Chapter 98

Lately, vicious rumors had been circulating that Vanessa Hart stole Grace Caldwell's fiancé. Everywhere Evelyn Carter went, she faced harsh whispers and judgmental stares.

If the truth came out that Grace had already married another man, she would be the one at fault.

With that thought, Evelyn simply pulled a few outfits from the closet and tossed them into her suitcase.

Just as she zipped it shut, Alexander Whitmore walked in, his expression unreadable.

"I'm moving out for a while."

Claire Dawson was away on another business trip, so Evelyn planned to rent an apartment closer to Titan Capital Group.

Alexander's tall frame stiffened. "Because of Ethan?"

Evelyn nodded. "If he finds out about us, it'll complicate things. We should be careful."

Silence stretched between them as Alexander moved to the sofa and sat down. His mind replayed the moment Ethan Caldwell had grabbed Evelyn's wrist.

Their hands had touched.

The memory burned.

The security footage from the elevator had just been delivered to Alexander by the building management.

His grip tightened around his phone as he watched Evelyn embrace Ethan in that confined space.

A muscle twitched in Alexander's jaw. His usually composed demeanor shattered, replaced by a chilling frost in his piercing gaze.

He strode to the mahogany wine cabinet, yanked open the door, and seized the nearest bottle.

Without bothering with a glass, he tipped the bottle back, the rich red liquid spilling past his lips.

His throat worked with each harsh swallow, droplets escaping to trace a sinful path down his neck.

The more he drank, the more the fire in his chest raged—unquenchable, consuming.

The front door clicked open.

Evelyn wheeled her suitcase inside, oblivious to the storm brewing in the man standing mere feet away.

"I'll return to Whitmore Manor after their wedding in a few days," she announced, her voice detached.

It was the logical choice. She had played her part this far—why break character now?

Alexander said nothing. His burning stare pinned her in place, dissecting every microexpression.

Her eyes met his, cool and indifferent. No warmth. No affection.

But when she looked at Ethan?

Her gaze had been a tempest—raw, scorching, alive with fury.

The realization struck like a blade.

To Evelyn, he was nothing more than a shadow compared to Ethan Caldwell.

The wine bottle shattered against the marble floor.

The intimacy they shared last night meant nothing to her. To Evelyn, he was just another business associate.

Alexander's shoulders slumped as the bitter truth settled in his chest. No matter how much he wished otherwise, he was merely a means to an end.

His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "Weren't you the one begging for my support all this time? Now that you're walking away, you don't need my backing anymore?"

"Of course I do!"

His fingers tightened around the half-empty wine glass, crimson liquid sloshing over the rim and staining his crisp white shirt.

"Can't you tell I'm furious?" His voice was rough. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Evelyn blinked, genuinely perplexed. "You're angry? Why?"

In one fluid motion, Alexander rose to his feet, looming over her. The low timbre of his voice vibrated through the space between them.

"What do you think?"

A beat of silence.

Then—

"Because I'm jealous."

The admission hung in the air, sharp and undeniable.

Evelyn's breath caught.

Alexander Whitmore—ruthless tycoon, untouchable heir—was jealous.

And he'd just laid it bare.

"Why are you acting like this? Who's got you so worked up?"

Alexander remained silent, his piercing gaze locked onto Evelyn.

He was nothing more than a pawn in her game.

His jealousy meant nothing to her.

Without another word, Alexander grabbed his coat and stormed out of the penthouse.

She didn’t even understand why he was upset—or who had triggered it.

Was she truly oblivious, or did she just not care about his feelings at all?

From that moment on, Alexander refused to acknowledge Evelyn’s existence.

At Titan Capital Group, he walked past her as if she were a stranger, his expression cold and unreadable.

It kept their relationship hidden, yes—but there was something else beneath the surface.

A simmering resentment.

A silent fury.

And Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that she had crossed a line she couldn’t uncross.