Just before the school day ended, Evelyn Howard got an unexpected call to a meeting. As she entered the room, she immediately felt something was off. Her colleagues shot her occasional glances, filled with a sense of anticipation, like they were waiting for a storm to hit.

Evelyn sat near the door, placing her lesson plans on her lap, eyes down to avoid meeting anyone's gaze. At the head of the table, Ms. Bennett wore a stern expression, all business. Once everyone was seated, she cleared her throat and surveyed the room, her eyes finally resting on Evelyn.

"We've convened this meeting to address an issue that needs to be handled openly," Ms. Bennettbegan, pausing for effect. "Evelyn, this afternoon, were you involved in an incident with a student in the office, causing them to cry?"

Evelyn looked up, her voice calm yet steady, "I wasn't."

Ms. Bennettfrowned. "There have been complaints that your personal matters are affecting your teaching, and that there was a conflict with a colleague in front of students. Even as a private institution, Westfield International School holds student welfare as paramount. Such behavior isn’t acceptable."

Evelyn got it instantly—someone had complained about her. She laid her lesson plans aside but kept her cool. "Actually, today in the office, some colleagues were gossiping about me. Clover Scott, a student, overheard and stood up for me. There was no disturbance in the teaching environment."

"Are you still denying it?" a sharp voice interrupted. It was Penny Silva. "Evelyn, don’t you feel guilty saying that? Cozying up to Clover's family, acting all friendly with her at the classroom door. What about the other students seeing your favoritism?"

"Enough!" Evelyn stood up, her gaze icy. "You all were gossiping in the office, and a seven-year-old heard your nasty comments—and you dare blame me?"

"Evelyn Howard, I've let things slide before, but my patience isn't infinite. Do you even know why I comforted Clover, or why she was upset?"

Penny was startled by Evelyn's anger, momentarily speechless. The room was thick with awkwardness—people busied themselves with their notebooks or found the ceiling suddenly interesting.

Regaining her composure, Penny retorted, "We’re discussing your bias toward students, Evelyn. Why bring up other issues? Isn’t it true what we’re saying about your actions? Are you completely unaware of what you’ve done?"

"I truly have no idea," Evelyn replied with a wry smile. "Could you enlighten me on these supposed actions?"

Frustrated by Evelyn's attitude, Penny crossed her arms with a smirk, "The internet’s full of rumors about you. The school hasn’t acted yet, so you’re lucky. And you still ask what you've done?"

Evelyn clenched her fists, meeting Penny’s gaze with determination. "If you keep spreading lies, I’ll take you down with my words."

Penny instinctively shrank back, then, realizing her embarrassment, her voice turned sharper, "Oh, now you’re threatening me? Everyone heard that, right? Some people are unhappy about my potential promotion—now they’re threatening me to disrupt my teaching. How can I work peacefully?"

A voice interjected, aiming to calm the situation. "Evelyn, maybe that wasn’t the best move. Perhaps a written apology to Penny would be wise."

"Yeah, just apologize. We’re all colleagues; let’s not waste time."

"Escalating this won’t do you any good."

Evelyn looked at them, feeling an overwhelming sense of irony. They all knew the truth, the real story behind the rumors, and Penny’s deceit. Yet none cared; they just wanted to be on the perceived "right" side.

In that moment, Evelyn found it utterly absurd. She slowly rose, her gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Why should I apologize?" Her voice was soft, yet it commanded attention. "Because you got caught gossiping? Or because I defended myself in front of a child?"

She turned back to Penny. "Penny Silva, do you truly think you’ve reached your position without any dirty tricks? Don’t treat everyone else like fools."

Penny's face turned bright red in sudden embarrassment.

The principal, Aurora Bennett, suddenly banged the table to restore order. "What’s all this racket? You’re educators, act like it!"

Her stern gaze landed on Evelyn. "Ms. Howard, ultimately, your actions have caused widespread dissatisfaction. Let’s not drag this out, just apologize and make peace so we can all work in harmony."

Evelyn met his eyes. "Principal, do you honestly believe this is my fault?"

Ms. Bennett expression was unreadable for a moment. Then, she sighed and said, "Evelyn, with your current attitude, you’re not suitable to continue teaching. If you refuse to apologize, I have no choice but to place you on temporary leave."

She averted her gaze, "Westfield values hard work and fair reward. While you’re on leave, your salary will naturally be on hold."

Evelyn gripped her hands tighter, feeling the gravity of her situation. The truth was, her suspension was just a convenient way for the school to avoid crossing Owen Morgan, a major shareholder linked to the private institution.

But what could she do? Her sister was still in the hospital, and the medical bills piled up astronomically each month. She couldn't afford to lose her job.

Taking a deep breath, she was about to speak when—

"Who’s talking about suspending Ms. Howard?"

The door to the meeting room swung open, and everyone turned to look.

Principal Lee stood there, and the room fell silent in surprise as he entered. "Principal Lee? What brings you here?" Ms. Bennet tstammered, caught off guard.

Ignoring her, Principal Lee walked into the room and placed some documents on the table. "Ms. Bennet, before you discuss suspending Ms. Howard, you might want to look at this."

A flicker of panic crossed Ms. Bennet’s face. "Principal, what is this..."

He fixed her with a sharp look. "It’s the surveillance footage from the office this afternoon. Ms. Bennet, did you verify the situation when you received a complaint?"

"You didn’t," Mr. Lee answered for her. "You immediately called a meeting to address Evelyn."

He closed the folder, his voice turning cold. "Ms. Bennett, have you forgotten Westfield’s guiding principles? Prejudice and injustice in decision-making—looks like I need to reevaluate your position as head of the grade."

Ms. Bennettopened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Normally, Mr. Lee was too busy to get involved with school matters. Why was he suddenly here, supporting Evelyn Howard?

Dismissing her, Principal Lee turned to Penny. "Penny Silva, in your four years here, your teaching capabilities have been average at best, but you seem adept at office politics. Starting today, your promotion is on hold, and you’re disqualified from any awards this semester. If I hear about your gossiping again, you’re out."

Penny’s face turned ashen, her confidence thoroughly deflated. "Principal, I..."

He cut her off with a wave of his hand, his gaze stern. "I’m not interested in your excuses. Apologize to Ms. Howard now."

Reluctantly, Penny’s voice, now barely above a whisper, offered, "Ms. Howard, I apologize..."

Ms. Bennettalso bowed her head, swallowing her pride. "Ms. Howard, I didn’t verify the details... I'm sorry."

Evelyn stood there, having waited a long time to hear these words. Yet, as they reached her ears, there was no sense of triumph, only an inexplicable weariness.

Seeing Evelyn's silence, Principal Lee dismissed the meeting. "Alright, that's enough. Meeting adjourned."

Afterward, the others trickled out of the room, casting careful glances as they passed. Principal Lee approached Evelyn with a kind smile, "Ms. Howard, I apologize for the trouble you went through today."

"No need, thank you," Evelyn replied, genuine gratitude in her voice.

Principal Lee waved off her thanks. "No need to thank me. I was just following instructions. Someone is still waiting for you outside."

Following instructions? Evelyn felt a flutter of suspicion but managed a nod of thanks, quickly leaving the administration building.

As she reached the front doors, her pace slowed. By a pillar stood a man, clad in a black coat, the fading light of evening casting a soft glow over his silhouette.

He appeared lost in thought, yet there was a palpable presence as he waited. At the sound of her footsteps, he looked up, and their eyes met.

Her heart skipped a beat. It was him—Everett Scott.

Everett Scott's car was parked right at the entrance of the school, and Clover Scott had already been picked up by the family driver. Evelyn Howard hesitated for a moment but eventually got into the car.

As the car navigated through traffic, there was a moment of silence inside. "Everett," Evelyn began, unable to hold back as she watched the scenery fly by outside the window. "If I marry you, will I still be able to continue teaching at Wilde International School?"

Everett, with one hand on the steering wheel and his eyes on the road ahead, turned his head to glance at her. He replied sincerely, "Of course you can. You can do what makes you happy. Our marriage won't be a restriction for you."

Evelyn fidgeted with her fingers, uncertain, and spoke again, "What if I choose to marry you just to get out of my current situation? As you've seen, because of Owen Morgan, my work and life are a mess. Would you mind that?"

The car stopped at a red light. Everett turned to her, his gaze calm and reassuring, and said seriously, "There was no emotional foundation between us before. My intention for marrying you isn't purely selfless either. If this marriage can assist you, think of it as a fresh start to embrace a better life."

Evelyn looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words. Everett tapped the steering wheel lightly and said with sincerity, "Evelyn, I keep my promises. You need support, and I can be that for you. As for anything else, I won't force you if you don't want it."

The light turned green. He returned his gaze to the road and restarted the car. "Take your time to think it over. There's no rush."

Evelyn leaned back in her seat, watching the city skyline retreat through the window. Her tangled thoughts began to calm. She thought of Owen Morgan's threats, the duplicitous nature of her colleague Rainie, the suspension crisis, and the principal's support. What seemed like a disaster to her was just a small matter Everett could settle with a word.

As her colleague Adaline had pointed out, if she were in a stable marriage, others would hesitate to attack her personal life with rumors.

She couldn't let her past, where she'd had unrealistic dreams about him, stop her now, could she? Evelyn took a deep breath, turned to Everett, and said, "Everett."

"Hmm?"

"I've made up my mind."

Everett switched on the emergency lights and slowly pulled over to the side of the road, his intense gaze fixed on her face. Meeting his eyes, Evelyn stated firmly, "I agree to marry you. You don't need to worry—I won't cling to you. If you change your mind and want a divorce in the future, I'll agree without any fuss."

The car was silent. Evelyn saw the corner of Everett's lips curve slightly, not much, but it was indeed a smile. "Okay," he said.

Just one word. Yet Evelyn suddenly felt as if she'd made the right choice.

The next day, the rumors about Evelyn at school sharply decreased. Even the usually arrogant Rainie vacated Evelyn's desk without a fuss. During lunch break, Evelyn received a bouquet of vibrant roses without a signature. There was only a card saying, "Do well at work, and I'll pick you up after to get our marriage license."

Looking at the handwriting, Evelyn smiled. Perhaps all of this wasn't so bad after all. In just one day, her colleagues seemed to sense a subtle change in the air. Penny's defeat was evident, and Evelyn seemed to be thriving. Someone had even sent her flowers with a grand gesture.

When curious coworkers asked, Evelyn, didn't hide it. "They're from my fiancé," she said casually. Her words caused quite a stir in the office. However, she had no intention of satisfying their curiosity further. With no classes scheduled for the afternoon, she left early with her bouquet.

As Evelyn exited the elevator, she called Everett Scott. After hanging up, she inhaled the scent of the roses in her arms, a bright smile blossoming on her face.

It was truly a beautiful day—clear skies and a gentle breeze—perfect for getting the marriage license. As she enjoyed the moment, an unexpected visitor approached. It was Owen Morgan's assistant, Jake Nash.

"Miss Howard, our boss would like to invite you to dinner." Evelyn's expression cooled. "No thanks. I might feel sick just looking at his face."

Jake Nash showed no sign of offense. Instead, he glanced at the roses she was holding and said, with a hint of implication, "Alright, I'll report back to him as you wish."

"Do what you like, you sycophant," Evelyn muttered, rolling her eyes and walking past him without a second look.

Jake turned to watch her retreating figure and calmly said, "Miss Howard, our boss has also invited Dr. Jensen Romero."

Evelyn stopped abruptly. Dr. Romero was her sister's primary physician. Taking a deep breath, she stiffened her face. "Lead the way."

Jake Nash's face broke into an appropriately subtle smile as he gestured, "After you."

In the car, Evelyn stared at her chat window with Everett Scott for a long time before hesitantly typing out a message.

"Everett, I'm sorry, but I can't go get the license with you today."

Though she was the one who agreed to the marriage, she felt deeply guilty about bailing on their agreement to obtain the license. But she had no choice. Her sister's condition was rare, and Dr. Romero's team in Manchester was crucial to her recovery. She couldn't let Owen Morgan jeopardize that.

As soon as she sent the message, Evelyn received a call from Everett. "Is there any trouble? Do you need my help?" His steady and resonant voice was filled with an all-encompassing sense of security.

Evelyn's worried heart settled a little. She laughed softly, "No, I can handle it."

"Alright, stay safe."

Everett hung up, watching the business sedan drive further away. He pressed down on the gas, following discreetly.

At the restaurant, Evelyn pushed open the private room door just in time to see Dr. Romero shaking hands with Owen Morgan, his face alight with excitement and gratitude. "Mr. Morgan, your ambition is impressive. On behalf of everyone, thank you and best wishes for your continued success."

It seemed like they were having a lively conversation. Evelyn's unease grew as she called out, "Dr. Romero..."

"Ah, Miss Howard," Dr. Romero turned, acknowledging her with a nod before picking up his briefcase from the chair. He addressed Owen with polite formality, "Since your guest has arrived, I won't intrude further. I'll await your good news."

Owen nodded with arrogant grace and gestured for Jake. "See Dr. Romero out."

"Dr. Romero, my sister..." Evelyn attempted to speak with him, but he acted as if he didn't hear her, leaving without turning back.

Evelyn turned to face Owen, seated at the head of the table, her eyes as cold as a knife. "What did you do, Owen?"

Owen Morgan sipped his coffee slowly, the soft light accentuating the sharp contours of his face. Evelyn Howard glared at him, eyes blazing with indignation. He leisurely swirled the coffee cup in his hand, saying, "I haven't done much, really. Just helped Dr. Jensen Romero achieve his dream of studying abroad and promised to fund all his research expenses going forward."

Evelyn’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You want Dr. Romero to go abroad? What about my sister?"

Owen raised an eyebrow, smirking as he placed the sturdy coffee cup heavily on the table, his voice laced with sarcasm. "What's your sister got to do with me? You're so noble, so impressive; why don't you just find another leading doctor for her? Is it wrong for me to sponsor someone out of goodwill?"

Her whole body trembled with fury as she glared at him insolently. Owen had cornered her, knowing she lacked the connections and resources to find anyone better than Dr. Jensen Romero.

Owen’s gaze traveled over Evelyn with a suggestive glance, assessing her from head to toe. "Evelyn, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Just say the word, and I can bring in top experts from New York to make sure your sister gets treated."

As he spoke, his gaze fixated on her smooth, fair legs, and his hand inched closer to them. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through Evelyn, prompting a violent shudder.

Her temper finally snapped, and she grabbed the coffeepot from the table, swinging it fiercely at his head. "You jerk, get lost!"

She’d had enough! From the moment she accidentally ran into Owen three months ago and started being hassled by him, she'd been holding back this anger. Now it burst free.

Thick blood trickled down from Owen's head as he let out a faint curse, his eyes filled with malice. "You dare hit me, Evelyn? Have I been too kind to you?"

Evelyn took a step back, her chin raised defiantly. "You've gone too far. You can pester me all you want, but my sister means everything to me. If you dare harm her, I'll drag you to hell with me!"

She appeared calm on the surface, but her hands were shaking so much she could hardly lift them. The bright red of Owen's head wound made her feel faint.

"You ungrateful wretch. Do you honestly think I care about the lives of you and your sister?" Owen snarled. "The game’s over, Evelyn. Today, no one can save you."

Ignoring his bleeding wound, Owen lunged to grab Evelyn. In a panic, she shoved the chair at him and sprinted for the door.

Owen tripped over the chair, sprawling clumsily on the floor. Before he could react, the smoke alarm blared overhead, releasing a cascade of water that drenched him.

Cursing under his breath, he got to his feet, drenched and furious, as Evelyn shouted out. "Somebody, help! Mr. Morgan has fainted, quick, come in..."

The bodyguards stationed outside heard the cries and burst into the private room immediately. "Mr. Morgan, are you alright?"

Taking advantage of the chaos, Evelyn dashed for the exit. Owen wiped the water off his face, shouting angrily, "Idiots! Get her back!"

The sound of footsteps behind her sent a surge of terror through Evelyn. She couldn’t let them catch her!

In her desperate flight, she collided with a warm, protective figure. "Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked, and Evelyn looked up.

She found herself enveloped in Everett Scott's embrace, his arm securely around her waist, casting a steely gaze at the approaching bodyguards. Evelyn clung to Everett's arm, her voice trembling, "Mr. Scott..."

"It’s okay," Everett assured her softly.

In the next moment, he scooped Evelyn up in his arms, glaring at the bodyguards with icy authority. "If you want to keep your jobs, back off."

Intimidated by his commanding presence, the bodyguards could only watch helplessly as he carried Evelyn into an elevator. As the elevator descended, they hesitated, unsure whether to pursue them. Moments later, Owen emerged.

Clutching his wounded forehead, he kicked one of the bodyguards in frustration. "Where is she?"

"She... she got away with someone," one stammered.

"Who?" Owen demanded.

"I don’t know," came the muttered response.

"Useless!" Owen seethed, his headache intensifying. Seeing the elevator had reached the ground floor, he knew it was too late to catch them now. Just then, the restaurant manager appeared, drawn by the commotion in the private room.

"Mr. Morgan, oh my, what happened?" the manager exclaimed.

Seething with suppressed fury, Owen barked, "Get the surveillance footage. I want to know who had the guts to snatch her away from me!"

In the surveillance room, as the manager squirmed under Owen's glare, the screen showed only static. "Mr. Morgan, it seems the cameras malfunctioned today. We didn’t capture the hallway, and the smoke alarm's issue is still under investigation."

Owen kicked the wall in frustration, everything going wrong. Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Everett had already helped Evelyn into his car.

As the events replayed in her mind, Evelyn felt waves of relief mixed with fear, curling up like a frightened rabbit. Sitting beside her, Everett asked with concern, "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine..." Evelyn shook her head, clutching his arm tightly as if it were her lifeline. "I... I injured Owen. Could I go to jail for this?"

Her stunningly beautiful face was pale, combining fragility with resilience—strength born from adversity.

Everett gently patted her back to calm her. "No, you won’t."

"That's a relief." Evelyn exhaled, a timid smile appearing. Hitting Owen had been satisfying. But as she thought of her sister still in the hospital, her spirits fell again.

"So, Mr. Scott, are you still willing to marry me? The registry office should still be open."

Everett looked at her. She was terrible at hiding her emotions—her fiddling fingers as good as confessing: I’m sorry, I need to use you.

Without hesitation, Everett replied, "Yes, let’s go get the marriage license now."

Half an hour later, they emerged from the registry office. Everett opened the car door and moved to the driver's seat. Evelyn, holding the marriage certificate, glanced at Everett’s faintly smiling picture. Her own expression beside him was somewhat stiff.

Her heart beat wildly. "Regrets?" Everett's voice sounded in her ear.

"No," she replied, sliding the certificate into her bag. "It's just that..."

She didn’t finish before her phone rang. The caller ID displayed Owen's name. Evelyn’s fingers froze for a moment. Everett took a quick glance but said nothing, simply stepping aside to give her space.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn answered the call.