Chapter294
"My... My parents are already in prison. How can I think on their behalf?" Lauren replied, puzzled.
Yvonne scoffed coldly, "I can ensure your parents get sentenced to ten or perhaps twenty years. Or maybe they could spend a lifetime in prison, never to see sunlight again. Lauren, which option will it be?"
"Liam... Vanessa, what... what do you mean?" Shocked, Lauren's face drained of color.
"Sweetheart, just listen to me and find a way to stay with Liam, and I'll see to it that your parents have an easier time in prison, maybe even get a reduced sentence," Yvonne said, her voice suddenly softening into a smile. "How does that sound? A win-win deal, right?"
"Vanessa, please don't make things hard for my parents. I'm begging you," Lauren pleaded, fully grasping Yvonne's intent.
"There, there, as I said, if you obey and find a way to stick with Liam, I'll ensure your parents don't suffer in prison," Yvonne said with a smile and a warm tone.
"All right, if you can ease my parents' burden and lessen their sentences, I'll listen. I'll do whatever you say," Lauren said, thinking only of her parents' well-being.
"That's my girl. Now, let's see how you perform," Yvonne said before abruptly hanging up the phone.
Just as she ended the call, Teresa and Gabriel emerged from the Rolls-Royce in front of her. In an instant, all camera flashes swiveled to capture the two, flickering wildly in their direction.
The evening was chilly. Teresa wore the latest fairy tale gown by Zuhair Murad, paired with a cream-white mink shawl that added elegance to her ethereal charm.
Stepping out of the car, Gabriel's arm wrapped around her, the pair walked down the red carpet toward the hotel entrance, bathed in a sea of flashing lights. Alighting from her vehicle, Yvonne followed several yards behind, setting foot on the red carpet but attracting scant attention from the press, whose lenses remained fixated on Teresa and Gabriel.
"Teresa, enjoy your smug arrogance while it lasts," Yvonne thought bitterly. "Once Madison recovers, I'll see how I'll play you to your demise."
A malicious glint flashed in Yvonne's eyes, but she masked it quickly with a slight curl of her lips. As the second-largest shareholder of the Evans Group, she walked confidently toward the other end of the red carpet.
The union between the Liams and the Xaviers was the talk of the town, with Liam and Faith's impending engagement being the highlight of the Evans Group's 50th-anniversary celebration. The Xavier matriarch and patriarch naturally attended the event with Tyler, basking in the limelight.
Originally, Teresa and Gabriel planned to leave early, especially with Raymond and Katherine present and no pressing concerns. However, they were even more sought-after than tonight's stars, Liam and Faith. Constantly engaged with high-profile guests, they couldn't leave as planned.
Fortunately, Gabriel was in good health, and his spirits were high. He showed no signs of distress, and it was not until after ten in the evening that the celebration ended, and Teresa, Gabriel, alongside Raymond and the others, departed.
"Are you tired?" Liam gently asked Faith as he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, the softness in his gaze unmistakable in the night. All the guests had been seen off.
Faith, not a striking beauty by ordinary standards, had a serene, poised, and dignified presence befitting a wife—especially the wife of a wealthy household.
With a tender smile directed at Liam, Faith responded, "Not at all tired with you here.”
"It's cold outside. Let's go in," Liam suggested, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and together, they walked back into the hotel.
As they walked into the hotel, Thomas suddenly strode over to Liam and whispered into his ear, audible only to him, "Liam, there's trouble over at Willow Heights."
Lauren.
The housekeeper at Willow Heights had been let go long ago, and Liam had also asked Lauren to leave. Unexpectedly, she had chosen to disobey and remained at Willow Heights.
Liam's brows furrowed in an instant, his gaze shifting to Thomas.
Thomas had been by Liam's side for years, and one look was enough to convey the message. He nodded briskly, "I'll take care of it."
Liam gave a nod of approval, "Yeah, go ahead."
"Liam, what's going on? Is everything all right?" Faith, who hadn't caught the conversation, immediately asked with concern as soon as Thomas left.
"It's nothing to worry about. Thomas is on it." Liam replied with a soothing smile, then drew Faith close and walked toward the private elevator.
For the Evans Group's 50th anniversary celebration, they had booked the entire Harmonious Prosperity Hotel. Faith and her parents stayed in the penthouse suite on the top floor.
Faith nodded politely without pressing further, switching the topic to the amusing incidents from the evening's gala.
Laughing and chatting, they reached the penthouse suite. Liam escorted her to the door but did not enter instead, he stood looking at Faith and tenderly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, advising her, "You've had a busy day. You must be tired. Take a bath and get some rest."
Faith looked at him with a gentle and proper smile, "Won't you come in for a bit before you leave?"
Their relationship had already progressed to an official courtship, and they were close to an engagement. She was not averse to taking things a step further with Liam.
Liam smiled, leaned in, and softly kissed Faith's cheek, "Not tonight. You rest well, and I'll come by to pick you up in the morning."
