Chapter 62: Actions, Not Words

Damian Sterling remained standing outside Collins International long after Evelyn's car disappeared into the evening traffic.

Her final words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

"Then prove it."

She hadn't forgiven him.

She hadn't accepted him.

But she hadn't completely closed the door either.

For the first time in years...

Damian felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Hope.

Not because Evelyn had promised him another chance.

But because she had made one thing clear.

If he wanted to earn a place in her life again...

Words would never be enough.

Meanwhile...

Evelyn kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel as she drove home.

She replayed every word Damian had said.

Sophia had lied.

The pregnancy had never existed.

The miscarriage had been staged.

She finally understood why Damian had remained with Sophia after their divorce.

But understanding wasn't the same as forgiving.

She had spent three years healing from the deepest wound of her life.

She couldn't simply forget that because the truth had finally come out.

When she arrived home, she parked her car and sat inside for another minute.

She closed her eyes.

"Don't let your heart become weak again," she whispered to herself.

Only after calming her emotions did she step out of the car.

The moment she opened the front door, a cheerful voice greeted her.

"Mummy!"

Three-year-old Ethan ran toward her with open arms.

A smile instantly replaced the sadness on Evelyn's face.

She bent down and scooped him into her arms.

"Someone missed me."

Ethan nodded enthusiastically.

"Mrs Davis helped me build a huge dinosaur!"

Evelyn laughed.

"Really?"

"It was this big!"

He stretched out both arms dramatically.

Mrs Davis, the nanny Evelyn had hired after returning to New York, smiled from the kitchen doorway.

"He couldn't wait to show you."

"Thank you, Mrs Davis."

"It was my pleasure."

Watching Ethan chatter excitedly about his day reminded Evelyn what truly mattered.

No matter how complicated the past became...

Her son would always come first.

The following morning...

Damian arrived at Sterling Group with a different mindset.

Instead of dwelling on regret...

He wanted to become someone worthy of Evelyn's respect.

As he stepped out of the elevator, he noticed one of the junior employees struggling to gather documents that had fallen across the floor.

Without hesitation, Damian bent down and helped him.

The young employee looked shocked.

"Th-Thank you, Mr. Sterling."

Damian simply smiled.

"Be more careful next time."

Several employees exchanged surprised glances.

Their CEO had changed.

Inside his office, Lucas noticed the difference immediately.

"You seem... lighter."

Damian sat down.

"I finally understand something."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"I spent too much time wishing I could change the past."

"I can't."

"But I can change the man I am today."

Lucas smiled faintly.

"I think Evelyn would appreciate actions more than promises."

Damian nodded.

"So do I."

That afternoon...

Damian received an invitation to a charity fundraising gala hosted by Collins International.

He looked at the invitation for a long moment.

Lucas noticed.

"Are you going?"

Damian smiled slightly.

"Yes."

Lucas laughed softly.

"For business?"

Damian shook his head.

"No."

"I'm going because someone important to me will be there."

Across the city...

Arthur Collins stepped into Evelyn's office.

"Good news."

Evelyn looked up from her laptop.

"What is it?"

"The fundraising gala is tomorrow evening."

"The board would like you to represent Collins International with me."

Evelyn smiled politely.

"I'd be honored."

Arthur nodded.

"I expected nothing less."

As he turned to leave, he paused.

"Oh... Sterling Group will also be attending."

Evelyn's smile faded slightly.

"I see."

Arthur looked at her with quiet understanding.

"If you're uncomfortable, I can ask someone else to attend."

Evelyn gently shook her head.

"No."

"I won't spend my life avoiding people."

"If our companies are working together, we're bound to meet."

Arthur smiled proudly.

"That's the Evelyn I know."

After he left, Evelyn looked out through the office window.

She had faced far greater challenges than one evening in the same room as Damian Sterling.

She could do it again.

That night...

Damian stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom.

For years, he had attended countless galas to expand his business empire.

Tomorrow will be different.

He wasn't going to impress investors.

He wasn't going to negotiate contracts.

He simply wanted Evelyn to see one thing.

That he was no longer the man who had taken her love for granted.

He knew she wouldn't believe it overnight.

He didn't expect her to.

But every journey...

No matter how difficult...

Began with a single step.

And Damian Sterling was finally ready to take his.