Chapter 85
Evelyn and Samuel weren't close to begin with, so it wasn't strange that he didn't help her.
She was still thinking when Benjamin had already helped her into the car.
"He knew I would come, and he wasn't deliberately targeting you."
Benjamin got into the driver's seat and explained softly.
"Is he mad at you?"
"Evelyn is so smart."
He reached out and tapped her nose, then drove off.
Through the car window, Evelyn watched Samuel and Mabel's figures: "He and Mabel are..."
Evelyn didn't know how to put it.
Clearly, Samuel and Mabel's relationship was quite close, and their reactions showed they had deep feelings for each other before.
It's just that their way of interacting was a bit strange.
"Exes."
That brief answer explained a lot.
Evelyn sorted through things in her mind and got a general understanding of today's events.
"You didn't actually have something to do today. You deliberately had Samuel go with me to make Samuel and Mabel meet?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Benjamin didn't answer right away. After a few seconds of silence, he slowly spoke: "I didn't know about Violet interning at the company. He deliberately led you to the company."
Samuel is so bored that he still manages to get on Benjamin's nerves.
Then Benjamin might as well let Mabel know that Samuel was still alive, so Samuel wouldn't be so idle anymore.
Actually, Benjamin had really misunderstood Samuel on this point.
Samuel did know about Violet and deliberately led Evelyn to the company, but not to make Evelyn and Benjamin fight.
Rather, he could see clearly that if Evelyn discovered Violet earlier, she'd get upset, and then it would be over.
If too much time passed, Evelyn would be harder to comfort.
Parking lot.
"Are you mad at me?"
Even though Samuel was gripping her arm painfully, Mabel still held onto him tightly and wouldn't let go, though her eyes showed hurt.
"Ms. Simpson is about to get married, isn't it inappropriate to be pulling and tugging with me here?"
"You're unhappy about this? That's the Simpson family's..."
"Your business has nothing to do with me."
Samuel cut her off, the coldness in his eyes deepening: "I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."
"How is that possible?"
At this moment, where was Mabel's usual cool demeanor? She was completely like a hurt little girl.
"You said before that you would never ignore me, that you'd always be good to me."
"You also said that was in the past."
He coldly pulled away from her and walked quickly toward where his car was parked.
Mabel tried to chase after him but was stopped by his people.
"Don't appear in front of me."
Evelyn was somewhat shaken tonight. After showering, she went straight to bed, not in the mood to do anything else.
When Benjamin sat on the edge of the bed, she crawled into his arms.
"Help me fall asleep."
It was her way of depending on him, wasn't it?
But why couldn't she accept intimate contact with him, yet allow everything except sex?
Benjamin couldn't quite figure out the Evelyn in his arms, while she hugged his waist, leaned against him, and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.
That sense of security was something no one else could give her.
When she woke up in the morning, Benjamin was already gone, but messages from various apps on her phone let Evelyn know that the latest trending topic was about her passionate relationship with Benjamin, and that she was Benjamin's treasure.
Showing off their love?
Yes, but not just that.
Everyone knew that the families used underhanded methods behind the scenes.
But the Martinez family not only slandered Evelyn in front of many of Emerald City's elite, but they also wanted to take Evelyn away directly and destroy her reputation.
That's basically the Martinez family handing Benjamin leverage against them on a silver platter.
While he dealt with the Martinez family with swift and decisive measures, he also let everyone know that Evelyn wasn't someone who could be bullied casually.
After checking the trending topics, she went downstairs to eat.
Before long, Hannah and Timothy rushed in.
"Evelyn!" Hannah's eyes were red, and after calling out once, she choked up and couldn't speak.
"Mom," Evelyn had calmed down by now. Seeing the worried expressions on Hannah and Timothy's faces, she immediately stood up and had them sit down. "Why did you come over so early in the morning?"
Hannah pulled Evelyn over and looked her up and down. Only after confirming Evelyn was okay did her expression ease somewhat.
But tears had already fallen.
Timothy sighed softly: "Knowing the Martinez family had bad intentions and still letting you go was our oversight. This won't happen again."
That's it?
Not even mentioning who was behind it all?
Matthew had been with the Thomas family for nearly twenty years and had long become part of the Thomas family.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, the Thomas family would never have believed the wolfish ambition beneath his gentle exterior.
Evelyn's heart sank a bit, and her expression didn't look good.
"Evelyn," Hannah gripped her hand tighter, seeming a bit uneasy, "when we didn't let you compete with Matthew for the company before, we were worried that when we're gone, without our support, you'd have a hard time managing the company well. We could never do things to hurt you."
Hannah's tearful voice left Evelyn confused for a few seconds.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
She gripped Hannah's hand back and looked at Timothy.
"We're family. How could I not have even that much trust? But..."
After pausing, she still voiced her concern.
"The Martinez family people were so blatant in slandering me yesterday, as if they were very certain the Thomas family wouldn't help me."
As for the Martinez family guessing Benjamin's attitude about this matter, that was even simpler.
Would Benjamin stand up for a woman who betrayed him?
Who could have thought the one to break the situation would be Benjamin himself?
On their way to find Evelyn, Timothy and Hannah had already discussed this issue.
Now that Evelyn brought it up directly, instead of the imagined awkwardness, it actually eased the unease in all three of their hearts.
"We considered that too."
Timothy's expression was somewhat grim: "Actually, I wanted to go with you yesterday, but the hospital suddenly sent word that there was a situation with your grandfather, so I didn't make it."
"How is Grandpa?" Evelyn thought of the kind Preston, her eyes flickering.
As long as Preston woke up, he would surely tear off Matthew's mask.
Timothy didn't speak. Hannah sighed softly.
"Preston is still the same; he hasn't woken up."
As she spoke, Hannah glanced at Timothy, and after he nodded, Hannah took Evelyn's hand: "You and Benjamin have a good relationship now. Have you thought about the marriage?"
"I will get married, but I want to wait for Grandpa to wake up."
Such a major life event - how could Preston, who loved her most, not be by her side?
"Evelyn, it's good that you're so devoted. But your father and I discussed it, and hope you and Benjamin will get married soon."
Meeting Evelyn's somewhat confused gaze, Timothy explained.
"Your grandfather's condition is stable, but there's no sign of him waking up. Your marriage is a good thing - maybe your wedding will bring some good fortune to our family."
"Also, the Martinez family dared to be so bold in targeting you; they probably know some information we don't."
"Get your marriage to Benjamin settled quickly. Once you're secure as Benjamin's wife, naturally, no one will dare harm you."
Marriage was the public reason, but the key point was to give her protection.