Chapter 407

Evelyn didn't even glance at Ethan. Instead, she strode past him, heading straight for the concert hall and claiming a front-row seat.

Noticing Evelyn's irritation, Ethan exhaled in amusement before settling beside her.

"For dinner later," Evelyn began, her voice edged with sarcasm, "are you planning to reserve the entire Italian bistro too?"

Ethan blinked in surprise. That had, in fact, been his exact intention.

"Ethan, I'm not some pampered pet you can leash."

Turning sharply, Evelyn met his gaze. "Why don't we skip the concert and cancel dinner altogether? Let's just go back. You can lock me away again. It makes no difference whether I step outside or not—since you've made sure I can't speak to a single soul."

With that, she rose abruptly, feigning departure.

Ethan's fingers closed around her wrist. "Evelyn, the performers are about to start. Don’t you want to hear them?"

A realization struck her—if she wanted to escape Ethan, she’d have to slip back into her old role: the lovesick girl who lived only for him.

She lowered her lashes, then lifted them again, her eyes softening with practiced devotion.

Ethan froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. "A date?"

"Yes, our first one. And you completely ruined it."

Evelyn's voice trembled as she spoke, her tears landing on the back of Ethan's hand.

She had tried so hard to make things work between them, but all he seemed to want was to keep her caged like some prized possession.

"Evelyn, don't say that."

Seeing her tears fall uncontrollably, Ethan's chest tightened with guilt.

He scrambled for tissues, desperate to wipe them away.

But before he could, Evelyn suddenly threw herself into his arms.

Ethan went completely still, his breath catching in his throat.

It had been so long since she had willingly touched him.

All these days, he had bent over backward to cook for her, to do things he wasn't even good at—just to see her smile.

Yet every time, she had only given him a cold, distant "thank you."

But now… now she was clinging to him.

Did this mean his efforts had finally paid off?

Evelyn buried her face against his shoulder, her quiet sobs filled with hurt and frustration.

Ethan's hardened expression softened as he tenderly brushed Evelyn's hair away from her face.

"Evelyn, I never meant to cage you," he murmured. "I won't reserve the entire Italian bistro next time."

Relief washed over Evelyn at his words.

She immediately pulled away from his embrace.

The sudden emptiness in his arms left Ethan feeling hollow.

Luckily, the orchestra began playing just then, filling the silence between them.

Ethan reached for Evelyn's hand. She tensed momentarily but didn't pull away.

His heart soared.

Did this mean she didn't despise his touch?

Less than thirty seconds later, Evelyn withdrew her hand, claiming she needed water.

To her surprise, Ethan lifted the glass to her lips himself.

"Let me," he insisted.

Evelyn froze.

Trapped in this charade, she had no choice but to play along.

Turning her face slightly, cheeks flushed with feigned shyness, she took the glass from him. "I can manage."

Ethan's breath hitched as Evelyn leaned in closer, her delicate features mere inches away.

The way her lips touched the water glass sent his pulse racing. Every graceful movement captivated him anew.

He realized with startling clarity - true love wasn't about finding someone new, but rediscovering the same person endlessly.

While Evelyn remained engrossed in the symphony's crescendo, Ethan couldn't tear his gaze away.

His eyes traced the curve of her cheekbones, the flutter of her lashes, committing each detail to memory.

The concert hall's golden lights caught in her hair like scattered stardust, making his chest tighten.

He'd willingly go blind if it meant this would be the last sight he ever saw.

Between movements, Evelyn turned, catching his intense stare. A blush crept up her neck as she whispered, "What?"

Ethan simply smiled, lifting a strawberry to her lips. "The music's beautiful," he murmured. "But you're the masterpiece."

The orchestra swelled around them as Evelyn accepted the offering, her fingers brushing against his in the dimmed theater.

Somewhere between the third movement and the final note, Ethan realized - he'd happily spend eternity watching her experience the world.