Chapter 87

"Evelyn Langley, I know you're in there."

"Open the door! Let's talk this out."

Nathan Evans' voice carried through the door, laced with suppressed fury.

He pounded the door twice with his fist.

"Fine. Very well." A cold laugh escaped him. "You think hiding from me will solve anything?"

His patience had worn thin, shifting from pleading to outright rage.

Just as he turned to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows of the stairwell.

Nathan froze mid-step.

Under the dim light, Adrian Klein stood on the steps, holding a paper bag.

His presence here at this hour spoke volumes.

After the incident with Ethan Winston, Nathan had dug into Adrian's background.

The third son of the Klein family—no wonder even Ethan had backed down.

"Here to see Evelyn?" Nathan narrowed his eyes.

Adrian remained impassive. "None of your concern."

"She's mine," Nathan said, his tone dangerous.

"She belongs to no one." Adrian frowned. "If anything, she belongs only to herself."

Nathan scoffed. "Professor Klein, for all your education, you don't understand women. The more she acts like this, the more it proves she can't let me go."

"Go ahead, knock. She won't open the door for you either."

With that, Nathan strode away.

Adrian glanced at the locked door, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Of course he knew Evelyn wouldn't answer.

Because she wasn't home.

......

Sunlight bathed the Maldives in warmth.

The crystal-clear turquoise waters revealed vibrant schools of fish darting below.

Three days ago, Sophia Laurent had called out of the blue.

Fresh off a major project and with her boyfriend away visiting family, she was bored.

"Come to the Maldives with me," she'd said eagerly.

Evelyn had agreed almost immediately.

Partly to avoid Nathan and Ethan's relentless pursuit, but mostly because she needed this escape.

Now, she lay on a beach chair, soaking in the sun.

A gentle breeze carried the sound of waves lapping against the shore.

"Living the life, huh?" Sophia dropped onto the adjacent chair in her bikini.

Evelyn took a sip of mango juice, eyes closed in contentment.

This trip was worth every second.