Chapter 101
This was Evelyn's moment to embrace her role as a woman hopelessly smitten with Alexander.
Her fingers had crumpled the crisp fabric of his dress shirt, her gaze lingering on him for what felt like an eternity.
Then, without warning, she yanked him forward, arms looping around his neck as she pressed her lips to his.
He stiffened, shock rendering him motionless.
The room fell into stunned silence, every pair of eyes wide with disbelief.
Before anyone could process what had happened, Evelyn's knees buckled, and she collapsed against Alexander's chest.
When she came to, she found herself in the sterile quiet of Titan Capital Group's infirmary.
An IV needle was taped to the back of her hand, and a young nurse with soft features was adjusting the drip bag above her.
"You're awake!"
Natalie set aside her phone and leaned closer. "How are you feeling? Your fever spiked to nearly 104. You just—well, you passed out in Mr. Whitmore's arms."
The company's infirmary was well-equipped, more like a small clinic than a basic first-aid station.
Evelyn blinked slowly, her voice hoarse. "Did... Alexander bring me here?"
Natalie's eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. "Oh, he did! And—do you remember what you did before you fainted? You kissed him! Right in front of everyone! I've never seen Mr. Whitmore look so shocked in my life. That had to be his first public kiss!"
Just as the words left her lips, the door swung open.
Alexander strode in, his expression unreadable.
Natalie immediately clamped her mouth shut, though her grin remained.
Evelyn lifted a hand to her throbbing temple, then turned her dazed gaze to Alexander. Her lips curved into a slow, delirious smile.
"Alexander," she murmured, voice rough but deliberate, "now that I've kissed you, I suppose I'll have to marry you."
Silence.
The infirmary was unusually full today—colleagues from various departments recovering from the seasonal flu outbreak.
All of them froze.
Had Evelyn lost her mind?
Since when did she speak with such audacity?
Even Alexander studied her with narrowed eyes. Something was off about her today.
Was it the fever—or something else entirely?
His gaze lingered on her face, searching for any hint of what might be going through her mind.
But Evelyn appeared perfectly composed—nothing unusual in her expression.
Except for one thing.
From the moment Alexander stepped into the room, Evelyn’s eyes had been locked onto him.
She wasn’t just looking at him—she was studying him, her gaze intense, almost reverent. As if he were the only person in the world.
The way she watched him—it was the look of a woman utterly, hopelessly in love.
Alexander moved toward her, instinctively raising his hand to check her temperature, but stopped short when he noticed the curious glances from their colleagues. He hesitated, then started to slide his hand into his pocket instead.
"Are you feeling alright? Should I call Dr. Wells again?"
Before he could finish, Evelyn caught his wrist.
Her fingers curled around his, warm and firm. As she tilted her head down, a few loose strands of her dark hair brushed against his palm, sending an unexpected shiver through him.
Then she spoke—softly, but with absolute conviction.
"Alexander, I want to be yours."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Whispers erupted almost instantly.
Everyone had already heard about what happened in the elevator lobby—how Evelyn had kissed Alexander without warning.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
She wasn’t just bold—she was declaring herself in front of everyone.
No one had ever dared to do something like this before.
It was unheard of.
Unthinkable.
And yet—here she was, holding his hand, her eyes burning with determination.
The entire office held its breath, waiting for his response.
Evelyn's lips curved into a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling like stars.
A gentle breeze drifted through the open window, caressing her flushed cheeks and tousling the loose strands of hair framing her face.
The fever had left her skin slightly warm, painting her complexion with a delicate pink hue. Unfazed by the whispers and curious glances around them, her attention remained solely fixed on Alexander.
This wasn’t some careless jest.
"I’m completely serious, Alexander," she declared, her voice steady yet soft. "From the moment I saw you, I knew. My heart is yours."
Their gazes locked—his piercing, searching hers as if trying to unravel the truth behind her words.
A secret marriage bound them, one hidden from prying eyes.
So why had she chosen now to lay her feelings bare?