As expected, the word "girlfriend" struck a nerve with Joanna Sullivan.

Her smile, on that charming and beautiful face, looked somewhat twisted. "You really know how to flatter yourself, don’t you? Girlfriend? You think just because Mason took the family punishment for you, you’re his girlfriend? So naive! Besides a few people in the Lawson Family, who else even knows about your relationship?"

Eve Vaughn wondered if Joanna Sullivan had shown up so late at night just to have a meltdown and provoke her by bringing up sensitive topics.

’The woman is clearly trying to drive a wedge between me and Mason Lawson.’

’But I’m not falling for it!’

So, Eve Vaughn smiled and said, "Miss Sullivan, you probably didn’t get to see how Mr. Lawson went full-on protective boyfriend to shield me that day! I don’t care what anyone else thinks. As long as Mr. Lawson sees me as his girlfriend, that’s all that matters!"

Joanna Sullivan flexed her fingers. ’This little brat really knows how to get under your skin.’

’But she wasn’t a pushover, either. She had clawed her way up from an unknown dancer to a world-class artist. She wasn’t about to be defeated by some little girl!’

Just when Eve Vaughn thought she had humiliated Joanna Sullivan enough to make her leave, the woman suddenly started walking upstairs.

"Joanna Sullivan, what are you doing?"

Eve Vaughn was startled and snapped at her, "If you take one more step up, I’m calling the police for trespassing!"

Joanna Sullivan stopped, a smirk playing on her lips. "I’m here to get some clothes for Mason. I expect we’ll be at the hospital together looking after my aunt for the next couple of days, so he’ll need a few changes of clothes. He’s a stickler for cleanliness and never wears the same thing two days in a row."

In that instant, Eve Vaughn’s confidence and momentum finally faltered.

Her heart constricted painfully.

’Even though I know Joanna Sullivan’s words are a power play, meant to show off how well she knows Mason Lawson... ’

’...I’m still hurt.’

’Because I don’t want my boyfriend spending the night with a woman who is coveting him. Even if it’s at a hospital, I feel it’s wrong.’

’But Joanna Sullivan has a legitimate reason, and she has The Third Madam backing her up. What right do I have to stop her?’

And so, she could only watch helplessly as Joanna Sullivan navigated her way to the master bedroom with practiced ease, opened the closet, and picked out a few of Mason Lawson’s outfits to take with her.

Eve Vaughn didn’t say another word, not even after Joanna Sullivan came back downstairs with the clothes.

’Given how familiar Joanna Sullivan is with this house, she must have come here often when she was with Mason Lawson, right?’

’Was Mason Lawson as gentle with Joanna Sullivan back then as he is with me now?’

’And... in that bed... had they done the same things Mason Lawson did with me last night?’

At the thought, Eve Vaughn’s chest felt tight, as if stuffed with cotton, making it hard to breathe.

Later, as Joanna Sullivan reached the door with the clothes, she suddenly turned back, a smirk on her face. "I’m afraid your future is to be a canary in a gilded cage, kept here by Mason. The Lawson Family will never accept you. All of Mason’s relatives are part of the Lawson Family, and even if he had a little fallout with them for your sake that day, what about now? Isn’t he at the hospital, personally taking care of his mother? And you, Eve Vaughn, are destined to be a secret that can’t see the light of day! You won’t be acknowledged by the Lawson family, and Mason will never be able to bring you out in public. If you don’t believe me, just you wait and see!"

With that, Joanna Sullivan swept out.

Eve Vaughn tried to steady her breathing, fighting back the stinging in her eyes. She told herself that Joanna Sullivan was just jealous.

’I will not let a few words from Joanna Sullivan ruin my mood, and I definitely won’t misunderstand Mason Lawson.’

’So what if he’s taking care of The Third Madam with Joanna Sullivan? That doesn’t mean anything.’

’It’s all just that woman’s wishful thinking.’

’If I fall for her tricks, then I’d be the real fool!’

Although Eve Vaughn repeated these reassurances to herself over and over, trying to convince herself...

...she suffered from insomnia that night, tossing and turning in bed.

...

The next day, Eve Vaughn was completely distracted during her classes.

She went through the day in a daze. After class that evening, she hesitated for a long time before finally sending a message to Mason Lawson.

"Mr. Lawson, are you coming home tonight?"

But she quickly unsent it right after.

’After all, Joanna Sullivan took several sets of clothes for him last night. He probably won’t be back for a few days.’

But unexpectedly, even though she had unsent it so quickly, Mason Lawson had still seen it.

"I won’t be coming back. I’ll be at the hospital for the next few days. Be good and eat your meals on time."

Staring at the message, Eve Vaughn felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Joanna Sullivan’s words from yesterday suddenly flashed through her mind—that she was just a canary kept by Mason Lawson.

She replied with a single word: "Okay."

After that, no more messages came from him.

Eve Vaughn stared blankly at her phone for a long time. She wanted to tell him that she missed him.

She also wanted to tell him that she knew he was with Joanna Sullivan taking care of The Third Madam, and that she was jealous.

But in the end, she said nothing at all.

’Men probably don’t like jealous, possessive girls, right? Especially Mason Lawson. His own injuries have just healed, and now he’s busy taking care of The Third Madam.’

’I should be understanding.’

’Not get jealous or start a fight and annoy him.’

Three days passed, and she still hadn’t seen Mason Lawson.

During that time, Mason Lawson had called her twice, asking if she was eating properly and things like that.

After a few brief words of reassurance, he hung up without mentioning The Third Madam’s current condition.

Eve Vaughn realized that there were many people and things Mason Lawson cared about, but she couldn’t seem to fit into that world, and he wasn’t making any effort to let her in.

Her anxiety and apprehension grew stronger.

’Will he give up on me because of his family’s pressure?’

Right now, Eve Vaughn just wanted to see Mason Lawson, and for him to see her.

And so, after her classes ended, she hailed a cab and went straight to Evergreen Hospital.

Standing beneath the inpatient building, she hesitated for a long time, deciding to call Mason Lawson first.

’I only came here to see Mason Lawson.’

’After all, The Third Madam despises me. I can’t just show up in front of her and cause trouble for Mason Lawson.’

She had just taken out her phone when, unexpectedly, Julian Lawson walked out of the inpatient building.

Eve Vaughn tried to avoid him, but it was clear he had already spotted her.

"What are you doing here?" Julian Lawson closed the distance in a few quick strides. "Don’t tell me you’re here to see The Third Madam?"

This was the first time Eve Vaughn and Julian Lawson had seen each other since the day Mason Lawson faced the family’s discipline.

’I will never forget how this spineless man threw me to the wolves while he cowered in his shell.’

Naturally, Eve Vaughn wasn’t about to give him a warm reception. She said coldly, "None of your business. Move."

Julian Lawson continued to block her path. "You’ll only be humiliating yourself if you go over there now. Joanna Sullivan and Mason Lawson are taking care of The Third Madam together. They really look like a family. I told you before, my little uncle is very ambitious. There’s no way he’d give up the Lawson family. Don’t think you can become my little aunt just because he took a whipping for you and talked back to Old Mr. Lawson."

A pang of pain shot through Eve Vaughn’s heart, but she didn’t let a trace of sadness show on her face. She would not let Julian Lawson look down on her.

She sized him up with a contemptuous gaze. "So what? Isn’t it a good thing for a man to be a little ambitious? At least when your grandfather was about to use family discipline on me, Mr. Lawson was the one who stood up and protected me. That alone makes him a hundred times better than some coward who hides in his shell!"

After saying her piece, she lost all interest in seeing Mason Lawson and turned to leave the way she came.

’Even though I talked tough and retorted just now, the successive blows from Joanna Sullivan and Julian Lawson have made me realize that the chances of anything happening between me and Mason Lawson are very slim.’

’The only thing I have is Mason Lawson’s affection for me at this moment.’

’Other than that, I have no leverage at all.’

Just as she was passing a small grove in the hospital’s back garden, Julian Lawson chased after her and suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Julian Lawson, are you insane?! Let me go!"

Eve Vaughn instinctively tried to elbow him, desperately wanting to give him a shoulder throw.

But a woman’s strength is no match for a man’s; the disparity was just too great.

Even though Julian Lawson wasn’t particularly burly, he held her so tightly that she couldn’t break free.

Eve Vaughn roared in fury and desperation, "If you don’t stop, I’m going to scream for help!"

It was already dark, and this area was quiet, with only a few people milling about.

However, if she screamed, someone would surely hear her.

But Julian Lawson’s threatening voice sounded in her ear. "Go ahead, scream! Get everyone over here. And while you’re at it, get Old Mr. Lawson involved. Let him see how his son and his grandson are driven mad over the same woman!"

Eve Vaughn was about to die from anger. She knew Julian Lawson was using Old Mr. Lawson as a shield, but she had already brought such a disaster upon Mason Lawson last time.

’This time, I absolutely cannot cause him any more trouble.’

So, she suppressed her rage and gritted her teeth. "What do you want? Julian Lawson, if you dare touch me, Mason Lawson will not let you off the hook! You should know what your little uncle is capable of."

As expected, Julian Lawson stiffened slightly before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. "In your heart, am I so much worse than him?"

Eve Vaughn had to be patient. "Can you let me go first? If you let me go, I’ll answer your question."

But Julian Lawson didn’t release her, saying helplessly like a lost child, "No. If I let you go, you’ll run away."

Eve Vaughn ground her teeth and enunciated each word clearly, "Yes. In my heart, you don’t even come close to Mason Lawson! To this day, I’m still asking myself why I ever liked you so much in the first place."

"But back then, I almost broke off with my parents for you," Julian Lawson’s voice grew somber, a hint of a sob in it. "Evie, I once fought with my mom and was forced by my dad to kneel in the ancestral hall until my knees were raw, all just to be with you. You know that!"

Eve Vaughn fell silent. She did know. That was why she had donated part of her liver to him without a second thought.

’I should just tell this fool the whole truth right now.’

’Save him from being deceived even further by Charlotte Vaughn, to the point of ruining his own marriage.’

But just as she was about to speak, Julian Lawson continued, "I was so reckless for your sake back then. And you? How did you repay me? When I was gravely ill, you left without a backward glance. When I woke up, you were the first person I wanted to see. But you... you had already abandoned me! Eve Vaughn, how can you still blame me?"

After he finished, Eve Vaughn realized she had almost been a fool again, almost softened.

’This kind of man, a self-righteous mama’s boy who has zero trust in me... why am I even worried about his unhappy marriage?’

Eve Vaughn nodded calmly. "Alright, I get it. I’m sorry, Julian Lawson, okay? Now let me go. If someone sees us struggling like this, you’ll be in trouble too. After all, you’re about to get married. Your grandfather cares so much about the Lawson family’s reputation. If you disgrace the Lawson name, you probably won’t escape the family discipline either."

"I don’t care anymore!"

For some reason, Julian Lawson suddenly found his nerve, saying excitedly, "That day, I was so filled with hate! Why was the one who stood up my little uncle, while I hid behind my parents! I regret it so much. I never thought he would be the one to step forward!"

Eve Vaughn finally understood. This creature, Julian Lawson, was truly pathetic.

’He didn’t regret throwing her under the bus that day at all. He was just angry that something he thought no one else would want after he discarded it was now being held in another’s palm and treated like a precious treasure.’

’And that made him furious!’

’This wasn’t regret at all, just a man’s possessiveness acting up.’

"You and my little uncle will never work out! Otherwise, he could have just taken you to get a marriage certificate, acting first and reporting it later. It’s been so long, and all he’s done is take a few lashes for you when Grandfather was going to punish you. How could you mistake that for love?"

Julian Lawson put on a deeply affectionate act, burying his head in her shoulder. "Evie, let the past be the past. Let’s get back together, okay? I’m willing to tell Grandfather that I can repay Charlotte’s kindness to me in other ways, but I want to marry you! I’ll even take the whipping, I’ll accept it! But... I have the guts to marry you. Has Mason Lawson ever once said he wants to marry you?"

Eve Vaughn’s gaze was completely placid, her eyes icy cold. "Really?" she asked.

Julian Lawson thought he had swayed her. He quickly let go and turned her around to face him. "Of course, it’s true! I..."

Before he could finish, a slap from Eve Vaughn landed squarely on his face. "Julian Lawson, does it hurt? Good, it should. Let that be a reminder that while it may be dark out, it’s not time for you to be dreaming yet!"

With that, she took off in the opposite direction, afraid the psycho would catch up to her and spout more nonsense.

On the way home from the hospital, Eve Vaughn’s mind was still in turmoil, unable to calm down.

’I originally thought that since Mason Lawson had taken the family punishment for me and acknowledged our relationship in front of Old Mr. Lawson, we could finally be together openly.’

’That soon, after I graduated, we would get married.’

’If he didn’t love me so much, why would he have endured such pain for me?’

’But I don’t know if Mason Lawson judges our relationship by the same standards I do.’

’Does he plan to spend the rest of his life with me?’

However, she thought about it the entire way home and couldn’t come to any conclusion.

"Driver, I... I’m not going to The Sovereign Pearl anymore. Could you please take me to Rivaster University instead? Thank you."

Eve Vaughn felt conflicted. ’A home without Mason Lawson isn’t a home at all.’

So, she returned to her dorm room.

She had expected Aria and the others to be surprised to see her back.

But for some reason, everyone was looking at her with a strange, hesitant expression.

"Aria... what’s wrong?" Eve Vaughn asked, confused. "Is there something you want to say to me?"

Aria started to speak, then hesitated, unsure what to say. Instead, she just took out her phone and showed her a webpage.

"Evie, is this you?" Aria asked, looking at the GIF. "Isn’t this the guy who was yelling for you outside our dorm last time? He... he’s The Lawson’s Eldest Grandson?"

When Eve Vaughn saw the post—which had already been shared over 100,000 times in just half an hour—her mind went blank, a loud buzzing in her ears.

Who could have done this?

Someone had taken a video of her and Julian Lawson tonight.

The GIF showed Julian Lawson hugging her from behind, making them look just like a real couple.

The post’s caption read: "The Lawson’s Eldest Grandson’s Wedding Nears, Has Tryst with Rivaster University Student."

Just then, Regina Shaw, who was standing nearby, said, "It’s at half a million shares now, five times what it was. Eve Vaughn, if I were you, I wouldn’t dare come back to school. Are you just going to wait for everyone to start talking behind your back?"

The words were blunt and harsh, but though they were unpleasant, they held no mockery or sarcasm.

But Eve Vaughn didn’t hear her.

’Right now, what I’m most afraid of is that Mason Lawson has seen this post.’

’If he saw it...’

Eve Vaughn’s heart sank. She immediately ran out and called Mason Lawson.

’I don’t care if everyone else questions me or misunderstands me.’

’But I’m afraid that he, like all the people cursing me in the comments, will think I’m a bad girl.’