EVELYN“He didn’t hear that, did he?” I muttered under my breath.Alexander turned his gaze to me, his expression unreadable. “What do you want to eat?”Thrown off by the sudden change in topic, I hesitated. “Anything.”We landed in Italy a few hours later. The moment we stepped off the jet, a group of men in black suits swarmed around us, bowing slightly as they collected our luggage. Their movements were sharp, efficient. Intimidating.And then—A woman emerged from the shadows, her red heels clicking against the marble floor of the private airstrip. She was stunning—tall, elegant, dressed in a short black dress that hugged her curves. But it wasn’t her beauty that caught my attention. It was the gun in her hand.“Sweetheart,” she purred, walking straight up to Alexander.Then—she kissed him.Right in front of me.I froze.Jackson and Nina stood behind me. I turned to Nina, my stomach twisting, needing confirmation that I hadn’t just imagined it.Nina tilted her head slightly, then
EVELYN“I yelled at him. “Are you seriously testing my patience? Bringing me when you had a job to deal with?”Alexander didn’t break stride as we entered the club, his movements precise, calculated. “I’m here to save someone.”“Who?”“Zoey.”My entire body stiffened at the name. My fingers curled around the gun in my hand before I shoved it against his chest. “Zoey has enough guards to care for her. I’m not doing this.” I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.“She’s in there alone with the VIP men.” His voice was firm, low, edged with something I couldn’t quite place.I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Well, she should’ve taken enough guards with her if she knew she was walking into trouble. Taking your wife to go save your mistress? Is this a joke?” I wrenched my arm free and spun toward the car. “If you don’t get back in the car soon, I’ll drive off.”Alexander didn’t answer. He just turned and disappeared into the club.I
EVELYN“I can’t stay here. I don’t want to stay here,” I said, shoving clothes into my suitcase.The anger, the frustration, the unbearable humiliation—I couldn’t take it anymore. Every breath inside this house felt suffocating.Then the door swung open, and Nina stepped in, her arms crossed. “What are you doing?”“What does it look like?” I snapped, grabbing another dress from the closet.She exhaled sharply, watching me. “And where exactly do you think you’re going?”I paused for a moment, gripping the fabric in my hands.That was the problem.I had nowhere to go.My fingers clenched. “I can’t leave. Not yet.”Nina stepped closer. “That’s why I’m telling you to be patient.”“Patient?” I scoffed. “Alexander is cheating.”Nina didn’t even blink. “Of course. What did you expect?”I turned to her, my chest tightening. “What?” I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, throwing a dress into my suitcase with more force than necessary. “Of course, because cheating is just a man’s birthright, isn’t i
EVELYNZoey leaned against the doorframe, her eyes lingering on me, calculating. The air between us felt thick with unspoken tension. I could see her carefully measuring every word, every glance. She had always been one to play her cards close to her chest, but today, her intentions were clearer than ever.“I can’t be discarded, Evelyn,” she said, the confidence in her voice unmistakable. “No matter what you think, I’m here to stay.”I tilted my head, allowing myself a small, mocking smile. “And who are you?”She didn’t flinch. “I’m important,” she replied, stepping into the room with an almost theatrical air, “Just like Alexander said. In every aspect of his business, he needs me.”“Oh,” I said flatly, pretending to be unimpressed. But inwardly, her words stung. I couldn’t deny that Alexander had been different with her. There was an edge to the way he interacted with her that made me feel invisible, like a mere shadow in their game.Zoey tilted her head, watching me with those pierc
EVELYNAlexander’s hand barely brushed against mine as we walked into the ballroom, his voice low enough that only I could hear.“You look extremely beautiful tonight.”I glanced at him, keeping my expression unreadable. “Thank you. You look good too.”His lips twitched as if he wanted to say more, but we both knew this was just for show. Smiles, whispers—an illusion of unity. Let them think about what they wanted.The ballroom was grand, filled with power players of the city. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over velvet-draped tables, and the sound of clinking glasses mixed with low conversations. It was the kind of night where alliances were made, and enemies were disguised as friends.I stood near a high table, a champagne flute in hand. The bubbles fizzed against my lips, but I barely tasted it. Across the room, Zoey caught my eye, tilting her head toward a shadowed corner. Vincenzo.Before I could move, Nina materialized beside me, her voice laced with quiet judgment.“You’r
EVELYNI took the drink without looking at the man offering it, barely aware of anything except the bitterness on my tongue.“It’s difficult to know what you are planning, ma’am,” a familiar voice said.I turned my head slightly, my gaze landing on Jackson.“Then don’t know,” I said flatly, taking another sip before walking away.The ballroom was a blur of murmured conversations and laughter, but none of it mattered. My heels echoed against the polished marble as I moved, Jackson following at a careful distance.I didn’t need his judgment. I didn’t need anyone’s judgment.Before I could think twice, my feet carried me toward the hallway leading to the private rooms. As soon as I reached the door, two of Alexander’s men stepped in my path.“You can’t enter, ma’am,” one of them said.I lifted my chin, my voice cutting through the space between us. “I am his wife.”They hesitated. Exchanged a look. Then stepped aside.My heartbeat was steady as I walked inside. But the moment my eyes lan
EVELYNThe air inside the car was thick with tension as Jackson drove through the empty streets. My body still buzzed with adrenaline, my mind replaying every reckless decision I had made tonight. I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass doing nothing to settle the heat beneath my skin.Jackson’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. His jaw clenched, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.“You won’t regret it?,” he finally said, his voice low.It wasn’t a question.I turned to him, my expression unreadable. “No,” I said simply.Jackson’s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. His jaw flexed, his breath controlled but tight, like he was holding back something sharp.“You’re a married woman,” he said finally, his voice low but edged with something raw.I didn’t flinch. I just stared at him, my face unreadable. “I know.”His grip tightened. “Then tell me—what the hell are you doing? You know very well that I couldn’t resist you”I let out a slow breath, tilting my he
EVELYNI was in the room undressing when he came in, his presence a shadow in the doorway. Before I could even turn around, his lips brushed my shoulders, sending a shock through my spine.“Evelyn,” he said, his voice low, almost tender.I didn’t turn to face him right away. I needed to act like his wife, like everything was normal. I had to keep the illusion intact. I turned to him and, without thinking, held his hand, letting him draw me into his embrace.“I miss you,” he murmured, his lips grazing the curve of my neck. “I want you tonight.”I pulled back slightly, narrowing my eyes. “Didn’t Zoey give you enough of her?”He froze, his breath catching. There it was—Zoey. The one thing I knew would hit him. “Let’s go back to where we came from. I am tired of this place,” I said, turning to face him.Alexander sighed, “Evelyn, I am here with you, why do you want to leave me and go back.”I raised an eyebrow. “You understand that you’re the one who brought me here, right? I had no inte
Evelyn’s eyes were locked on Damian as he stood in the doorway, his posture stiff with tension. The air was thick with the unresolved, and though he was trying to hide it, I could see his hands trembling at his sides. He had just walked back into this house—my house—and he wanted something. What, exactly, I wasn’t sure yet. But I was more than willing to find out.Damian knocked softly before stepping into the room, and I didn’t even spare him a glance as I continued to collect myself. But my pulse quickened with anticipation. He wasn’t going to get away with this. Not again. Not after everything.Jackson, my ever-present bodyguard, stood just behind me, his watchful eyes on Damian. It was a dangerous game, one that could turn ugly fast. But I wasn’t backing down now.Damian’s gaze flickered to Jackson before he locked eyes with me. “I want to speak to her alone,” he said, his voice firm, commanding.But I wasn’t some passive bystander anymore.“He stays,” I replied flatly, my voice s
EVELYNI was in the room undressing when he came in, his presence a shadow in the doorway. Before I could even turn around, his lips brushed my shoulders, sending a shock through my spine.“Evelyn,” he said, his voice low, almost tender.I didn’t turn to face him right away. I needed to act like his wife, like everything was normal. I had to keep the illusion intact. I turned to him and, without thinking, held his hand, letting him draw me into his embrace.“I miss you,” he murmured, his lips grazing the curve of my neck. “I want you tonight.”I pulled back slightly, narrowing my eyes. “Didn’t Zoey give you enough of her?”He froze, his breath catching. There it was—Zoey. The one thing I knew would hit him. “Let’s go back to where we came from. I am tired of this place,” I said, turning to face him.Alexander sighed, “Evelyn, I am here with you, why do you want to leave me and go back.”I raised an eyebrow. “You understand that you’re the one who brought me here, right? I had no inte
EVELYNThe air inside the car was thick with tension as Jackson drove through the empty streets. My body still buzzed with adrenaline, my mind replaying every reckless decision I had made tonight. I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass doing nothing to settle the heat beneath my skin.Jackson’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. His jaw clenched, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.“You won’t regret it?,” he finally said, his voice low.It wasn’t a question.I turned to him, my expression unreadable. “No,” I said simply.Jackson’s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. His jaw flexed, his breath controlled but tight, like he was holding back something sharp.“You’re a married woman,” he said finally, his voice low but edged with something raw.I didn’t flinch. I just stared at him, my face unreadable. “I know.”His grip tightened. “Then tell me—what the hell are you doing? You know very well that I couldn’t resist you”I let out a slow breath, tilting my he
EVELYNI took the drink without looking at the man offering it, barely aware of anything except the bitterness on my tongue.“It’s difficult to know what you are planning, ma’am,” a familiar voice said.I turned my head slightly, my gaze landing on Jackson.“Then don’t know,” I said flatly, taking another sip before walking away.The ballroom was a blur of murmured conversations and laughter, but none of it mattered. My heels echoed against the polished marble as I moved, Jackson following at a careful distance.I didn’t need his judgment. I didn’t need anyone’s judgment.Before I could think twice, my feet carried me toward the hallway leading to the private rooms. As soon as I reached the door, two of Alexander’s men stepped in my path.“You can’t enter, ma’am,” one of them said.I lifted my chin, my voice cutting through the space between us. “I am his wife.”They hesitated. Exchanged a look. Then stepped aside.My heartbeat was steady as I walked inside. But the moment my eyes lan
EVELYNAlexander’s hand barely brushed against mine as we walked into the ballroom, his voice low enough that only I could hear.“You look extremely beautiful tonight.”I glanced at him, keeping my expression unreadable. “Thank you. You look good too.”His lips twitched as if he wanted to say more, but we both knew this was just for show. Smiles, whispers—an illusion of unity. Let them think about what they wanted.The ballroom was grand, filled with power players of the city. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over velvet-draped tables, and the sound of clinking glasses mixed with low conversations. It was the kind of night where alliances were made, and enemies were disguised as friends.I stood near a high table, a champagne flute in hand. The bubbles fizzed against my lips, but I barely tasted it. Across the room, Zoey caught my eye, tilting her head toward a shadowed corner. Vincenzo.Before I could move, Nina materialized beside me, her voice laced with quiet judgment.“You’r
EVELYNZoey leaned against the doorframe, her eyes lingering on me, calculating. The air between us felt thick with unspoken tension. I could see her carefully measuring every word, every glance. She had always been one to play her cards close to her chest, but today, her intentions were clearer than ever.“I can’t be discarded, Evelyn,” she said, the confidence in her voice unmistakable. “No matter what you think, I’m here to stay.”I tilted my head, allowing myself a small, mocking smile. “And who are you?”She didn’t flinch. “I’m important,” she replied, stepping into the room with an almost theatrical air, “Just like Alexander said. In every aspect of his business, he needs me.”“Oh,” I said flatly, pretending to be unimpressed. But inwardly, her words stung. I couldn’t deny that Alexander had been different with her. There was an edge to the way he interacted with her that made me feel invisible, like a mere shadow in their game.Zoey tilted her head, watching me with those pierc
EVELYN“I can’t stay here. I don’t want to stay here,” I said, shoving clothes into my suitcase.The anger, the frustration, the unbearable humiliation—I couldn’t take it anymore. Every breath inside this house felt suffocating.Then the door swung open, and Nina stepped in, her arms crossed. “What are you doing?”“What does it look like?” I snapped, grabbing another dress from the closet.She exhaled sharply, watching me. “And where exactly do you think you’re going?”I paused for a moment, gripping the fabric in my hands.That was the problem.I had nowhere to go.My fingers clenched. “I can’t leave. Not yet.”Nina stepped closer. “That’s why I’m telling you to be patient.”“Patient?” I scoffed. “Alexander is cheating.”Nina didn’t even blink. “Of course. What did you expect?”I turned to her, my chest tightening. “What?” I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, throwing a dress into my suitcase with more force than necessary. “Of course, because cheating is just a man’s birthright, isn’t i
EVELYN“I yelled at him. “Are you seriously testing my patience? Bringing me when you had a job to deal with?”Alexander didn’t break stride as we entered the club, his movements precise, calculated. “I’m here to save someone.”“Who?”“Zoey.”My entire body stiffened at the name. My fingers curled around the gun in my hand before I shoved it against his chest. “Zoey has enough guards to care for her. I’m not doing this.” I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.“She’s in there alone with the VIP men.” His voice was firm, low, edged with something I couldn’t quite place.I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Well, she should’ve taken enough guards with her if she knew she was walking into trouble. Taking your wife to go save your mistress? Is this a joke?” I wrenched my arm free and spun toward the car. “If you don’t get back in the car soon, I’ll drive off.”Alexander didn’t answer. He just turned and disappeared into the club.I
EVELYN“He didn’t hear that, did he?” I muttered under my breath.Alexander turned his gaze to me, his expression unreadable. “What do you want to eat?”Thrown off by the sudden change in topic, I hesitated. “Anything.”We landed in Italy a few hours later. The moment we stepped off the jet, a group of men in black suits swarmed around us, bowing slightly as they collected our luggage. Their movements were sharp, efficient. Intimidating.And then—A woman emerged from the shadows, her red heels clicking against the marble floor of the private airstrip. She was stunning—tall, elegant, dressed in a short black dress that hugged her curves. But it wasn’t her beauty that caught my attention. It was the gun in her hand.“Sweetheart,” she purred, walking straight up to Alexander.Then—she kissed him.Right in front of me.I froze.Jackson and Nina stood behind me. I turned to Nina, my stomach twisting, needing confirmation that I hadn’t just imagined it.Nina tilted her head slightly, then