Chapter 17
Matthew's almost desperate roar, combined with his bloodshot eyes, made Evelyn shudder involuntarily, even taking an instinctive step back.
Until she bumped into Benjamin's chest.
He had stood up at some point and naturally pulled her into his arms.
"I gave you a chance, but you refused to apologize."
Benjamin's unhurried voice carried a noble quality, with an air of detached superiority.
Both Matthew's and Evelyn's expressions froze as they recalled that scene at the hospital.
Benjamin had told Matthew to kneel and apologize to Evelyn.
"You..."
Matthew's once handsome face was now twisted, his eyes filled with deep resentment, yet he laughed.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Benjamin, after doing so much for Evelyn, what can you get?"
"Her heart?"
"The person she cares about is me. Don't look at how pathetic I am now—she still can't let me go."
"As long as I lower myself, she'll throw herself into my arms."
"And everything you've done for her will just become a joke to others."
Benjamin's expression didn't change at all, but his eyes clearly darkened a bit.
Samuel put his wine glass down on the table. His gaze turned to Matthew, his voice as gentle as before.
"Then guess what—do you think you'll still have a chance to lower yourself?"
His leisurely tone was laced with killing intent.
The space in the private room instantly froze, giving the feeling that blood would be spilled the next second.
Matthew's breathing became more rapid. He ignored everyone else, his gaze fixed directly on Evelyn's face.
"Don't you want to be with me? I'm agreeing now. As long as you publicly declare that Sophia is innocent, I'll let everything go!"
At the end, he seemed to take on a charitable attitude: "Sophia's reputation can't be damaged in the slightest. You understand."
Does Matthew love Sophia this much?
Evelyn recalled everything from her past life. She could indeed sense Matthew's different treatment of Sophia, but she never imagined he would love Sophia to this extent.
After all, back then she had spent so much effort and only got his half-hearted attitude.
Now, for Sophia's sake, Matthew was directly agreeing to be with her?
Scenes from her past life flashed through her mind, and she voiced her question out loud.
The three men in the private room simultaneously looked at her, though the emotions in their eyes were all different.
One suppressed, one cold, one mocking.
"Yes, I love her. She's genuine, gentle, kind."
"Her goodness is something a vicious woman like you could never understand."
Evelyn's heart gained another bit of comfort.
Sure enough, some people were even more blind than her.
Even though she had been lovesick to the point of terminal illness in her last life, at least she wouldn't spout such nonsense even after seeing evidence.
"Goodness? Matthew, if your eyes are useless, you should donate them."
Matthew, who had been so confident just moments ago, changed expression.
But she paid no attention to his emotions and continued.
"Isn't the evidence clear enough? She drugged me, set me up, and she's still kind?"
"Your brain is broken if you think that's some form of goodness."
"My brain is perfectly fine, so there's absolutely no way I'm clearing things up for that kind of person. Dream on."
Benjamin looked down at Evelyn in front of him. His originally gloomy eyes were tinged with warmth, even mixed with a faint smile.
Samuel picked up his wine glass and took a sip, speaking with a smile.
"I didn't notice before—you've really improved your way with words. Well said, but I have an even better way to deal with this kind of person."
Evelyn had been deceived before, which was why she misjudged people, but essentially, she was still very smart.
She immediately caught Samuel's friendly gesture and looked over, her face showing some delight.
"Teach me."
"It's simple. With this kind of person, just throw them out. Otherwise, they're annoying and an eyesore—how much does that ruin today's welcome dinner?"
Samuel had accepted her invitation to dinner. Was it far off before he'd speak up for her?
Evelyn immediately said to the service staff outside the room, who were uncertain what to do: "Is this how your hotel treats guests? Just letting anyone barge into private rooms?"
"Sorry, Ms. Thomas, we'll have him leave right away."
The staff member, because of Matthew's status, still spoke politely: "Sir, I'll wheel you out."
Before the staff member's hand could touch the wheelchair, Matthew angrily pushed it away.
"Evelyn, this is your last chance! If you don't repent, don't blame me for ignoring you!"
"I couldn't ask for more. You'd better never appear in front of me again." She didn't even look at him. Benjamin had already helped her sit back down in her chair.
Their behavior wasn't particularly intimate, but it was still gratifying to watch.
Matthew wanted nothing more than to rush over, but right now, both his legs couldn't move.
Amid angry roars, he was still wheeled out.
Evelyn turned back to Samuel: "That trick really works. Let's continue, don't let him bother us."
"I don't mind, but I wonder if someone else might care in their heart." Samuel's smile was meaningful, his gaze sweeping over Benjamin as if by chance.
She instinctively looked at Benjamin beside her.
From start to finish, he had barely said anything, and his expression remained consistently calm.
The more this was the case, the more uncertain she was about what he was really thinking.
Benjamin speared a piece of beef for her: "Eat. Don't let it affect your mood."
His one sentence prevented her from bringing up Matthew again, but it made her feel somewhat uneasy. She thought she should do something more to put Benjamin's mind at ease.
After the meal, Benjamin directly handed Samuel over to Chase and took Evelyn back to the villa.
"Didn't you say he was homeless?" She looked through the rearview mirror at Samuel standing in place.
Benjamin glanced at her and continued looking ahead: "If he's homeless, then probably no one in this world could afford to eat."
His words were a bit much, but thinking about it, they made sense.
Samuel was the most favored person in the Harris family. Even if he was kicked out, he couldn't possibly be homeless.
Besides, with Chase there, Samuel would be even finer.
She felt reassured and wanted to get closer to Benjamin: "Why did Samuel come to Emerald City?"
"Are you very concerned about him?"
Benjamin's voice had already turned cool: "His business has nothing to do with you."
His chilly tone made her plan to get closer through familiar topics fall apart, and she even felt a bit hurt.
Did he think she was trying to pry into secrets between him and Samuel?
But she quickly recovered her mood.
She had done so many things before that hurt him, yet he still stayed by her side. How could she give up so easily?
Thinking this, she took out her phone and started tapping on the screen.
Benjamin's lips pressed into a straight line, his jaw tightening.
He wanted to say something to change the current stalemate, but didn't know what to say.
While waiting at a red light, he glanced at her phone, wanting to start from a topic she was interested in. Then he saw Matthew's photo at a glance.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the car changed from quiet to frozen, and his fingers gripping the steering wheel grew tighter and tighter.
"In my car, you're still thinking about another man?"