Sophia Hamilton got out of the car after about ten minutes, her small face pink from either anger or Evander Lancaster’s kiss.

She believed it was due to the man’s infuriating behavior; despite her resistance, he kept kissing and touching her, making her chest feel tense even now.

Evander Lancaster also got out of the backseat, and as he opened the driver’s door, he pressed his index finger and thumb against his lips, signaling to Sophia. She bit her lip and said, "Get lost!" Although she was clearly trying to chase him away, the word had no power at all, soft like her weak legs at the moment.

"Don’t forget, I’ll come to pick you up this weekend." Evander reminded her as he sat in the driver’s seat. Watching the black Volkswagen drive away, Sophia bit her lip again.

This man was truly a bastard. Just now... he actually held her hand there... She subconsciously glanced at her palm, which seemed to still have that hard, burning warmth...

Her face suddenly flushed, she clenched her fist and shoved it into the pocket of her cotton jacket, then turned and jogged into the apartment building.

"Did Evander leave?" As soon as she entered the hallway, Juliana Lancaster asked while rummaging through the gift boxes.

"Oh." Sophia responded, closing the door behind her, feeling guilty in front of her mother because Evander had forced her to hold him there.

"Don’t dawdle, hurry up and come over here." Juliana frowned and scolded, taking the gift boxes apart and stacking them again, "You only tell me now that you’re dating Evander because he came over today."

Juliana continued to fuss over the boxes, "I have to say, the child is really good. He’s handsome, speaks elegantly, has a stable job, and for his first visit, he bought so many gifts, probably costing him two months’ salary."

"Pfft, this little money wouldn’t even buy one of his car’s tires." Sophia grumbled as she changed into her slippers, drawing Juliana’s attention.

"What did you say?"

Realizing she inadvertently revealed too much, Sophia muttered as she shuffled in her slippers, "Oh, if you think these things are too valuable, I’ll return them to him tomorrow..."

"No way! These are Evander’s tributes to me, his future mother-in-law. No matter how expensive, it’s only right!" Juliana protectively stacked the gift boxes again, worried that her daughter might actually return them, before she hugged them and headed to her bedroom.

"Bastard! Even my mom’s been won over by you!" Sophia muttered resentfully at her mother’s retreating back.

Before she knew it, the weekend arrived. Despite it being past seven, Sophia remained in bed, unwilling to get up.

Her mother understood how exhausting work was for her, so she didn’t call her to wake up.

Before eight, the doorbell rang. Juliana got up from the sofa, saying "Coming," and opened the door, surprised to see the man standing there.

"Evander, why so early?"

"Sorry to wake you, Aunt?" Evander courteously greeted, standing at the door without an invitation.

"No disturbance, I’m old now and rise early." Juliana said with a smile, then stepped aside, "Come on in, don’t stand at the door."

Evander nodded politely, walked into the hallway, and slipped off his leather shoes. Juliana moved to help him with his slippers, but he stopped her. "Auntie, I can do it myself."

As he spoke, he handed Juliana two bags, "I got some groceries while passing the supermarket, not sure if they suit your taste."

"Oh, you are so polite, coming over is enough, no need to buy groceries." Although she said this, Juliana still happily took the bags and headed to the kitchen, "Evander, take a seat first, I’ll go wake Sophia up."