Chapter 271

Evelyn had barely stepped through the door when Emily Anderson threw herself into her arms.

"Evelyn, why do you smell like perfume?" Emily sniffed at her neck like a curious puppy.

Evelyn's pulse quickened. "Is it strong?"

She'd deliberately taken a thirty-minute detour to let the night air erase the traces.

Grace Anderson peeked out from the kitchen. "Stop bothering your sister. Come help with dinner."

Emily stuck out her tongue and dashed barefoot toward the kitchen, only to be scolded by their mother.

That girl had always been this way—first to apologize, but never learning her lesson.

Andrew Anderson emerged from the inner room, reading glasses perched on his nose as he muttered over a ledger.

"Dad, what's that for?" Evelyn asked curiously.

"Auntie Lucy brought over gifts today," Andrew adjusted his glasses. "Premium liquor, cigarettes, bird's nest—all top-shelf. I'm noting them down for future reciprocity."

Grace carried out steaming dishes. "We're old friends. No need for such formality."

"It's not about formality," Andrew said seriously. "Our daughter's marriage mustn't appear unequal. Whatever the Harrisons give, we return in kind. This is about Evelyn's dignity."

Emily rolled her eyes. "You're overthinking it, Dad. Auntie Lucy just adores Evelyn."

"What do you know?" Andrew's expression darkened. "Last time, the mismatch in status hurt Evelyn. This time, we'll uphold appearances properly."

He turned to his younger daughter. "Same goes for your future partner."

Emily mumbled, "What if I also marry someone wealthy?"

Grace rapped her chopsticks against Emily's head. "Don't you dare! Even your brilliant sister stumbled. You'd be led around by the nose!"

"Ow!" Emily clutched her head, jumping back. "Fine, fine! I'll find someone like Peter Harrison, okay?"

"Better." Grace thrust the chopsticks at her. "Go wash these again."

Watching her sister's reluctant retreat, Evelyn's lips curved involuntarily.

The sisters were opposites—Evelyn disciplined to the point of parental concern, Emily raised on constant reprimands. As their father often said, Emily's Ivy League admission resulted solely from "strict parenting producing excellence."

"Evelyn," Grace said while serving rice, "Emily and I discussed her staying in Hudson City. Ask Peter later which university suits her scores best."