Has Evelyn Come Out Yet

The sleek black sedan was already idling by the curb before Evelyn even exited the mall.

The rear window lowered a fraction.

Isabella’s gaze immediately locked onto the man inside, her breath catching.

In all her time in Crestwood, she had never encountered a man with such devastatingly sharp features.

He turned his head slightly toward the mall entrance, casually lifting his wrist to check the time.

Every minute movement he made sent an involuntary shiver through her.

The aura of refined power surrounding him was something far beyond ordinary men.

He was in a different league altogether from Julian.

"What are you staring at? Is Evelyn out yet?" Julian's impatient voice broke her trance. He was completely unaware that Isabella had been mesmerized by another man.

His mind was singularly focused on one thing: the moment Evelyn would appear.

And then, she did.

"Evelyn!" Julian called out, his voice laced with a frantic energy as he instinctively stepped forward to intercept her.

Isabella snapped back to reality and grabbed his arm firmly. "Julian, don't be reckless. It's too public here. I don't want us thrown out by security again."

Even as she spoke, they both watched Evelyn walk purposefully toward the luxury car and slip inside.

"Evelyn, she..." Julian's breath hitched, his eyes widening in disbelief. Since when had she become involved with someone like that?

Isabella was equally stunned, her mind racing. Then, she remembered what Evelyn had said to them in the store.

Her voice came out strained. "Evelyn said she's married. Could that man... be her husband?"

The image of Alexander Blackwood resurfaced in her mind. He was exceptional in every conceivable way. And he was Evelyn's husband!

The more Isabella thought about it, the hotter her anger burned. How did Evelyn, of all people, end up with a man like that?

He was wealthy, young, and infuriatingly handsome—everything Isabella had ever fantasized about.

Her teeth clenched as bitter jealousy twisted deep inside her. The resentment was so potent it made her want to scream.

Evelyn had walked away from Julian and landed such a phenomenal man. What right did she have?

Beside her, Julian stood frozen, trying to process what he had just seen.

His gut insisted this was all an act, a performance Evelyn was putting on to provoke him.

But then he remembered the way her face had lit up upon seeing that man—that genuine, radiant smile.

Julian had been with Evelyn for five years. He knew her beauty was unparalleled. She was gentle, considerate, and had always prioritized him.

But there was one area where she had never fully yielded to him.

She had always maintained a boundary, insisting on waiting until marriage.

He had rushed the proposal and planned an elaborate wedding—all to finally claim her.

Then, everything had collapsed.

For years, Evelyn had smiled at him, but never like that. Never with such unguarded warmth and joy that made her eyes sparkle with pure life.

That man had accessed a part of Evelyn that Julian had never been able to touch.

The thought of her looking at another man that way sent a searing, possessive pain through his chest.

How could she? How could she just move on and offer that smile to someone else?

She belonged to him. He would never let her go.

Julian's chest heaved with suppressed rage, his jaw tightening to a painful degree. "Find out who that man is," he ground out. "I want to know everything about him. Now."

Isabella stiffened at the raw fury in his voice, her pulse quickening.

Was he this agitated over Evelyn?

The realization sent a cold wave of panic through her. Julian still cared. He still wanted Evelyn back.

A venomous resentment coiled in her heart. "I won't let that bitch win," she thought viciously.

Her eyes darkened with malice. If Evelyn was bold enough to play two men, then she deserved to be exposed. And with any luck, that mysterious man would see Evelyn for the fraud she was and discard her without a second thought.

Inside the car, Evelyn's mind replayed the mall encounter.

Bumping into Julian and Isabella had been unexpected, but since it happened, she felt Alexander had a right to know.

He was her husband, after all.

She took a steadying breath and turned to him. "Alexander—"

The car jolted to a sudden, violent halt, throwing her forward with terrifying force.

A gasp escaped her lips as she braced for impact. But before she could collide with anything, a powerful arm yanked her back.

Alexander's embrace was solid and secure, pulling her firmly against his chest. His voice, low and calm, rumbled near her ear. "Steady."

She froze for a split second before awareness dawned—she was pressed tightly against Alexander.

As her senses settled, she inhaled his distinctive scent. It was crisp and clean, like a frosty morning in a pine forest, carrying notes of icy air and snow-dusted evergreens. It was strangely soothing.

Yet, beneath that calm, her heart hammered against her ribs so fiercely she feared he might feel it.

Alexander's voice cut through the tension, deep and controlled. "Report. What happened?"

The driver, sounding shaken, replied quickly, "A cat, sir. It ran right out in front of us. I had to brake hard."

Evelyn blinked, her breath still caught in her throat, acutely aware she was still nestled in Alexander's hold.

"I see. Proceed," Alexander said, his tone even.

"Right away, sir."

The car began moving again.

A heavy silence filled the space, broken only when Alexander spoke softly above her head.

"Evelyn, how long do you intend to use my chest as a pillow?"

Her breath hitched. Instantly, she scrambled to put distance between them, mortification flooding her.

It was only then she realized her fingers were still clenched tightly in the fabric of his shirt. She hadn't even noticed she was holding on.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. Her hands fluttered awkwardly as she searched for something to say.

"Julian, your reflexes are remarkable," she finally blurted out after an awkward pause. "That was a very smooth stop. You saved that cat. Excellent driving."

From the front seat, Julian Fletcher risked a quick glance in the rearview mirror at his employer's impassive face before replying with a good-natured chuckle. "Thank you, Mrs. Blackwood. Years behind the wheel sharpen the instincts."

Evelyn forced a light laugh, trying to dispel the lingering awkwardness.

Alexander, his expression unreadable, tilted his head slightly. "Julian, eyes on the road."

"Of course, sir," Julian responded immediately.

Evelyn bit her lip, sticking her tongue out in a gesture of sheer embarrassment before quickly turning to stare fixedly out the window.

Alexander wasn't fooled. He knew exactly what was going through her mind. A quiet, almost imperceptible chuckle escaped him before he drawled, his voice laced with unmistakable amusement,

"Feeling shy all of a sudden? You weren't nearly this reserved last night."