Chapter 4

"Evelina......"

I slowly wheeled myself in, but after just a few steps, I was suddenly kicked to the ground.

"You changed your tune real quick, huh? Just the other day you were all lovey-dovey with someone else, and now that Miss Harrington's the heiress, you come crawling back shamelessly?"

"You haven't forgotten what you did to Miss Harrington before, have you?"

Evelina didn't say a word.

Countless people rushed to defend her past self.

I lay sprawled on the floor.

No one helped me up.

She stood at a distance, watching coldly.

"It's all just props for playing the victim, right? How shameless, even bringing out a wheelchair. You'll stop at nothing!"

"No, I'm paralyzed." I looked straight at Evelina. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes fixed only on the man beside her.

"Mr. Ashford, using illness to disguise your own despicable intentions is truly disgraceful."

Young Master Sterling spoke up disapprovingly.

Many people chimed in agreement.

Evelina seemed to glance at me only because of him. She said impatiently:

"Stop pretending, Ethan."

"I'm not pretending, Evelina......"

Listening to this form of address, her expression remained unchanged.

But I felt her face had turned frighteningly cold.

"I apologize, Mr. Ashford, but this is my fiancée. If you're in need of female company, you'd be better off looking elsewhere."

Young Master Sterling smiled faintly.

At that moment, Evelina's friend suddenly emerged from the crowd with a drink in hand, approaching me with an air of superiority:

"Everyone here knows what you're after. The fact that you can still stand here so calmly shows you must be truly desperate for a woman. Drink this, and I might just give you a chance."

I ignored her, keeping my gaze fixed on Evelina without wavering for even a second.

Her face remained expressionless as she took another sip of her drink.

"This bitch isn't even acknowledging people!"

Someone shouted, and then drink after drink was forced down my throat.

Countless hands gripped my mouth, forcing it open until it was almost deformed.

Red and white wines mixed as they poured in.

My stomach burned fiercely, seized by spasms.

Evelina stood in place, still not bothering to spare me a glance.

A wave of nausea surged to my head.

I vomited all over the floor.

The crowd dispersed in disgust.

I told myself to stop being so greedy.

Just leave this place now.

But I couldn't get back into my wheelchair.

I clearly caught the fleeting look of sympathy in Evelina's friend's eyes. She never once tried to force the alcohol on me.

I chose to reach out to her: "Please... help me."

Her expression suddenly turned confused, and she pointed at herself: "Me?"

I replied: "If you don't want to..."

She didn't seem to mind the vomit on my clothes and robotically helped me back into the wheelchair.

I took advantage of the moment to snatch the drink from her hand and down it in one gulp:

"Starting tonight, I'm sticking with you."

I figured saying that might make her willing to help me.

The scene fell eerily silent.

Everyone looked at Evelina.

I waved her over. She still had a dazed expression as she leaned down. I whispered a request:

"Could you do me another favor? I want to go to the sea..."

"Ethan."

Evelina's voice was cold and emotionless as she called my name.

I instantly felt a chill run down my spine.

I looked at her. Her eyes were no longer indifferent; they were filled with obvious hatred.

Young Master Sterling started to panic a bit, tugging at her sleeve, but she paid no attention.

No one at the scene dared to speak up.

The engagement party hadn't even officially begun yet.

And one of the main characters was already absent.

Everyone watched wide-eyed as Evelina scooped up my weakened form and carried me away.