Chapter 82

Ethan Winston played a ruthless move. Two brothers fighting over one woman, and he openly declared his relationship first. Wasn't this deliberately causing a scandal?

Ethan lounged lazily on the sofa, fingers tapping the armrest. "Don't bother persuading me. Whether the melon is sweet or not, one must taste it to know."

......

Evelyn Langley stepped out of the café and wandered aimlessly through the mall. She bought a camel-colored cashmere scarf and picked out a beige overcoat.

By the time she finished grocery shopping, dusk had fallen. Winter nights always arrived too quickly. She tightened her coat and quickened her pace.

The streetlights were already lit when she reached her apartment building. A dark figure suddenly emerged from the alley.

Her heart clenched, thinking it was a drunkard or a homeless man.

Recognizing Nathan Evans, she relaxed—until the strong scent of alcohol hit her, making her frown.

Nathan had been waiting in the cold for hours, his nose red from the chill. Fueled by liquor, he grabbed Evelyn's wrist.

"Evelyn..."

"Let go." She struggled fiercely.

Somehow, this man's touch now made her skin crawl.

"Not until you promise to come back to me!" His voice was hoarse.

"You're drunk." She turned her face away.

"I mean it..."

The second man today to tell her he was "serious."

Nathan's gaze was unfocused. "Before, you asked if I wanted to be the other man. Now I'm telling you—I've broken up with Chloe Valentine. If you come back, I'll overlook whatever's between you and Ethan."

"I was wrong yesterday. I'm sorry. Hit me, yell at me—do whatever you want..."

The night wind cut like knives. The forecast said tonight would be the coldest of the season.

Suddenly, Evelyn felt the chill seep into her bones, her breath turning to ice shards.

"Sorry," she lowered her eyes. "There's no going back."

The once-proud man had finally bowed his head, but she no longer cared.

"Your stomach is sensitive. Don't drink so much."

She pulled her hand free and turned to leave.

Don't drink so much...

She still remembered his old ailment!

Nathan's eyes lit up. She still cared about him! This realization set his blood on fire.

He lunged forward, pulling Evelyn into his arms. "Evelyn, you still love me, don't you? Let's start over!"

He tried to kiss her.

Evelyn shoved him away hard, wiping her lips furiously. "Don't touch me!"

Nathan froze as if struck by lightning. The disgust on her face was a blade, cutting him to the bone.

The alcohol haze vanished, leaving only piercing cold.

Evelyn smirked. "Truth is, I knew long ago you were seeing other women while we were together. Did you really think you hid it well? A woman in love is a detective."

The first clue surfaced when he returned from a business trip. While unpacking, she found a torn condom wrapper in the lining—just a fingernail-sized scrap, but she instantly recognized it wasn't their brand.