Chapter 96
Evelyn returned to the Flying Seal Group to wrap up her remaining work. Lucas hadn’t contacted her since.
The next day, just as she was about to leave work, her phone rang–it was Maria.
“Evie, what time do you get off?”
“Soon,” Evelyn replied, closing her laptop.
“Perfect! I asked Lucas to pick you up. Come home with him after work. I need both of you here for something.”
Evelyn was slightly taken aback. “Grandma, I actually have—”
“He’s already downstairs. Just head down.”
Evelyn was left speechless. She rubbed her temples, feeling a dull ache. If it weren’t for Maria’s orders, there was no way Lucas would voluntarily come to pick her up.
With a sigh, she gathered her things and made her way down. Sure enough, a Bentley Mulsanne was parked outside.
The window rolled down, and Lucas glanced sideways at her. “Get in.”
The situation was oddly novel. All those years she worked at Bluezen, even when Maria insisted multiple times, he had never once picked her up from work or shared a ride home with her.
Now that she had left Bluezen, and he no longer had to pretend, she was suddenly granted this privilege of being picked up.
Evelyn hesitated for a moment and guessed that whatever Maria had planned wasn’t too urgent. “I think I’ll pass. Could you tell Grandma I have something to do?”
“You can tell her yourself. I’m not your messenger.” Lucas checked his watch, his tone cold. She noticed his mood wasn’t great.
After a brief moment of thought, she decided against pushing back. She still needed his approval regarding Naomi’s situation–this wasn’t the time to provoke him.
So, she walked over to the car. Out of habit, her gaze flicked to the passenger seat. Then, without hesitation, she opened the rear door and slid into the back.
She understood his rules. The front seat–the girlfriend’s seat–was not for her.
Lucas noticed her movements. She settled in, leaning against the door, pulling her coat tighter around her, and gazing out the window. She clearly had no intention of making conversation. He withdrew his gaze and instructed the driver coldly. “Turn down the air conditioning.”
Evelyn stiffened slightly. Was he considering her comfort? But almost immediately, she lowered her eyes. She was probably overthinking it.
Even if he gave the order because of her, it wasn’t out of concern–just a matter of basic courtesy.
At Grant Manor, Sophia had already returned home from a day out with her friends and was lounging on the couch, chatting.
She was waiting for dinner when she spotted Evelyn and immediately scoffed. “Using Grandma to get closer to my brother again, huh? If he didn’t have to pick you up, he’d be at the movies with my sister–in–law right now…”
Evelyn had long since grown indifferent to such remarks. She didn’t bother responding. No wonder Lucas seemed irritated earlier–she had interrupted his date with Tiffany. Just then, Maria came and called out. “Dinner is ready. Let’s eat first.”
The house Maria stayed in was situated in a more secluded part of the property, and it was quite a distance from the main house. Normally, only Lucas and Sophia visited her frequently. At the dinner table, Maria kept signaling at Lucas. “That dish is too far from Evie. Serve her some.”
Without much reaction, he obeyed indifferently, serving Evelyn some dishes.
She knew well enough–forcing something never made it sweeter. Maria’s efforts were pointless. Meanwhile, Sophia had been glued to her phone since sitting down, typing furiously. She couldn’t help but complain to Tiffany, “Grandma forced my brother to pick up Evelyn, ruining your date. Ugh, she’s such a nuisance.”
Tiffany replied, “It’s fine. I see your brother every day, anyway.”
She didn’t seem the least bit affected. Instead, she sent over photos of some new clothes she had bought, asking Sophia to pick her favorites.
Sophia glanced across the table at Lucas and grinned “Tiffany, put them on and show me.”
Moments later, Tiffany sent over a picture. Sophia’s eyes lit up instantly. She quickly angled her phone so that Mara wouldn’t see it and held it up to Lucas. “Lucas, isn’t this stunning?” Evelyn sat right beside him. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the screen. Tiffany was wearing a lace slip dress with a low neckline.
Chapter 97
