Chapter 105: Someone Admired Him

Vanessa shoots a vicious look at Avery and then looks up admiringly at Evan.

"Mr. Howel, I'm Vanessa. I was lucky enough to visit your beautiful home recently, but I don't know if you still remember me."

Vanessa lies on the carpet, propping herself up with one hand. If Evan looks at her, he'll see all of her curves displayed to their best advantage.

"Sorry," Evan says without a single glance toward the seductive woman. He tosses the wet towel to Robert and smooths Avery's messy hair.

"We've brought her back home," he talks to Avery as if she's the only one in the room, "Shall we leave now?"

Upon hearing that Evan plans to leave, Anthony begins to panic.

"Mr. Howel, are you leaving so soon?" he asks worriedly.

Anthony has been looking forward to Evan's arrival. Ever since he learned that Evan would be visiting, he has been working to use his son-in-law's presence to his advantage. Though he's only had a few hours to prepare, he has been busy spreading the news and inviting important friends and business associates to a welcome party. He's eager to use his relationship with Evan to his advantage; if people see him with Evan it will immediately benefit the family business and fortune. If Mr. Howel isn't at the party, Anthony will be humiliated.

"Mr. Howel, can you please tell us what Avery did wrong?" Katherine asks "Why have you brought her back here?"

"Why have I brought her back here?" Evan asks, confusedly.

He finally looks away from Avery, raising his cold eyes to glare at Katherine. His glare makes Katherine uncomfortable, and she swallows nervously before speaking.

"I imagine it's to get a divorce," Katherine says.

Evan smiles coldly and threateningly, "Who says we're getting a divorce?"

Anthony glares at his wife.

"Mr. Howel and Avery love each other," he says, reprimanding his wife, "Why would you think they're getting a divorce?"

Then he turns to his daughter with a pleading look.

"Avery, you haven't been home for such a long time, and we've really missed you," he says, "You should stay with us for a few days. I've had the servants prepare your room, and I've planned a party for you."

Though Anthony's tone is pleading, she can see the warning in his eyes. She knows her father doesn't care about her; he just wants Evan to spend the night in his home. She even suspects that the party is just a ploy for Anthony to show off his relationship with the Howel family.

Avery smiles bitterly. She has been married to Evan for more than three years, and she has spent most of that time feeling incredibly homesick. Whenever Evan's grandmother punished her, she would steal a maid's phone and begged her father to allow her to come home. Anthony always mercilessly refused her requests.

"A married daughter is no longer a member of the family," he would say, "Why would I let you come back?"

Avery gives her father a meaningful look.

"A married daughter is no longer a member of the family," she says, "Why would I want to come back?"

Anthony recognizes his daughter's words, and his smile seems to freeze in place.

"A married daughter is still my daughter," he says with forced affection, "Avery, you haven't been home once in more than three years. I've missed you so much."

Avery's lowers her eyes in sudden confusion. Her father has ignored her since childhood, but for a moment she feels moved. After a lifetime of neglect, she has no idea what paternal and familial love looks like, and she wants to believe that her father really does care for her. She shakes her head as if to clear it.

"No, Gabrielle and Nanny are my only family," she thinks, "When I leave Evan, I'll take Gabrielle away from this place, but for now this is the safest option for her. It's far too dangerous to bring her to the Howel house with me. In the meantime, I need to make things as easy as possible for Gabrielle, and I should avoid antagonizing Anthony."

"I wish I could stay," Avery says politely, "But Mr. Howel is very busy."

Evan stares at her beautiful, delicate mouth and kisses her. The atmosphere in the small living room changes, and Avery's family looks away in embarrassment. Anthony feels the blood rush to his face and he coughs awkwardly. He is shocked that the relationship between Evan and Avery seems to have changed so much.

"I'll stay if you want me to," Evan says.

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His rough fingers gently trace her lips. His affection embarrasses Avery, and she looks away from him.

"Don't worry about it," Avery says, "You've fulfilled your promise to bring Gabrielle home. "

The Peters family suddenly seems to remember Gabrielle's existence. Painfully shy and self-effacing, Gabrielle subconsciously hides behind Robert, trying to avoid her family's attention. Katherine glares at Gabrielle as if she's a cockroach.

"Gabrielle? Why did you come back home with them?" Katherine asks accusingly, "Shouldn't you be interning at the hospital?"

Gabrielle tries to speak, but the words don't seem to come out of her throat. She looks helplessly at Avery in the hopes that her sister will aid her. Gabrielle doesn't know how to lie—her trembling voice and her blush always give her away.

"She was smart to avoid attention before," Avery thinks, "She's completely incapable of dealing with this situation."

"Evan and I were traveling, but our plane was forced to land because of the torrential rain," Avery says smoothly, "We knew Gabrielle was interning at the hospital, and I wanted to see her. She said she was homesick, so we brought her back with us."

Katherine casts a searching glance at Avery. Though Avery is a much better liar than her sister, Katherine knows that she's being dishonest. Only Katherine knows that Gabrielle never took the internship at the hospital. Though she was offered the prestigious position, Katherine forced her to give it up so her niece could have it instead. Gabrielle didn't dare to tell Anthony what Katherine had done, and it's clear to Katherine that she hasn't told Avery either.

"Since you're already here, you should stay for a few days," Anthony says, persuasively, "Besides, you and Gabrielle haven't been together for a long time. You used to be so close—I'm sure you want to catch up with each other."

Avery reaches into Evan's coat pocket. Her hand tickles against his side and he presses her hand through the outside of his pocket.

"What are you looking for?" he asks her.

"Your phone," she replies.

Evan takes out his cell phone and gives it to her without a moment of hesitation.

"There's no need for me to stay when Gabrielle and I can be in touch over the phone," Avery says, "Gabrielle, if for some reason you can't reach my phone contact your brother-in-law's number. If someone bullies you, you can call your brother-in-law."

Avery adds Gabrielle's number to Evan's phone and looks meaningfully at every member of her family. She hopes that Evan's involvement will protect her sister from the threats and torments of the rest of the family. Evan gives Avery a surprising look.

He suddenly takes a deep breath, "What did you tell Gabrielle to call me?"

"Brother-in-law," Avery answers, freeing herself from his grasp, "If you don't like it, then forget it."

Evan seizes Avery's hands and holds them tightly.

He turns to Gabrielle and asks, "What should you call me?"

Gabrielle looks confusedly between her sister and Evan.

"You should call Mr. Howel your brother-in-law," Robert prompts her.

Gabrielle seems to relax. She peers at Evan from behind Robert's back and looks shyly at Evan.

"Thank you, brother-in-law," she whispers.

Evan suddenly wears a joyful expression. He nods at Robert and the butler summons a bodyguard. The guard enters carrying an exquisitely wrapped box and passes it to Robert. Robert presents the box to Gabrielle. He opens it and reveals a small white porcelain watch embedded with a beautifully cut diamond. The watch perfectly matches Gabrielle's Chanel dress.

"Miss Peters, this is a gift for you in honor of our official introduction," Evan says.

Katherine and Vanessa inhale sharply. Evan has just given Gabrielle the most expensive Chanel watch.

"It's worth millions," they think in amazement, "A mere gift from Evan is worth millions!"

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