"What did your father leave with your uncle?" Uncle Dave played dumb, denying it outright.
Evelyn shook her head. The warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by frozen steel. "When our father lent you that money back then, you weren't living this well, Uncle. You signed an IOU."
"Uncle's been having a rough few years too, Evelyn. You're sensible—you'll understand, right?"
"Really? But this whole banquet setup doesn't exactly scream 'rough times.'"
"You kids and your jokes." Uncle Dave forced a smile, teeth clenched then forced apart again. "Uncle's just putting on a show here. You said you teach at that Loane University, right? You must be doing way better than me."
"Uncle Dave, the one who lent you the money was our late father. What right do we have to be generous on his behalf for something you owed him?"
Uncle Dave's face flushed crimson with rage, forehead wrinkles bunching together. He glared viciously at Evelyn's ice-cold gaze, all pretense of warmth gone. He jabbed a finger at her and snarled, "That's money I owed your dad, not you. You're just some girl who got adopted—what gives you the right to haggle with me? If you're so tough, go drag your dead father back here and ask him yourself."
Evelyn bit her pale-pink lip, fist clenched tight against the table. Her eyes burned with bloody, ruthless ferocity—cold, insane, obsessive—enough to chill anyone who saw it. One of her deepest triggers was any disrespect toward her adoptive parents.
She pressed down on Noah's shoulder as he started to rise and defend her. Her voice was as cold as a razor hidden in fresh snow. "You're living so comfortably and respectably these days. Wouldn't look good if people found out you've owed a widowed mother and her two orphans money for years, would it? Especially if your son happened to overhear outside—what would he think?"
That made Uncle Dave's expression tighten a fraction, but the vicious scowl stayed. He opened his mouth to argue again, only for Evelyn to cut him off.
"Think about it another way. Your son just got into college with a bright future ahead. You wouldn't want your mess affecting him, right?"
Evelyn gave a mocking little smile. "A promising young college student with a stain on his record wouldn't look very attractive, would it?"
"You—Evelyn, you wouldn't dare!"
"I have a senior colleague who teaches at Weston Polytechnic. Who knows—she might even have your son in one of her classes." She pulled her phone from her pocket. "If this recording ever got out…"
"Fine, Evelyn. You win." Uncle Dave was breathing hard, out of options, though his face stayed ugly. "I'll pay. I'll pay."
"Nate, show him the payment code."
Noah nodded, opened the app on his phone, and held it out. The moment the transfer notification chimed, Evelyn tore up the old IOU, took Noah's hand, and led him out of the private room.
"Eve, you were so fierce back there."
"He was being so unreasonable. What kind of face did he expect?" Evelyn's tone softened considerably. "Only with you, Nate, can I always be this indulgent."
"Come on, you've been strict with me plenty of times too."
"Isn't that because you brought it on yourself?"
"It's because you control me too tightly. Anyone would feel suffocated."
The words fell, and sudden quiet settled between them. Evelyn offered no reply, exactly as she always did—ignoring his discontent. His freedom and wishes could never outweigh her obsessive need to possess him.
They stood at the hotel entrance. The cool night breeze brushed their faces, stirring the hair at their temples and cheeks with faint threads of chill.
Bright moonlight filtered through tree branches, casting dappled shadows. Neon signs flickered along the street.
"Cousin." The male voice behind them made them turn. Tyler stood there properly, looking polite and harmless. "You're leaving already?"
He seemed unaware of the argument with his father, his expression and manner completely innocent.
"Yeah. We're going." Evelyn answered coldly.
"Actually… Cousin, I have a favor to ask." Tyler swallowed, clearly gathering courage. "I just started college, science track. I keep running into concepts I don't understand. You mentioned you teach advanced calculus at Loane—any chance you could…"
"I'm too busy with work, and I still have Nate to teach. No time."
"I won't bother you often." He stepped closer, the eagerness and longing in his eyes growing obvious, his real intention plain. "Just add me on your contacts. I'll only message when I need help."
"I don't like adding random numbers. Your school has calculus professors—you can ask them."
"We're family, right? Definitely better than asking a stranger."
Tyler took another step, closing the distance. Noah suddenly tugged Evelyn's arm and stepped in front of her. "My sister made herself clear. Keep pushing and it stops being funny."
"Cousin, you misunderstood. I really just want her to tutor me a bit."
Tyler kept up the innocent smile, face full of harmless sincerity, using fake honesty to win trust.
He had seen Evelyn a few times as a child and developed a hazy crush on her early on. Back then he had envied how close Noah was to her and wanted the same, but she had always been coldly distant with other kids.
Later, when Uncle Dave cut off contact with their family, Tyler barely saw her anymore. That feeling had grown and fermented until now. He had thought getting into college would finally make her notice him.
Only today had he realized they had left him far behind.
Uncle Dave hadn't even wanted to invite them to the party—Tyler had begged and pleaded until his father gave in. If he didn't seize this chance now, he might never get another.
"She's just my sister," Noah said, face cold, voice serious and detached. "She has no blood relation to you. Stop calling her 'cousin' like you're close."
"Cousin, you—"
Noah ignored him and turned to leave with Evelyn. Tyler grew desperate and reached out to grab her. Before his fingers touched her, Noah seized his wrist in a tight grip.
"At least we still share the same last name. Making this ugly won't look good for anyone." He glared once, let go, and pulled Evelyn away without another glance, leaving Tyler frozen in place.
Outside the hotel stretched a lively long street. The two of them walked under the dim glow of streetlights, their shadows stretching long and thin behind them.
Evelyn laced their fingers together, palms pressed tight. "I didn't expect Nate to have such a strong side. Your sister is surprised."
"You taught me. Not everyone deserves a good attitude."
"You learned pretty quick. Looks like Nate isn't that dumb after all." She glanced sideways at him, a warm smile touching her cheeks. "That line you said—'She's just my sister'—was really cool, little fool. Your sister will always be yours alone."