Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2869

“Old Mr. Quintin’s granddaughter? What an honor to meet you today!”

“Ms. Quintin, you’re absolutely stunning—you have the grace and poise of someone from an illustrious family!”

“Ms. Quintin, my son studied under one of your grandfather’s students, so in a way, we’re kind of connected!”

...

Evelyn, dressed head-to-toe in designer labels and wearing a diamond necklace, smiled with gentle restraint. “I’m delighted to meet everyone here at Mrs. Winters’s birthday party.”

“Evelyn, my son’s company is opening next month. Do you think Old Mr. Quintin could write something for us?” someone asked eagerly, hoping for Evelyn’s help.

Mrs. Winters frowned, half-joking, “I invited Evelyn here to enjoy herself—not to get bombarded with these requests! If you scare her off, you’ll have to go bring her back for me, all right?”

“Evelyn!”

Gladys Winters hurried over, slipping her arm through Evelyn’s with practiced familiarity, grinning warmly. “Thank you so much for coming to my aunt’s birthday party! I’m just thrilled you’re here!”

Mrs. Winters, remembering how many calls she had to make to get Evelyn to attend, felt a twinge of annoyance that it now seemed Evelyn had come as a favor to Gladys. “I’m also very grateful Evelyn was willing to come for me!”

Gladys pretended not to notice her aunt’s irritation and turned to ask, “Is my cousin home?”

Mrs. Winters smiled, “He’s swamped at work today—he won’t be back until this afternoon.”

She quickly added, “He didn’t know you’d be here, Evelyn. If he had, he definitely wouldn’t have left the house.”

Evelyn understood Mrs. Winters’s meaning. In the past, she hadn’t thought much of the Winters family, but now, hearing Mrs. Winters try to match her with Eugene Winters, she found herself less resistant—and even a little hopeful.

If she could end up with Eugene, become Mrs. Winters, then even if she wasn't always Ms. Quintin, she’d still have a life among the elite.

A glint flashed in her eyes as she told Mrs. Winters, “The first time I met Mr. Winters was at Estelle’s wedding, but it was so brief that we didn’t really get to know each other.”

“Mrs. Winters, you’re close with Ms. Quintin, right? My daughter is applying to the art academy in B City, and the admissions officer is a former student of Old Mr. Quintin’s. Could Ms. Quintin put in a good word for us? My daughter is really hardworking and talented!”

...

Surrounded by the crowd, Mrs. Winters was feeling quite pleased with herself. “I don’t just know Ms. Quintin. Who knows—our families might even become in-laws someday! All these favors you’re asking are nothing!”

Everyone looked at her in surprise, and their attempts to curry favor with Mrs. Winters only intensified.

*

Gladys led Evelyn into the back garden, smiling brightly. “Evelyn, congratulations! My aunt told me your mother is back, and you just did a DNA test. Does this mean the Quintin family will be holding a formal banquet to welcome you soon?”

Evelyn tightened her hands but managed a smile. “Yes, my grandfather and mother were talking about it just yesterday. But I don’t like too much attention; I’d rather keep things low-key. Finding my family means the most to me—everything else is secondary.”