Chapter 2

Seeing me pick up the orange juice, Marcus's eyes lit up.

Probably thinking I was about to fall for his trap, he started sweet-talking again.

"Evelyn, I was too impatient just now. You're right -- relationships can't be forced."

"If we're not compatible, that's fine. We can part on good terms and stay friends."

My hand trembled, and the entire glass of orange juice spilled onto the table.

Marcus's face immediately turned green, staring speechlessly at the puddle of juice.

I set down the empty glass and picked up where he left off. "You're right, let's part on good terms."

Right in front of him, I pulled out my phone and called the matchmaker, Mrs. Wilson.

"Evelyn, are you setting a date? I knew Marcus was reliable! Your mom picked the right person!"

"Mrs. Wilson, this match won't work. Marcus and I aren't compatible."

Mrs. Wilson immediately turned hostile. "Not compatible? Evelyn, you're thirty years old -- what are you being picky about?! At this rate, you'll never get married. No one will want you --"

I hung up before she could finish.

Marcus watched this entire smooth operation, completely dumbfounded.

He wanted to lose his temper but couldn't -- after all, he'd just said we should part on good terms.

He glared at me hatefully, stood up, and slammed the door on his way out.

He clearly wouldn't let this go.

Sure enough, two days later at work, a colleague rushed over with news:

"Evelyn, you need to get downstairs! Someone's causing a scene at the company entrance, calling you out by name!"

I went downstairs to find Marcus, his mother, and Mrs. Wilson blocking the company's main entrance, surrounded by a crowd.

Marcus's mother sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing:

"Everyone come judge this for yourselves!"

"Evelyn dated my son for half a month, scammed him for meals, drinks, and jewelry -- conned my son out of over ten thousand dollars, then just walked away!"

"We're poor! His father died young, and I raised him alone as a widow. How are we supposed to survive?"

My colleagues whispered among themselves:

"Wow, I never would've guessed. Evelyn seems so honest and proper, but she's actually a gold digger?"

"Over ten thousand? That's way too much. She ate and ran?"

"So shameless. Don't let her ruin our company's reputation!"

Mrs. Wilson yanked me out of the crowd, playing the mediator:

"Evelyn, let me be fair here. Even if you don't want to date him anymore, Marcus spent so much money on you -- you should pay him back, right?"

"Marcus's family isn't well-off. He spent so much on you, and it's all documented! Clear as day!"

She seriously pulled out that same itemized list and shoved it into my arms.

"Just take pity on Mrs. Hayes. Pay her back. She raised Marcus all by herself -- how hard that must have been. Can you bear to watch her kneel here?"

Marcus walked over with a lovelorn expression:

"Evelyn, don't blame my mom. She's just heartbroken for me..."

"I genuinely like you. Can you give me another chance? I promise, all the money I earn will be yours to spend."

The onlookers gave me even more judgmental looks, shaking their heads.

The commotion grew too loud. Our director, Mr. Davis, walked over with a dark expression:

"Evelyn, I don't want to get involved in personal matters, but bringing this to the company is too disruptive. They've even brought an itemized list. Just pay them back quickly, or else the company can't keep you."

After the director spoke, I didn't panic at all. Instead, I smiled.