Chapter 96

His scorching breath fanned across her face. Evelyn instinctively took two steps back. "What do you want to say?"

Her retreat ignited something in Nathan. The crimson in his eyes deepened, his voice thick with suppressed fury. "You think Ethan Winston truly cares about you? That man's a cunning fox, a playboy who toys with hearts."

Having grown up together, Nathan knew Ethan better than anyone. The man never revealed his true intentions—even his childhood friend couldn't decipher his thoughts.

Ethan's sudden interest in Evelyn raised all kinds of red flags.

Her expression remained frosty. "Whatever his motives, they don't concern me—"

Nathan's tension eased slightly—until her next words froze him in place.

"You're no different."

"It's late." She pulled out her phone. "Leave now, or I'm calling security."

He moved closer. "Evelyn—"

"Three... two..." Her finger hovered over the call button.

Nathan finally left, teeth gritted. "I'll come back tomorrow," he threw over his shoulder.

From the restaurant terrace shadows, Chloe Valentine watched everything unfold.

The next dawn barely tinted the sky when Sophia Laurent returned, humming.

Evelyn was mid-bite into her toast when the electronic lock beeped.

Sophia sauntered in wearing a new dress, radiant. She snatched a sandwich from the table.

"Good night?" Evelyn teased.

"Absolute perfection. A Korean hunk with V-cut abs and eight-pack." Sophia's eyes glazed over at the memory of his puppy-dog gaze that morning—she'd almost caved again.

"Don't forget our scuba instructor meets us at ten."

The Maldives' diving was legendary. Though uneasy about deep water, curiosity won out for Evelyn.

Their instructor, a jovial middle-aged man, brightened at the sight of them. He meticulously explained gear usage and underwater signals.

Sophia, an experienced diver, half-listened. Evelyn absorbed every detail, terrified of missing anything.

"Relax." The instructor patted her arm. "Imagine the underwater wonderland. It'll be magical."