Chapter 38: A Slap at the Banquet
"Well, now we know each other, don't we?"
The man confidently raised his eyebrows and lifted his chin slightly, his tone dripping with superiority.
"Let me introduce myself. Silas Morgan, future heir of the Morgan family. Of course, you can just call me Silas."
In Silas's view, in this city, young girls like her would turn into eager puppies the moment they heard "the Morgan family," ready to throw themselves at him for his amusement.
However, Evelyn just responded with a very dismissive sound and turned to leave. "I'm not interested. Please move."
This blunt rejection without any mercy made the fake smile on Silas's face freeze instantly.
"Playing hard to get?"
A flash of anger crossed Silas's eyes. He stepped forward directly, his tall frame blocking Evelyn's path, and even reached out his hand, ready to forcibly grab her waist.
"Just have a drink with me, and tonight I'll give you whatever you want..."
Before Silas's hand could touch Evelyn, an extremely crisp and loud slap suddenly exploded in the noisy banquet hall!
However, this slap didn't land on Silas's face, but struck hard across Evelyn's cheek!
The tremendous force made Evelyn stagger and nearly fall to the ground.
Five clear, swollen fingerprints instantly appeared on her fair face!
Evelyn covered her burning cheek, completely stunned.
She held back the tears in her eyes and angrily raised her head to look at the woman who had suddenly rushed out to hit her.
However, when she clearly saw the face before her—wearing exquisite makeup, covered in luxurious jewelry, yet filled with vicious hatred—Evelyn's eyes widened instantly.
She knew this woman!
Layla!
Ethan's ex-girlfriend!
It was Layla who had sent Ethan to prison, destroying his once brilliant life!
"You..." Evelyn's mind was in chaos, just about to speak.
"You what?! You shameless bitch!"
Layla didn't give Evelyn any chance to speak. She pointed directly at Evelyn's nose and cursed in a shrill voice loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.
"So young and already up to no good, coming to this kind of party to seduce men! And you even dare to seduce my husband right in front of me?"
Layla's explosive words instantly attracted the attention of all the guests around them.
The upper-class nobles who had been conversing elegantly all stopped what they were doing and quickly gathered around like they were watching a show.
Evelyn felt overwhelming grievance surge up in her heart. With reddened eyes, she loudly defended herself, "You're lying! He was the one who stopped me and got handsy with me! I don't even know him, how could I possibly seduce him?"
"Shut up, you cheap bitch!"
Layla sneered, looking Evelyn up and down with contempt, her eyes full of condescending mockery.
"Look at what you're wearing—not even a designer label on it. Who knows where you rented this cheap knockoff from? I've seen too many women like you trying to climb the social ladder by selling your body!"
The surrounding guests' expressions toward Evelyn changed instantly after hearing Layla's words.
Most people present knew Layla and Silas. After all, the Morgan family was at the height of their influence in the business world, and Silas was a promising young talent.
Meanwhile, Evelyn's completely unfamiliar face, combined with her somewhat naive student-like demeanor, did indeed make her look like one of those lower-class girls who sneak into parties trying to hook up with people.
"Young girls these days really have no standards—they'll do anything for money."
"Exactly. How dare she try to seduce Silas? She should look in the mirror and see what she really is."
"How did this trash from the lower class even get into Clara's party? So unlucky!"
Hearing the undisguised mockery, vicious accusations, and contemptuous looks around her, Evelyn's tears began swirling in her eyes.
"That's not true! It's really not like that! He approached me first! Please believe me!"
She urgently turned her head, wanting to point at Silas and make him tell the truth.
However, the moment her eyes met Silas's, she saw that not only did he have no intention of clarifying anything, but he had naturally stepped back to Layla's side.
Silas slightly lowered his head and adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.
Under the cold reflection of the lenses, Evelyn clearly saw that on Silas's refined face, the corners of his mouth were slowly curling up into a cold smile full of mockery and cruelty!
The moment she saw that cold smile, Evelyn's brain felt like it had been struck hard by a hammer, going completely blank.
She might be naive, but she wasn't stupid!
This wasn't some misunderstanding about rejected flirting!
This was a premeditated, extremely vicious trap specifically targeting her—or rather, targeting the man behind her!
Seeing Evelyn's panicked expression, Layla could no longer hide the arrogance and satisfaction on her face.
She held her wine glass and took half a step forward, her high heels arrogantly pressing into the red carpet.
Then she leaned forward slightly, bringing a nauseating strong perfume smell, and moved close to Evelyn's ear.
"What? Scared stupid, you little bitch?"
The corners of Layla's mouth lifted high as she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"I don't care how you managed to sneak into this circle... but I guarantee that after tonight, you'll be just like your stupid brother in prison—trampled underfoot by everyone and thoroughly despised!"
Evelyn's pupils contracted sharply!
Those words pierced straight through Evelyn's heart!
Looking at Layla so close to her, seeing the satisfaction and mockery in her eyes, Evelyn suddenly understood!
If she had only suspected before, now she was completely certain!
When Layla's brother Ryder accidentally injured someone years ago, and Ethan willingly took the blame and went to prison at Layla's pleading—it wasn't an accident at all!
It was a complete and utter conspiracy from start to finish!
It was a death trap set up by this couple to steal Ethan's research achievements!
Not only did they destroy Ethan's life, but now they wanted to use the same despicable methods to destroy her!
A surge of rage began churning in Evelyn's chest, instantly burning away all her rationality!
Evelyn roared and suddenly raised her right hand. While Layla was completely unprepared, she swung hard at Layla's face with its exquisite makeup!
An extremely crisp slap, loud to the extreme, suddenly exploded in the luxurious banquet hall!