Chapter 245
Ethan was wasted.
Completely and utterly smashed.
For days, he had been drowning himself in liquor at the Eclipse Lounge, not caring about anything or anyone.
It was a reckless way to live, but he didn’t care.
When he drank enough, his mind went blissfully blank. No thoughts. No pain. Just the sweet escape of closing his eyes and drifting away.
Alcohol was the only thing that dulled the ache. Without it, his mind would torture him with memories—every laugh, every touch, every moment he had shared with Evelyn.
Not long ago, he had watched Lucas Bennett stumbling drunk at the bar and pitied him.
Now, he was no better.
He arrived at Titan Capital Group for a business meeting.
The moment he stepped out of the car, two sharp thuds echoed through the air.
The sound came from the stairwell. Then, a panicked voice called out—
"Evelyn!"
His blood ran cold.
Evelyn was here?
The sound of rustling fabric and faint breathing led Ethan Caldwell straight to them.
His steps quickened as he turned the corner, his heart pounding against his ribs.
There they were—two women collapsed on the cold pavement, unmoving.
Nathan Reeves' face darkened. "They're unconscious."
Ethan didn't hesitate.
He scooped Evelyn Carter into his arms, his fingers tightening instinctively around her slender frame.
"Get her to the hospital. Now."
Though the alcohol still blurred his senses, his hold on Evelyn was unshakable.
She felt weightless, as if she might vanish if he loosened his grip even slightly.
It had been years since he'd held her this close.
Nathan frowned, glancing at Vanessa Hart still sprawled on the ground.
After a tense pause, he cleared his throat. "Mr. Caldwell, Vanessa is your wife."
Ethan stiffened, his gaze flickering toward Vanessa.
His fingers twitched.
His jaw clenched.
In that moment, he had forgotten her entirely—hadn't even spared her a second thought.
Nathan crouched down, gesturing for Ethan to transfer Evelyn to him.
The night air grew heavier with unspoken tension.
Ethan Caldwell gazed down at Evelyn Carter, his expression a mix of tenderness and wariness as he carefully transferred her into someone else's arms.
Evelyn stirred awake to find sunlight streaming through the hospital window—it was already nine in the morning.
She had planned everything meticulously, shadowing Vanessa Hart's every move before their tumble down the stairs.
Vanessa had ended up cushioning Evelyn's fall, leaving Evelyn completely unharmed.
Her faint had been deliberate—the moment she saw Vanessa collapse, she had forced her own eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness.
Evelyn had been acutely aware when Ethan scooped her up.
His touch made her skin crawl, but she had no choice but to play dead, her body limp in his arms.
Thankfully, within seconds, Nathan Reeves had taken her from him.
The rhythmic motion of the car had lulled her into a genuine slumber, exhaustion from the previous night finally claiming her.
When she opened her eyes again, she found a small crowd gathered around her hospital bed—all watching her with red-rimmed eyes.
The sight shocked Evelyn to her core. For a terrifying moment, she believed she might be standing at death's door, with this solemn gathering assembled to pay their final respects.
Her fingers flew to her face instinctively, pinching the soft skin of her cheek. The sharp pain confirmed she was very much alive, sending a wave of relief through her entire body.
Claire was the first face she recognized.
Dark smudges marred the delicate skin beneath Claire's eyes, telling Evelyn her best friend had likely spent most of the night keeping vigil at her bedside.
A pang of guilt twisted in Evelyn's stomach.
She wondered silently, "If I confess that I'm completely fine and my fainting spell was just an act, would Claire try to strangle me with her bare hands?"
After all, everyone knew Claire treated her nightly skincare ritual with religious devotion, never sacrificing it for anything - not even her best friend's fake medical emergency.
The thought made Evelyn suppress a nervous giggle.