Chapter 3 Let's Divorce!

The auction continued, but Damon was completely distracted by Evelyn. Although Elin was displeased, she didn't dare to say anything. She focused on using her knowledge to select potential profitable auction items, hoping to regain Damon's attention. As soon as the auction ended, Damon couldn't wait to get up. He needed to confront Evelyn! He cornered Evelyn in the hallway, grabbing her wrist. "Evelyn, I said I would give you the biggest emerald, what more do you want?!" Elin, who followed him, felt suffocated for a moment. The gem she painstakingly auctioned was now used by Damon to appease this spoiled lady. Why?! She softly said, "Even if you're angry that I took your place beside Mr. Damon, he's already apologized to you. You should give him a break." Evelyn laughed and shook him off harshly. "Did you misunderstand something? I just wanted to buy something I like. Is that worth your outrage?" Damon raised his voice in frustration, "Spending a billion on a pile of junk, you call that 'something you like'? You're obviously doing this to annoy me!" Evelyn glanced casually at the exasperated man. "If I like it, it's a treasure worth any price. If I don't, it's worthless, even if it's right in front of me." Evelyn's cold and indifferent gaze made Damon shiver. She seemed different from before. Elin moved to block their entwined gaze. "But you shouldn't waste so much money. A billion is enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for a lifetime..." "My monthly allowance exceeds a billion, let alone for Miss Evelyn, the only daughter of Elizabeth!" Eric chimed in, familiar as ever. Brian asked for a kiss on the hand. "Good day, esteemed lady." Evelyn ignored him, turning her head indifferently. "It's just a toy. If Miss Elin feels distressed, I'll throw it to you when I'm bored. You seem happy to pick up others' trash." Elin's face turned red, not only because she felt out of place like a frog at the bottom of a well but also because of Evelyn's insinuation. Brian, unfazed, withdrew his hand and produced a delicate little box as if by magic. "Seeing Mr. Damon and his wife getting along so well, I'm envious. Esteemed Miss Evelyn, would you grace me with your company at next week's business banquet?" He opened the box to reveal a ruby ring the size of a pigeon egg, perfectly cut and shining even in the dim light. "As my companion." His friend gritted his teeth beside him. "Get a grip, she's married!" Brian was stunned, looking at Evelyn in confusion. "But she's not wearing a wedding ring and attended the auction alone. How is that like being married?" "Is she a widow already? Did her husband die somewhere?" Evelyn was amused. Damon rarely came home, always claiming to be with Elin writing internship plans or working late, occasionally sleeping at the office. Isn't that like being widowed? It felt good to hear someone voice her thoughts. As she was about to respond, she was suddenly pulled close to Damon's side, his arm firmly around her waist. "This is my wife, Evelyn Hilton," he declared, emphasizing the surname like a territorial claim. She tried to break free, but Damon held her tightly, not letting her move. Brian glanced at Elin, who looked like she was about to cry from being ignored, and laughed mockingly. "So that's it. I thought this young lady was your wife, scolding Miss Evelyn for her spending. My mistake." "Sorry, sorry, my bad. But Mr. Damon, you should be careful. Surnames aren't welded on. She could change hers to... Elizabeth anytime." He put away the ring, saluted Evelyn with two fingers, and left with Eric. Evelyn immediately pushed Damon away. "Don't touch me without permission!" Damon was surprised. She used to cling to him, but now she resisted his touch. Is she playing hard to get? He frowned. "Don't think your little tricks will work repeatedly. If you want to attract me, at least be as obedient as Elin." Evelyn's gaze darkened. In her past life, she had learned to be obedient, only to be mistaken for Elin by a drunken Damon. He possessed her while repeatedly calling out Elin's name, confessing his obsession with her. It felt like a dagger stabbing her heart. Clenching her fists, her nails dug into her palms. Her eyes were full of mockery. "Think whatever you like!" Seeing her about to leave, Damon sneered. "And remember your place. You're my woman, the wife of the Hilton family! Don't flirt with those shady men!" Evelyn glanced at Elin with amusement. "Mr. Hilton, you have a white butterfly by your side. What right do you have to control me?" He retorted confidently, "Elin and I are work-related. She assists me as needed. What's wrong with that?" Evelyn pointed to the hall's surveillance cameras. "Do you want to see how you were holding her hand just now? What kind of work relationship requires hand-holding? Like a hostess and a client?" "Show some respect! I'm not..." he hurried to explain. Evelyn lost patience and interrupted, "Let's divorce." Damon froze, his brows furrowing deeply. "You're out of your mind tonight!" "Even if we don't have feelings, a business marriage can't be dissolved just like that!" He had intended to talk with her, understand her thoughts, and spend time with her... Why did it turn out like this? He didn't want a divorce! Evelyn didn't want to wait until she was worthless and abandoned by him. She couldn't wait a single day; she wanted to kick him out now! Evelyn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "In a business marriage, who needs whose help more? You know better than I do." "And this isn't a negotiation, it's an announcement. Just like you announced you'd bring Elin to the auction, I have the right to do the same." After the auction, Evelyn's desire for a divorce and her extravagant spending became a hot topic. Damon never came home again, and the house felt like a haunted mansion. Evelyn looked at her account balance and sighed. She only had tens of millions, far from enough to buy the jewelry set. She had thought the money was enough, but that damned Brian had appeared! If she asked, the Elizabeth Group could give it to her. The problem was that the jewelry couldn't be immediately profitable, requiring months to appreciate. And most of the Elizabeth family's liquid assets had been used to support Damon's Hilton Jewelry. If they divorced, she could reclaim those funds. Thinking of this, Evelyn felt a headache. She had offered to take only a quarter of the assets and give up her Hilton shares, but Damon refused to divorce! Before she could figure out how to raise money, the auction house called her. "Esteemed Miss Evelyn, your auction item has been fully paid for. If you don't have time to collect it, we can deliver it to you?" Evelyn was stunned. "Who paid?" "A Mr. Brian. He said he was your friend and bought it to apologize for teasing you." Hanging up, Evelyn headed straight to Jones Group's meeting room. Brian sat with his legs on the table, glancing at her like a rogue. "So... you think your smile isn't worth a billion?" "Did you come all the way here just to give me a bill? Hmm?"