THE ICE PRINCE'S RUIN

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

Evelyn's POV

“So how did your first day go?” Adrian asked as I walked into his office that evening. I scoffed and dropped on the seat, picking up my mirror from my bag as I began to look at my face again.

“He's rude.” I spat vehemently and he nodded immediately. “I know, he's rude but that shouldn't get in the way of our task.” I sighed tiredly, rubbing my palms together.

“It's freaking cold tonight and I'd love to get a good sleep. Besides, we should keep our meetings discreet, shouldn't we?” I asked, standing up from the seat as I walked over to the door.

“Of course,we should.” He replied and I smiled before walking out. A frown covered my face as I walked towards the exit. I flagged a cab and made sure no one was following me, not even any of Adrian's men.

Five good years,and here I was, standing in front of my former house. I wondered where my adopted parents were, what happened to them,if they were threatened into leaving town.

Just then, I saw someone. Nina. She had flowers in her hand and as she got into her car, I followed her. I needed no one to tell me where she was headed. She stopped in front of a graveyard and began walking in while I waited for sometime before following her.

She stopped in front of my fake grave and sat on the floor. She placed the flowers on the headstone and touched her hands to it.

“I hope you're not resting up there,I really hope you'll do something to expose the culprit. The murderer and the people who set you ablaze!”

“Hi.” I whispered and she turned to look at me. She blew her nose and stood up, smiling dryly. “I'm sorry, did i__”

“No,uhmm,I'm Skyler Thomas,she must have been a very good person.” I said and she nodded. “She was my best friend, wrongfully imprisoned and then murdered. It's a lot to take in.” She took in a deep breath and sighed.

“I'm sorry.” I whispered and she nodded. “Yeah,I'm sorry. I'm Nina,are you visiting someone?” She asked, looking around and I found myself nodding.

“Yeah, my grandmother but it's fine, I'll leave now.” I walked away, trying hard not to look back at her and end up in tears.

Two days later, I sat across from Pedro in his office, my legs crossed elegantly, my posture relaxed,but my mind was anything but calm.

The air in his office always felt suffocating. Maybe it was the scent of expensive cigars mixed with danger, or maybe it was just him.

His phone rang, slicing through the silence.

Pedro glanced at the screen before picking it up, his expression instantly hardening. “Yeah?” His tone dropped to a low baritone voice.

I lowered my gaze, pretending to scroll through my phone lazily, but every nerve in my body sharpened.

“Yes… tonight won’t work,” he continued. “Make it two days from now… Fontella.”

My fingers paused for a split second.

Fontella. So that was it.

“The house is secure?” he asked again, his voice lower now. A pause. Then, “Good. No mistakes this time.”

I tilted my head slightly, as if bored, but I was listening to every word like my life depended on it.

Because it did.

“Alright. I’ll handle the rest,” he finished before ending the call.

My thumb moved quickly across my screen, my breathing steady as I typed a message to Adrian.

Fontella. Two days. Drug house. High security.

I hit send immediately, then switched tabs just as Pedro looked up.

“Busy?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes scanning me like he was trying to read through my skin.

“Just organizing my schedule,” I replied smoothly, offering a small smile.

He studied me for a moment longer before reaching for a gold-trimmed envelope on his desk.

“There’s an event coming up,” he said, sliding it across to me. “Exclusive. Important people. I want you to handle the invitations.”

I picked it up, my brows lifting slightly in feigned curiosity. “Important how?”

A smirk tugged at his lips. “The kind of importance that keeps this city running.” Of course.

“I’ll get it done,” I said, standing up..“Make sure you do,” he added, his tone carrying a warning beneath the calm..I gave a slight nod before walking out, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

The moment I stepped into my office, I shut the door behind me and let out a slow breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Then I moved quickly. I sat at my desk and opened the envelope, pulling out the list of names.

Politicians. Businessmen. Socialites. Monsters hiding behind wealth.

My fingers scrolled through the list until I froze.

Dylan Augustine. The name stared back at me like a ghost from a life I once lived.

My chest tightened, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. And then, just beneath his name,I saw her name, Violet.

A slow smile spread across my lips. “Well…” I murmured under my breath, leaning back in my chair.

“This just got interesting.” Memories tried to claw their way back,faces, laughter, betrayal,but I shoved them down ruthlessly.

That life was gone. Evelyn was gone. Skyler Thomas was all that remained. And Skyler had a mission.

My fingers tapped lightly against the desk as a plan began to form, piece by piece, like a puzzle finally coming together.

Dylan Augustine. The golden boy. The man who had everything. The man who had looked at me that night like I was his entire world.

My smile deepened, but there was no warmth in it. “This is just the beginning,” I whispered softly.

If fate was kind enough to place him back in my path, then I would use it. I would make him trust me. Make him want me. Make him fall so deeply he wouldn’t even see the ground rushing up to meet him.

Then I glanced back at Dylan’s name one last time, my fingers brushing lightly over it.

“Get ready,” I whispered.

“Because this time… I’m the one coming for you.”