LOGINâWhat were you looking at?â she asked.âNothing important.â he answered.Another lie. Evelyn sat beside him slowly, the mattress dipping slightly beneath her weight. The soft scent of vanilla and jasmine lingered around her, warm and comforting, yet Ethan felt even more guilty because of it.âWhatâs wrong?â she asked gently.The bedside lamp cast a soft amber glow across the room, illuminating Ethanâs pale face and the faint shadows beneath his eyes. Outside the tall glass windows, the night stretched endlessly over the Montgomery estate, quiet and still, but somehow the silence felt heavier tonight.Ethan looked away. He wanted to tell her everything. About the Black Circuit. About the files he had uncovered. About the people who disappeared after crossing them. About the bloodstained missions hidden beneath layers of encrypted reports. About the fear slowly settling inside his chest.But Adrian had asked him not to say anything.And worseâ If Evelyn found out how dangerous things tr
Later that night, the Chase mansion was unusually quiet. The massive estate, normally alive with movement from guards, servants, and security personnel, had settled into an eerie silence. Outside, the city lights shimmered faintly beyond the towering glass windows of Adrianâs private study. The faint hum of distant traffic blended with the soft ticking of the antique clock hanging against the dark wooden wall.Inside the study, only the glow from Adrianâs laptop illuminated the room. He sat comfortably behind his desk, sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists, one hand lazily supporting his chin while the other moved across the keyboard. Several unfinished documents were spread neatly across the polished mahogany table, yet his attention had long drifted away from work.For the first time in weeks⊠maybe months⊠Adrian was genuinely in a good mood. A dangerous thing. Because whenever Evelyn managed to soften him, he became careless emotionally. And tonight, his mind had completely aba
âAdy?!âEvelynâs sharp voice echoed through the underground parking lot.âWhat the hell are you doing here?â she demanded as she marched toward him in irritation, the sound of her heels striking the concrete floor sharply.The parking lot was cool and dimly lit, with rows of luxury cars lined neatly beneath flickering white lights. The air smelled faintly of gasoline and polished metal, and every sound seemed amplified in the near-empty space.Adrian, however, looked completely unbothered.Leaning casually against a sleek black car with one hand tucked into his pocket, he simply smiled at her like he hadnât a care in the world.âGoing out to have lunch with my wife,â he replied lazily. âWhat does it look like?âEvelyn stopped directly in front of him and glared.âThis is not funny.ââI know,â Adrian answered with a soft chuckle. âBut come on, whatâs the big deal? Itâs just lunch.ââItâs supposed to be between Clara and me,â Evelyn stressed, lowering her voice slightly even though nobo
âAdy?!âEvelynâs sharp voice echoed through the underground parking lot.âWhat the hell are you doing here?â she demanded as she marched toward him in irritation, the sound of her heels striking the concrete floor sharply.The parking lot was cool and dimly lit, with rows of luxury cars lined neatly beneath flickering white lights. The air smelled faintly of gasoline and polished metal, and every sound seemed amplified in the near-empty space.Adrian, however, looked completely unbothered.Leaning casually against a sleek black car with one hand tucked into his pocket, he simply smiled at her like he hadnât a care in the world.âGoing out to have lunch with my wife,â he replied lazily. âWhat does it look like?âEvelyn stopped directly in front of him and glared.âThis is not funny.ââI know,â Adrian answered with a soft chuckle. âBut come on, whatâs the big deal? Itâs just lunch.ââItâs supposed to be between Clara and me,â Evelyn stressed, lowering her voice slightly even though nobo
Two weeks passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.Yet despite the passage of time, the internet was still in chaos over Scarlettâs true identity. Every major fashion blog, entertainment page, and media outlet in Lincoln City continued buzzing with speculation about the mysterious designer who had shocked the industry with her return.But Evelyn barely paid attention anymore.Ever since Ethanâs kidnapping and the attack on her family, the glamorous world of fashion had begun to feel distant compared to the terrifying reality surrounding the people she loved most.Nothing mattered more than keeping her children alive.That morning, the entire Montgomery family gathered around the long dining table for breakfast. Warm sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the elegant dining room in soft golden light. The aroma of freshly baked bread, pancakes, coffee, and fried bacon filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the tension li
âEvie?âMrs. Montgomeryâs voice carried quiet suspicion as she looked across the dining table at her daughter. The warmth from dinner still lingered in the air, but the atmosphere had subtly changed after Ethanâs accidental conversation with Adrian.The older woman narrowed her eyes slightly.âWhat exactly are you up to this time?âEvelyn nearly sighed.Of course her mother noticed.Mrs. Montgomery had always been frighteningly observant when it came to her children. No matter how carefully Evelyn tried to hide things, her mother somehow sensed when trouble was nearby.âItâs really nothing, Mom,â Evelyn replied smoothly, forcing a small smile. âDo you honestly think Iâd lie to you?âMrs. Montgomery didnât answer immediately.Instead, she studied Evelyn carefully, as though trying to peel apart every layer hiding beneath her calm expression.Before she could respond, Mr. Montgomery spoke instead.âWhatever this is,â he said firmly, setting down his cutlery, âI hope youâre not putting y
Adrian was absorbed in the glow of his computer screen, fingers typing in rapid, controlled strokes as lines of data raced before his eyes. The room was dim except for the soft hum of machines and the cool white light from the large monitors. His attention was razor-sharp â until his office door bu
The next morning, Evelynâs phone rang just as she stepped out of the bathroom. She wiped her hands on a towel, glanced at the screen, and froze for a second. Adrianâs name flashed boldly across the display.She hesitated only briefly before answering.âHello?ââTheyâve been found,â Adrian said with
âYouâre finally awake,â Eli exclaimed, hugging her mother tightly. âDaddy asked us not to disturb your sleep because you were super tired.ââDaddy?â Evelyn whispered, arching a brow.âI mean⊠Uncle Adrian. Can I at least call him that?â Eli asked, her voice small and pitiful â and it immediately ti
Clara leaned forward in the backseat, her eyes fixed on Evelynâs car as she tailed it from a distance.âMake sure you donât lose track of that car,â she snapped at the driver.She had spent days trying to uncover where Evelyn lived, and only last night had she finally followed her home. If she want







