Chapter 486
To Nathaniel's astonishment, Evelyn's family turned out to be the legitimate holders of the platinum membership card.
According to Penelope, Evelyn's sister owned the exclusive card, completely ruling out any chance of it being misplaced or taken unlawfully.
Clearly, the Carter family possessed considerable wealth!
No wonder Evelyn carried herself with such newfound confidence. Finding her biological family must have been an extraordinary occasion. Yet why would she choose to conceal this? Eleanor would surely rejoice at the news.
"Nathaniel, are you even listening? I'm telling you to have Evelyn removed from the premises immediately!"
Nathaniel felt a pang of exclusion, realizing he'd been deliberately kept unaware of Evelyn's family background.
Massaging his temples, he countered, "Mother, everyone knows the established policies regarding our premium membership privileges."
"When you cleared the mall last month, did you ever consider the silver-tier members?"
Beatrice faltered momentarily. "That's not a valid comparison, Nathaniel."
"Why shouldn't it be? The Whitmore Group's investment comes with strict operational guidelines. If we start bending rules arbitrarily, what credibility would remain?"
"If today's incident becomes public knowledge, it could severely damage the mall's reputation. Do you grasp the potential consequences?"
"But we're discussing Evelyn here! How can you treat her like some random shopper?" Beatrice snapped back.
Nathaniel's voice turned steely. "She possesses a platinum card, which automatically grants her VIP privileges!"
Beatrice's temper flared instantly. "Nathaniel! That wretched girl humiliated us, yet you're defending her because of some corporate policy!"
"Mother, it appears you're seeking retribution because you were denied access as a standard member. Now you expect me to abuse my position for personal vengeance."
"As CEO of Whitmore Group, I cannot authorize such actions. If I were to—"
"You're my son! Is supporting your own mother truly so difficult?"
Nathaniel replied coolly, "I can mediate this situation, but you'll need to justify your actions to the board yourself."
The line went dead as Beatrice slammed down her receiver.
Penelope inquired cautiously, "What happened? Did Nathaniel agree?"
"Agree? That boy's completely bewitched by that Carter girl!"
Though furious, Beatrice hesitated to involve Nathaniel further. Facing the board's inevitable censure would tarnish her standing irreparably!
Stamping her designer heels, she commanded, "Let's leave."
Penelope had no choice but to comply, though she secretly coveted a platinum card herself. Imagine having first access to all the exclusive collections!
Meanwhile, Nathaniel stared pensively at his darkened phone screen.
Recalling Beatrice's outburst, he found himself scrolling through Evelyn's Instagram. Her latest post caught his eye: "Graduation calls for a complete wardrobe refresh!"
The accompanying selfie showcased her in a stylish new ensemble, her heart-shaped face glowing under the boutique lighting, wispy tendrils framing her delicate features.
Nathaniel studied the photo momentarily before opening their direct messages.
At the luxury boutique, Evelyn reclined on the plush sofa, examining the platinum card. "Olivia, what exactly makes this membership so special?"
Initially, she'd assumed it was merely an upgraded shopping pass. But after Penelope's dramatic reaction, she realized its true significance.
Apparently, this small piece of metal could command security to remove even Beatrice Harrington from the premises!
Olivia hesitated, uncertain whether she should disclose the full extent of the card's privileges to Evelyn just yet.