Sonny stepped out and opened the car door for Everly, saying, "You're wearing a gown and heels, so don't drive. I'll be your chauffeur tonight."
The car he used in Clearfield was provided by the company.
Everly said, "I have a driver."
However, she still got into Sonny's car.
Right as Sonny got in too, she said, "If we don't bring my driver, then one of us can't drink tonight."
"I won't drink. I'll drive us. Tonight's banquet was originally an invitation for your family. I'm only filling in for someone else. Not many people know me anyway, so it doesn't matter whether I drink or not.
"It's only awkward to refuse a drink if it's offered by someone close."
Sonny drove while continuing, "With me around, you don't have to worry. Even if you get drunk, I'll make sure you get home safely."
He would be her escort today.
Everly smiled. "I don't usually drink much anyway. A few sips at most. No one dares force me to drink. Even if I actually got drunk, no one would dare to do anything to me. They might fight over the chance to take me home, though.
"But I rarely get drunk anyway. Ever since I came of age, my grandpa made sure I learned how to handle my drink. I'm not particularly great, but I'm not too shabby either. At least, I can hold my own during business dinners or banquets."
"Old Mr. Flemming is a good grandfather."
"He is. My mom said that he's been the one raising me since I was born. He taught and disciplined me, while my mom rarely got involved. Also, I think, because he didn't fully trust her to raise me properly. After all, I'm an only child, and my upbringing would affect the future of Flemming Group."
Sonny had never met Maddie and did not know what she was like, only hearing mentions of her from Everly a few times.
He knew that Maddie originally hoped to have a son and had been disappointed when she gave birth to a daughter. Perhaps that was why she was not as attentive toward Everly as she should have been.
Given the Flemming family's
situation, even though Everly was a girl, she was still the apple of Kaden's eye. He would not stand by and watch his daughter in-law neglect the child, so he took Everlyin and raised her himself.
After coming to understand Maddie's personality and the way she handled
situations, Kaden felt that with the future of the Flemming family resting on Everly, it was safer for him to raise her personally.
Now, Kaden was grateful that he
eT
had raised Everly. Otherwise, if Maddie had raised her to be indecisive and easily swayed by others Flemming Group would eventually end up in the Zellers hands once it was handed over to Everly.
If that happened, he would never be able to rest in peace.
"My mom does love me. She's just a little too easily influenced by others. She's
overly sentimental and cares deeply about her siblings."
Everly had no siblings of her own, so she could not understand her mother's attachment to hers.
With Everly's personality, she probably would not even bother maintaining contact with her uncles
and aunts. Every one of
wanted to take advantage of Ever yet Maddie still believed that her siblings genuinely cared about her daughter.
Would Everly's uncles and aunts still treat her so well if Maddie had not been Mrs. Flemming and sending things back to her family while Flemming Group was not supporting Zellerco?
Forget it. That was Maddie's business. As long as her mother was happy, Everly did not care.
Maddie delivering stuff back to her family would not put a dent in the Flemmings' fortune anyway. Most of what she sent was nutritional supplements, so Everly was willing to look the other way.
The real finances of the family were in the hands of Everly and her grandfather. Maddie could not touch them, which meant that those relatives had no way to use her to seize the family fortune.
The money Maddie had access to was simply the living allowance Kaden gave her. She managed the household expenses and was left alone as long as she did not shortchange Everly.
Maddie also had some assets to her name. They did not generate much income, but she had enough liquid funds to cover her personal expenses.
Sonny did not know how to respond.
This was a matter between Everly and her mother.
As an outsider, he could listen, but it was not his place to interfere.