Chapter 328

Olivia Cole smiled warmly. "I happened to hear you play the cello recently, and as luck would have it, Leonard Herty is a master in that field. I thought you two might have much to discuss."

Beside them, an elegantly dressed woman leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh, you have no idea. Mr. Herty is in a league of his own. He performs exclusively for Cresthaven’s most distinguished circles—his concerts aren’t even publicly announced."

She lifted her chin slightly, her expression one of quiet awe.

Evelyn Carter understood instantly.

This was the world of true influence.

If one tried to uncover details about these individuals, they’d find only shadows. These were the untouchable elite, while those who paraded their riches were merely affluent.

The line between the two was stark, but the wealthy always sought to bridge the gap, eager to mingle with those who held real power.

Evelyn shook her head with a modest laugh. "I’m just an amateur. There’s no way I could keep up in a conversation with someone like him."

Olivia waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. I played your recording for him, and he was impressed. He said you have remarkable potential."

Her eyes gleamed with quiet triumph, as if she’d already orchestrated the perfect introduction.

The phone vibrated in Evelyn's palm.

"Hello?"

Margaret's voice cracked with uncharacteristic fragility. "Evelyn, darling. It's Mom."

A beat of silence.

"Could you...come home? Just for a little while? We need to talk."

Evelyn's grip tightened. "No. There's nothing left to say." She moved to disconnect.

"Wait!" Panic spiked through the receiver. "Where are you? If you won't come here, I'll—"

"Olivia Cole's birthday party. At their estate."

The line went dead.

The Cole mansion sprawled across three acres of Cresthaven's most exclusive neighborhood. With multiple Cole branches in the city, Evelyn doubted her mother would dare crash such a high-profile event.

Alexander's business associate Benjamin Cole commanded respect in elite circles. His wife's birthday gala had drawn half of high society—the gardens teemed with champagne flutes and designer gowns.

Evelyn wandered past a marble fountain when shouts erupted ahead.

"Someone collapsed!"

"Call an ambulance!"

A woman in emerald silk clutched her throat, knees buckling.

Evelyn froze.

The gasping figure wasn't just any guest.

It was Margaret Hayes.

"Someone call 911!"

Vanessa's heart pounded as she sprinted forward.

An elderly man with silver-streaked hair lay motionless on the pavement, his breathing labored, his forehead glistening with sweat. His ashen face twisted in discomfort.

The crowd had formed a hesitant circle around him, uncertain how to help.

"Step back, everyone! Give him room!" Vanessa commanded, her voice steady despite the urgency.

She dropped to her knees beside him, assessing his condition.

His skin was cold and damp, his fingers trembling faintly.

Without hesitation, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small chocolate bar. "When was the last time you ate?" she asked, unwrapping it and pressing it gently into his palm.

Bystanders exchanged confused glances. "Why are you giving him candy?" a woman whispered.

"His blood sugar's crashing," Vanessa explained briskly.

As if on cue, the man's eyelids fluttered open.

Though still pale, color was slowly returning to his cheeks.

"He's conscious!" someone gasped in relief.

"It was just hypoglycemia! That scared me half to death!"

"Do we still need to call an ambulance?"

A voice from the crowd suddenly spoke up. "Wait—isn’t that Mr. Herty? The world-famous cellist?"

Leonard Herty blinked, his vision slowly clearing. The first face he saw belonged to a striking young woman—graceful yet unassuming, radiating quiet elegance.

Moments ago, as his consciousness had wavered from the blood sugar crash, the world around him had blurred into indistinct shapes. The only thing that had anchored him was a soothing, melodic voice. He hadn’t been able to respond then.

Now, gazing at Evelyn, he felt an odd sense of recognition, as though he’d met her somewhere before.

Leaning in slightly, Evelyn murmured just loud enough for him to hear, "If you have irregular eating habits, always keep a piece of candy on you. And… you might want to get your liver checked."

Leonard’s brow furrowed. How does she know about my liver?

She had barely examined him.

Does she have medical training? A quick glance, and she’s already pinpointed the issue?

Her accuracy suggested she wasn’t just making guesses.

Secret Longing: Finding Love After Redemption (Evelyn)