Charles didn''t even nce at Dahlia, just casually remarked, "Aiden''s outside. He can give you a lift home."


    Dahlia felt a wave of frustration building up inside. Was she really supposed to head back alone? Did Charles truly not get what she was hinting at, or was he just ying dumb? She clenched her fist, holding back her anger from Charles and shifting it towards Evelyn instead. If Evelyn hadn''t returned, things would be smooth sailing between her and Charles.


    In the crowd, Dahlia spotted a junior designer who soon, with a bit too much enthusiasm, started chatting with Evelyn. Right in front of Mabel, the designer couldn''t resist stirring the pot: "Evelyn, ever since you walked in, Mr. Jenkins hasn''t stopped eyeing you. His look is far from innocent. Spill it, what''s really going on between you two?"


    As soon as the words were out, Dahlia waited for Mabel to show her disdain for Evelyn and scrap any ns to work with her. Everyone knew Ms. Mabel was clear-cut about her likes and dislikes, and she absolutely detested homewreckers. Now that her rtionship with Charles was out in the open, if Mabel even got a whiff of something off between Evelyn and Charles...


    Just as Dahlia expected, when Mabel heard the designer''sment, her gaze shifted to Charles, and the smile faded from her lips. If Evelyn really had something going on with Charles, Mabel wouldn''t work with her, even if she wasn''t a fan of Dahlia.


    "Someone dead to me." Evelyn shot a look at the designer trying to stir the drama, not shying away from mentioning Charles. To her, Charles was just that— someone dead. "Hmm?" Mabel looked puzzled, so Evelyn, keeping her emotions in check, gave a light smile, "An ex should be dead to you, right?"


    "Well said." Mabel chuckled, warming up to Evelyn even more. She then shot a cold nce at the designer who had tried to mislead her, calling over the butler to escort them out. Dahlia''s face darkened even more.


    As Mabel and Evelyn resumed their conversation, a waiter suddenly stumbled, losing his footing and sending his tray of wine sses crashing to the floor. ss


    shattered right in front of Evelyn and Mabel Instinctively, Evelyn turned, shielding Mabel from the mess. Mabel, adorned in her elegant evening gown and as New York''s leading socialite, valued her reputation immensely. Any slip-up in such a public setting would surely make her the subject of gossip and ridicule-something she couldn''t bear.


    As Evelyn shielded her, shards of ss flew up, cutting into Evelyn''s leg, and blood started to seep out. The sight of that vivid red sent a shock through Charles, breaking the calm facade he''d been trying to maintain. Seeing her hurt, even a bit, tugged at his heart.


    He couldn''t hold back any longer, setting down his wine ss and striding over to Evelyn. "Evelyn, ah..." But before he could reach her, Dahlia''s frightened cry came from behind. In her panic over Evelyn''s injury, she seemed to forget her own limitations and tried to stand, only to topple right to the floor.


    Charles spun around just in time to see Dahlia falk from her wheelchair, her face drained of color. Her disability was always a tender spot for her. "Dahlia." Charles hurried back, gently lifting her off the ground, ready to settle her back into her wheelchair. But Dahlia clung to his neck, her head nestled against his shoulder, her voice trembling, "Charles, I don''t want to stay here any longer."