"Sorry, I’m late. I had to pick my daughter up from kindergarten first." Evelyn Mercer’s voice was full of apology as she led Emily Mercer to the seat and sat down.
Across from them sat the man her family had set her up with on this blind date—Leonard Valencia.
Leonard looked Evelyn up and down, clearly pretty satisfied. "Miss Mercer, that kind of thing can’t happen after we get married."
The expression on Evelyn’s face froze for a second.
After we get married?
If she wasn’t mistaken, this was literally their first time meeting.
But Leonard didn’t seem to find that weird at all. He even stood up and walked straight toward her.
"Once we’re married, you need to put me first in everything, take care of my feelings, and do what I tell you."
"As for housework, that doesn’t even need saying. That’s women’s work to begin with. My mom always says a man’s hands are meant for conquering the world."
"And one more thing—no matter how many kids we have, you have to give birth to a son. My mom said our family line has been passed down through only one son for three generations. It absolutely cannot end with me."
The more Evelyn listened, the more unreal it felt, like she’d stepped into some ridiculous bad joke. Before she could even process it, Leonard’s big hand suddenly clamped down hard on her slim waist.
One look at the greasy hunger on his face, and Evelyn’s anger blew up on the spot.
She shoved him away with all her strength, grabbed the wine glass beside her, and splashed the red wine right across his face.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Leonard snarled, his expression twisting.
For someone like this, Evelyn had zero intention of holding back anymore.
She stood up. "First, a blind date is not a wife giveaway. Second, you ‘must have a son’? What, does your family have a throne to inherit? Third, your mom sure taught you a lot—did she never tell you that you act like a horny little lapdog? Seriously, go get yourself neutered."
After saying that, she scooped Emily into her arms, turned around, and walked out without another glance.
"You bitch! You came here dragging a brat with you, and I didn’t even mind that you were tainted, and you still don’t know what’s good for you!"
"Just you wait! Sooner or later, you’ll come back crying and beg me!"
Leonard’s filthy curses kept ringing out behind her without end.
Evelyn Mercer covered Emily Mercer’s ears with both hands and hurried out of the restaurant as fast as she could.
Just then, the table by the entrance was in the middle of its own mess too.
A woman was going off on the man sitting across from her, looking down on him nonstop just because he was only a delivery guy.
The elevator hadn’t arrived yet, so Evelyn had no choice but to overhear a bit of it.
From the sound of it, that blind date had crashed and burned too.
Seriously... talk about fellow sufferers under the same sky.
Emily puffed out her cheeks, guilt written all over her little face. "Mommy, I’m sorry. It’s all because of me..."
Evelyn gently rubbed her small head and said softly, "Emily, how could this possibly be your fault? That man was a bad guy. You don’t listen to a word he says. You are not some burden, okay? Don’t worry. Mommy will find you a dad."
Emily had been looking at her mother seriously the whole time, but then her gaze slowly drifted past her shoulder and suddenly locked onto something.
Right then, the elevator doors slid open.
"Emily, let’s go home," Evelyn said, but she failed to catch her daughter’s hand.
When she turned around again, Emily was already running toward the delivery guy’s table.
As she ran, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Daddy!"
The man turned his head.
At that exact moment, Evelyn’s eyes met his.
She froze.
Why did this delivery guy look more and more like...
She quickly shook that thought away.
No way. Dressed like this, he was nothing like that proud, untouchable man.
Meanwhile, Emily rushed over excitedly and reached her arms out, clearly asking the man in front of her to pick her up.
The woman across from him got even more irritated at the sight. With a dark face, she grabbed her coffee and splashed it toward them.
Almost on instinct, the delivery guy pulled Emily into his arms and shielded her.
The coffee was scalding hot. It all landed on the man instead.
His brows knitted at once, and he lifted his eyes, clearly annoyed.
The woman froze under his stare for a second, then stiffened her neck and snapped, "Y-you’re just some damn delivery guy. You’ve even got a kid and you still think you’re qualified to go on a blind date with me? Seriously, go look at yourself in the mirror first."
After throwing out that line, she stormed off in a huff.
As Evelyn Mercer passed by him, she quickly apologized. "Sir, I’m so sorry. I caused you trouble. And thank you for protecting Emily. Your clothes are soaked... how much was this outfit? I’ll pay for it."
"It’s fine." He clearly cared more about the child. He gently wiped Emily’s little face, his voice soft and calm. "Hey, kiddo, are you okay?"
Emily shook her head. "Daddy, I’m okay."
Evelyn instantly pulled her back, awkward all over. "Emily, come here. He’s not your daddy."
If Emily hadn’t said that, Evelyn wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
Emily’s eyes looked so much like his.
Not just pretty in the same way either—there was even a brown tear mole at the corner of both their eyes.
Still... that had to be impossible.
She didn’t even know this man.
So it definitely couldn’t be that.
Emily lowered her head, disappointment written all over her little face. "Dad... Uncle, sorry."
Hearing her apologize again, Evelyn’s chest tightened with guilt. All these years in the Mercer family, Emily had suffered way too many grievances along with her.
Seeing the child look so crushed, Adrian Whitmore reached out and rubbed her head.
In an instant, the light returned to Emily’s eyes.
"Uncle, my mommy’s blind date failed too just now. Why don’t you look at my mommy instead? My mommy is a hundred times better than that lady!"
The little girl was so adorably serious that Adrian’s heart softened on the spot.
He lifted his gaze and looked at Evelyn.
"I’m just a delivery driver. After insurance and monthly payments, I don’t make that much. Would you still be willing?"
His voice was low and ridiculously pleasant to listen to. His features were sharp and refined, like they’d been carved on purpose. Evelyn nearly zoned out for two seconds.
Today, she was determined to get married no matter what.
Otherwise, there was no way she would’ve put up with that weirdo from earlier for so long.
And the man in front of her?
He was miles better than that guy. Like, not even in the same league.
"I would. And that’s not a problem at all. I’m just a dishwasher too."
The man glanced at his watch. "The Civil Affairs Bureau closes in an hour. Want to go now?"
