Chapter 2
2006 Words
By midnight, Evelyn’s face was everywhere.
Every screen inside the black SUV glowed with some version of the same headline.
VALE HEIR’S SECRET WIFE EXPOSES ENGAGEMENT SCANDAL
MYSTERY WOMAN CLAIMS ADRIAN VALE MARRIED HER MONTHS AGO
WHO IS EVELYN CARTER?
The last one made her stomach twist the most.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it sounded like she was nobody.
She sat in silence beside the tinted window while Manhattan blurred past in streaks of gold and rain. Her phone had not stopped vibrating since she left the hotel. Calls from unknown numbers. Messages from reporters. Social media notifications multiplying faster than she could process.
Natalie had sent thirty-two texts already.
Her mother had called fourteen times.
And Adrian.....
Evelyn looked at the screen again.
12 missed calls.
3 voice messages.
She turned the phone face down.
The driver glanced nervously into the rearview mirror. “Miss Carter, Mr. Vale instructed me to take you somewhere private until this situation calms down.”
Private.
The word irritated her immediately.
That was Adrian’s favorite kind of relationship.
Private dinners.
Private apologies.
Private promises.
Everything private except the humiliation.
“Take me home.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Vale specifically requested...”
“I didn’t ask what Adrian requested.”
The driver fell silent after that.
Outside, rain began falling again in soft streaks against the windows.
Evelyn leaned back slowly and closed her eyes for one dangerous second.
Huge mistake.
Because the moment she did, she saw Adrian’s face again.
Not during the engagement announcement.
Not while Celeste slapped him.
Not even when reporters surrounded them.
No.
The expression burned into her memory was the exact moment she said I’m his wife.
That look in his eyes had not been shock.
It had been fear.
As if he had spent months trying to prevent this exact moment from happening.
The realization hurt more the longer she thought about it.
The apartment felt painfully small after the ballroom chaos.
Natalie opened the door before Evelyn could even knock properly.
“Oh my God.”
Evelyn stepped inside quietly while Natalie stared at her like she’d survived a car accident.
“You went viral.”
“Apparently.”
“No, Evelyn, I mean viral.”
Natalie grabbed the remote from the couch and pointed it toward the television.
A news channel filled the screen instantly.
“…sources close to Vale Holdings claim the alleged marriage may not be legally valid…”
Evelyn froze.
The female anchor continued smoothly.
“…while representatives connected to the Laurent family have refused to comment publicly, speculation continues surrounding the identity and intentions of Evelyn Carter, the woman currently accusing Adrian Vale of conducting a secret marriage…”
Accusing.
Evelyn laughed softly under her breath.
“That’s interesting.”
Natalie muted the television immediately. “Don’t watch it.”
But Evelyn was already pulling out her phone again.
A mistake.
The internet moved faster than cruelty had any right to.
Gold digger.
Desperate.
Attention seeker.
She trapped him.
One comment had over fifty thousand likes.
Women like her always cry victim after sleeping their way into rich men’s lives.
Evelyn stared at the screen until the words blurred.
Natalie gently took the phone from her hand. “Okay. Done. You’re not reading anymore.”
“He didn’t deny it.”
Natalie paused.
Evelyn looked up slowly. “Did you notice that?”
“What?”
“He never denied the marriage.”
For the first time all night, something uncertain crossed Natalie’s expression.
Because it was true.
Adrian had said many things tonight.
But not once had he called Evelyn a liar.
Natalie sat beside her carefully. “Maybe he panicked.”
“He let her announce their engagement.”
“Maybe he was trying to protect the company.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly. “And who was supposed to protect me?”
Silence.
That silence said enough.
Natalie finally sighed. “Did you know before tonight?”
“No.”
“And if you had?”
Evelyn looked toward the dark window.
The truth arrived before pride could stop it.
“I still would’ve gone.”
Natalie cursed quietly under her breath.
Because they both knew that was the problem.
Evelyn loved Adrian in the kind of way that made humiliation survivable for far too long.
At 1:43 AM, Adrian showed up at her apartment.
Natalie looked through the peephole first before turning slowly toward Evelyn.
“He looks terrible.”
Good.
“Tell him to leave.”
“He said he’s not leaving until you talk to him.”
Evelyn pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
“Then he’ll spend the night outside.”
Another knock echoed through the apartment.
Not aggressive.
Just persistent.
Natalie hesitated. “Evie…”
“Don’t.”
But a minute later, another voice joined the silence outside.
“Evelyn.”
Her chest tightened instantly.
Adrian never raised his voice.
Even now, he sounded controlled.
Tired.
Dangerously calm.
“I know you’re angry.”
Natalie mouthed understatement from the kitchen.
Evelyn ignored her.
“Open the door,” Adrian said quietly.
“No.”
A pause.
Then, “Please.”
That word almost broke her.
Because Adrian never begged.
Not for business deals.
Not during arguments.
Not even emotionally.
Yet somehow he sounded exhausted enough tonight for the word to come out rough around the edges.
Natalie looked between them helplessly before finally whispering, “I’m opening the door because honestly this tension is giving me heartburn.”
Evelyn sat upright immediately. “Natalie.....”
Too late.
The door opened.
And there he was.
Adrian Vale looked nothing like the polished man from the ballroom anymore.
His tie was gone. His hair looked slightly damp from the rain outside. The left side of his jaw had started bruising faintly where Celeste slapped him.
But it was his eyes that made Evelyn’s anger wobble dangerously.
He looked wrecked.
The moment Adrian saw her sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket, something raw crossed his face so quickly she almost missed it.
Relief.
Natalie cleared her throat awkwardly. “I’m suddenly remembering I have… absolutely anything else to do.”
She disappeared into the kitchen immediately.
Silence settled heavily between them.
Adrian stepped forward first. “Are you okay?”
Evelyn stared at him in disbelief.
“Am I okay?”
“I know tonight was bad......”
“Bad?”
He stopped talking.
Good.
Because if he called tonight “bad” one more time, she might actually throw something at him.
Adrian ran a hand through his hair slowly. “I was trying to handle it.”
“No,” Evelyn said quietly. “You were trying to hide it.”
“That’s not true.”
“You introduced another woman to the world while I stood there looking stupid.”
His jaw tightened.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”
“How exactly was it supposed to happen?”
Adrian opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
That tiny hesitation hurt more than shouting would have.
Evelyn stood up slowly. “You know what the worst part is?”
“Evelyn.....”
“The worst part is that when she asked if you knew me…” Her voice cracked despite herself. “I genuinely thought you were finally going to tell the truth.”
Adrian looked away first.
That hurt too.
Everything hurt tonight.
“I was going to tell them,” he said finally.
“When?”
“Soon.”
She laughed bitterly. “You keep saying that.”
“Because the timing matters.”
“No. The company matters.” Evelyn’s eyes burned suddenly. “Your family matters. Your reputation matters. Everything matters except me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Fair?” she repeated softly. “Do you know what your mother called me tonight?”
Adrian went silent.
Exactly.
Because he heard it.
He heard all of it.
And still let it happen.
Evelyn folded her arms tightly. “Did Celeste know?”
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
A pause.
That was answer enough.
“Oh my God.”
“She found out months ago.”
“And you still let me walk into that ballroom tonight?”
Adrian stepped closer immediately. “I didn’t know she was planning the announcement tonight.”
“But you knew there was an engagement.”
“It wasn’t real.”
Evelyn stared at him.
Then laughed again, softer this time.
“That’s actually insane.”
“It was business.”
“You kissed her.”
His face hardened slightly. “In front of cameras.”
“You still kissed her.”
Something flickered across his expression then.
Guilt.
Real guilt.
But somehow it wasn’t enough anymore.
Because Evelyn suddenly understood something terrifying.
Adrian genuinely believed protecting her privately was the same thing as loving her properly.
And maybe for a long time, she had allowed him to believe that.
The room stayed quiet for several seconds before Adrian finally reached into his coat pocket.
Evelyn’s stomach tightened instantly when he pulled out a folded document.
“What’s that?”
His expression shifted subtly.
Not emotional now.
Careful.
Businesslike.
“I need you to stay somewhere secure for a few days.”
Her entire body went still.
“What?”
“The media situation is getting worse already. Reporters are outside your building. Social media’s out of control. My family is trying to contain the damage and.....”
“The damage.”
Adrian exhaled sharply. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No, I think it is.”
He handed her the document carefully. “It’s temporary.”
Evelyn stared down at the nondisclosure agreement in her hands.
For one full second, she genuinely thought she might be sick.
“Wow.”
“Evelyn, listen to me.....”
“You brought paperwork?”
“It’s to protect you.”
She looked up slowly.
“Your mother sent this, didn’t she?”
Adrian said nothing.
Again.
Always silence when the truth became ugly.
Evelyn folded the document once before shoving it back against his chest.
“Get out.”
His expression hardened. “Don’t do this emotionally.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she laughed in disbelief.
“Oh, you really picked the wrong sentence tonight.”
“Evelyn......”
“No.” She stepped back. “You don’t get to stand in my apartment after publicly humiliating me and tell me not to react emotionally.”
“I’m trying to fix this.”
“You’re trying to bury it.”
Adrian’s restraint finally cracked slightly. “Because if this gets worse, you have no idea what kind of people will come after you.”
The room went quiet.
Something about the way he said it felt wrong.
Too serious.
Too immediate.
Evelyn noticed it instantly.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian looked frustrated with himself for saying too much.
“Nothing.”
“That didn’t sound like nothing.”
“It’s complicated.”
“There.” Evelyn pointed toward him sharply. “That’s the problem. Everything with you is complicated.”
He looked exhausted suddenly.
Not annoyed.
Not defensive.
Just deeply tired.
And somehow that almost made things worse.
Because despite everything, part of Evelyn still wanted to walk toward him instead of away.
Adrian lowered his voice. “Come with me tonight.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
His eyes held hers for several long seconds.
Then he nodded once.
Slowly.
Like a man realizing something was slipping beyond his control.
Before leaving, Adrian looked at her one last time.
And for the first time all night, he sounded genuinely afraid.
“You need to trust me for a little longer.”
The door closed behind him softly.
Evelyn stood frozen in the silence afterward.
Then Natalie emerged carefully from the kitchen holding a bag of chips.
“…So,” she said cautiously, “I’m assuming we hate him again?”
- Writer
