Chapter 78
Evelyn knew she couldn't live under Hannah and Timothy's protection forever.
Even with Benjamin, she had to be selective about relying on him.
But hearing the guilt toward Matthew in Hannah's words made her feel uncomfortable.
Yet she couldn't hold a grudge against Hannah and Timothy in this life for things that happened in her previous life.
"Okay, I'll handle it properly."
"Don't worry, everyone knows you're the eldest daughter of the Thomas family and Benjamin's fiancée. No one will dare bully you."
"I know."
Hannah said a few more words to Evelyn before hanging up.
Evelyn held her phone, unable to help spacing out. Why did she feel the distance with her family had grown?
"What's wrong?"
Benjamin came back to find her lost in thought. He walked over, picked her up, and sat her on his lap.
She naturally nestled into his arms.
"Tomorrow, Zachary from the Martinez family is having a birthday party. My parents want me to represent the Thomas family. Will you come with me?"
Her voice wasn't exactly sad, but it carried a hint of unhappiness, showing her mood wasn't great.
He rubbed her head and spoke after a few seconds of thought.
"I have something tomorrow evening, so I'll be late. Let Samuel go with you. With him there, you'll be fine."
The Harris family had quite a reputation. With Samuel, no one would dare bully her.
However...
"What do you have to do?"
Meeting his eyes, her expression wasn't exactly dissatisfied, just a little hurt.
Everyone was telling her to go, but none of them would accompany her, making her feel abandoned.
"There's a business deal I need to finalize tomorrow. I'll come find you as soon as I'm done."
His voice was so gentle that she felt like saying anything more would be unreasonable.
Helplessly, she could only nod in agreement.
Evelyn chose a champagne-colored off-shoulder gown, her long hair pinned up to reveal her beautiful neck.
Her jewelry wasn't particularly expensive, just a diamond chip necklace with matching earrings.
Proper and appropriate—neither too flashy nor too casual.
After getting ready, she received Samuel's call and walked out of the villa in her heels.
He was leaning against the car, a cigarette between the fingers of his right hand, smiling playfully.
"Ms. Thomas certainly doesn't hold back."
She immediately understood he was referring to the Violet situation.
Actually, she'd suspected yesterday that he had an ulterior motive for bringing her to the White Group. Now she understood he'd done it on purpose.
"Why is Mr. Harris giving a young girl such a hard time?"
"Too bored, had to find something to do." He smiled and opened the car door, gesturing for her to get in.
By the time he got in, the cigarette had been stubbed out in the trash.
Samuel seemed a bit carefree and casual, but his behavior was still refined. Why would he give a young girl a hard time?
Evelyn was curious, but seeing he had no intention of continuing, she didn't push it.
Zachary's birthday party was being held at the Martinez Mansion. Luxury cars crowded the estate entrance, many belonging to people whose names Evelyn knew well.
Zachary's eldest son, Dennis Martinez, still held the position of Emerald City mayor, and with Zachary's remaining influence, these people weren't insignificant.
When Evelyn and Samuel appeared together at the venue, it wasn't exactly sensational, but it did attract quite a bit of attention.
After all, they were both attractive and influential figures—even keeping a low profile, they couldn't go unnoticed.
But their pairing was a bit unusual, so most people just greeted them without crowding around.
They sat in a corner of the banquet hall.
"You came today just to watch over me?" Evelyn ate a small cake, looking at Samuel with some curiosity.
He snorted: "Even if you were a kid, I'm not a daycare teacher."
Samuel's words really weren't pleasant.
He'd killed the conversation.
Fortunately, heaven couldn't bear to see a beautiful woman suffer. Before the party started, a commotion arose from the crowd.
Evelyn looked up to see Mabel surrounded by people in the center.
Mabel's brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes clearly showing impatience.
Jeremy wore a white suit, holding roses, looking quite presentable.
"Mabel, we've been together for a while now. On this special day, I want to propose to you."
As he spoke, he knelt on one knee, offering the roses, his left hand holding a ring box.
The onlookers, not content to just watch, started egging them on.
"Say yes!"
"Say yes!"
But despite the lively atmosphere, Mabel's face showed no joy. Instead, her eyes grew more obviously irritated.
"I won't."
Those cold, hard words instantly cooled the heated atmosphere.
Who was Jeremy?
Drinking, gambling, womanizing—he'd done every evil thing.
Now he was "lowering himself" to propose to Mabel, and she'd rejected him?
His expression visibly changed, but Mabel showed no reaction. Instead, it was Evelyn whose face grew tense.
"This is bad, he's probably going to get violent!"
"He wouldn't dare."
Samuel's expression was calm, those simple words seeming casual.
Evelyn glanced at him oddly, noticing he was leisurely sipping his wine, not even looking in Jeremy's direction.
How did he know Jeremy wouldn't dare?
Perhaps Samuel, living in Silverlight City, didn't know about Jeremy's character in Emerald City?
She didn't dwell on that question, but asked another: "Did Benjamin ask you to watch over me? What if someone bullies me?"
He seemed to find the question amusing, turning to look at her, his lips curved in a half-smile.
"What do you want to do?"
"These days, men don't play hero anymore, so girls have to help girls."
Samuel's eyes showed even more interest: "I didn't know before that you liked meddling so much."
"This isn't meddling, it's beautiful women looking out for each other. What if someday I need her help?"
"Is that so?" He glanced over there, his voice so faint it was barely audible, "No one will dare bully you."
During their brief exchange, Mabel had already left the crowd, and Jeremy had been pulled away by some friends.
Was it because of the special circumstances today that Jeremy didn't dare act?
Evelyn wasn't sure. She signaled to Samuel and got up, walking in the direction Mabel had left.
She didn't hear anything unusual along the way until she approached the emergency exit and heard a woman's shrill voice inside.
"The Simpson family raised you all these years, and now that the Simpson family is in trouble, what's your attitude?"
"Being chosen by Jeremy is your good fortune! Going from a socialite to a rich wife, what are you unhappy about?"
After the angry shout came a young woman's low laugh.
"Raised me? Why did the Simpson family adopt me, and how did they raise me—do you dare tell people?"
Mabel's voice was clearly laughing, yet it carried a chilling coldness.
"I'm not afraid of you, so don't think you can use me as a favor to give to that bastard from the Martinez family!"
"Otherwise, when we tear off the masks, the Simpson family's true face will be exposed for all to see."
"Then the Simpson family won't just be facing bankruptcy."