Jensen Romero, a lifelong professor at Oxford Medical University and a leading authority in neurology, sat across from Evelyn Howard. After her sister fell ill, Evelyn had combed through every expert in neurology. She had pored over Professor Romero's published papers so many times she could summarize each abstract by heart. Sadly, Professor Romero had retired some time ago. Evelyn had asked around but learned he had been off the radar for years. She had no other choice but to contact his protégé, Dr. Robert Haynes.

Now, with the distinguished professor smiling warmly across the table from her, Evelyn felt as if she were dreaming.

"I never imagined a young lady like you would know my name," Professor Romero remarked with a friendly chuckle. "Seems like I'm a touch more famous than old Mr. Scott. I'll be sure to boast about it next chance I get."

He acknowledged her.

Evelyn's breath quickened; there was hope for her sister. His words pierced through the bleakness she'd lived in for two years. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly on the floor.

"Professor Romero, I—"

She paused before continuing, anxiety in her voice.

"My sister suffered a stroke at fifteen and has been in a coma ever since. The doctors here can't determine the cause, and they're afraid surgery is too risky, so they keep delaying..."

Her words spilled out in a rush, fearing she’d miss an opportunity if she paused even briefly.

"I know you're retired, and asking for your help is a big favor, but I'm prepared to pay anything! Please, help my sister!"

With this plea, she stood earnestly, aware of the boldness of her request. Tonight was supposed to be a dinner welcoming her as Everett Scott's new wife, a chance to impress the elders. But she couldn't wait any longer. Her sister had been in the ICU for two years, losing more of herself each day. Dr. Haynes kept insisting on more observation. Professor Romero was her only hope in this lifetime. Even if it spoiled the dinner, even if Professor Romero deemed her reckless, even if Everett ended up dismayed—she had to make the request.

A silence blanketed the room for a few seconds.

Evelyn focused on the floor, her heart pounding like a drum.

"My dear," Professor Romero said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "Please, sit down. There's no need for such urgency."

Evelyn sat up straight, her eyes already shimmering with tears.

Professor Romero wasn't annoyed; instead, he looked at her with empathy. He softly patted her hand and said, "Since you're married to Everett, we're family now. I've retired, yes, but I can still come up with a plan. Let's enjoy dinner first, and then we'll talk it over."

Evelyn nodded intensely, unable to speak as her throat tightened with emotion.

Throughout the meal, she barely tasted her food. She mechanically moved her fork around, the flavors absent from her senses. Her gaze frequently drifted to Professor Romero, wanting to speak but fearing her eagerness might spoil everything, her anxiety causing her fingers to tremble.

Finally, as dinner ended, she immediately pulled out her phone to show her sister’s medical records.

"Professor Romero, my sister's name is Gianna, she's seventeen now, and she's been in a coma for two years. Here are all her medical reports..."

Professor Romero took the phone, scrolling through the files one by one. Evelyn watched him closely, observing his expressions—sometimes focused, occasionally furrowing his brow, then relaxing. Her heart pounded as if it might leap from her chest. Time seemed to stretch, each second a painful wait.

At last, Professor Romero raised his head. "The situation isn't too grim," he stated.

"But I'll need to examine her personally for an accurate diagnosis."

Not too grim—those words were like a lifeline pulling Evelyn back from despair. Tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.

"Thank you..." she managed to say, overwhelmed with emotion.

Professor Romero didn’t respond, instead sharing a significant look with Everett Scott.

Grinning, he handed the phone back to Evelyn, his eyes playfully teasing. "No need to thank me. I'm here at someone’s invitation. I'll be staying in Oxford for a while. If you trust me, I can arrange a surgical team for your sister’s treatment."

At someone’s invitation. Staying in Oxford. Evelyn’s tears still clung to her face, yet she froze momentarily.

She turned to the man beside her. Everett was sipping coffee, his long fingers wrapped around a porcelain cup, his expression indifferent as if this dinner was perfectly routine.

But Evelyn wasn't naive. Professor Romero had been retired for years, difficult to meet even with persistent efforts. Why would he suddenly appear in Oxford, suddenly here on someone’s invitation? Clearly, Everett had brought him here for her benefit.

Realizing this, Evelyn felt a wave of emotion overcome her.

As the dinner ended, Everett's assistant escorted Professor Romero back to his hotel.

Standing at the restaurant entrance, the early spring breeze lifted Evelyn's hair, but she felt far from cold. She watched Everett’s figure retreat, her thoughts spinning.

"Mind the chill," Everett said, turning back to shield her from the breeze. "Let’s get in the car."

His voice remained gentle, as if nothing had changed. Yet Evelyn stood her ground, suddenly grasping his hand.

Everett glanced down at her slender, cool fingers.

"It was you, wasn’t it?" Evelyn asked, her eyes slightly red but determined to meet his gaze. "You invited Professor Romero from the city."

The night air swirled between them, lifting her hair against his hand.

Everett remained silent.

His silence was its own confession.

"Why?" Evelyn’s voice was gentle, filled with gratitude and wonder.

She paused for a moment, then kept walking, resolute against the insults from petty people like Owen Morgan and his relatives. "You’re far better than them," she said to Everett softly. With that thought, she held Everett’s hand tighter and walked away without a backward glance.

Even from a distance, she could feel Owen Morgan's stare piercing her back like a nail. She took a deep breath, looked up at Everett, and whispered, "Don't let their words get to you."

Everett glanced down at her, his expression attentive and contemplative. "It’s already too late for that. But tell me, were you truthful when you said Owen doesn’t hold a candle to me?"

Evelyn paused, unsure how to reply.

"Love?" Everett gently tilted his head, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. He was becoming more accustomed to calling her that, though his attempt at feigned hurt was still somewhat awkward.

Evelyn didn’t mind the awkwardness. She smiled softly and nodded sincerely, "Of course, it's true. Owen couldn’t ever compare to you."

Everett's face brightened considerably.

While Evelyn's spirits dipped momentarily, it wasn’t because of Owen’s insults. Those people meant little to her. What troubled her was drawing Everett into a situation where he was demeaned, mistaken for a kept man.

"I'm sorry," Evelyn whispered, "for dragging you into this, for allowing them to insult you."

Everett paused and spoke softly, "Hold on a moment."

Evelyn watched, puzzled, as Everett pushed back through the crowd, unsure of what he was doing.

Where was he going?

Confused, she stood by the shopping cart, observing the sea of unfamiliar faces passing by.

Then, amidst her uncertainty, a sweet-scented ice cream cone appeared before her, fringed with colorful sprinkles.

"Want some?" Everett's gentle voice reached her ears.

Evelyn looked up, the sunlight streaming in behind him, creating an aura that hid his expression. Yet his eyes shone more warmly than the sun itself.

In the bustling town center, Everett Scott was holding an ice cream cone, his attention focused intently on Evelyn Howard. His voice, deep and soothing, was filled with a rare tenderness. "I've heard that a little sugar can lift your spirits when you're feeling down."

Even though he had taken the blame for her getting scolded, he still bought her an ice cream to cheer her up. Evelyn felt a warmth of gratitude swell in her heart.

"Thank you," she said, accepting the cone appreciatively, licking the slightly melted ice cream with satisfaction. She squinted her eyes. "This is really delicious. Why didn't you get one for yourself?"

Evelyn glanced at Everett, but his eyes were fixed on the ice cream on her lips. After a moment, he looked away. "I'm not much for sweets," he replied, somewhat awkwardly.

Evelyn tilted her head, taking another bite. "Oh, I see. Not a fan of sweets? You're missing out on some great flavors."

As soon as she finished speaking, Everett suddenly leaned closer, gently lifting her wrist as he bent down towards the ice cream cone.

Evelyn was caught off guard. She watched in surprise as Everett's face came incredibly close. By the time she processed what had happened, he had already released her hand.

She stood there, looking at him in a daze. Everett casually wiped the cream from his lips with his thumb and asked, "Just wanted to try something sweet. You don't mind, do you?"

"How was it?" Evelyn's mind went blank, the question slipping out unbidden.

Everett paused, his gaze softening, his voice low. "Not bad at all."

Meeting his eyes, Evelyn felt a sudden wave of embarrassment. The ice cream cone suddenly felt like a hot potato in her hand. She lowered her head and quickly walked away. She was practically burning with embarrassment.

Everett watched her hasty retreat, a playful smile on his lips as he followed her with a shopping cart. She was such a wonderful person; some people weren't even worth her time.

Penny Silva stood there, stunned by Evelyn's sharp words that had left her speechless. By the time she recovered, the two of them had long disappeared. Furious, she stamped her foot and immediately called Owen Morgan.

The call rang for several moments before being answered, his voice as cold as ice. "What do you want?"

"Brother," Penny's voice was filled with indignation and frustration. "Do you know what I just saw? That Evelyn was with some guy at the mall..."

"Penny!"

Owen's icy tone cut her off. Penny paused, quickly backtracking, "Sorry, brother. I didn't mean it. I'm just upset she dared to betray you..."

"My affairs are none of your business," Owen said sternly. "I warn you, if you start spreading rumors to her again, I'll cut off your allowance. And those projects your family is working on, I can pull the plug anytime."

Penny's face went pale immediately, filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, brother, I didn't mean to..."

The line went dead.

Penny clutched her phone, regret washing over her. She should have known better than to mess with Evelyn. But what about her cousin? Did he truly not care about Evelyn anymore? If not, why didn't he react when he heard she was with another guy?

Unbeknownst to her, Owen wasn't indifferent. He had immediately pressured the mall management to release their security footage from that afternoon, only to find out Everett had already taken care of it. Nothing showed up on the recordings.

Outside the town center, a cool breeze welcomed them. Everett was putting the shopping bags into the trunk when he received a message from his assistant.

"Mr. Scott, I found out that the Morgan family is trying to acquire a piece of land near the city outskirts. A few permits are pending. Should I make some calls?"

Everett glanced at Evelyn in the passenger seat, his fingers tapping lightly as he replied with three words: "Delay the process."

He then pocketed his phone with a calm expression and got into the car.

Seeing him return, Evelyn instinctively put her phone away and asked, "Is everything settled?"

Everett nodded. "Yeah. It's getting late. Do you want to dine out or eat at home?"

Evelyn thought for a moment, her smile brightening. "Let's go home."

No matter what was available outside, she still craved Everett's cooking.

Everett lightly tapped the steering wheel. Home. He liked that word. He chuckled softly and started the engine. "Alright, I'll whip up something special at home."

The weekend passed quickly, and with the start of a new week, rumors about Evelyn being married began spreading at school. Initially, Evelyn felt anxious, the memory of previous gossip still fresh. Even though the defamatory articles had been suppressed, whispers still lingered. But gradually, the atmosphere started to shift.

Colleagues who once avoided her began greeting her again. Even Director Clark, during a meeting, specifically advised, "Don’t spread rumors. Trust our school's teachers." After the last incident, Evelyn knew the director hadn't suddenly grown a conscience. It was likely the principal had intervened for her, prompting the director to stop causing trouble.

With Director Clark setting the tone, many colleagues began reconciling with Evelyn. They still had to work together, so Evelyn didn't make things difficult for them. She just mused on how her life had improved since marrying Everett.

That evening, she shared this with Everett while he was cooking.

Everett was in the kitchen sautéing. Hearing her, a smile twinkled in his eyes. "As long as you're happy."

Evelyn leaned against the kitchen door, watching him deftly handle the pan, and suddenly asked, "Did you have a hand in this?"

Everett didn't look up, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

"Well... Even with the news about my marriage, my colleagues' attitudes changed so quickly." Evelyn pondered. "And the fact that the defamatory articles disappeared—everyone says I've got someone powerful backing me..."

She wondered if these rumors were orchestrated by Everett. If so, had she just traded one cage for another, escaping Owen only to fall into Everett's?

It wasn't a lack of gratitude; she just didn't want to be under someone else's control. Everett turned off the stove, plated the dish, and then faced her.

"I haven't done anything. Maybe they know you have someone behind you and don't dare to act rashly."

Evelyn realized she might have overthought it. Everett and Owen were worlds apart. She smiled. "I understand. Thank you."

Everett smiled back, handing her the plate. "Set the table; dinner’s ready."

Evelyn took the plate to the table. Behind her, Everett's gaze lingered on her retreating form for a moment. She didn’t need to know the lengths he went to for her. Some people weren't even worth her thoughts.

Owen Morgan only realized something was off three days later. He had his team watching Evelyn Howard's apartment for two days, but they never caught sight of her. On the third day, Owen decided to visit her apartment complex himself, also setting a watch at the hospital where her sister, Gianna, was receiving treatment.

Typically, Evelyn's after-work routine was predictable to a fault. She was either at her rented place or the hospital. But he waited until late into the night, and still, there was no sign of her. The hospital was equally devoid of any sightings. Where could she have gone?

Her colleagues mentioned she showed up at work on Monday, which meant she hadn’t left Manchester. Owen's patience was wearing thin. He followed a resident into the building and stood outside apartment 502, pounding on the door in frustration.

After a while, the door creaked open to reveal a middle-aged woman. "Who are you looking for?"

Owen’s expression turned serious. "Where's Evelyn?"

"The teacher?" The woman looked him over, her voice edged with coolness. "She moved out."

Owen's face fell. "Where to?"

"No idea." The woman shook her head, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're that guy who kept pestering her, right? Let me tell you, Ms. Howard's married now. You might have a decent face, but try acting like it..."

Her voice trailed off as she shut the door quickly, leaving Owen standing there, fists clenched, knuckles turning white. He returned to his car and called his investigator, Mason.

"Find out where Evelyn Howard is living now and who she's married to. I want every detail," Owen demanded, his voice cold and menacing in the dim glow of the car.

Mason was efficient. Within five minutes, he called back. "Mr. Morgan, she did get married, but all we know is she got the license three days ago. No other details."

Silence filled the car. After a moment, Owen let out a cold laugh, a dark edge in his eyes. "Fine, very well."

In a fit of rage, he hurled his phone, and it crashed against the dashboard. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his anger giving way to a calculated, amused smile. "Steal my girl?" he whispered. "I'll find out who you are, you can count on it."

Two days later, the afternoon sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Evelyn was reading English storybooks with her students when her phone vibrated on the desk. She glanced at the screen: an unknown number.

Automatically, Owen Morgan's irritating face popped into her mind. The phone vibrated persistently. Evelyn looked at her students, then decisively turned off her phone. After her class, she turned it back on and found a missed text message.

"Ms. Howard, this is Kataleya Scott. Do you have time today? I'd love to invite you for afternoon coffee."

Kataleya Scott! Evelyn's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the renowned Scott family heiress. She'd heard of Kataleya's prestigious background and formidable reputation. People from both political and business circles in Manchester treated her with respect.

Evelyn instinctively wanted to decline, but her fingers hesitated over the keyboard. She was married to Everett, after all. Meeting his family was inevitable.

"Sure, I'm free after three."

"Great, I'll send you the location."

Kataleya quickly replied with a text containing a detailed address. Evelyn stood holding her phone for a moment before she turned back to her students, readying herself for the next class.

At three o’clock, Evelyn finished up her classes for the day. She texted Everett, "Your sister invited me for coffee. Don’t worry about dinner for me."

After sending the message, she suddenly recalled Everett mentioning that he had a dinner engagement tonight and might be home late. She smacked her forehead in annoyance, pocketed her phone, and hailed a cab at the school gate, giving the driver the address Kataleya had provided.

The café Kataleya had chosen was next to a charming villa. As the cab came to a stop, Evelyn got out and was immediately captivated by the vintage building covered in blooming bougainvillea. The layered petals cast playful shadows in the sunlight.

Evelyn pushed open the door, where the rich aroma of coffee mixed with sweet pastries enveloped her. She steadied herself, eyes quickly finding the window seat where Kataleya sat.

Kataleya was dressed in a light green knit dress, her long hair loosely pinned up, showcasing her delicate neck. She held a coffee cup with an air of relaxed elegance, a hint of pride in her gaze.

Evelyn's heart skipped another beat, instinctively tightening her grip on her bag. She walked over slowly, her voice steadier than she expected, "Ms. Scott, I hope I'm not late?"

She had mentally prepared herself for potential coldness or dismissal. This kind of person, to whom she was merely an ambitious younger sister-in-law, wouldn’t likely welcome her warmly.

Kataleya glanced up, her eyes running over Evelyn. The young woman in front of her had a strikingly pale complexion, softly curving features, and when she smiled, dimples appeared on her cheeks; she seemed to radiate a pure, cheerful light.

Kataleya paused, then smiled just enough to appear polite. "Not at all, I’m just early. Please, take a seat."

She indicated the seat opposite her. Evelyn's heartbeat quickened as she nervously sat down, setting her bag aside.

Kataleya continued to observe her openly, then asked casually, "What would you like to drink?"

"Just a black coffee, please."

Kataleya gestured for a server, then turned back to Evelyn. "Why so tense? I don't bite."

Evelyn forced a small smile, looking down. "Not at all."

"Even if you were, that's to be expected." Kataleya sipped her coffee. "My brother was quite impulsive, getting married without saying a word to the family. I only heard the rumors when I got back to the country."

Evelyn's heart raced—here it was, the direct approach. Was she about to be told to take a hike?

Her mind was in a whirl until she saw Kataleya set her coffee cup down gently.

Kataleya tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her tone even. "Don’t worry, I’m not against you. Eventually, Everett needs to marry someone. If not you, it would have been someone else. I just think it was all a bit rushed. It wasn't fair to you."

Evelyn quickly interjected, "I agreed to the quick wedding. It was my decision, not Everett’s fault."

Kataleya raised an amused eyebrow, giving her a wry look.

Realizing she’d overreacted, Evelyn felt her ears warm, and she focused on drinking her coffee.

"He's lucky, then," Kataleya suddenly chuckled, reaching for a paper bag and pushing it toward Evelyn. "A gift for you. I picked it up overseas during a trip. Take it as a little something."

Evelyn recognized the luxury brand logo on the bag and shook her head. "It's too much, I really can’t accept it."

"Take it," Kataleya insisted. "We're family now; there’s no need for formalities."

Evelyn was bewildered. None of this was going as she’d anticipated. Could Kataleya really be this accommodating?