. But I don't think he meant it. Alexandra orders him to do this and that, so I think he's going to teach her a lesson." Oh, Mrs. Chandler, if you don't make me talk, I don't want to trouble anybody." The poor child was almost hysterical. Mrs. Chandler came from behind the desk and hugged her. "It's nothing, Eve. You were right to tell me, forget about it now, and let me take care of this." When the girl came to the stable the next morning, there was a new groom there. ※※※ A few months later, another unpleasant incident occurred at school.Several students were caught smoking marijuana, one of whom said Eve provided them.Eve angrily denies it.Mrs. Chandler conducted a search and found marijuana stashed in Alexandra's closet. "I don't believe she did it." Eve said firmly. "Someone planted it, I know." The report of the incident was sent to Kate by the principal, and Kate appreciated Eve's loyalty and tried her best to protect her sister.She's really a McGregor guy. ※※※ For the sisters' fifteenth birthday, Kate took them to their South Carolina estate.There she threw a big celebration for them both.It's time for Eve to get in touch with some suitable guys, so all the qualified guys around are invited to the girls' celebration. These boys haven't reached the puberty stage where they are really interested in girls.But Kate wants to push them to know more people and make more friends.One of these lads might decide the future of Eve, the future of Kruger-Brent. Alexandra didn't like such parties, but she pretended to be cheerful so as not to disappoint her grandma.Eve likes to party and have fun, she likes to dress up, and she likes people to compliment her.Alexandra likes to read and draw.She gazed for a long time at the oil painting her father had left in Dark Harbor.She regretted that she had known her father before he fell ill.Now he always comes home during the holidays, accompanied by a male nurse.But Alexandra found it impossible to have real communication with her father.He was an amiable stranger who wanted to please others but never said anything himself.Their maternal grandfather, Frederick Hoffmann, lived in Germany and also fell ill, and the sisters rarely saw him. ※※※ Eve got pregnant when she was in second grade.For several weeks, she was pale and spiritless, and she missed several classes in the morning.She was sent to the infirmary for tests when she felt nauseated from time to time.Mrs. Chandler was called at once. "Eve is pregnant," the doctor told her. "But—that's impossible! How did you get pregnant?" The doctor said slowly: "I guess it's still the usual way." "But she's still a child." "Hmph, this child is going to be a mother." Eve was determined not to say, "I don't want to trouble anyone." She kept repeating this sentence. Mrs. Chandler expected Eve to answer in this way. "Eve, honey, you have to tell me the truth." Finally Eve couldn't stand it anymore. "I was raped," she said, and burst into tears. Mrs. Chandler was taken aback. She hugged Eve's trembling body tightly and asked, "Who did it?" "Mr. Parkinson." That is her English teacher. Mrs. Chandler would not have believed it had it not come from Eve but from someone else.Joseph Parkinson was a man of few words, with a wife and three children.He has taught at Briar Ridge School for eight years.He was the last person Mrs. Chandler would suspect.She summoned him to the office, and as soon as they met, she knew that Eve was telling the truth.He sat facing her, his face twitching with tension. "Do you know why I called you here, Mr. Parkinson?" "I—I think so." "It's about Eve." "Yes, I—I guessed." "She said you raped her." Parkinson looked at her in disbelief. "Rape her? My God! If anyone was raped, it would be me." He was a little incoherent in his agitation. Mrs. Chandler said contemptuously, "You know what you're talking about? The kid—" "No, she's not a child." His voice was bitter. "She's a devil." He wiped sweat from his brow. "For the whole semester, she sat in the front row with her skirt up high. After class, she came to me and asked a lot of meaningless questions while rubbing her body against me. At first I didn't care. She. She came to my house one afternoon just a month and a half ago, when my wife and kids were out—" He sobbed suddenly, "Oh, God! I can't help myself." He cried stand up. Eve was brought into the office, her demeanor was calm.She looked Parkinson squarely in the eye, and it was he who turned away first.In the office sat Mrs. Chandler, the vice-principal, and the local town police chief. The chief of police said gently, "Are you going to tell us what happened, Eve?" "Yes, sir." Eve said in a composed tone, "Mr. Parkinson said he wanted to talk to me about my English homework and asked me to come over to his house on a Sunday afternoon. He was the only one there. .He said he wanted me to see what was in the bedroom, so I went upstairs with him. He forced me to go to the bed, and then he—” "Liar!" Parkinson yelled, "That's not the case at all, it's not the case..." Kate was called in and the situation explained to her.Then it was decided to keep the matter secret for the benefit of all parties.Mr. Parkinson was expelled from the school and ordered to leave the area within forty-eight hours.An abortion is carefully arranged for Eve. Kate quietly bought the school's real estate through a local bank, and the school closed. Eve sighed at the news and said, "How sad I am, Grandma, I really like that school." A few weeks later, Eve's body recovered from the operation, and she and Alexandra were arranged to study at a Finnish women's finishing school near Lausanne, Switzerland.