Chapter 27 I Can Consider Your Confession

Chapter 27 I Can Consider Your Confession

Evelyn had barely left the artificial lake when someone blocked her path again.

"I didn't know I was this popular," she said sarcastically, looking at Adrian who was leaning casually against a tree, her face full of impatience.

Adrian smiled amiably. "Someone asked me to do this, please forgive me."

"If you're here to speak for Edward, let me be clear—I'm not interested right now."

"Not right now means you could be interested later. If there's room for negotiation, Miss Grant, feel free to speak up. I'll do my best to make it happen."

Evelyn stared at him intently. "Does Mr. Morgan have a good relationship with the Secretary of Defense?"

"We've met a few times by chance, enough to say we know each other," Adrian said vaguely, glossing over the details. "Now Miss Grant knows him too."

Evelyn was about to continue probing when an urgent voice came from behind her.

"Evie, there you are."

Austin rushed forward, positioning himself between Evelyn and Adrian. After glaring at Adrian unfriendly, he looked at Evelyn with deep disappointment. "Haven't you been hanging around with sketchy people a bit too much lately?"

Evelyn looked at him, confused, then heard him continue: "I've heard about everything that's been going on with you. You really are... making such a scene online, do you know how embarrassing that is?"

"For old times' sake, let me give you some advice." He frowned seriously. "It's not too late to stop now. Apologize where you should apologize, admit your mistakes where you should. Don't think that just because you're getting away with it now, you can do whatever you want. With your background—"

He paused, his lips curling slightly. "I know you've always had a crush on me. Although I've never responded to you, if you keep at it, it's not completely impossible."

At this point, he glanced meaningfully at Adrian. "But you'd better stay away from these people. Don't you know what your status is? Don't be used by others without even realizing it."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, watching the scene with interest, a faint smile playing at his lips.

Evelyn stared up at Austin in silence for a long time before finally spitting out four words with a constipated expression: "Are you sick?"

Austin froze, then heard Adrian ask: "Miss Grant, is this person your...?"

"Someone irrelevant," Evelyn answered without hesitation.

She dodged around Austin like avoiding dog poop and looked at Adrian. "Let's find another place to continue our conversation."

The two of them left without paying Austin any more attention.

Austin watched their retreating figures, his face turning the color of liver. After a long moment, he angrily punched the tree.

What did she mean by "irrelevant"?

Was she still the same Evelyn who used to be completely devoted to him, wanting the whole world to know about their relationship?

He still remembered several times coming home late in winter, she would wait for him outside the villa, worried about him. She'd be frozen stiff, but despite her swollen, frostbitten hands, she insisted on giving him the gloves she'd knitted.

And now, she wouldn't even spare him a glance.

Austin turned away angrily, but couldn't help looking back at Evelyn.

She was still that chubby girl, still looked so unremarkable, yet somehow his heart stirred with a strange feeling.

Austin stood dazed for a few seconds, then shook his head hard and strode away.

...

Evelyn and Adrian's conversation didn't lead anywhere in the end. She was focused on probing the relationship between the Morgans and the Department of Defense, while Adrian kept skillfully steering the conversation back to the Department's commission. The two sparred covertly, going back and forth.

By sunset, they still had no result.

They agreed to talk another day, and only then did Adrian leave with a smile.

Finally, no one else blocked Evelyn's way, and she made it back to the Grants' garage smoothly.

Kyle and Rose sat in the dim corner, looking distracted. Gabriel hugged his worn football, the bruises on his face still visible.

Hearing footsteps, all three turned their heads at once.

"Evie!" Rose rushed over first, her voice choked with tears. "What happened? Why did the governor apologize to you?"

Kyle and Gabriel also gathered around, checking if she was hurt and asking about what happened all at once.

Evelyn had never experienced such care before. In her panic, she threw a bank card on the table.

"There's two million dollars here. We don't have to live here anymore, and you don't have to worry about offending Victor."

The room fell silent instantly, then Gabriel jumped up: "Two million?!"

"What exactly happened?"

Evelyn had to briefly explain what had happened, including her deal with Jack, the targeting during the competition, and the conflict in the governor's office.

Though her tone was calm, it made all three present widen their eyes.

"Sister, you're amazing," Gabriel praised sincerely, unable to hide the admiration in his eyes.

For ordinary people like them, just participating in a math competition was already impressive—not to mention that when Evelyn went to compete, they hadn't expected her to win at all, since she used to fail every exam.

But the things Evelyn mentioned so casually shocked them one after another.

Rose picked up the bank card with trembling hands, her eyes reddening. "Evie has really grown up, so capable now."

Kyle also patted Evelyn's shoulder heavily with relief, saying nothing yet saying everything.

Evelyn hadn't thought those things were particularly impressive, but seeing them so excited, her mood instantly improved.

"Then tomorrow you can look at houses nearby. If there's something suitable, we'll move out right away."

"Okay!"

"And quit the job at the Ashford family as soon as possible."

"We'll do whatever our daughter says."

The Grants' garage was filled with harmony and joy.

But at a Department of Defense facility in Washington, the atmosphere was ice-cold.

"A high school student dares to be this arrogant!" Christopher slammed his palm on the table, very indignant. "Even when the Secretary went to ask her personally, she wouldn't come."

His teammate Nicholas Thomas paused the video, also somewhat amazed. "Someone who can make the governor apologize voluntarily—the student has surpassed the teacher. Maybe she really can help us solve the problem?"

"Impossible," Christopher said with complete disdain. "Our team has been working overtime for over a month trying to crack it, still clueless like headless flies. And she's just a high school student?"

"I think the Secretary has lost his mind from desperation."

Christopher looked at the paused video again angrily and snorted coldly. "But her slapping the Secretary's face is slapping the entire Department of Defense's face. This isn't over!"

With that, he got up to leave. Nicholas quickly grabbed him, alarmed. "What are you planning to do?"

"No matter how ordinary that girl is, she's now the Secretary's favorite. He can't praise her enough—don't do anything rash."

Christopher left with his jacket without looking back, completely ignoring Nicholas's words.

He was going to meet this arrogant high school student and see just how impressive she really was.