A flicker of surprise passed through Alexander's eyes, so brief it was almost imperceptible.

As she had said, Evelyn had reduced the sugar. It aligned perfectly with his own taste.

His expression neutral, he took a small bite of the cookie. He feigned a critical palate. "I generally prefer things less sweet," he commented.

Evelyn didn't argue. She simply filed this piece of information away.

Alexander clearly favored more subtle flavors.

"I can bake another batch," she offered, reaching for the plate.

"Unnecessary." Alexander's hand intercepted hers. He picked up the glass of warm milk instead. "This is sufficient for breakfast."

His tone was flat. "You may go. I have work to attend to."

Evelyn paused, then spoke with deliberate calm. "Alexander, about last night. I want to apologize. I bear you no ill will. We are still new to each other, and I am adjusting. My reaction was about that, and nothing more. I don't want you to misinterpret it." Her gaze was steady and serious, holding his.

"Since I married you, I am prepared to accept all of you. Your strengths and your challenges. Supporting you is a natural part of that. I assure you, what happened last night will not be repeated. You can trust me." Her voice was filled with sincerity.

Alexander listened silently, his face an unreadable mask.

After a long moment, he spoke, a thread of skepticism in his voice. "Do you truly mean that?"

Evelyn nodded firmly. "Absolutely. I made a commitment when I married you. I intend to honor it and meet your needs as best I can."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Alexander's lips. Did she have any idea what she was saying?

She offered to meet his needs?

He suppressed a dark chuckle, taking a slow breath. For now, he set aside the layered meanings.

A mix of curiosity and a dangerous flicker of hope prompted his next words. "There is something from my past I haven't shared. I was in a car accident as a youth. It left me with a permanent disability. This... scar... has caused my family to consistently overlook me. For years, I've been trying to build businesses away from their shadow, striving for their acknowledgment. Unfortunately, luck has rarely been on my side. Most of my ventures have failed, accumulating a significant amount of debt in the process. If you feel the need to reconsider our arrangement, I will not stop you."

Evelyn was momentarily stunned by the revelation. She collected herself. "How much debt are we talking about?"

Without hesitation, and with a hint of deliberate provocation, Alexander named an astronomical figure. "What if I said one hundred million dollars?"

As expected, Evelyn's composed demeanor wavered slightly.

He braced for the rejection he was sure would follow. Once again, she defied his expectations.

Her voice was resolute. "It's alright. We'll face it together. We will find a way."

A storm of emotion surged within Alexander, yet his exterior remained calm. He let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, his eyes skeptical. "And how, precisely, do you propose we do that, Evelyn? This isn't a hundred dollars."

Evelyn's eyes dropped. Her mind raced through her finances. She had given most of her earnings to Julian over the years. She had little saved.

But then, confidence returned as she thought of her design skills.

"Don't worry. I'm looking for a job," she declared, a new optimism in her tone. "I've been sending out resumes. I'm sure I'll get a response soon." Her expression was earnest. "No matter what, I won't let you face this alone."

Instinctively, she reached out. Her fingers gently brushed against his hand where it rested on the desk. It was a silent promise of solidarity.