Chapter 325

Sophia Laurent violently shook off the hand resting on her shoulder, cigarette ash fluttering from her fingertips.

Evelyn Langley nearly dropped her purse.

Her eyes widened as she watched her best friend arm-in-arm with a man.

That silhouette was painfully familiar.

The air froze when they turned around.

Julian Roscente?!

Evelyn's mind went blank.

So this was the "business partner" Sophia kept mentioning?

"You forgot your bag." Evelyn handed over the purse, her fingers icy.

Sophia grinned as she took it. "Thanks, sweetie!"

She nudged Evelyn toward the apartment complex. "Go on up. I'll wait until you're inside."

Evelyn nodded.

The night breeze lifted strands of her hair.

She knew Sophia too well—carefree on the surface, calculating underneath.

From her balcony, Evelyn waved.

The streetlamp stretched Sophia's shadow long across the pavement.

"Where's my car?" Julian demanded, catching up.

Sophia already had the engine roaring. "Not going your way."

Leaning out the window, she called, "I'll reimburse your cab fare."

The Maserati shot forward like an arrow.

Julian's furious shout dissolved in the exhaust fumes. "That's my brand-new car!"

Next afternoon.

Wall Street's glass facades reflected a speeding red convertible.

A chestnut-haired boy lounged in the passenger seat.

Julian's coffee cup creaked under his grip.

He stared at the retreating taillights.

A vein throbbed at his temple.

......

The last day of July.

Evelyn sealed three thesis copies into an express envelope.

Adrian Klein had verified her data for the sixth time.

The printer spat out its final page.

At last, she could sleep in.

Morning light flooded the bustling farmer's market.

Evelyn leisurely selected tomatoes.

Her phone screen lit up—a video call from her father.

"Professor Klein arranged that lab just for you?"

William Langley's voice crackled through the speaker.

Evelyn wiped damp hands on her jeans. "Yes."

Only later did she realize—

That was a lab others couldn't access with money.

Adrian had made an exception.

She encountered him during her morning jog.

The physicist had already run five kilometers.

Spotting her, he turned back. "I'll do another two with you."

Sunlight dappled through sycamore leaves.

Their shadows moved in tandem.

Evelyn's breathing gradually steadied.