Eve Vaughn’s mind was a mess. Pretend to be Mason Lawson’s girlfriend? He was nearly ten years older than her. Could they even have any chemistry? But he was a man of such status and power; she couldn’t afford to offend him.

Besides, Mason Lawson had indeed helped her more than once. She could consider this as repaying the favor.

Anyway, even though he was older, he was more handsome than Julian Lawson, and more mature and steady. Playing as his girlfriend wasn’t such a bad deal for her.

In the end, Eve Vaughn gave in.

"Well... all right." She steeled herself and said, "I can pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Miss Sullivan, but you have to agree to a few conditions."

Mason Lawson raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.

Eve Vaughn thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you have a computer and a printer here?"

Although Mason was puzzled, not knowing what she was up to, he still called for Mrs. Linton. "Take Miss Vaughn to the study."

Ten minutes later, Eve Vaughn came back downstairs holding two sheets of A4 paper. She handed one to Mason Lawson and kept the other for herself.

"This is an agreement I’ve drafted," Eve Vaughn explained earnestly. "Look at the first clause. It means that I want our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend to be limited to acting in front of Miss Sullivan. I don’t want my classmates or teachers to know, to avoid any gossip. The second clause: we are only a couple in name, so there can be absolutely no physical contact, and certainly no physical intimacy. The third clause..."

Before she could finish, Mason Lawson lost his patience and held out his hand. "Give me a pen."

Just like that, with a flourish of his pen, the name "Mason Lawson" appeared on the paper, written in a strong, forceful script.

Eve Vaughn signed her own name as well, making two identical copies. Only then did she feel a little safer about living at Mason Lawson’s place.

But Eve Vaughn didn’t know that, in Mason Lawson’s eyes, her actions seemed incredibly naive and endearing.

Watching her carefully put away the agreement, Mason Lawson said, "Now, can we go have breakfast? My future Mrs. Lawson?"

Eve Vaughn’s face turned beet red. She really couldn’t get used to hearing those words; she felt like he was teasing her.

"Uncle," Eve Vaughn cautiously corrected him, "didn’t we just agree that when Miss Sullivan isn’t around, our relationship is just normal? Besides, I’m just a temporary girlfriend. How did that turn into ’future Mrs. Lawson’?"

Mason Lawson looked at her calmly and said, "Any relationship that isn’t heading toward marriage is just messing around. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Eve Vaughn nodded dazedly. He has a point, that’s true. But something still feels off...

The young woman looked vexed, still trying to figure it out, as Mason Lawson had already stood up and walked toward the dining room.

Mrs. Linton had prepared a full breakfast table.

Feeling considerate of Mrs. Linton’s hard work, Eve Vaughn said, "Mrs. Linton, you don’t have to make so much breakfast just because I’m here. There’s no way we can finish it all, and it must be a lot of work for you."

Mason Lawson said coolly, "Even when you’re not here, my breakfast is always up to this standard."

Eve Vaughn was embarrassed once again. Fine. Compared to Mason Lawson, she was poor. She had certainly never had such a lavish breakfast. She’d been reading too much into it!

For the rest of the meal, Eve Vaughn ate in silence, not saying another word. It was as if she couldn’t say or do anything right.

As they were finishing their meal, Mason Lawson instructed her, "After your classes today, go to your dorm and pack your things. Move in here. I’ll pick you up tonight."

Eve Vaughn thought to herself, Even though I signed an agreement with Mason Lawson, why do I still feel like a lamb entering the tiger’s den?

「The Vaughn Residence.」

When Lana Chambers and Jason Vaughn received the court summons, they could no longer sit still.

Lana Chambers told her husband angrily, "This is all your niece’s doing! Didn’t you say that the legal letter was a fake, that she was just trying to scare us? Well, look at this summons! Don’t tell me a court summons can be fake too?"

Jason Vaughn said in disbelief, "But the last letter came from Keystone Law Firm. Do you have any idea what Keystone charges? I never even got to see Mr. Spencer when I visited them several times for our company’s legal trouble back then. How could a young girl like Eve Vaughn possibly afford a lawyer from Keystone Law?"

Lana Chambers was so anxious that she was practically jumping up and down. "What’s the use of saying all that now?" she raged. "The summons has already arrived, and the court date is next week! If they win, we’ll have to pack our bags and get out of here! You need to think of something, now!"

Jason Vaughn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If Eve Vaughn really managed to hire a lawyer from Keystone Law, he thought grimly, then we truly don’t stand a chance!

After some thought, Jason Vaughn said hatefully, "That ungrateful little brat! We raised her for so many years, and now that her wings have grown, she thinks she can just kick us out? Dream on!"

The two of them spent the entire day trying to come up with a plan, and finally, as evening fell, they rushed over to Rivaster University.

「...」

After her classes in the afternoon, Eve Vaughn went back to her dorm to pack her luggage, taking some of her daily necessities.

Mason Lawson’s car was already waiting for her on the road across from the university.

Eve Vaughn’s heart inexplicably began to race. She kept telling herself that she was just cooperating with Mason Lawson’s act, that this wasn’t for real.

With that, she headed downstairs, pulling her suitcase behind her. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Unexpectedly, just as she reached the entrance of the dormitory building, she saw her aunt and uncle walking toward her.

Jason Vaughn and Lana Chambers were all smiles, carrying large and small bags as they approached her.

Eve Vaughn frowned, thinking to herself, all this flattery must mean they’re up to no good!

She treated them like thin air, trying to walk past them with her suitcase.

"Evie!" Jason Vaughn hurried forward, trying to take her suitcase. He said with an obsequious smile, "Are you homesick? Look, you’ve even packed your bags! Come on, let’s go home together. We’re family, there’s nothing we can’t talk through, right?"

Eve Vaughn narrowed her eyes, watching his performance with a blank expression. She felt that right now, her uncle looked just like a human trafficker with a brutish face, putting on a disgusting and terrifying smile to lure away a child.

Eve Vaughn held on to her suitcase and took a few steps back. "I’m not going home," she said coldly. "As long as the filth in that house isn’t completely cleaned out, I can’t live in a place like that."

Lana Chambers heard the veiled insult, and her expression changed. But she forced herself to endure it, saying patiently, "Evie, I know you’re still angry with us! It’s because of that business with Charlotte and Julian, isn’t it? Don’t worry. After your cousin gets married, your uncle and I will treat you like our own daughter. We’ll definitely find you a husband even better than Julian."

After speaking, she shot Jason Vaughn a meaningful look.

Jason Vaughn immediately understood and placed some snacks and fruit he was holding in front of Eve Vaughn.

Eve Vaughn glanced at them. They were probably bought from the small supermarket next to the university.

Lana Chambers said with a beaming smile, "Your uncle was worried you were working too hard with your studies, so he bought you some fruit and yogurt. You should take care of yourself. Isn’t this what family is like? We might bicker from time to time, but when it really matters, we all care about you."

Eve Vaughn suddenly let out a laugh. "Uncle, Aunt," she said to them, "I’m sick of using the word ’shameless’ on you. If I’m not mistaken, you must have received the court summons, right?"