Chapter 165

Grace Anderson froze. "Peter is older than Evelyn. That's nearly a ten-year gap between him and Emily..."

Auntie Lucy gave a knowing smile. "Maybe he's been waiting for Emily to grow up all along. Come in and sit down. Peter, don't just stand there—help Grace and the girls to their seats."

Peter Harrison, who had been walking behind Andrew Anderson, quickly stepped forward and pulled out a chair. "Grace, please sit here."

Grace's expression was complicated. "Ah... alright."

"Evelyn, this seat." Peter gestured to the chair beside her.

The moment Evelyn sat down, she heard her mother whisper, "Sweetheart, what Auntie Lucy just said—"

"It's exactly what you're thinking."

Grace frowned at her younger daughter. Emily was giggling at her phone, oblivious until her name was called three times before she finally shuffled over. "This silly girl is so carefree all the time. How could Peter possibly..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Evelyn noticed Peter glancing their way. The moment their eyes met, he hastily looked down at the menu, though the tips of his ears turned faintly pink.

In that instant, everything clicked for Evelyn.

Peter had grown up eating meals at the Anderson household—he and Emily were practically childhood sweethearts. Emily had kept her first relationship a secret even from her own sister, yet Peter had known every detail...

"Peter is certainly a good catch," Grace murmured under her breath. "A stable job at a state-owned firm, and we've known him since he was a boy. Definitely better than that divorced physics teacher."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "So you approve?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself! I was too quick to agree when you got married, and look how that turned out..." Grace shot a glare at her giggling younger daughter. "I'm keeping a close eye on this one's love life."

Evelyn silently lit a candle for poor Kyle.

Sorry, kid. My failed marriage just dug you a hole. If you don't step up, you might lose to this childhood friend who's been lying in wait.

"—Sister-in-law?"

A hesitant male voice came from behind. Evelyn turned—then immediately spun back around, her face darkening.

Vincent Wilson circled to face her, struggling for words. "Why are you—I didn’t mean it like that..."

"Vincent!"

"Alex!" Vincent called back, giving Evelyn one last conflicted look. "Never mind. Since you're here... But can we talk privately? Today is Alex and Annabelle's..."