Chapter 95

Ryan was being insufferable, complaining endlessly about a minor scrape.

By the time they stepped out of the hospital, the clock had already struck eight in the evening.

Ryan suggested taking Evelyn out for dinner, but she declined with a polite smile, citing the late hour.

As he drove her home, the city lights streaked past the windows like golden ribbons. The cool night air rushed in, tangling her loose strands of hair with the seatbelt draped across her chest.

Ryan’s usually sharp features softened under the dim glow of the dashboard lights, his tousled hair giving him an unexpectedly tender appearance.

"You know," he said, flashing her a mischievous grin, "if you pretended to be my girlfriend, we could drive Alexander absolutely insane. Doesn’t that sound fun?"

Evelyn remained silent, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside.

Finally, she turned to him, her expression unreadable. "I believe I already told you—I’d rather team up with Alexander than play along with your little scheme. Not only would it infuriate him, but I’d also get the pleasure of becoming your elder."

Ryan laughed, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

The car slowed to a stop in front of her apartment building.

Evelyn unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

"Think about it," Ryan called after her as she stepped out. "The look on his face would be priceless."

She didn’t look back as she walked away, but the ghost of a smirk tugged at her lips.

Ryan Fletcher frowned, his expression skeptical. "I'll admit you're attractive, but Alexander Whitmore has a reputation for keeping women at arm's length."

Evelyn Carter arched a brow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Not into women? Then who kept me awake until dawn last night?"

The memory sent a shiver down her spine, her knees weakening slightly as a delicate flush crept up her neck. She absently touched her lips, still tingling from the phantom sensation of his kiss.

As the car neared her apartment complex, she reached for the seatbelt buckle, fingers deftly releasing the clasp.

Ryan leaned forward, curiosity sharpening his tone. "Even if you're serious about Alexander, how do you plan to get close to him? The man is practically carved from ice."

Evelyn smirked, stepping out of the car with effortless grace. "I'm his employee now. We share the same office, the same meetings. Opportunities have a way of presenting themselves." She shot him a knowing glance over her shoulder. "So be ready to play your part when the time comes."

Ryan watched her retreating figure, an unexpected chuckle escaping him. "Evelyn, if this doesn’t work out, you might want to reconsider me."

She didn’t bother turning around. The idea was laughable. Dealing with Ethan Caldwell was exhausting enough—she had no intention of inviting another complication into her life.

Besides, Ryan’s sudden interest in her felt calculated. It wasn’t just about rivalry with Ethan. There was something else beneath his charming facade.

Evelyn shook her head, dismissing the thought. Some doors were better left unopened.

The words hung in the air between them, sharp and deliberate.

Evelyn tilted her head, feigning innocence as she met Ryan’s gaze with a practiced smile. "Get ready to see me become your uncle’s wife."

Ryan’s eyes widened briefly before a slow, knowing chuckle escaped him. "I thought you were just using him for his influence. But you’re actually serious about this?"

She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned on her heel and strode into the building, leaving him standing there.

The night was unusually still, the neighborhood wrapped in silence. The elevator doors slid open, empty and waiting.

Evelyn stepped inside, pressing the button for her floor.

Just as the doors began to close, a figure slipped in behind her.

She startled, her breath catching as she recognized the man now standing too close. "Ethan?" Her voice was edged with suspicion. "Are you following me?"

The moment the elevator sealed shut, his hand clamped around her wrist.

He moved fast, crowding her against the wall, his body blocking any escape.

The scent of alcohol clung to him, sharp and suffocating. His eyes, usually so controlled, burned with something reckless—something dangerous.

Evelyn’s pulse spiked.

This wasn’t the Ethan she knew.

This was something else entirely.

Before Evelyn could react, a strong arm suddenly encircled her waist.

Ethan pulled her against his chest with unexpected force, trapping her in an unyielding embrace.

Her breath hitched as shock coursed through her. "Let me go!"

Instinct took over. She twisted, fingers scrambling toward the elevator's emergency panel.

But Ethan was faster. His hand clamped around her wrist, pinning it against the cold metal wall.

The contrast was dizzying—the chill of steel beneath her palm, the scorching heat of his skin searing into her.

He leaned in closer.

His lips grazed her temple as his breath ghosted across her hair.

The elevator hummed around them, sealing them in this suffocating moment.

Evelyn's pulse roared in her ears.

She had to get out. Now.

But Ethan's grip only tightened, his body caging her in.

The numbers above the door continued their slow ascent.

It felt like an eternity.

Her mind raced for an escape.

Any second now, the doors would open.

Would anyone see them like this?

Would Alexander?

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through her.

Ethan's voice was a dark whisper against her ear. "You can't run forever, Evelyn."

Her nails dug into her palms.

The elevator dinged.

Salvation or damnation—she didn't know which awaited her when those doors slid apart.