Chapter 276 Caught Off Guard
Olivia was silent for a few seconds, but in the end, she didn't refuse.
Between them, things needed to be made clear.
If his engagement was real, then at least she needed to make sure he wouldn't catch her off guard and expose her lies next time.
After all, every time she made up excuses to fool Bianca, she felt incredibly guilty, and afterwards she had to come up with more lies to cover up the previous ones. It was really too difficult.
While they were talking, the two arrived at the restaurant.
Before long, Evelyn and Benjamin also arrived.
When she saw Andrew, aside from greeting him, Evelyn was unusually quiet.
Mainly because she felt guilty.
She was worried that Andrew would hold her accountable for cursing him out that night.
So she desperately tried to minimize her presence.
Fortunately, Andrew didn't seem to have any intention of settling scores.
After everyone sat down and ordered, he played the role of a good father as always, taking care of Bianca, and also serving food to Olivia.
Whenever he peeled shrimp for Bianca, there was also a portion in front of Olivia.
Of course Olivia noticed, but she tried hard to ignore someone's attentiveness, not wanting to get lost in his tenderness.
She looked at Benjamin beside her and took the initiative to start a conversation. "Mr. White, have you been feeling better these past few days?"
Benjamin smiled. "Much better. Speaking of which, I really need to thank you and Ms. Thomas for that night. I'm sorry you had to see me lose control like that.
Dr. Garcia, Ms. Thomas, let me toast to you both."
"Mr. White, you're too kind." Seeing him down his drink in one gulp, Olivia also picked up her glass and took a sip.
Evelyn also returned the toast and took the initiative to comfort him. "Mr. White, if you're unhappy about something in the future, you can talk to someone about it. There's no need to get drunk. You drank so much that night and got so wasted, it really scared us.
At first, when Olivia and I saw you, we thought something terrible had happened to you."
Benjamin rubbed his nose a bit embarrassedly. "It won't happen again, don't worry. Besides, I'm going back to Harmony City, so we probably won't see each other as often in the future."
Since Olivia already knew about this, she wasn't very surprised when Benjamin mentioned it.
But Evelyn, hearing this for the first time, was shocked. "Mr. White, you're going back to Harmony City too?"
"Yes." Benjamin nodded and said, "I have some things I need to go back and handle."
Evelyn didn't ask what he needed to handle, but instead asked, "What about your work here?"
She had heard before that Benjamin was a very capable psychology teacher.
Benjamin smiled and replied, "Of course I'm resigning. Since I have a good relationship with my boss, I just need to finish the handover and I can leave. It won't take much time."
Hearing this, Evelyn fell silent.
She hadn't expected that Benjamin would also be leaving Emerald City.
Evelyn couldn't stay here much longer either.
Her brother had already given her an ultimatum, requiring her to go to Harmony City, so she would be leaving soon too.
After she left, wouldn't that leave just Olivia alone in Emerald City?
Evelyn couldn't help but worry.
Once they all left, if Olivia got bullied again, who would be there to protect her?
Evelyn was worried about Olivia being bullied in her heart, but had no way to solve the situation, so she became particularly quiet.
Benjamin didn't notice, and just raised his glass again, saying to everyone, "Come on, let me toast you all again. If you ever visit Harmony City, you can come find me and Andrew. We'll definitely treat you well!"
Olivia raised her glass and clinked it with his.
Evelyn also clinked glasses with him, but she was completely listless, downing her drink in one gulp.
At first, no one noticed her situation, but by the time they did, it was too late.
Evelyn didn't know how much she had drunk, and her face showed signs of being tipsy.
When Benjamin saw this, thinking it was because of him, he couldn't help but laugh. "Ms. Thomas, I didn't know you'd miss me so much! You've drunk so much.
Although I understand your feelings, you don't need to get drunk over me!"
Although Evelyn had drunk quite a bit, she was still conscious. Hearing this, she laughed and cursed, "Get lost! Who said I'd miss you? I'm going to miss Olivia!"
Suddenly being called out, Olivia looked at Evelyn in confusion. "Miss me for what?"
Then she looked at her helplessly. "How did you drink so much again when I wasn't watching? If you start acting drunk later, I'm not taking care of you!"
Last time had already scared Olivia enough.
But as soon as she finished speaking, Evelyn pouted and threw herself at her, starting to cry. "I don't want to either. But Olivia, I'm also going to Harmony City."
Hearing this, Olivia was completely stunned. "You're going to Harmony City too?"
"Yes!" Evelyn said pitifully, "My brother is forcing me to go to the Harmony City branch to take over the business there. He wants me to report by the end of this month.
If I don't go, he'll cut off my income and won't let me work here either. Don't you think he's too much!"
Once she started talking about Alfonso's domineering behavior, Evelyn's complaints came pouring out.
Olivia had no idea about this, so she was quite surprised after hearing it.
She couldn't help but ask, "When did this happen?"
Evelyn mumbled, "It's been many days now. I just haven't figured out how to tell you and Bianca. I really don't want to leave you both."
Olivia felt dazed for a moment.
She was truly surprised about Evelyn leaving.
It was different from Benjamin leaving.
Evelyn was her friend.
No matter what happened to her, Evelyn would be by her side.
Every time she was wronged, Evelyn was the first to stand up and defend her.
She had never thought about Evelyn leaving.
Besides being at a loss and surprised, Olivia felt mostly helpless.
She couldn't understand why everyone was leaving.
Clearly, all the problems had been solved, so why couldn't they avoid the situation of separating?
Olivia definitely felt upset.
But Evelyn beside her was crying even more sadly. "What should I do? I don't want to go. I can't bear to leave you and Bianca."
Seeing her crying at the top of her lungs, Olivia's own low spirits were suddenly dispersed. She hugged her with amusement and patiently comforted her. "It's okay if you go to Harmony City. It's not like we can never see each other again.
When you have time, you can come back to Emerald City to see me and Bianca. If I have time, I can also go to Harmony City to visit you."
"That's not the same. Once I go to Harmony City, I won't be able to come to your place for meals whenever I want."
Evelyn hugged her, extremely sad, and cursed her brother over and over. "It's all Alfonso's fault! That bastard! Why doesn't he go to Harmony City himself? With such a big business empire, why does he need a girl like me to go work there?"
While cursing, she couldn't help but pour herself another glass.
Olivia had wanted to stop her from drinking, but not only did she fail, she ended up being made to drink quite a bit herself.
By the time the meal ended, the alcohol had gone to Olivia's head too, and her mind was fuzzy.
Benjamin was also confused.
Wasn't tonight supposed to be his farewell party?
How was it that he, the guest of honor, was fine, while the two ladies beside him were both drunk?
He glanced at Andrew, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, poked his arm, and asked in a low voice, "Andrew, I've been meaning to ask - what are you and Dr. Garcia planning to do?
The situation in Harmony City can't be resolved quickly, so you definitely can't get away. Are you two just going to be separated like this?"
Andrew looked at Olivia walking ahead and didn't say anything.
He could naturally tell that Olivia wasn't in a good mood.
Obviously, Evelyn's sudden departure had caught her off guard.
Although she was hiding it well, he could still sense her emotions.
After a moment, Andrew stood up and said to Benjamin, "I have my own plans. You don't need to worry about my business.
Later, you take Ms. Thomas home. I'll take Olivia."
"Okay."
Since he put it that way, Benjamin didn't say anything more.
After David came back from paying the bill, Benjamin helped Evelyn out.
Andrew held Olivia's hand, and Bianca was being especially well-behaved, following beside Andrew.
These two drunk women were complete opposites.
Evelyn was still very rowdy and didn't want anyone helping her.
As soon as they left the restaurant, she shook off Benjamin, slurring, "Don't... don't help me. I can walk by myself! I can walk in a straight line!"
Benjamin was caught off guard by her shaking him off.
He wasn't going to force her, but the next second, Evelyn, who had just said she could walk in a straight line, was about to fall flat on the ground. Benjamin couldn't help but rush over and quickly catch her.
"Oh my, you've drunk so much, just behave yourself. If you fall on your face, you'll wake up tomorrow with bruises all over. How will you show your face then?"
After being told this, Evelyn finally settled down a bit.
Compared to her rowdiness, Olivia was extremely quiet, looking incredibly obedient. Wherever Andrew went, she followed.
It made Andrew's heart melt.
As soon as they entered the residential complex, Evelyn started acting up again.
There were usually stray cats in the complex.
Bianca sometimes came to feed the cats, and now seeing a few kittens lying on the ground rolling around, she excitedly called out, "There are kitties!"
Evelyn reflexively shouted, "Where are the cats?"
Taking a closer look, she also saw the stray cats on the ground and immediately rushed over. "Come, come with me! I'll give you a home!"
Without caring about her image, she followed the frightened kittens into the bushes.
Benjamin found it very frustrating and could only try to stop her from the side. "Evelyn, you're a girl after all. Can you please have some dignity!"
Evelyn acted as if she hadn't heard him, ignoring him, and even tried to lift up her dress that was getting in the way. Benjamin was so scared he desperately held down her hands.
At this rate, if he didn't stop her, she'd expose herself completely.
It was chaos all the way. Seeing this, Andrew instructed Benjamin, "After you get her home, keep an eye on her. Don't leave until she calms down and falls asleep."
Benjamin waved his hand weakly. "Fine, you just take care of Dr. Smith. Don't worry about us."
Andrew left them to him and took Olivia and Bianca home.
After entering, Yara immediately came over to help. Andrew instructed her, "Please take Bianca to wash up first."
"Is Ms. Smith okay?"
Yara looked at Olivia with concern. Andrew spoke again, "It's fine, I'll take care of her."
Yara looked at the two of them, thinking that they usually had a good relationship anyway, so she agreed.