The day after Evelyn Howard declined to play along with the office's unspoken norms, hurtful rumors began to spread like wildfire.

"Have you heard? They're saying she's been cozying up to the parents of the children. Can you imagine?"

"She looks like that kind of person, doesn't she? Young, attractive teachers at private schools often seem like they're hunting for wealthy spouses."

The whispers in the break room were hushed, but they seeped through the cracks of the door. Evelyn tightened her grip on her travel mug before letting it relax again. She lowered her gaze to the lemon peel floating in her herbal tea, and suddenly, it all seemed absurdly comical. At twenty-seven, she was still dogged by such degrading rumors.

"Evelyn, Mr. Weaver wants to see you."

A voice called from the door, bringing an abrupt halt to the gossip. Evelyn looked up and met the concerned eyes of a colleague. She smiled faintly, "Thanks, I'll be there in a moment."

Mr. Weaver's office was on the third floor of the administrative building. As Evelyn knocked and entered, Adaline Weaver was immersed in lesson plans. Nearing her forties, Adaline's gaze met Evelyn's with a mix of admiration and complexity. It was undeniable that Evelyn possessed striking beauty—fair complexion, red lips, and an effortless allure in her eyes. Even in the most conventional business attire, her presence was like a burst of springtime energy.

Her legs, dressed in sheer stockings, were straight and long, making her captivating even in silence. It was easy to see why someone might be tempted.

Adaline sighed inwardly and set her pen down. "Please, have a seat."

Evelyn remained standing, her back straight. "If this is about the rumors—"

Adaline interrupted her, her tone softer than expected. "Evelyn, there's pressure from the higher-ups. You must understand, in these situations, truth often takes a backseat. Silencing the gossip is the priority."

"So, I should resign?"

"I didn't say that." Adaline paused, then shifted the conversation. "You've been at Sheffield International for three years, right? You're diligent and responsible, patient with the students—a truly good teacher."

Evelyn held her tongue, waiting for the inevitable "but."

"But at Sheffield, being a good teacher isn't enough." Adaline's tone softened further. "You know the Morgan family's influence here in Manchester better than I do. When Owen wants something, it's hard for anyone to say no."

Adaline's gaze was conflicted. "I'm not advising you to give in. If you don't want to take that path, you'll need another strategy. Perhaps a stable relationship."

Walking out of the administrative building, Evelyn noticed a group of colleagues whispering as she passed. She lifted her chin and walked by with steady eyes. Only upon reaching the privacy of her office did she finally allow herself a long, deep breath.

A stable relationship? Easier said than done. Where could she possibly find a man willing to date her? And even if she did, how would that silence the rumors? Without proof, the gossip wouldn't stop. Unless she actually married someone!

Just as this thought crossed her mind, her phone buzzed. A chill ran down her spine as she recognized the number. She hesitated but, realizing the caller wouldn't hang up, took a deep breath and answered.

The voice on the other end was playful, like a cat teasing a mouse. "Eve, you know I'm not a man who likes to wait."

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her phone. Despite herself, she couldn't help but ask, "Would you... ever consider divorce?"

There was a brief silence, followed by a stifled, amused laugh. "Eve," Owen Morgan's voice was leisurely, tinged with authoritative condescension, "don't ask irrelevant questions. Stay with me, and I'll ensure you never want for anything. Whatever you need—besides a title—I'll provide, including covering your sister's medical expenses."

Evelyn's hand trembled. "It's tempting, but I have no interest in being a mistress."

With that, she ended the call, saying nothing more.

By five in the afternoon, the entrance of Sheffield International was bustling with cars. It was the most exclusive private school in Manchester, and all the cars picking up students were luxury models.

Evelyn stood near the guardhouse, coordinating with parents. Every glance thrown her way felt like a needle, pricking her skin. She wore a polite smile, but her hands stayed cold until a small, warm one took hold of hers.

"Miss Howard!"

Evelyn glanced down into a pair of bright eyes. Her smile softened, and she crouched to adjust the little girl's scarf.

"Clover, who's picking you up today?"

"It's me!"

Evelyn turned instinctively at the voice, momentarily taken aback. The man wore a black coat, exuding an air of aloof sophistication. Meeting his deep, inscrutable eyes, she recalled Adaline's suggestion—if a marriage of convenience involved someone this appealing, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad deal.

Startled by her own thoughts, Evelyn quickly looked away, standing up too quickly and momentarily losing her balance.

"Careful."

The man's cool scent enveloped her as he steadied her with a firm grip on her arm. Evelyn looked up into his direct gaze, close enough to notice the curve of his eyelashes and a fleeting emotion in his eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Scott." Regaining her composure, she stepped back.

Everett Scott retracted his hand, replying with a gentle "Hmm."

Yet that single syllable made her heart race. Did he remember her?

Seven years ago, at a charity event, she had been so nervous while serving drinks that she spilled wine on him. She couldn’t recall his exact expression then, only that he hadn’t gotten angry. Instead, he had taken the towel offered by a server and calmly wiped his sleeve, sparing her a glance. Much like now.

"Uncle, let's go! It's so cold!" Clover tugged at Everett's hand, pulling him toward a sleek black Bentley where a driver had already opened the door. As he allowed her to drag him a few steps forward, he suddenly paused and turned back.

"Miss Howard."

Evelyn blinked. "Yes?"

He looked at her, his gaze deep, but he only said, "Take care."

It wasn't "see you tomorrow." It was "take care."

Evelyn watched the Bentley merge into traffic, waving back at Clover, who pressed against the window to wave at her. Just before the window closed, she saw Clover being gently pulled back inside, the little girl pouting and saying something before getting her head patted.

As she stood there, lost in thought, murmured voices of mockery reached her ears from behind.

"She doesn’t miss any chance, does she? Does she really think someone of her status could be with the Scotts?"

"Exactly, the Scott family is top-tier, and Mr. Scott is someone even our school's major investor, Mr. Morgan, has to flatter. She's dreaming to think she has a chance."

Evelyn looked down. Yes, they were right. She didn’t belong in that world.

By eight in the evening, the school grounds had finally quieted down. After organizing the last lesson plan, Evelyn turned off the lights in her office. The March night wind was biting as she stood at the school gate, checking a ride-hailing app on her phone.

Twenty-eight people in line.

She sighed. Just then, a car horn sounded behind her.

Evelyn stepped aside, but the car remained stationary. Bewildered, she looked up. The black Bentley sat there, its passenger window slowly lowering. The streetlight cast a soft glow on the man's profile. He looked directly at her, his gaze intense and meaningful.

She hesitated. "Mr. Scott?"

Everett stepped out of the car. He approached her, looking down from his height. "Miss Howard. I've been waiting for you."

Surprised, she knitted her brows. "Waiting for me?"

The man stood before her, against the backdrop of dim streetlights, his features sharply defined by the interplay of light and shadow. His tone was calm, as if he were casually commenting on the weather.

"Though this may seem forward, I'd like to ask—would you consider marrying me?"

The man stood at the bottom of the stairs on the sidewalk, his gaze on Evelyn Howard steady and warm. Evelyn's heart unexpectedly skipped a beat. Lately, she had been so overwhelmed by gossip and work that the thought of a whirlwind marriage didn't seem entirely out of the question.

"Mr. Scott, this is quite sudden..."

Everett Scott raised an eyebrow slightly and stepped forward to shield her from the chilly wind. "A lifelong decision does call for some deliberation. How about I take you out for dinner, Miss Howard?"

"No..." Evelyn started to decline, but her stomach betrayed her with an audible growl. Standing so close, he must have heard it.

She awkwardly rubbed her stomach, trying to brush it off. Everett didn't laugh; he simply turned and opened the car door, leaning against the frame. "Come on, there's a great little place nearby that serves amazing steak."

In the glow of the streetlights, he wore a black shirt, buttoned all the way up, his well-built physique visible—broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, with hints of muscles beneath. Evelyn quickly glanced away.

Alright, she admitted, she was a bit taken by his appearance. Coupled with the good impression he left at their first meeting, the man standing before her exuded the charm of a perfect gentleman. After a day filled with unpleasantness, her appetite had vanished, but now, she was genuinely hungry.

Seeing no good reason to refuse, Evelyn decided not to be overly polite. She stepped off the curb toward the car, intending to open the back door, but Everett had already opened the passenger side. "The backseat's full, sit up front."

Evelyn glanced through the window at the backseat, which was indeed cluttered, so she swallowed her refusal. Everett stepped back to give her room. His gaze inadvertently caught her delicate earlobe. Her golden, thick hair contrasted her fair skin, and the strands that fell across her face added a playful and lively touch.

She sat down and buckled her seatbelt on her own. Only then did Everett calmly shut the door for her. Evelyn assumed Everett was just inviting her for a casual meal and didn't expect him to bring her to The Savory Willow.

As the most exclusive and discreet restaurant in Manchester, The Savory Willow's interior boasted top-of-the-line decor, radiating elegance and luxury, with shimmering lights and wood-paneled floors that seemed too delicate to step on.

As soon as the valet drove off, the restaurant manager at the entrance eagerly approached with a beaming smile. "Mr. Scott, what a pleasure to have you. The private room upstairs is ready."

Everett nodded politely but distantly. "I’m just here for a laid-back meal with a friend, no need to go all out."

At his words, the manager glanced at Evelyn with keen interest. "This is the first time Mr. Scott has brought a lady here."

The manager gestured courteously. "Right this way, please."

Everett turned to her, his voice warm. "It's too late for anything heavy. This place has excellent steak. You should give it a try."

"Alright," Evelyn replied with a reserved nod.

The private room didn't have assigned waitstaff. After they sat across from each other, the server brought over two menus. Evelyn took a deep breath as she opened hers, quickly closing it again in disbelief.

A steak for $998? Outrageous! Evelyn opened the menu again for confirmation. Good news, she wasn't mistaken. Bad news, it was still the cheapest item!

Even if someone else was treating her, the thought of a $998 steak was hard to digest.

"What's wrong? Nothing appealing?" Everett's calm voice held a hint of concern.

Evelyn glanced around to ensure the waiter was out of earshot before leaning closer and pointing at the menu with a perplexed expression. "Mr. Scott, maybe we should try somewhere else?"

She gestured toward the menu. "This place seems more about showing off elegance. It can't compare to the homemade steak from my local restaurant"

Her words stopped just short of calling the restaurant a rip-off for the wealthy. Everett paused, and a subtle amusement crept into his voice. "Well, since we’re here, maybe you can humor this 'wealthy man' with some elegance?”

Evelyn awkwardly scratched her nose. "Ah, right, I forgot you're one of them."

Another day envying the rich, yet a $998 steak was a tough pill to swallow. "And the dessert prices are sky-high! It's daylight robbery!"

Unbeknownst to her, the waitstaff heard her loud and clear and exchanged a knowing glance, sharing in her sentiment. As fellow workers, Miss Howard had voiced their inner thoughts perfectly!

Everett remained silent, watching her animated critique with an appreciative gaze. Over his uneventful thirty years, he'd witnessed plenty of people trying to curry favor. This was the first time someone was so candid and straightforward with him.

As Evelyn continued, she suddenly realized her mistake. She looked up at him, and his attentive gaze made her cover her mouth in delayed realization.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Scott, I didn't mean to spoil the mood, I..."

Everett, unfazed, returned to his menu, his tone unchanged. "No need to apologize. I think you’re right."

He looked at the menu thoughtfully. "The prices are indeed excessive! I'll pass along your feedback to my sister to make some adjustments."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. "Your sister?"

Everett nodded calmly. "Yes, The Savory Willow is my sister's business."

Evelyn: ???

Her mind went blank, unraveling like a bomb detonating. The Savory Willow was owned by his sister? What had she just said? About putting on airs? About ripping off the wealthy? Was it too late to backtrack on her words?

Evelyn Howard took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, managing a sheepish smile. "Wow, what a coincidence! It's your sister's restaurant... no wonder it's so posh and classy."

Everett Scott merely smiled softly, not saying a word.

Feeling a bit flustered, Evelyn raised her hand to cover her face, mumbling through her fingers, "I'm sorry, Mr. Scott. I didn't mean to knock your sister's restaurant. Just pretend I was babbling. I'm just a simple person, not used to such elegance..."

Her voice was muffled, carrying a touch of self-deprecating humor.

Everett looked at her and unexpectedly reached out to pat her head. "If my sister knew someone genuinely wanted to give her feedback, she’d be thrilled."

Evelyn peered through her fingers, one eye open. "Really? Then can you please not tell her what I just said?"

Everett chuckled softly, "Alright, it’ll be our little secret."

As he spoke, the flickering shadows of his eyelashes appeared under the lights, his sharp features complemented by a tailored black shirt with sleeves rolled up, revealing a strong forearm. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine, yet his gaze was warm and inviting.

"If we try another place, we might have to wait. How about we eat here? Don’t worry about the cost; I'll make sure we get a nice discount."

Charmed by his offer, Evelyn nodded instinctively. "Oh, okay."

Everett signaled a waiter and ordered a few dishes.

Evelyn listened and suddenly paused. Caesar Salad, scallop seafood soup, ravioli... all her favorites.

She lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttering softly. Perhaps these were just popular choices, or maybe Everett liked them too?

The waiter finished taking the order and gave Evelyn a curious glance before leaving. It wasn't rude, just so openly curious that it made Evelyn a bit uncomfortable.

Once the waiter left, whispers broke out from the waiting area.

"My gosh, she's not wearing makeup! Her skin looks even better than that actress I served last time!"

"Well, how else would Mr. Scott bring her here himself? Didn't you hear? She was criticizing the restaurant, and he just smiled at her!"

The voices weren't loud, but they made Evelyn fiddle with her warm earlobe, sneaking a peek at the man across from her.

Everett calmly sipped his coffee, unfazed, as if the conversations had nothing to do with him.

Just as Evelyn was about to say something, the appetizers arrived.

Her stomach growled impatiently, prompting her to take a bit of her salad, her eyes lighting up instantly.

"Delicious!"

Unable to resist, she took a sip of the soup. The creamy base captured the essence of seafood, without a hint of fishiness.

Focused on her meal, Evelyn didn't notice that Everett was constantly adding dishes to her plate.

He used shared utensils to place a piece of ravioli on her plate and refilled her glass with warm water, actions so seamless they seemed second nature.

In the waiting area, two waitresses clasped each other's arms in excitement, practically bouncing with glee.

Completely unaware, Evelyn continued to eat heartily.

When she was finally full, she looked up to meet his amused gaze.

Only then did she notice that he had barely touched his meal.

"Why aren't you eating?" Evelyn asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Watching you eat is satisfying enough."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

His words seemed to imply…

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Everett spoke again.

"Miss Howard," he said, his gaze steady and intense, "how do you feel about me right now? Do you think I'm suitable for marriage?"

Evelyn's breath caught.

He remained seated, neither rushing nor pressuring her, yet she felt inexplicably tense.

"Mr. Scott, marriage is a big deal. Can I ask why you want to marry me?"

Everett folded his hands and replied frankly, "The family elders aren't in the best health, and their insistence on my marriage grows stronger each year. Plus, my niece Clover is very fond of you, so..."

Though Everett didn't finish, Evelyn understood.

She lowered her lashes, hesitating.

She did need a stable marriage to straighten out her current situation.

But…

At the school gates this afternoon, she had overheard some parents talking.

The Scotts of Manchester—a powerful family with unwavering influence. The family leader was a standout among the younger generation, known for sharp business acumen and commanding presence.

Such a man, wanting to marry, could easily have a line of socialites in Manchester to choose from.

Why come all the way to Manchester to find a primary school teacher with no background or connections?

With these thoughts, Evelyn looked up at Everett, her gaze clear. "Mr. Scott, thank you for telling me. But I'm afraid there's no one supporting me. This kind of marriage arrangement—I can’t afford to play around with."