Rogue

Chapter 136

Arthur waited for Evangeline’s reply for a long time, growing increasingly restless.

He stared at the chat window for a long time, his eyes dimmer and dimmer.

Just then, he received a voice call on his WhatsApp. It was from Evangeline.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name.

Fearing she might hang up, he quickly answered the call.

“I was making soup for my brother earlier and didn’t check my phone. I didn’t block you.” Evangeline’s voice came through the phone.

Arthur tried to stay calm and said casually, “Well, I know. I’m not in a rush. I just type fast.”

Evangeline asked, “Where would you like to go?”

Arthur hesitated and thought, ‘Does this mean that she agrees to show me around?”

“You can’t hear me?” Evangeline asked, puzzled.

Arthur came back to his senses and said, “Anywhere is fine. I just want to get familiar with the city.”

Evangeline paused and asked, “Are you going to stay here often?”

Arthur replied, “Probably.”

Evangeline said, “Alright, I’ll contact you tomorrow after I wake up naturally. But my brother will be coming along”

Arthur recalled the man he saw with Evangeline at the banquet, and his gaze darkened.

He thought, ‘Am I being too suspicious? But I feel the man’s eyes carried an expression of unclean intent as he looked at Evangeline.

He asked, “Was the man who spoke on your end during the video call on the day you won, your brother?”

Evangeline chuckled. “Yes, that was him. He’s a bit mischievous and innocent. He isn’t very good with words.”

Listening to Evangeline’s affectionate and candid tone, Arthur felt a bit relieved.

He could tell that her feelings for her brother were solely those of affectionate care. “Okay, see you

tomorrow.”

“Alright, I’ll hang up now.” Evangeline ended the call and returned to the living room.

Dexter had already finished his soup. He looked at her and asked with a hint of unhappiness, “Who

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were you on the phone with? Why did you avoid nie? Is there something I’m not allowed to hear?”

Evangeline explained, “The person we met when we left the Rouse family. He will be staying here. for a while and asked me to show him around. I agreed to take him around tomorrow.”

Dexter’s eyes darkened as he said, “He asked you to show him around, and you agreed? Why are you being so nice to him….

Evangeline said, “He’s a friend, and he’s the one who brought back Naomi years ago. We shouldn’t forget that favor.”

Dexter muttered, “But you’ve already repaid him, and he also profited a lot from your appearance on the variety show this time.”

Evangeline lightly tapped his head and said, “Naomi’s life is priceless. Even if we’ve repaid him before, we shouldn’t forget his kindn

Dexter snorted, obviously unhappy.

Evangeline said seriously, “Be good and don’t throw a tantrum. Even though I have other friends, you are still the person I am closest to.”

She knew that Dexter was actually very insecure and had an extraordinary dependence on her. Every time she grew close to someone else, he would become anxious and unsettled.

When they were taken in by Naomi during their childhood, Dexter was initially very resistant, fearing that with others around, she would become distant to him and he would no longer be the closest to her. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

This fear stemmed from the psychological trauma he experienced as a child, which worsened over time due to a lack of timely counseling and treatment. Now, it was even more difficult to address his mental health issues.

Moreover, he himself was uncooperative with treatment, believing that he had no problems.

“Stop overthinking and go rest. Your emotions can also affect your health. If you’re not feeling better by tomorrow, I won’t let you go out with me,” said Evangeline.

Dexter sulked and went upstairs dejectedly.

Evangeline followed him upstairs. After some rest and adjustment, her routine had normalized, and she got up at 6 a.m. the next morning.

Dexter also got up when he heard her moving around.

After washing up, he joined her for morning exercises in the manor.

Dexter’s health was inconsistent; on good days, he could keep up with her exercise, but on bad days, even a few steps would leave him breathless.

After exercising, they returned to the manor to shower and chance

GT.

[Have you gotten up? I’m about to head out. I’ll pick you up for breakfast.]

Arthur quickly replied: (Okay, I’ll wait for you.]

Evangeline put away her phone and went to Dexter’s room.

Dexter had just come out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping with water.

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Evangeline said, “Why are you so slow in the shower? I’ve already finished showering and blow- drying my hair, and you’re just done.”

Dexter glanced at her and smiled. “I’m taller than you, so I need to wash more, which naturally takes a bit more time.”

Evangeline was speechless. The next second, she slapped him on the head. If it weren’t for being at home and the worry of hurting his face and having their parents see, she would have slapped him a few times across the face.

“Hurry up and get dressed. If you dawdle any longer, I’m leaving without you!” After saying that, Evangeline left the room and went downstairs first.

She waited downstairs for about ten minutes before Dexter came down.

Perhaps due to the rush, his hair was only half–dried.

Evangeline grabbed the car keys, and they headed out.

She drove to the entrance of the Rouse manor, where Arthur was already waiting.

Evangeline rolled down the window and nodded to him. “Get in. We’ll go have breakfast first. My brother can’t stay hungry for too long.”

Dexter also nodded. Seeing the passenger seat occupied, he took the back seat.

As the car moved, Arthur observed Dexter through the rearview mirror. Dexter also watched him, and their gazes met in the mirror.

Arthur paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, and said, “I’m Arthur Ferdinand, a good friend of Evangeline’s. She used to stay at my place when she was in Hofcaster

Dexter gave a faint smile, appearing harmless, but his eyes were icy. “I’m Dexter Johnson. Eva and I live under the same roof, even in the same room.”

Arthur said, “You two have a close bond.”

Dexter replied, “We’re not actually siblings by blood.”

Arthur said, “That’s fine. Even if you’re not blood–related, Evangeline treats you like a real brother. To her, bond matters more than blood ties.”

Dexter’s smile faded, and he looked at Arthur through the rearview mirror with a cold gaze.

But in an instant, he returned to his indifferent demeanor and smiled faintly. “You seem older, and there’s quite an age gap between you and Eva. You probably don’t have many common topics to talk about, do you? If friends lack common interests, their relationship might fade.”

Arthur said, “We do have common topics to talk about. My hobbies are the same as hers. I also enjoy crawling on the floor. Plus, I’m naturally talented; I make rapid progress after just one try. I can talk about this common interest with her.”

Dexter was speechless. He glanced at Evangeline, Teeling annoyed that she had taught others to crawl!

Arthur continued, “I can also be her punching bag. I’m particularly tough, so she can hit me to her hear

content without worrying about any criminal liability. You can’t do that, right?”

Dexter proudly said, “She hits me every day. She just hit me this morning. Compared to outsiders, she values me more, which is why she prefers to hit me with full force.”

Arthur went silent, thinking, ‘Damn, I lost!”

Evangeline listened to Dexter and Arthur chatting amiably and felt pleased.

She thought, ‘It’s not easy for Dexter to talk so much with anyone other than me, and to be this happy while doing so. It seems that he really likes Arthur, which is why he talks so much with him. Although their conversation is a bit strange, Dexter’s willingness to talk indicates a positive impression of Arthur. If it’s someone Dexter is not interested in, he couldn’t be bothered to engage

with them.

The car soon stopped in front of a five–star hotel, and the three got out of the car. As they were about to walk into the hotel, a familiar figure approached them and said, “Evangeline?!”