Evelyn was completely engrossed in a video when her phone's sharp ringtone shattered the silence, making her jump.

She collected herself and answered the call.

A voice came through the receiver, smooth and calming. It was entirely different from Alexander's usual deep, commanding tone. This voice was softer, almost gentle.

"Is this Evelyn?" the man asked. The simple question inexplicably stirred a strange warmth within her.

Who was this? The voice was unfamiliar, yet it felt oddly comforting.

"Yes, speaking. Who is this?" Evelyn replied, her tone laced with subtle confusion, her brow furrowing.

On the other end, Theodore felt a sudden, powerful surge of familiarity. An inexplicable heat bloomed in his chest.

He gave a soft, warm chuckle. "It's been a long time. Have you truly forgotten me?"

He understood her confusion. During the brief, critical moments when Evelyn had saved him, he had been barely conscious, his awareness a blur.

It was logical that she wouldn't recognize his voice now.

Still, he couldn't resist a playful tease, eager to close the distance time had created.

Evelyn's frown deepened, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Who are you, exactly?" she demanded, her voice now edged with skepticism.

She was now absolutely certain she did not know the caller.

Theodore maintained an even, patient tone. "You really want to know?" he lightly teased. "You'll find out when we meet. Tonight at seven, I'll be waiting at The Grand Crestwood. We can talk then..."

He was cut off by the abrupt, harsh beep of the call disconnecting. His words hung unfinished in the air.

Theodore stared at his phone, his expression a mix of shock and offense.

Did she just hang up on him? Unbelievable. That had never, ever happened to him in his entire life.

Meanwhile, Evelyn tossed her phone aside and scoffed, turning back to her video app with a dismissive snort.

"Where do these scammers get the nerve?" she muttered, her voice icy. "They're getting more audacious every day, even targeting someone like me."

The Grand Crestwood was renowned as the epitome of luxury in Crestwood, accessible only to the highest echelons of society.

Clearly, this scammer hadn't done his research. Evelyn paused as a realization dawned on her.

Was this that infamous scam? The one where con artists posed as wealthy admirers to lure victims into financial ruin?

They played the perfect part—rich, devoted, trustworthy—until they had a woman emotionally invested and financially drained.

The moment the victim believed the love was real and handed over her money, the scammer would vanish without a trace, leaving her devastated and broke.

That same afternoon, Evelyn's phone rang again.

It was the same number.

Her eyes narrowed, a wave of anger washing over her.

These lowlifes had probably swindled countless people with their lies. It was absolutely infuriating!

Without a second thought, Evelyn answered the call, her voice dripping with icy rage. "Stop calling me, you lying piece of trash! Go find some other fool to scam! You slimy bastard, you actually thought I'd fall for this? Not a chance! Crawl back into whatever hole you came from before I report you!"

After unleashing her fury, she hung up and immediately blocked the number.

On the other end, Theodore stared at his now-dark phone screen, enveloped in a heavy silence.

His subordinates, who had witnessed the entire exchange, were also stunned silent, not daring to utter a word.

After an extensive search, they had finally located the woman who had once saved Theodore's life.

They had anticipated a touching reunion. Instead, they saw their boss being viciously berated.

Watching Theodore's prolonged, tense silence, his team grew increasingly uneasy. They feared his frustration might be redirected toward them, given the disastrous outcome.