Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2871

Evelyn had never played before, but Mrs. Winters insisted, pressing her gently into a chair and declaring with easy generosity, “Just have fun. If you win, it’s yours; if you lose, I’ll cover it!”

Evelyn offered a demure smile. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept.”

“Nonsense—it’s my birthday! Tonight is all about everyone having a good time!”

Gladys pulled up a chair behind Evelyn. “Evelyn, I’ll help you with your cards,” she said.

Seated upwind, Mrs. Winters kept slipping Evelyn good cards, while the other guests, eager to ingratiate themselves, deliberately played in ways that favored her. Though it was Evelyn’s first time at the game, she kept winning hand after hand.

By the time night fell, she had amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings.

Evelyn was swept away by this heady atmosphere—surrounded by admiration and flattery, with people eager to shower her with gifts and money at her slightest word. The more she basked in this attention, the more she felt she had always been destined to be the Quintin family heiress.

Mrs. Winters had prepared an elegant dinner party as well. Guests sipped wine and traded stories about their lavish lifestyles—tales of extravagance and privilege—always pausing to compliment Evelyn. Even though she hardly spoke, she relished every moment.

To the others, her silence seemed the graceful reserve of someone born to the role of Ms. Quintin, rather than a sign of discomfort.

Night had fully settled in when Evelyn’s phone rang. She made a show of answering it in front of the crowd. “Grandpa!”

Bathed in the guests’ envious gazes, she strolled into the garden to take the call.

Old Mr. Quintin didn’t notice her change in address, assuming she’d simply slipped up. He chuckled kindly, “Still busy? When will you be done? I’ll send the driver to pick you up.”

“No need!” Evelyn replied brightly. “A friend is having a birthday dinner tonight, so I’ll be out late.”

“I see,” Old Mr. Quintin said, not suspecting a thing. He thought, given her recent mood, it was good for her to relax with friends. “That’s good, just don’t drink too much. It’s not safe for a young lady to drink too much when she’s out.”

“Don’t worry,” Evelyn assured him. “Everyone here is trustworthy.”

“Alright, have fun. Just let me know when you’re coming home.”

A spark flickered in Evelyn’s eyes. She waited until Mrs. Winters had finished her call before deliberately strolling up from a side path, pretending she’d just arrived. “Auntie!”

Mrs. Winters’ face lit up with delight. “Evelyn, I was just looking for you!”

“I just took a call. Shall we head back in?” Evelyn replied, her voice gentle.

Only then did Mrs. Winters notice that Evelyn seemed much more pleasant than usual—not her typically reserved, distant self.

Thinking nothing of it, she looped her arm through Evelyn’s and led her back to the living room.

At the dinner party, Mrs. Winters didn’t just toast Evelyn herself—she coaxed Gladys and the others into toasting Evelyn as well.

Evelyn could sense Mrs. Winters’ intentions. Realizing she would need the Winters family’s support in the future, she steeled herself and drank glass after glass.

Soon enough, Evelyn was drunk.