Chapter 208

Evelyn was taken aback by Benjamin's sudden move, but she crossed her arms and gave him a dismissive look. "What's this about, Benjamin? Explain yourself."

His cheeks flushed as he struggled to voice his thoughts. With youthful determination burning in his eyes, he finally blurted out, "Evelyn Whitmore, I'm going to make you mine!"

The declaration barely fazed her. She studied him with bored amusement, one eyebrow arched. "Aren't you still in high school?"

Benjamin squared his shoulders proudly. "I'll be eighteen in six months!"

Evelyn stifled a yawn. "Come talk to me when you can legally vote." She turned to leave, clearly uninterested in continuing this absurd conversation.

But Benjamin blocked her path, his expression turning serious. "Listen, Evelyn. Stay away from Nathaniel. He belongs with my sister Amelia. If it's money you're after, I can provide that too. The Rivers family fortune is just as impressive."

Trapped against a tree, Evelyn smirked at the naive boy. "You? A kid whose allowance gets cut off when he misbehaves? What exactly could you offer me? A future of babysitting?"

Benjamin's face reddened further, but he had no comeback. "I'm not a child! The age gap is negligible. Once I control my trust fund—"

Evelyn cut him off with a laugh, pushing past him. "Thanks for the laugh, but I don't have time to wait for you to mature. We're incompatible."

She walked away, but Benjamin wasn't done. "Evelyn Whitmore! Nathaniel is meant for Amelia! You can't have him!"

Ah, so that was his real motive—playing knight for his sister. How quaint. If only he knew the truth about her arrangement with Nathaniel.

'Let's not break up.' Nathaniel's unexpected words echoed in her mind. After repeatedly emphasizing their relationship was purely transactional, what had he meant by that? Men truly were incomprehensible creatures.

Evelyn paused, then said calmly, "You're overcomplicating things. Nathaniel isn't mine to give away. Focus on your studies instead of meddling in adult affairs."

"I've already finished my homework!" Benjamin protested indignantly.

"Then go play video games or something." Evelyn waved him off, continuing her walk.

Undeterred, Benjamin trailed after her. "Mark my words, Evelyn! I'll make you fall for me!"

She glanced back with an amused smile. "Really? Then get into Harvard first. I don't date intellectually challenged boys—bad for future offspring." She tapped her temple pointedly.

Benjamin spluttered in outrage. "How dare you question my intelligence!"

Humming to herself, Evelyn left him fuming, his fists clenched in frustration.

'Just wait, Evelyn Whitmore! Getting into an Ivy League is nothing! You'll see!'

Returning to the patio, Evelyn spotted Nathaniel chatting with Dominic and others. She hesitated approaching—Dominic's sharp tongue guaranteed uncomfortable questions about her relationship with Nathaniel.