"Evelyn, I..."
Before he could finish, a voice on the other end urged him to hurry up and get to work, saying he was going to be late.
He stubbornly refused to hang up, answering them with a hint of impatience before his voice softened again. "Can I take the weekend off and come find you in Solara?"
The urging on the other end grew more frantic.
It was as if Leo Lawrence had to have her answer. His light, cautious breathing came through the receiver, tentative.
"Evelyn, please say yes."
In the end, Evelyn Grant relented. "Okay."
Her coffee finished, she grabbed her bag, pushed open the door, and hailed a cab to go find Liam Aldrin.
He was the Aldrin Family's only child, and they were pressuring him hard to get married. He'd gotten so fed up with it recently that he had moved into a large downtown apartment not far from the cafe.
The two had arranged to meet for lunch.
The weather was getting colder, perfect for hot pot.
Liam Aldrin had booked a private room and had arrived early. He was leaning back lazily in his chair and yawning. "I skipped work to have hot pot with you, so this one's on you."
Her phone pinged.
Evelyn Grant glanced down. It was a notification from her bank: fifty million Veridia Dollars had been deposited into her account.
'The money's here before I've even started the job.'
'You have to admire the Keaton Family's efficiency.'
She took off her coat, a gentle smile on her face. "My treat. Order whatever you want."
When the friends got together, besides work, they mostly talked about the gossip in Solara. Evelyn Grant hadn't been back in a long time, so all her information came from Liam Aldrin.
"Remember that guy, Mason Morgan? The one who shamelessly pestered you at that banquet, trying to get a date?"
He continued in a leisurely tone, "He messed with the wrong person a while back. Tried to force some young girl to drink with him, but it turned out her boyfriend was a boxer. The guy landed a couple of punches right in his face. He made a complete fool of himself all over Solara."
Relying on the Morgan Family's influence, Mason Morgan had caused his fair share of trouble in Solara.
At that same banquet where she had first met Preston Keaton, he had set his sights on Evelyn Grant, grabbing her wrist with a shameless grin, insisting she drink with him and agree to be his girlfriend.
The harassment went on for a good ten minutes. She couldn't shake him off, and no matter how harshly Evelyn Grant spoke, he just took it as flirting.
Then, something suddenly struck Mason Morgan on the forehead. He cried out, instinctively reaching up to touch it, and his hand came away covered in blood.
Evelyn Grant slipped away in the confusion. She later heard the blow had been so severe that Mason Morgan suffered a concussion and was hospitalized for two or three days.
What hit him was a square, and quite valuable, cufflink.
Strangely, the Morgan Family, who were known for never letting things go, didn't pursue the matter at all. It just ended there.
Evelyn Grant lifted her gaze. "The Morgan Family isn't easy to deal with."
Liam Aldrin grinned. "That's where the story gets interesting."
"The young couple was just visiting Solara. The girl is from Bexley, the heiress of a huge and powerful family. Since Mason Morgan was clearly in the wrong, the Morgan Family not only had to swallow their pride but also had to pay a personal visit to apologize."
They were completely humiliated, and it became a hot topic of gossip for many.
Evelyn Grant's voice was languid. "Mason Morgan will never learn his lesson. I bet he'll be back out there in another half a month."
'With that shameless personality of his, a month at home would be the absolute maximum.'
After that banquet, Mason Morgan remained obsessed with her, ambushing her several times at places she frequented. If the Grant Family didn't have some influence in Solara, any other girl without power or status would have been worn down by his persistence.
After lunch with Liam Aldrin, Evelyn Grant went home.
Just as she stepped through the door, a message arrived from Wyatt Walsh.
"The Young Miss returns to Veridia the day after tomorrow. Please arrive in Veridia by tomorrow evening."
—
After just three days at home, she was on the move again.
This time, she was going to Veridia alone. June Jacobs had been with her for two months without a break; it would have been unreasonable to ask her to come along again.
Wyatt Walsh picked her up personally. However, this time they weren't going to Clearwater Bay, but to The Mid-Levels.
"Clearwater Bay is Mr. Keaton's father's property, while The Mid-Levels estate is under Mr. Keaton's name. Although the Young Miss usually resides at Clearwater Bay, she was concerned you might feel constrained there, so she arranged for you to stay at The Mid-Levels."
"The staff have already prepared a room. Since you'll be coming to Veridia monthly, please treat it as your own. It's much more convenient than a hotel."
When Evelyn Grant heard the words 'The Mid-Levels' and 'Mr. Keaton,' she froze.
Her voice was tight. "Then Mr. Keaton lives at..."
Wyatt Walsh's voice was gentle. "The Mid-Levels."
Evelyn Grant: "..."
'I'd rather stay at Clearwater Bay. Why would Sophie Sullivan think I wouldn't feel constrained right under her brother's nose?'
With a pained expression, she tried to bargain. "Sophie Sullivan usually stays at Clearwater Bay. It would be a waste of time to go to The Mid-Levels. How about I just go to Clearwater Bay?"
Wyatt Walsh added, "Don't worry. The Young Miss will also be coming to The Mid-Levels. Besides, Mr. Keaton travels abroad often; the days he spends in Veridia are few and far between."
'Good.'
Evelyn Grant discreetly breathed a sigh of relief.
She was intimidated by Preston Keaton.
It was an indescribable feeling, like the instinctual fear of a prey animal facing a powerful predator.
The Maybach slowly entered The Mid-Levels, following the main road up the mountain.
The higher they went, the tighter the security became. After passing a guardhouse, they officially entered Preston Keaton's private estate.
The villa was built into the mountainside, with its back to the mountain and a view of the sea. It was evening now, and the lights had come on, shimmering magnificently against the night sky, a grand and spectacular sight.
Evelyn Grant got out of the car and looked up.
It wasn't a conventional Western-style villa. It was a modern design, with a lush garden even on the second floor. The privacy was excellent, and it commanded the most expansive view in all of Veridia.
"Miss Grant."
Someone called her name.
It was a woman who looked to be in her forties, dressed in a neat and proper uniform, offering a polite smile. "I am the butler here, Martha Shaw. Mr. Keaton informed us you would be arriving. Allow me to show you in."
Evelyn Grant smiled at her, turned to thank Wyatt Walsh, and then said softly, "Thank you, Butler Shaw. I appreciate it."
Someone took her luggage to her room.
"You will be staying on the second floor."
Just like Clearwater Bay, the mansion at The Mid-Levels was like a maze. She followed closely behind Butler Shaw into the elevator, thinking, 'I need to find time to familiarize myself with the layout, just in case I wander somewhere I shouldn't.'
'This is Preston Keaton's home, after all. I need to be careful.'
The room was a junior suite. From here, she could see the entire central district of Veridia, a glittering expanse of brilliant, prosperous lights.
"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to use the intercom. Someone will bring you whatever you require."
Butler Shaw bowed slightly. "I'll leave you to get settled, then."
Once the door was closed, Evelyn Grant finally relaxed.
Her suitcase was in the suite's living room. She was unpacking her clothes when her phone rang. It was a video call from Yara Summers.
She sat down on the carpet and languidly answered. Yara Summers was about to speak but stopped short, her words swallowed. She stared at the unfamiliar background and frowned in confusion. "Where are you?"