Filial piety comes before all else, and since this was her most respected mother, Evelyn Bennett was originally a very traditional and conservative woman. Since she was married, she would live her life properly. Although she had already accepted this husband in her heart, to ask her to treat him gently was simply impossible.

Evelyn Bennett was the mayor, the second-in-command in the city, but the two of them were by no means joined by a political or business marriage. The reason, if you think about it, is rather laughable. Comrade Brian Harris would loudly proclaim “do a good deed every day,” but the good deeds he had actually done could be counted on one finger. That’s right, if you count, he had only done one: he saved his mother-in-law’s life right after she was in a car accident.

Now that he thought about it, old Harris still found it unbelievable. He secretly thought that he must have been possessed by Dr. Bethune at the time. Otherwise, having lived most of his life by the principle “the less trouble, the better,” how did he suddenly have a pang of conscience that day? This also made him realize two things: doing good doesn’t depend on quantity—do it when it matters; doing evil doesn’t depend on how little—if no one sees, it works. Good deeds must be done where they count.

However, speaking of it, the mother-in-law really had nothing but praise for Brian Harris, actually marrying off her high-ranking daughter to him. Such a favor—how could he ever repay it?

“You’re here, same as always?”

“Mm, how’s business?”

“Hehe, not bad.” The waitress chatted warmly with the beautiful mayor; it was clear the two were quite familiar.

Although Evelyn Bennett still wore her cold little face, the fact that she could speak to someone in a normal tone already left Brian Harris, sitting in the corner, utterly astonished. So she could actually talk nicely to people!

After a while, the waitress, having greeted the mayor, finally remembered Brian Harris, who was contentedly smoking. With a professional smile, she walked over: “Sir, I’m sorry, smoking is not allowed here.”

“Oh, just two more puffs and I’ll be done, just a moment, just a moment.” Brian Harris took two deep drags, smoke billowing, making the young woman cough and cover her mouth, a hint of anger showing in her brows.

“Sir, please try to understand us.”

“Wastefulness is definitely a bad habit.” Brian Harris straightened his face, speaking sternly to her: “You have to finish what you start, never give up halfway. Tell me, why didn’t you remind me when I first lit up? Now that I’m almost done, if I stub it out, what a waste! You young people these days really don’t know thrift, and that’s not a good habit. Today I’m speaking to you from the heart—would anyone else bother to say so much to you…”

“Sir, please put it out.” The young woman was about to cry; his righteous tone left her unable to argue back.

“There, I’m done.” He stubbed out the cigarette in the coffee cup, and Brian Harris shamelessly collected his “reward”: “I’ve told you so much, you’ve learned a lot, and you’ll take fewer wrong turns in society in the future. Hehe, I won’t charge you for this advice—just put this meal on your tab. Oh, and if one meal isn’t enough to express your gratitude, I’ll come eat again another day.” Wiping his mouth with a napkin, the satisfied Brian Harris got up to leave.

“So shameless!” Everyone thought the same thing in their hearts.

This time, the young woman really cried. She was the only one serving in the front hall, and even if she wanted to stop him, she couldn’t. Her monthly salary was only 1,500, and this 200-yuan bill was no small sum. She could only look pleadingly at the mayor, the only one who might be able to help.

But who would have thought, as the mayor, a parent official who should serve the people, she would lower her head and edge away as if avoiding the plague, afraid that Brian Harris would bump into her as he passed by, showing no intention of dealing with this man who just dined and dashed. On her cold and beautiful face, it was clear she was thinking: I didn’t see anything.

Evelyn Bennett was fuming inside, praying to every deity and ancestor that her good husband wouldn’t greet her, or she’d be utterly humiliated. But of course, what you fear is what comes. Brian Harris wasn’t about to make the girl pay—his earlier performance was just to let his good wife know: “Honey, I didn’t bring money, you pay.” But who knew his wife would act like “I don’t know you,” desperate to avoid him.

Angry, Brian Harris couldn’t care anymore. He plopped down in the empty seat beside her, pretending to be affectionate: “Hey, isn’t this Evelyn? How come you didn’t say hi when you came in?”

“Oh…” Everyone let out a sound of realization.

“I—I don’t know him.” Evelyn Bennett really wanted to explain to everyone, but it seemed that saying anything would only make it more obvious, so she swallowed her words, mortified, wishing she could disappear. It was bad enough for him to be shameless, but why drag her down with him?

With a frosty face, her silver teeth lightly biting her lower lip, she squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: “I can tolerate you making a scene at home, but this is a public place. Please mind your image.” Then she added, “And please mind my image, too.”

Having been so thoroughly embarrassed, what image was left? Brian Harris could only give an awkward laugh: “Well, I wasn’t trying to be difficult, it’s just that I’m a bit short on cash, a bit short on cash.” His little eyes glanced at the handbag on the table, just as he was about to claim it, Evelyn Bennett snatched it away with lightning speed. Her face flushed red and white with anger; if it weren’t for the need to maintain her mayoral dignity, she really wanted to smack his annoying head with her handbag to vent her frustration.