Dexter said lightly, "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. You won't see me become independent in this lifetime. Even after I die, I want to be buried with Eva. If you want to see me independent, you'll have to hope for the next life—maybe not even then. Even in the next life, I'll still want to be with Eva. You should pray for another son if you want a better chance."

Bradley's face turned livid, then red. Laura pulled his arm. "Alright, calm down," she said. "He's just returned. Don't scold him; you'll scare him."

Bradley took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure. Then he said, "Fine. If you want to be with her, then go ahead. I won't interfere, as long as you agree to take over the company."

"By the way," Bradley continued, "Mr. William Rouse's ninetieth birthday party is coming up soon. Why don't you and Evangeline attend on behalf of our family? You can meet some influential people."

Dexter didn't immediately agree but looked at Evangeline. "Do you want to go?"

"Let's go," Evangeline said. She thought, If I don't go, Dexter probably won't either, and Dad and Mom will be upset. They've been very kind to me. If I can make them happy with something small, I will.

"Alright, then I'll go too," said Dexter.

Bradley sighed quietly and said nothing more. A servant announced dinner. They stopped talking and went to eat.

After dinner, Bradley called Dexter to the study. Laura said, "Evangeline, come walk with me in the garden."

"Alright," Evangeline replied, nodding gently. They walked around the manor for ten minutes before Laura said, "Evangeline, you're of marriageable age. Do you have anyone you like?"

Evangeline shook her head. "No, I've never thought about romance or marriage. I'm quite happy as I am."

"You should think about it," Laura said. "Women need to marry eventually, and the sooner, the better."

Evangeline asked, puzzled, "There's no legal requirement that women must marry, is there? Plenty of people go through life unmarried."

Laura frowned. "Are you planning to stay single for life? You're young and think marriage doesn't matter, but when you're older and see everyone around you married, you'll feel anxious. And by then, you might not find someone suitable because you're older."

Evangeline smiled. "Mom, this isn't something rich people need to worry about. As long as one has money, they don't have to worry about being lonely. If I really need a partner, even at fifty or sixty, I could still find a younger partner in their twenties, as long as I have enough money."

Laura's face turned grim. "How can you say such outrageous things?"

Evangeline blinked. "Outrageous? If I were a man, would it still be considered outrageous? Countless older men date younger women. But because I'm a woman, I'm judged for saying this?"

Laura was speechless, unable to accept Evangeline's words. She felt Evangeline was being unreasonable.

Evangeline said seriously, "Mom, women don't have to marry, and neither do men. There are many things we can do in life; not everyone has to get married and have children. Even if I regret it later, that's my problem. I'll bear the consequences myself. I won't blame anyone, so you don't need to worry about me or force me into marriage."

Laura's face darkened. "You're still young and immature. You'll regret these childish thoughts sooner or later. Your father and I will help you find suitable men. You can try dating them, and if it doesn't work out, we can find someone else. You're young; there are many chances for trial and error. We can take our time finding the right one."

Evangeline shook her head. "I won't try. Don't waste your efforts."

"I'm your mother," Laura said. "You're going against my wishes?"

Evangeline looked at her. "I don't have to accept you as my mother. If you force me into something I don't want, I'll sever ties with you, so you no longer have any say in my life."

Laura was furious. "Evangeline, you're being a bad daughter! How can you say such things? We saved your life and raised you for so many years, and you're so decisive about cutting ties with us?"

Evangeline said calmly, "I also saved Dexter's life. If we're talking about favors, I've balanced things out. As for raising me, I know the money I spent raising Dexter doesn't compare to what you've spent on me. If you want to settle scores, I can pay you back."

She didn't want to end things badly. Although Bradley and Laura were distant, she was grateful to them. Now that Naomi was in a coma, Dexter was the only person close to her. She didn't want her conflict with Bradley and Laura to affect her relationship with him. But if they forced her, she would cut ties.

"I'm tired. I'll head back now," Evangeline said and left.

In the study, Dexter lounged on the sofa. "Dad, if you have something to say, just get to it. Once you're done, I'll go find Evangeline."

Bradley's expression darkened. He suppressed his anger and sat down. After a moment, he said, "Your mother and I want to introduce Evangeline to some suitable men. If she gets along with any of them, we'd like her to marry in a couple of years."

Dexter paused and met his father's gaze. Bradley seemed nervous. "You know, Evangeline has always longed for family affection. A husband who loves her, and children of her own will give her a true home and real warmth. Since you have such a good relationship with Evangeline, don't you want to see her happy?"

Dexter barely looked at his father for a long time, his face expressionless. Only when he noticed his father's tense posture did he finally look away, leaning back on the sofa and chuckling. "Arrange it however you like?"

Bradley's eyes lit up. "You don't oppose it?"

Dexter said, "It's not for me to oppose. If Eva doesn't want it, she'll oppose it herself. I won't do it for her, and I don't have the right."

"What if Evangeline agrees?" Bradley asked.

Dexter said nonchalantly, "If she agrees, then fine. She has the right to refuse, and she also has the right to agree."

Bradley breathed a sigh of relief. I always thought Dexter is overly dependent on Evangeline and feared he might develop romantic feelings for her, which would be unacceptable. But it seems I worried too much. He is just dependent on her but has no romantic feelings for her; otherwise, he wouldn't be so indifferent.

Then Dexter continued, "Arrange it however you like. Don't worry about me. I won't stop you. If I can't stand it, I'll just…" (The passage cuts off here.)