Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2924

As soon as she walked in, Evelyn saw a crowd gathered in a heated debate, with reporters squeezed around the commotion.

Mrs. Winters turned to Evelyn, giving her a gentle, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. No matter what happens today, I’ll stand by you. All the most distinguished guests are here tonight—we’re going to make things official between you and Eugene in front of everyone.”

Evelyn’s heart raced. She steadied herself inwardly and nodded.

Mrs. Winters led Evelyn through the crowd, parting people as they went. The moment she spotted Sylvia standing next to Eugene, her face darkened with urgency and she stormed over, snapping, “Sylvia, what are you doing here? Honestly, you just can’t pass up a chance to worm your way into Eugene’s life, can you!”

Her outburst swept through the room like a gale, instantly breaking the tense, confrontational air.

Eugene’s face changed. “Mom, why are you here?”

Mrs. Winters shot back with biting sarcasm, “Good thing I came, or we’d have someone else taking advantage of the situation—again!”

Milanda’s eyes blazed as she stepped forward to argue, but Sylvia quickly stopped her.

Faust visibly let out a sigh of relief and seized the chance. “You two need to talk to Eugene, right? I have something to take care of—excuse me!” He hurriedly turned and almost bolted out.

The two other senior executives with him took the opportunity to slip away as well.

“Jonathan!” Eugene called after Faust, but Mrs. Winters held him back. “Eugene, look who I brought for you!”

Eugene’s face paled with anger. If it hadn’t been for all the people watching, he might have exploded already.

He tensed, biting back his fury. “What exactly are you doing here?”

Mrs. Winters grinned ingratiatingly. “This is a major Winters family affair—of course I had to be here. I brought Evelyn too. She’s going to be the rightful Mrs. Winters, not like some woman who could never be accepted in society!”

Eugene clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white, silently reminding himself—this is your mother, you can’t make a scene.

Without so much as a word to anyone else, Gabriel took Sylvia’s hand in a protective grip and led her away.

His tall, impressive build, elegant attire, and commanding presence cast a hush over the entire banquet hall. The same thought flashed through everyone’s mind: Is this Sylvia’s boyfriend?

With a boyfriend like him, why would Sylvia ever look twice at Mr. Winters?

Mr. Winters might be attractive and come from a good family, but compared to Gabriel, the difference was clear to everyone.

Evelyn watched Gabriel and Sylvia’s figures recede—his strong, upright profile, her graceful warmth—their compatibility unmistakable. All the hope she’d felt before arriving to the party had suddenly evaporated at the sight of Gabriel.

As Sylvia walked toward the door, she heard Mrs. Winters announcing into the microphone that Evelyn would be the next Mrs. Winters—her chosen daughter-in-law.

Sylvia glanced back at the restless crowd and, for a moment, couldn’t help feeling a trace of sympathy for Eugene.