"Alexander, wait. Interested in a singles match?" the game ended. During our break in the lounge, Charlotte invited us.
"Maybe next time? I'm completely drained today!" Alexander replied with a tired smile.
"Sure, another time then!" Charlotte didn't push it. She smiled back.
"Go easy on me!"
"Easy for you to say!"
During the rest, Owen started narrating every detail of their match. He described each point, each shot, like a sports commentator.
Evelyn quickly handed him a drink, afraid he'd get thirsty.
"Evelyn, I'm just excited!" Owen protested weakly.
"No, I can see you're pumped. I'm just worried you'll get parched. Drink up, then keep going!" Evelyn explained quickly.
"Evelyn's the best!" Owen grinned. He downed half his drink and continued his commentary.
Finally, Owen spoke up. "Oh, by the way, wasn't there a bet? Come on, the winners, Lucas and Charlotte, get to make one demand of the losers, Alexander and Evelyn. No matter how harsh, they have to agree and do it unconditionally."
Evelyn was mid-sip. She nearly choked. Owen's words sounded just like a wedding vow.
"I don't mind!" Alexander replied with a smile.
"I don't mind either, as long as it's something I can do!" Evelyn raised her hand in agreement, adding the last part quickly.
If she couldn't do it, there was no point forcing her.
Like asking her to pluck a star from the sky. She'd die before she could do that.
"Cousin, what do you want to ask?" Charlotte turned to Lucas, seeking his opinion with a smile.
"I don't want anything. You decide." Lucas answered with a faint smile.
Who doesn't love a good show?
From the start, when Alexander asked him to play ball, then asked him to call Charlotte and Evelyn, and then Charlotte kept targeting Alexander, he knew something was up.
He didn't know how Alexander had offended his fierce cousin.
"Since my cousin gave me this rare chance, I'll take it. Alexander, you don't mind if I make this request, do you?" Charlotte asked with a smile.
"No, I accept defeat gracefully!" Alexander replied lightly.
Evelyn, on the other hand, looked at Charlotte nervously, afraid she'd ask for something harsh.
"Alexander, Evelyn and I have been best friends for over ten years. Our bond is deeper than sisters. Now that she's married, I'm happy for her. Alexander, you need to take good care of Evelyn for me!" Charlotte asked with a smile.
"Of course!" Alexander nodded.
"Alexander, forgive my bluntness. My request is simple. If you ever do something wrong to Evelyn, including bullying her, cheating on her, and so on, then you must pack your bags and leave her to our house—"
"Charlotte—" Evelyn exclaimed.
Owen also looked at Charlotte in surprise. He probably didn't expect her to make such a blunt request.
This wasn't a request. It was a promise. A guarantee.
And whether it could be fulfilled depended on self-awareness.
"Alexander, can you do it?" Charlotte looked at Alexander, asking as if she hadn't heard Evelyn.
"Yes!" Compared to Evelyn, Alexander replied calmly, then added, "But I'm afraid your request will be wasted. After all, there won't be a chance to use it!"
"That's fine. I really hope you and Evelyn live happily ever after. My request being wasted is the best outcome!" Charlotte replied with a smile.
"Alexander, don't mind her. My cousin loves to joke!" Lucas said at this moment.
"I'm not joking!" Charlotte retorted.
"It's okay. I'm serious too! I'm very happy Evelyn has a friend like you! Don't mind. I'll use a drink instead of wine. Thank you for taking care of Evelyn all these years!"
"You're welcome. It's my duty to take care of my Evelyn!" Although Charlotte said that, she still raised her soda can to clink with Alexander and took a big gulp.
Evelyn looked nervously at Alexander, then at Charlotte.
Alexander patted Evelyn's hand to comfort her.
After tennis, they went straight to dinner.
Evelyn naturally took Alexander's car, while Charlotte took Lucas's.
"Charlotte, you were out of line today!" Lucas looked at Charlotte and criticized her.
"It's a rare occasion. Cousin, don't be mad!" Charlotte hugged a pillow and replied.
"Have a grudge against Alexander?" Lucas smiled.
"No, but I feel a bit uncomfortable that he married my Evelyn!"
"No matter how good your relationship is, you have to get married separately. You're not in love with Evelyn, are you?" Lucas said half-jokingly.
Charlotte couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Either that, or it's the feeling of being reluctant to marry off a daughter you've painstakingly raised!"
"That line should be said by Evelyn's parents!"
"Anyway, I feel the same way!"
Lucas was speechless. "Don't worry. Alexander isn't the fickle type. Since he married Evelyn, he'll be responsible for her!"
"Being responsible isn't enough. He has to guarantee my Evelyn's happiness!"
"You're so strict!"
"Hmph, cousin, when you get married and have a daughter, you'll understand how I feel!"
"Little girl, you're only a few years old, and you're lecturing your cousin. That's quite something!" Lucas said with a smile.
"Age doesn't mean mature experience and mind."
"You mean I can't match you?"
"No, no, I'm just giving an example. Cousin, I want to ask you something!"
"What is it?"
"You should know about Alexander's first love, right?"
"That was a long time ago. I told you before. Don't meddle. Wait, you're not against Alexander because of this, are you? Charlotte, are you too much of a perfectionist? Do you expect Alexander to be a blank slate like Evelyn?" Lucas said with a mix of tears and laughter.
"No, I'm worried Alexander will bully Evelyn. After all, he's a sly fox. If he plays tricks on my Evelyn, she'll be manipulated and sold, thinking he's being good to her!" Charlotte muttered.
"A thousand-year-old fox!" Lucas said with a smile. Although he found it funny, the word seemed to describe Alexander perfectly. He was a textbook smiling tiger. "Now they're legally married. Their relationship is N times closer than yours. You're still worrying about other people's affairs here. If you have this free time, you'd better worry about your cousin more!"
"What do I have to worry about? Anyway, you're not interested in women!" Charlotte replied with a roll of her eyes.