Chapter 89
The man clearly saw her, too, and a smile curved at the corners of his lips.
"Long time no see."
His gaze fell on Benjamin and Evelyn's tightly held hands, his eyes darkening.
"The outside world says you two don't get along, but from what I see today, that doesn't seem to be the case."
Benjamin narrowed his eyes, released Evelyn's hand, and pulled her into his arms.
"What, have you set your sights on my fiancée?"
"Fiancée."
The man repeated the word, then smiled. "Since Mr. White has a fiancée, why did he rush over here so quickly?"
He glanced at Celeste beside him. "I thought she was the one Mr. White really cared about. After all, from hanging up the phone until now, it's only been half an hour - not even enough time for a woman to put on makeup before going out."
Evelyn was speechless.
She suddenly felt that even though she wasn't the one being detained, this whole thing was aimed at her.
His words, no matter how you heard them, were meant to drive a wedge between them.
How did Eugene Martinez become like this?
She vaguely remembered that in college, he was refined and gentle, giving people a warm and pleasant feeling.
Everyone who saw him would say he was cultured and elegant.
But now, sitting at the card table, he seemed to have taken on a reckless, troublemaking quality.
What surprised her most was that he was actually from the Martinez family.
Thinking about the Martinez family's messy reputation, it was hard to connect it with who he used to be.
Now...
A faint smile appeared on her face. "Mr. Martinez, things have different levels of importance. We can't let trivial matters delay saving someone."
Her gaze fell on Celeste.
Celeste had clearly had too much to drink.
Celeste was still sitting at the table shuffling cards, but she was obviously not clearheaded.
"Ms. Harris is from the White Group. She came out to discuss business and was inexplicably detained. We had to come check on her."
"Does she look good?"
Eugene didn't look at Celeste, but kept the topic centered on her.
"Such a beautiful woman left her home to come to Emerald City, supposedly to pursue true love. But it seems things didn't work out as she hoped."
True love?
Benjamin and Celeste?
Their families' influence was naturally evenly matched, but Benjamin was already engaged to her. How could Benjamin be considered Celeste's true love?
Evelyn frowned as Eugene continued.
"I heard both families were really looking forward to it. What a shame."
Looking forward to it?
What a shame!
Evelyn's frown deepened. She knew the White family was dissatisfied with her, and she understood why.
What family could accept a woman who spent all her time with other men?
She hadn't cared about the White family's attitude toward her before, but now things were different.
The key point was that Benjamin had only said Celeste was someone arranged by the White Group headquarters, but he had never mentioned that the White family had this kind of consideration.
She looked up at Benjamin beside her. He wasn't looking at her, but his arm around her tightened.
Clearly, he knew about the White family's plans.
Lowering her eyes without saying anything more, Evelyn's heart suddenly felt very complicated.
Benjamin sensed the change in her mood, and his voice grew colder.
"Everyone knows who my fiancée is. You're spreading gossip here - are you trying to change careers and become a paparazzo?"
Eugene paid no attention to Benjamin's mockery and instead clicked his tongue lightly.
"Seems like Mr. White doesn't want Ms. Thomas to know why Ms. Harris really came to Emerald City."
"I've said too much. Let's continue playing cards."
His fingers tapped on the table. "Keep playing."
The atmosphere became somewhat tense.
"Mr. Martinez."
After thinking it over, Evelyn still used a proper form of address.
In college, she and Eugene weren't really close - they were just in the same club and had a bit of interaction, that's all.
"Whatever reason Ms. Harris came to Emerald City, she's still from the White Group. She just came to Golden Mirage Club to discuss business, and you detained her - that's not appropriate, is it?"
"Detained?"
Eugene repeated the word, took a sip of wine, and shook his head. "Ms. Thomas got the wrong information. Ms. Harris spilled wine on a bag I bought for my sweetheart and ruined it."
He sighed helplessly as he spoke.
"I had such a hard time getting it, and then it was destroyed just like that. It breaks my heart."
"I can't exactly hit a woman, so we're just sitting here gambling."
What a high-sounding excuse.
Evelyn didn't think Celeste was someone who could be provoked so easily.
Just from how Celeste helped Benjamin come up with ideas, and how she could analyze situations so clearly afterward, she knew Celeste had high intelligence and emotional intelligence. How could she suddenly become so impulsive?
Eugene glanced at Celeste beside him, and the smile on his face deepened.
"Celeste didn't want to be my sweetheart, so she ruined the bag and made herself look so miserable. Why bother?"
So this whole "sweetheart" thing was just Eugene talking nonsense to tease Celeste, which made her so angry she poured wine on the bag, and then she was forced to sit at the gambling table?
How did Eugene become like this?
Evelyn couldn't help but let her mind wander, but Benjamin had already spoken.
"The bag - I'll pay for it. The person - I'm taking her."
Benjamin was brief and to the point, without any dragging around.
"I understand."
Eugene nodded. "After all, she's the woman the White family has chosen to be your future wife. As her man, it's only right for you to make amends on her behalf."
"But the value of this bag is hard to calculate now, since I pulled so many strings to get it."
"Plus, I was frightened today. I won't make it too hard on you two lovebirds - just pay five million dollars, and we'll call it even."
He grinned. "I wonder if Ms. Thomas will be unhappy about this?"
But no matter what Evelyn was thinking, she showed nothing on her face.
The key point was that Eugene was clearly extorting them.
He looked at the silent Benjamin and took another sip of wine.
"Afraid to spend some money? I remember you helped Ms. Thomas with the mass posting—the price was more than this."
"Sure enough, men are more willing to spend on their mistresses."
"Future wives, they're a bit stingy with - after all, she's destined to marry you anyway."
Eugene's attempts to drive a wedge between them had reached this point, and even though Evelyn was trying hard to control her emotions, she couldn't help but be affected. Her breathing quickened slightly.
She was upset.
She looked up at Benjamin beside her, her voice sounding aggrieved.
"Our marriage was arranged by both families, but Mr. Martinez keeps saying that Ms. Harris is the future wife the White family arranged for you."
"What's really going on? What exactly is your relationship with Ms. Harris? Did you lie to me?"
Benjamin looked at her pitiful appearance and pressed her head against his chest.
"As long as you're willing, we can go register our marriage anytime."
This morning, she had said she didn't want to marry him.
Otherwise, he really would want to drag her to get married right now.
Eugene narrowed his eyes, a cold glint hidden in them.
Who would have thought Evelyn would ask directly, and Benjamin's answer was completely flawless.
The relationship between Evelyn and Benjamin was clearly different from before. Could it be that Evelyn had actually developed feelings for Benjamin?
Undercurrents surged in his eyes as he spoke unhurriedly. "For a subordinate, Mr. White is really willing to spend."
Was Eugene going to keep trying to stir up trouble?
Evelyn leaned against Benjamin. "Mr. Martinez, can you give me an account number?"
Eugene drank his wine, a smile playing at his lips. "Ms. Thomas is so generous - are you trying to secure your position? Instead of competing with several women for one man, why not consider me? I keep myself morally upright and guarantee that I will not engage in inappropriate relationships with other women."