Chapter 89

Tristan wasn't discouraged. He knew Evelyn needed more time.

After placing their orders, they engaged in casual conversation. Evelyn absentmindedly scrolled through her phone.

"Evelyn, any concerns about our partnership?" Tristan asked casually, swirling the red wine in his glass.

She glanced up from her news feed, meeting his gaze.

"Your terms are acceptable, but there are still some internal disagreements on our side," Evelyn replied nonchalantly.

Tristan chuckled. "What kind of disagreements? Maybe I can help."

"It's fine. I'll handle it," she said firmly.

The hesitation came from her own reservations. Thornfield Industries' management was eager to accept Veritas Capital's investment, but Evelyn remained uncertain. She had agreed to meet Tristan to assess his character.

No matter how charming he appeared, he was still Bianca's brother. That alone made it difficult for Evelyn to shake her initial prejudice.

Profit was important, but she had to weigh the risks. Only when she was prepared for the worst outcome would she give her final approval.

Before she knew it, the clock struck two.

Tristan and Evelyn took their seats in the front row of the exhibition hall. The host soon appeared, welcoming everyone with an enthusiastic speech.

"Today, we have a very special guest—one who has made a unique request to our AI companion, Lillian!"

As the host spoke, Lillian made her grand entrance. The robot was strikingly lifelike—a petite female figure with flowing chestnut hair, dressed in a crisp blue-and-white uniform.

"Now, let's see if Lillian can fulfill this mysterious guest's request!" the host announced.

A hush fell over the audience.

Lillian's eyes scanned the crowd before she gracefully descended from the stage.

All eyes followed her, buzzing with curiosity—who was this mysterious guest, and what did they want?

Moments later, Lillian approached the front row. Evelyn watched, impressed by how seamlessly the robot moved. Modern technology had advanced so far—creating machines that could walk and speak like humans was nothing short of extraordinary.

Just as Evelyn marveled at this, Lillian stopped right in front of her. Thinking there might be a malfunction, Evelyn lightly tapped the robot's arm.

To her surprise, Lillian extended a hand and chirped, "Pretty lady, would you come with me?"

Evelyn froze.

The audience erupted in laughter.

Her cheeks warmed. "Lillian, where exactly are you taking me?"

"There's a very handsome man who wants to meet you!" Lillian replied, her voice playful. "He's so handsome! Come, you have to see him!"

The childish enthusiasm in Lillian's tone made refusal difficult.

Evelyn gestured to Tristan beside her, teasing, "There's already a handsome man right here."

Lillian glanced at Tristan, then shook her head emphatically. "No, no! The other one is much more handsome! I want to marry him myself! You'll want to too when you see him!"

The crowd burst into laughter again.

Seeing the standoff, the host intervened. "Miss, why not humor Lillian? We’ll even give you some exclusive gifts afterward!"

Evelyn hesitated. Ignoring the robot was one thing, but refusing the organizers outright would be rude.

Reluctantly, she stood and followed Lillian backstage.

And there, waiting with a familiar smirk, was—