Chapter 54

Evelyn could tolerate insults directed at herself, but she would never stand for anyone speaking ill of Nathaniel or Margaret.

Penelope screamed, "Have you lost your damn mind, Evelyn? I swear I'm filing a complaint against you!"

Just then, Jonathan arrived, drawn by the commotion. Penelope immediately shrieked, "Are you the manager here? I want to report this ungrateful wench!"

Evelyn set down her tools and met Jonathan's gaze. "I'm sorry about this, Jonathan. Maybe I'm not the right fit for your studio after all."

She refused to drag Jonathan and his team into her mess.

"Hold on. You're not the one who needs to leave." Jonathan turned a cold stare toward Penelope and Beatrice. "I'll have to ask you both to get out. This isn't a playground for spoiled socialites. We earn our keep through hard work and integrity. We don't need your patronage."

Evelyn hadn’t expected Jonathan to defend her. Furious, Penelope and Beatrice hurled a few more curses before storming off.

Cassandra frowned at the scene. She hadn’t anticipated Jonathan taking Evelyn’s side either. It infuriated her.

Once the two women were gone, Evelyn faced Jonathan again. "I'm really sorry about that."

"Don’t be. They were clearly here to provoke you. Forget about them and focus on your work," Jonathan reassured her.

Evelyn nodded. If Jonathan believed in her, she wouldn’t let him down.

Back at home, Penelope and Beatrice changed out of their soaked clothes. Still seething, Beatrice called Nathaniel to complain. "You should have seen Evelyn’s behavior, Nathaniel! We went to offer her a job, and she demanded a hundred million dollars before dumping water on us! She’s completely unhinged!"

Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. "Which studio did you visit?"

"Some no-name place at the creative hub. You have to do something, Nathaniel! How dare she treat me like this? Just because she won some insignificant competition doesn’t give her the right to act like a tyrant!"

Nathaniel barely registered the rest of her rant. After hanging up, he turned to Robert. "Find another interior designer for the house renovations."

"Right away, sir." Robert wasn’t surprised—they’d already cycled through multiple designers.

Nathaniel paused. "Actually, make sure it’s a studio from the creative hub."

"You’ve never trusted small studios before, Mr. Whitmore," Robert pointed out.

"Just do it." Nathaniel loosened his tie irritably. Ever since Evelyn left and Gregory redecorated, nothing in the house felt right. No designer had managed to capture what he wanted.

Now, he had to admit—Evelyn had a real talent for this.

When Evelyn returned home that evening, she found Walter and Beverly causing trouble again. Walter’s leg was still in a cast, but that didn’t stop them.

Beverly was screeching at Margaret in the living room. "Hand over the money! Evelyn’s family must have paid you a fortune, but we raised her! That money belongs to us!"

Evelyn stepped inside. "Let’s be clear—even if Aunt Margaret received a single penny, I’d burn it before letting you touch it."

She marched to the kitchen, grabbed the freshly boiled kettle, and returned. "Are you leaving, or should I give you a hot bath right here?"

Beverly flinched at the steaming kettle. She and Walter scrambled out, hurling insults. "You ungrateful brat! Just you wait!"

Once they were gone, Evelyn turned to Margaret. "It’s okay now, Aunt Margaret. I’ll always protect you."

Margaret wiped her tears. "You’ve always been such a good girl, Evelyn. So kind to those who’ve shown you love."

Evelyn comforted her. The next day at work, she received an online order specifically requesting her design services.

She checked the address—and froze.

Wasn’t this the home she’d lived in for three years?