For three years, Evelyn was the wife who cleaned up his mess. Every few days, another woman appeared at his side—each one sharing a feature with Valerie, the woman he had truly loved. An eye, a mouth, a tilt of the head. He collected them like trophies, using them to remind Evelyn she would never be more than a placeholder. Until the day he said, "She's back. You've occupied this spot long enough." Evelyn looked at the man she had wasted years on and finally let go. No tears. No begging. Just a signature on a piece of paper—and a door closing behind her. She built something new instead—a brand rooted in culture, a name that stood for talent, not marriage. Three years later, the discarded wife had become a woman millions admired, an icon, an empire with her face on every screen. Xavier watched her rise, and for the first time in his life, he felt something he never expected: regret. He cornered her one night, his voice rough with frustration. “You stole something of mine—and then you ran.” Evelyn's breath caught. “What did I steal?” “My heart,” he said through clenched teeth. “When you left, you took it with you.” She stared at him for a long moment. Then she laughed—softly, helplessly, at the sheer absurdity of it. God. She thought he meant the baby...

Chapter 1Evelyn Lawler pushed open the door to the private booth. Inside, Xavier Farrell was lounging on the sofa, a young, alluring girl practically draped over him.Seeing Evelyn enter, the girl grabbed a folder and slammed it onto the table, her chin tilted arrogantly. "I'm three months pregnant. I already did a gender test at the hospital—it's a boy. If you know what's good for you, Evelyn, you'll sign the divorce papers yourself."Evelyn picked up the ultrasound report and glanced at it. She really was pregnant."Let's go," Evelyn told the young woman. "It's still early enough in the day to schedule an abortion at the clinic.""How dare you! You have some nerve trying to get rid of the Farrell family's heir!" The woman's face twisted in rage. She shot up and swung a hand to slap her.Evelyn caught the woman's wrist and shoved her back hard.Looking at her twisted, pretty face, Evelyn's expression remained mild, though her eyes were ice-cold. "An heir? Didn't Xavier tell you? He's on male contraceptives and even had a vasectomy. So tell me, exactly how did you get pregnant?""You're lying! Mr. Farrell would never do that! You're making it up." The girl panicked and turned to him for help. "Mr. Farrell, she's talking nonsense, right?""She's not lying. I did have the procedure." Xavier lifted his gaze slightly, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. His tone was chilling. "So, how exactly did you get pregnant? Asexual reproduction? Or immaculate conception?"That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm."I..." The young woman looked completely flustered, unable to form a single word for a long time.Finally, she broke down in tears. "Mr. Farrell, I was wrong! I shouldn't have lied to you. I just love you so much and wanted to stay by your side!"Evelyn clicked her tongue. Seeing the girl about to throw a full-blown tantrum, she simply called the bodyguards to drag her out."You're always so aggressive. You scared that young, pretty girl to tears," Xavier remarked. He lit a cigarette, the curling smoke rising and blurring his handsome features.Evelyn walked up to him and plucked the cigarette right out of his hand. She leaned down to meet his eyes. "They wouldn't have to cry if you stopped collecting these girls who just happen to look like Valerie Fulton, only to let them use fake pregnancies to trap you."Xavier's expression instantly darkened into something ruthless. "You don't have the right to say her name!""Why don't I?"Perhaps having backed down for too long, Evelyn had finally reached her breaking point."I'll say it one more time, Xavier," she raised her voice. "I never pushed Valerie! She fell on her own trying to frame me. Her dying in that fall was her own fault! I don't need to take responsibility, and you sure as hell can't use it to force me to atone for something I didn't do!""Shut your mouth!""Fine. If you don't want to hear it, let's use actions." Evelyn straddled his lap, reaching out to tear off his dress shirt before tossing it into the trash can."This shirt is dirty now. It belongs in the garbage."Xavier sneered. "Throw this one away, and there's always the next."Evelyn's fingertips trembled slightly. She knew he wasn't just talking about the shirt; he was talking about women.In the three years they had been married, she had to deal with the women around him every few days. Like the one just now, they all shared some resemblance to Valerie—maybe the eyes, maybe the mouth. Their only purpose was for Xavier to use them to disgust his own wife.Her eyes hardened with resolve. "Then I'll just keep throwing them out. As compensation, you belong to me tonight.""I'd love to know who gave you the delusion that my nights belong to you." With that, Xavier forcefully shoved her off him. He stood up and turned to leave."Xavier!" Evelyn lay on the sofa, suddenly speaking up. "Aren't you afraid I'll go straight to your grandfather and have him send Vickie Fulton away?"Vickie was Valerie's sister. That woman wasn't as young, as beautiful, or as well-connected as Evelyn, yet just because she resembled Valerie, Xavier kept her tucked away like a precious treasure.Xavier whipped around and grabbed Evelyn by the throat. His thin lips curved into a smile, but the glint in his eyes was as sharp as a blade. "I suggest you behave yourself, Evelyn. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do. Understood?"Evelyn was absolutely certain she saw murder in his eyes. For the sake of Vickie—a mere stand-in—he wanted her dead. A chill ran through her chest, and sorrow spilled into her gaze.He stared at her for a moment before tossing her aside. Pulling out a tissue, he meticulously wiped his fingers, not even missing his cuticles, looking as thoroughly disgusted as if he had just touched radioactive waste.Evelyn's heart violently seized, as if crushed by an invisible hand, leaving her gasping for air.She watched him slam the door on his way out, slumping back against the couch as a few tears escaped her eyes.What was worse than the man you love being in love with someone else?It was when the woman he loved was dead.When someone dies, they can never make a mistake again. As time passes, they only become more flawless, an untouchable memory, a perfect illusion that leaves the living wife forever trapped in the shadows.If she had a choice, she truly wouldn't want to love Xavier anymore.But she couldn't help it. Ever since that year he carried her out of the blizzard, she had fallen for him. By now, it was a terminal condition.Evelyn smoothed out her clothes. By the time she looked up again, her expression was perfectly calm, erasing every trace of her prior heartbreak.She opened the door and walked out, finding Xavier's tall, straight figure waiting in the hallway.He shot her a glance. "Grandpa's waiting for us at home."With that, he strode toward the exit.She quietly followed him.The car glided smoothly down the road. The interior was so silent that only the rustle of him flipping through documents and the sound of their breathing could be heard.Evelyn relaxed, savoring the quietude. It was a rare, peaceful moment that belonged only to the two of them.The moment they stepped into the living room, Karl Farrell, dressed in a sharp tailored suit, came forward and enveloped her in a hug. "Evelyn! You're finally here. My heart actually ached from missing you so much."Evelyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I was just here two days ago.""A day apart feels like a lifetime! By that math, it's been years since you last saw this old man. Years! How many of those do you think I have left?"Evelyn immediately conceded. "I'm sorry. I'll come back to see you every single day from now on.""That's more like it."She chatted happily with the older man, completely leaving his actual grandson off to the side.Xavier was used to this; Evelyn had always been exceptionally good at winning people over.At that moment, the butler approached. "Sir, dinner is served."The table was fully laden with all of Evelyn's favorite dishes.Karl placed a large, tender piece of fish onto her plate, smiling warmly. "Eat up. You've lost weight.""Thank you."But the second the fish touched her tongue, a wave of nausea hit her. Evelyn covered her mouth, unable to stop herself from dry heaving.Karl's eyes lit up with sheer delight. "Are you pregnant?""That's impossible," Xavier stated without a second of hesitation.Karl frowned. "You've been married for three years! Why would it be impossible? Carter, get the car ready. We're taking Evelyn to the doctor for a checkup.""There's no need for the hospital," Evelyn interjected quickly. "I just had a full physical today. The doctor said it's just a mild stomach bug.""Are you sure?"She nodded. Her period had just ended yesterday. Aside from that one drunken night half a month ago, they had never actually slept in the same bed like a real married couple.Karl let out a heavy sigh, then directed his frustration straight at Xavier. "What’s wrong with you? You're young and healthy, but you can't even give me a great-grandson? What good are you!"Xavier continued eating quietly, his face completely indifferent, acting as if their conversation had absolutely nothing to do with him.Karl immediately switched tactics, putting on a frail, pitiful act. "Poor me, at this age, I could drop dead any day now. To pass away without even seeing my great-grandson... I'll never rest in peace!""Don't talk like that. It breaks my heart," Evelyn said, gripping his hand tightly, feeling genuinely awful."You're a good girl, Evelyn. But some people around here clearly aren't. He'd rather watch his own grandfather die with regrets than make a simple compromise."Xavier set down his silverware with a sigh. "You're going to live to be a hundred."Karl huffed. "What's the point of living to a hundred if the Farrell family has no heir? So people can laugh at my grandson's incompetence?"He issued an absolute command. "You two are staying the night here. It saves you the drive and leaves no excuses for not working on a baby.""I have plans tonight," Xavier said, his brow furrowing.Karl wasn't having it. "Your only plan is to get your wife pregnant! If you dare sneak out tonight, don't ever call me your grandfather again!"Karl was a force of nature. Right after dinner, he personally grabbed Xavier by the arm, shoved him into the guest bedroom, and then—click—locked the door from the outside.Xavier stared at the heavy oak door, his face darkening with fury."If you really have an emergency, I'll figure out a way to unlock it," Evelyn offered.Xavier let out a cold laugh. "Drop the innocent act. Do you really think I don't know exactly what kind of game you're playing?"He flipped open his laptop, ready to start working.Suddenly, the laptop was snapped shut."Evelyn!" Xavier shouted.Evelyn looked right at him, her voice entirely flat. "You know I want to sleep with you. I don't need to invent excuses for that."With that, she opened his laptop back up, turned on her heel, and walked into the bathroom.He stared at her retreating back, his expression unreadable.By the time Evelyn stepped out of the shower, Xavier was still working.The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. The top two buttons were undone, exposing a glimpse of his toned chest.He was undeniably gorgeous. The sharp lines of his face looked as if they had been sculpted by a master artist, and every movement he made radiated a natural, aristocratic coldness. He was the absolute definition of breathtaking.Evelyn sat at the small bar counter in the corner, allowing her gaze to boldly trace over him. Only in moments like this could she stop hiding her feelings.Her marriage to Xavier was an alliance between their families, pushed relentlessly by Karl.Back then, Xavier had been so devastated by Valerie's death that he was determined to spend the rest of his life alone. Karl refused to allow it and approached Evelyn, demanding she marry him.She had already given up on him then, fully intending to hide away at the edge of the world and love him in secret. But Karl's proposal jump-started her deadened heart. In the end, ignoring her parents' objections, she agreed.Chapter 2Evelyn Lawler pushed open the door to the private booth. Inside, Xavier Farrell was lounging on the sofa, a young, alluring girl practically draped over him.Seeing Evelyn enter, the girl grabbed a folder and slammed it onto the table, her chin tilted arrogantly. "I'm three months pregnant. I already did a gender test at the hospital—it's a boy. If you know what's good for you, Evelyn, you'll sign the divorce papers yourself."Evelyn picked up the ultrasound report and glanced at it. She really was pregnant."Let's go," Evelyn told the young woman. "It's still early enough in the day to schedule an abortion at the clinic.""How dare you! You have some nerve trying to get rid of the Farrell family's heir!" The woman's face twisted in rage. She shot up and swung a hand to slap her.Evelyn caught the woman's wrist and shoved her back hard.Looking at her twisted, pretty face, Evelyn's expression remained mild, though her eyes were ice-cold. "An heir? Didn't Xavier tell you? He's on male contraceptives and even had a vasectomy. So tell me, exactly how did you get pregnant?""You're lying! Mr. Farrell would never do that! You're making it up." The girl panicked and turned to him for help. "Mr. Farrell, she's talking nonsense, right?""She's not lying. I did have the procedure." Xavier lifted his gaze slightly, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. His tone was chilling. "So, how exactly did you get pregnant? Asexual reproduction? Or immaculate conception?"That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm."I..." The young woman looked completely flustered, unable to form a single word for a long time.Finally, she broke down in tears. "Mr. Farrell, I was wrong! I shouldn't have lied to you. I just love you so much and wanted to stay by your side!"Evelyn clicked her tongue. Seeing the girl about to throw a full-blown tantrum, she simply called the bodyguards to drag her out."You're always so aggressive. You scared that young, pretty girl to tears," Xavier remarked. He lit a cigarette, the curling smoke rising and blurring his handsome features.Evelyn walked up to him and plucked the cigarette right out of his hand. She leaned down to meet his eyes. "They wouldn't have to cry if you stopped collecting these girls who just happen to look like Valerie Fulton, only to let them use fake pregnancies to trap you."Xavier's expression instantly darkened into something ruthless. "You don't have the right to say her name!""Why don't I?"Perhaps having backed down for too long, Evelyn had finally reached her breaking point."I'll say it one more time, Xavier," she raised her voice. "I never pushed Valerie! She fell on her own trying to frame me. Her dying in that fall was her own fault! I don't need to take responsibility, and you sure as hell can't use it to force me to atone for something I didn't do!""Shut your mouth!""Fine. If you don't want to hear it, let's use actions." Evelyn straddled his lap, reaching out to tear off his dress shirt before tossing it into the trash can."This shirt is dirty now. It belongs in the garbage."Xavier sneered. "Throw this one away, and there's always the next."Evelyn's fingertips trembled slightly. She knew he wasn't just talking about the shirt; he was talking about women.In the three years they had been married, she had to deal with the women around him every few days. Like the one just now, they all shared some resemblance to Valerie—maybe the eyes, maybe the mouth. Their only purpose was for Xavier to use them to disgust his own wife.Her eyes hardened with resolve. "Then I'll just keep throwing them out. As compensation, you belong to me tonight.""I'd love to know who gave you the delusion that my nights belong to you." With that, Xavier forcefully shoved her off him. He stood up and turned to leave."Xavier!" Evelyn lay on the sofa, suddenly speaking up. "Aren't you afraid I'll go straight to your grandfather and have him send Vickie Fulton away?"Vickie was Valerie's sister. That woman wasn't as young, as beautiful, or as well-connected as Evelyn, yet just because she resembled Valerie, Xavier kept her tucked away like a precious treasure.Xavier whipped around and grabbed Evelyn by the throat. His thin lips curved into a smile, but the glint in his eyes was as sharp as a blade. "I suggest you behave yourself, Evelyn. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do. Understood?"Evelyn was absolutely certain she saw murder in his eyes. For the sake of Vickie—a mere stand-in—he wanted her dead. A chill ran through her chest, and sorrow spilled into her gaze.He stared at her for a moment before tossing her aside. Pulling out a tissue, he meticulously wiped his fingers, not even missing his cuticles, looking as thoroughly disgusted as if he had just touched radioactive waste.Evelyn's heart violently seized, as if crushed by an invisible hand, leaving her gasping for air.She watched him slam the door on his way out, slumping back against the couch as a few tears escaped her eyes.What was worse than the man you love being in love with someone else?It was when the woman he loved was dead.When someone dies, they can never make a mistake again. As time passes, they only become more flawless, an untouchable memory, a perfect illusion that leaves the living wife forever trapped in the shadows.If she had a choice, she truly wouldn't want to love Xavier anymore.But she couldn't help it. Ever since that year he carried her out of the blizzard, she had fallen for him. By now, it was a terminal condition.Evelyn smoothed out her clothes. By the time she looked up again, her expression was perfectly calm, erasing every trace of her prior heartbreak.She opened the door and walked out, finding Xavier's tall, straight figure waiting in the hallway.He shot her a glance. "Grandpa's waiting for us at home."With that, he strode toward the exit.She quietly followed him.The car glided smoothly down the road. The interior was so silent that only the rustle of him flipping through documents and the sound of their breathing could be heard.Evelyn relaxed, savoring the quietude. It was a rare, peaceful moment that belonged only to the two of them.The moment they stepped into the living room, Karl Farrell, dressed in a sharp tailored suit, came forward and enveloped her in a hug. "Evelyn! You're finally here. My heart actually ached from missing you so much."Evelyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I was just here two days ago.""A day apart feels like a lifetime! By that math, it's been years since you last saw this old man. Years! How many of those do you think I have left?"Evelyn immediately conceded. "I'm sorry. I'll come back to see you every single day from now on.""That's more like it."She chatted happily with the older man, completely leaving his actual grandson off to the side.Xavier was used to this; Evelyn had always been exceptionally good at winning people over.At that moment, the butler approached. "Sir, dinner is served."The table was fully laden with all of Evelyn's favorite dishes.Karl placed a large, tender piece of fish onto her plate, smiling warmly. "Eat up. You've lost weight.""Thank you."But the second the fish touched her tongue, a wave of nausea hit her. Evelyn covered her mouth, unable to stop herself from dry heaving.Karl's eyes lit up with sheer delight. "Are you pregnant?""That's impossible," Xavier stated without a second of hesitation.Karl frowned. "You've been married for three years! Why would it be impossible? Carter, get the car ready. We're taking Evelyn to the doctor for a checkup.""There's no need for the hospital," Evelyn interjected quickly. "I just had a full physical today. The doctor said it's just a mild stomach bug.""Are you sure?"She nodded. Her period had just ended yesterday. Aside from that one drunken night half a month ago, they had never actually slept in the same bed like a real married couple.Karl let out a heavy sigh, then directed his frustration straight at Xavier. "What’s wrong with you? You're young and healthy, but you can't even give me a great-grandson? What good are you!"Xavier continued eating quietly, his face completely indifferent, acting as if their conversation had absolutely nothing to do with him.Karl immediately switched tactics, putting on a frail, pitiful act. "Poor me, at this age, I could drop dead any day now. To pass away without even seeing my great-grandson... I'll never rest in peace!""Don't talk like that. It breaks my heart," Evelyn said, gripping his hand tightly, feeling genuinely awful."You're a good girl, Evelyn. But some people around here clearly aren't. He'd rather watch his own grandfather die with regrets than make a simple compromise."Xavier set down his silverware with a sigh. "You're going to live to be a hundred."Karl huffed. "What's the point of living to a hundred if the Farrell family has no heir? So people can laugh at my grandson's incompetence?"He issued an absolute command. "You two are staying the night here. It saves you the drive and leaves no excuses for not working on a baby.""I have plans tonight," Xavier said, his brow furrowing.Karl wasn't having it. "Your only plan is to get your wife pregnant! If you dare sneak out tonight, don't ever call me your grandfather again!"Karl was a force of nature. Right after dinner, he personally grabbed Xavier by the arm, shoved him into the guest bedroom, and then—click—locked the door from the outside.Xavier stared at the heavy oak door, his face darkening with fury."If you really have an emergency, I'll figure out a way to unlock it," Evelyn offered.Xavier let out a cold laugh. "Drop the innocent act. Do you really think I don't know exactly what kind of game you're playing?"He flipped open his laptop, ready to start working.Suddenly, the laptop was snapped shut."Evelyn!" Xavier shouted.Evelyn looked right at him, her voice entirely flat. "You know I want to sleep with you. I don't need to invent excuses for that."With that, she opened his laptop back up, turned on her heel, and walked into the bathroom.He stared at her retreating back, his expression unreadable.By the time Evelyn stepped out of the shower, Xavier was still working.The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. The top two buttons were undone, exposing a glimpse of his toned chest.He was undeniably gorgeous. The sharp lines of his face looked as if they had been sculpted by a master artist, and every movement he made radiated a natural, aristocratic coldness. He was the absolute definition of breathtaking.Evelyn sat at the small bar counter in the corner, allowing her gaze to boldly trace over him. Only in moments like this could she stop hiding her feelings.Her marriage to Xavier was an alliance between their families, pushed relentlessly by Karl.Back then, Xavier had been so devastated by Valerie's death that he was determined to spend the rest of his life alone. Karl refused to allow it and approached Evelyn, demanding she marry him.She had already given up on him then, fully intending to hide away at the edge of the world and love him in secret. But Karl's proposal jump-started her deadened heart. In the end, ignoring her parents' objections, she agreed.Chapter 3Evelyn Lawler pushed open the door to the private booth. Inside, Xavier Farrell was lounging on the sofa, a young, alluring girl practically draped over him.Seeing Evelyn enter, the girl grabbed a folder and slammed it onto the table, her chin tilted arrogantly. "I'm three months pregnant. I already did a gender test at the hospital—it's a boy. If you know what's good for you, Evelyn, you'll sign the divorce papers yourself."Evelyn picked up the ultrasound report and glanced at it. She really was pregnant."Let's go," Evelyn told the young woman. "It's still early enough in the day to schedule an abortion at the clinic.""How dare you! You have some nerve trying to get rid of the Farrell family's heir!" The woman's face twisted in rage. She shot up and swung a hand to slap her.Evelyn caught the woman's wrist and shoved her back hard.Looking at her twisted, pretty face, Evelyn's expression remained mild, though her eyes were ice-cold. "An heir? Didn't Xavier tell you? He's on male contraceptives and even had a vasectomy. So tell me, exactly how did you get pregnant?""You're lying! Mr. Farrell would never do that! You're making it up." The girl panicked and turned to him for help. "Mr. Farrell, she's talking nonsense, right?""She's not lying. I did have the procedure." Xavier lifted his gaze slightly, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. His tone was chilling. "So, how exactly did you get pregnant? Asexual reproduction? Or immaculate conception?"That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm."I..." The young woman looked completely flustered, unable to form a single word for a long time.Finally, she broke down in tears. "Mr. Farrell, I was wrong! I shouldn't have lied to you. I just love you so much and wanted to stay by your side!"Evelyn clicked her tongue. Seeing the girl about to throw a full-blown tantrum, she simply called the bodyguards to drag her out."You're always so aggressive. You scared that young, pretty girl to tears," Xavier remarked. He lit a cigarette, the curling smoke rising and blurring his handsome features.Evelyn walked up to him and plucked the cigarette right out of his hand. She leaned down to meet his eyes. "They wouldn't have to cry if you stopped collecting these girls who just happen to look like Valerie Fulton, only to let them use fake pregnancies to trap you."Xavier's expression instantly darkened into something ruthless. "You don't have the right to say her name!""Why don't I?"Perhaps having backed down for too long, Evelyn had finally reached her breaking point."I'll say it one more time, Xavier," she raised her voice. "I never pushed Valerie! She fell on her own trying to frame me. Her dying in that fall was her own fault! I don't need to take responsibility, and you sure as hell can't use it to force me to atone for something I didn't do!""Shut your mouth!""Fine. If you don't want to hear it, let's use actions." Evelyn straddled his lap, reaching out to tear off his dress shirt before tossing it into the trash can."This shirt is dirty now. It belongs in the garbage."Xavier sneered. "Throw this one away, and there's always the next."Evelyn's fingertips trembled slightly. She knew he wasn't just talking about the shirt; he was talking about women.In the three years they had been married, she had to deal with the women around him every few days. Like the one just now, they all shared some resemblance to Valerie—maybe the eyes, maybe the mouth. Their only purpose was for Xavier to use them to disgust his own wife.Her eyes hardened with resolve. "Then I'll just keep throwing them out. As compensation, you belong to me tonight.""I'd love to know who gave you the delusion that my nights belong to you." With that, Xavier forcefully shoved her off him. He stood up and turned to leave."Xavier!" Evelyn lay on the sofa, suddenly speaking up. "Aren't you afraid I'll go straight to your grandfather and have him send Vickie Fulton away?"Vickie was Valerie's sister. That woman wasn't as young, as beautiful, or as well-connected as Evelyn, yet just because she resembled Valerie, Xavier kept her tucked away like a precious treasure.Xavier whipped around and grabbed Evelyn by the throat. His thin lips curved into a smile, but the glint in his eyes was as sharp as a blade. "I suggest you behave yourself, Evelyn. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do. Understood?"Evelyn was absolutely certain she saw murder in his eyes. For the sake of Vickie—a mere stand-in—he wanted her dead. A chill ran through her chest, and sorrow spilled into her gaze.He stared at her for a moment before tossing her aside. Pulling out a tissue, he meticulously wiped his fingers, not even missing his cuticles, looking as thoroughly disgusted as if he had just touched radioactive waste.Evelyn's heart violently seized, as if crushed by an invisible hand, leaving her gasping for air.She watched him slam the door on his way out, slumping back against the couch as a few tears escaped her eyes.What was worse than the man you love being in love with someone else?It was when the woman he loved was dead.When someone dies, they can never make a mistake again. As time passes, they only become more flawless, an untouchable memory, a perfect illusion that leaves the living wife forever trapped in the shadows.If she had a choice, she truly wouldn't want to love Xavier anymore.But she couldn't help it. Ever since that year he carried her out of the blizzard, she had fallen for him. By now, it was a terminal condition.Evelyn smoothed out her clothes. By the time she looked up again, her expression was perfectly calm, erasing every trace of her prior heartbreak.She opened the door and walked out, finding Xavier's tall, straight figure waiting in the hallway.He shot her a glance. "Grandpa's waiting for us at home."With that, he strode toward the exit.She quietly followed him.The car glided smoothly down the road. The interior was so silent that only the rustle of him flipping through documents and the sound of their breathing could be heard.Evelyn relaxed, savoring the quietude. It was a rare, peaceful moment that belonged only to the two of them.The moment they stepped into the living room, Karl Farrell, dressed in a sharp tailored suit, came forward and enveloped her in a hug. "Evelyn! You're finally here. My heart actually ached from missing you so much."Evelyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I was just here two days ago.""A day apart feels like a lifetime! By that math, it's been years since you last saw this old man. Years! How many of those do you think I have left?"Evelyn immediately conceded. "I'm sorry. I'll come back to see you every single day from now on.""That's more like it."She chatted happily with the older man, completely leaving his actual grandson off to the side.Xavier was used to this; Evelyn had always been exceptionally good at winning people over.At that moment, the butler approached. "Sir, dinner is served."The table was fully laden with all of Evelyn's favorite dishes.Karl placed a large, tender piece of fish onto her plate, smiling warmly. "Eat up. You've lost weight.""Thank you."But the second the fish touched her tongue, a wave of nausea hit her. Evelyn covered her mouth, unable to stop herself from dry heaving.Karl's eyes lit up with sheer delight. "Are you pregnant?""That's impossible," Xavier stated without a second of hesitation.Karl frowned. "You've been married for three years! Why would it be impossible? Carter, get the car ready. We're taking Evelyn to the doctor for a checkup.""There's no need for the hospital," Evelyn interjected quickly. "I just had a full physical today. The doctor said it's just a mild stomach bug.""Are you sure?"She nodded. Her period had just ended yesterday. Aside from that one drunken night half a month ago, they had never actually slept in the same bed like a real married couple.Karl let out a heavy sigh, then directed his frustration straight at Xavier. "What’s wrong with you? You're young and healthy, but you can't even give me a great-grandson? What good are you!"Xavier continued eating quietly, his face completely indifferent, acting as if their conversation had absolutely nothing to do with him.Karl immediately switched tactics, putting on a frail, pitiful act. "Poor me, at this age, I could drop dead any day now. To pass away without even seeing my great-grandson... I'll never rest in peace!""Don't talk like that. It breaks my heart," Evelyn said, gripping his hand tightly, feeling genuinely awful."You're a good girl, Evelyn. But some people around here clearly aren't. He'd rather watch his own grandfather die with regrets than make a simple compromise."Xavier set down his silverware with a sigh. "You're going to live to be a hundred."Karl huffed. "What's the point of living to a hundred if the Farrell family has no heir? So people can laugh at my grandson's incompetence?"He issued an absolute command. "You two are staying the night here. It saves you the drive and leaves no excuses for not working on a baby.""I have plans tonight," Xavier said, his brow furrowing.Karl wasn't having it. "Your only plan is to get your wife pregnant! If you dare sneak out tonight, don't ever call me your grandfather again!"Karl was a force of nature. Right after dinner, he personally grabbed Xavier by the arm, shoved him into the guest bedroom, and then—click—locked the door from the outside.Xavier stared at the heavy oak door, his face darkening with fury."If you really have an emergency, I'll figure out a way to unlock it," Evelyn offered.Xavier let out a cold laugh. "Drop the innocent act. Do you really think I don't know exactly what kind of game you're playing?"He flipped open his laptop, ready to start working.Suddenly, the laptop was snapped shut."Evelyn!" Xavier shouted.Evelyn looked right at him, her voice entirely flat. "You know I want to sleep with you. I don't need to invent excuses for that."With that, she opened his laptop back up, turned on her heel, and walked into the bathroom.He stared at her retreating back, his expression unreadable.By the time Evelyn stepped out of the shower, Xavier was still working.The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. The top two buttons were undone, exposing a glimpse of his toned chest.He was undeniably gorgeous. The sharp lines of his face looked as if they had been sculpted by a master artist, and every movement he made radiated a natural, aristocratic coldness. He was the absolute definition of breathtaking.Evelyn sat at the small bar counter in the corner, allowing her gaze to boldly trace over him. Only in moments like this could she stop hiding her feelings.Her marriage to Xavier was an alliance between their families, pushed relentlessly by Karl.Back then, Xavier had been so devastated by Valerie's death that he was determined to spend the rest of his life alone. Karl refused to allow it and approached Evelyn, demanding she marry him.She had already given up on him then, fully intending to hide away at the edge of the world and love him in secret. But Karl's proposal jump-started her deadened heart. In the end, ignoring her parents' objections, she agreed.