Chapter 406 Michael Was Beaten
If this were any other time, Rachel, being a good friend, would definitely help Aurelia out or at least comfort her properly.
But right now, she wasn't in the mood.
Because just moments ago, her boyfriend of many years had finished the opening dance with Aurelia, and for some reason, his eyes kept drifting toward Aurelia.
He'd practically forgotten that she was his girlfriend!
Rachel was burning with jealousy right now and had no interest in dealing with Aurelia. She grabbed her boyfriend and left!
The ball still had a long way to go before it ended.
Vaughn and Victoria weren't used to this kind of occasion, and Rodolfo and the others were getting tired too, so they decided to leave early.
After someone went over to let Olivia and the others know, Olivia and Andrew came over personally to see them off.
Downstairs at the hotel, Victoria held Olivia's hand and reminded her carefully, "Don't stay out too late, you two."
Her expression was unusually gentle as she looked at Andrew. "Andrew, keep an eye on Olivia. Don't let her drink, and make sure you bring her home safely."
Hearing how she addressed him, Andrew was slightly taken aback.
Before this, Vaughn and Victoria had called him Mr. Hamilton, and their attitude made it clear they didn't want to accept his relationship with Olivia.
It seemed that what happened tonight had made them accept him a bit more.
Andrew's lips curved up in a pleased smile as he answered seriously, "I will, Mrs. Smith."
Victoria and Vaughn didn't say anything more and soon got in the car and left.
Rodolfo didn't leave with them because Marigold had come on her own tonight without driving, so he needed to take her home first.
The other three also got into their respective cars, and everyone drove off.
After seeing them off, Olivia and Andrew actually didn't plan to stay much longer either.
She said to Andrew, "Let's say goodbye to Benjamin and Evelyn, then head back too. We left Bianca home alone tonight, I wonder if she'll make a fuss."
Andrew looked at her tenderly. "Bianca is very well-behaved, she won't make a fuss. But there really isn't much fun at the ball anyway, so heading back early is fine."
"Okay."
Olivia nodded, ready to go back and say goodbye to her friends.
But when they returned to the ballroom, Anna and Daniel were nowhere to be seen.
When she asked, Benjamin said, "Anna? She already left. Daniel took her."
Hearing this answer, both Olivia and Andrew were surprised.
"Daniel actually agreed?"
Benjamin laughed. "That's because Anna has her ways."
Olivia shook her head helplessly, not bothering to gossip further, and asked him instead, "What about Evelyn?"
"She went to the restroom."
Benjamin looked back but didn't see Evelyn returning. "But she's been gone for a while, she didn't get flushed down the toilet, did she?"
Olivia frowned. "Did she drink?"
"Yeah."
Benjamin told her honestly, "She said she was in a good mood, so she drank quite a bit."
"She has been gone a while."
Jade was also a bit worried, so she stood up and said, "I'll go check on her."
Olivia was worried too and immediately said, "I'll come with you."
She turned back to Andrew. "Wait here for me."
"Okay."
Andrew didn't follow.
Olivia and Jade went to look for her one after the other, but after searching the restroom thoroughly, they couldn't find Evelyn.
The two couldn't help but worry. "Something might have happened. Olivia, you check over there, I'll look around here. She's a bit drunk, so she probably didn't go far."
"Okay."
Olivia had no objection. The two split up, searching left and right along the corridor.
A few minutes later, Olivia found Evelyn, but her expression was utterly helpless.
"Evelyn!"
Evelyn had been there for who knows how long, hugging one of the hotel's decorative trees and talking to herself.
She didn't even respond when Olivia called her.
Olivia was both amused and exasperated as she went forward, ready to help Evelyn back.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Olivia."
Olivia turned around with a frown.
Seeing Michael suddenly appear, her expression darkened immediately.
Why hadn't he left yet?
"What do you want?"
Olivia's expression was very cold.
Michael sat in his wheelchair, looking at Olivia with a dark shadow in his eyes.
The Olivia before him seemed very different from the one in his memory.
She had stayed by his side for so many years.
But in the past, he had always ignored her presence, never noticing how brilliant she was.
It wasn't until tonight that he realized he'd been wrong.
Before coming to Harmony City, Michael had felt quite confident about winning Olivia back.
But tonight, he clearly felt his chances slipping away.
Michael had never been this anxious before, as if a treasure that belonged to him was about to leave him.
So he finally got worried. Seeing her leave, he deliberately came out to find her.
"I want to talk to you."
This wasn't the first time he'd said this.
But Olivia still coldly rejected him. "I don't think we have anything to talk about."
Michael said in a low voice, "Olivia, Harmony City's social circle isn't as simple as you think.
Even though you found support tonight, it's still very hard for you and Andrew to be together.
I don't want you to get in too deep."
Hearing this, Olivia's face darkened. "That's my private business and has nothing to do with you."
But Michael stared at her intently. "Forget about whether Finnegan agrees to you two being together, the Robinson family also wants Andrew to go back and take power.
He's the Robinson family's heir. His mother's situation back then, the Robinson family owes him a lot. Some of the shares his mother held are still being kept by the Robinson family.
Andrew won't give them up, so he has to make some compromises with the Robinson family.
From what I know, the Robinson family is demanding that he have a child with a woman they arranged for him."
Olivia's head snapped up, looking at Michael with intense doubt in her eyes.
But Michael acted as if he didn't see it and continued, "Whether it's the Hamilton family or the Robinson family, neither will accept a woman who's had a child marrying Andrew, and they definitely won't accept Bianca's existence.
Olivia, Bianca is your treasure and also my daughter.
I think neither of us could let her suffer that kind of treatment.
That's why I'm saying you and him can't have a future together."
Olivia frowned and didn't respond.
Michael's words weren't entirely false.
The Robinson family and the Hamilton family really were capable of doing such things.
Olivia felt a tightness in her chest and was a bit unhappy.
But that didn't mean she would waver in her determination to be with Andrew.
She believed in Andrew's feelings for her.
And she believed he wouldn't compromise and do such a thing.
Andrew wouldn't be easily manipulated.
Olivia quickly calmed down. Her tone was flat as she replied, "I told you, my business has nothing to do with you.
As for Andrew and who he has children with, I'll confirm that myself. I don't need you interfering."
Olivia walked directly over to Evelyn and helped her up. "Evelyn, let's go home."
Hearing Olivia's voice, Evelyn lifted her head and smiled foolishly at her. "Olivia, you're here?"
Then, as if remembering something, she pulled Olivia with an unhappy face. "You have to stand up for me. This person is so mean, I asked her for directions and she wouldn't even answer me."
Olivia looked at her pointing at and complaining about a decorative tree, feeling both speechless and helpless.
So she'd been hugging a tree asking for directions?
But she knew Evelyn was drunk now, and you can't argue with drunk people.
She could only coax her. "That is mean, but now I'm here to find you, so you don't need to ask for directions anymore."
Evelyn thought that made sense and laughed foolishly. "Oh yeah, let's hurry back then."
She got up and pulled Olivia along, stumbling back the way they came.
As they passed by Michael, she almost tripped over herself. Luckily Olivia caught her in time. "Be careful."
Evelyn was about to nod when Michael spoke again, his tone very serious. "Olivia, I'm doing this for your own good. If you keep sinking deeper, you'll only end up getting hurt."
Olivia was really annoyed with him. After steadying Evelyn, she turned back to look at him.
There seemed to be a mocking look in her eyes.
Michael wanted to talk to her about getting hurt?
What right did he have to mention that word?
The biggest hurt she'd ever received in her life, wasn't it from Michael?
Olivia didn't say this out loud, but Michael could see it clearly.
He also realized that he hadn't treated her well before, and it was normal for Olivia to hold a grudge. He immediately explained, "I was wrong back then. I shouldn't have treated you that way, but I won't do it again, as long as you come back to me."
This was Michael's only goal, wasn't it?
Olivia felt her stomach turn, feeling sick.
But before she could say anything, Evelyn got angry first.
A loud slap landed squarely on Michael's face without hesitation.
Olivia stood there frozen, watching this slap.
She really hadn't expected that Evelyn, already drunk, would still have such strength.
Michael was stunned too, then looked incredulous.
He'd actually been hit?
Michael looked at Evelyn with shocked anger, his voice full of hostility. "Are you looking for death?"
Evelyn wasn't afraid of him at all.
Especially after hearing what he just said, which made her furious. "You bastard, how dare you come into my dream and harass my Olivia.
How can you be so shameless? She's already divorced you, and you're still haunting her like a ghost, saying you won't hurt her?
In this world, you're the one who hurt her the worst! She doesn't even want to see you, and you still dare show up in front of her. Watch me teach you a good lesson."
After saying this, Evelyn somehow found the strength to break free from Olivia and started punching and kicking Michael.
She was completely venting in a wild manner, naturally not holding back at all.
If this were the old Michael, he wouldn't have taken a woman like Evelyn seriously.
But now he could only sit in a wheelchair, his assistant wasn't around, and he had no way to fight back.
No matter what, he still took several punches from Evelyn on his face and body.
His handsome face even got scratched with several bloody marks from her nails, the wheelchair almost got knocked over, and he looked completely disheveled.
Michael's expression darkened on the spot.