Chapter 126

Evelyn giggled playfully and approached Donovan.

"Donny, could you do me a tiny favor? Consider it a birthday gift?"

Instead of answering immediately, Donovan raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of favor?"

She clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm working on an AI project. Since you're literally the smartest person I know, could you help me with a small part of it?"

Evelyn batted her lashes, laying the flattery on thick.

Donovan was a national treasure—a genius whose brilliance was practically criminal to waste. But then again, what was the point of having a genius brother if she couldn't exploit his brain once in a while?

He considered for a moment before nodding. "Fine. I have a month off. Will that be enough?"

"More than enough!"

Before he could change his mind, Evelyn snatched the black credit card from his hand and waved it triumphantly. "And I'll be taking this too. Thanks, Donny!"

Donovan sighed, already regretting his decision.

Nearby, two sharply dressed men lingered in the shadows, watching the Sterling siblings with keen interest. They had been staking out the area all night, waiting for a certain elusive genius to appear.

Tristan Whitmore checked his phone for the tenth time. "Where the hell are those photos Harrison was supposed to send?"

His elbow nudged Nathan Blackwood's arm. "Well, well. Look who it is—Evelyn Sinclair."

Beside her stood a man they didn't recognize. Tall, composed, with an air of quiet intelligence. He didn’t carry himself like a businessman, but something far more intriguing.

Nathan's gaze locked onto Evelyn. Her dark waves cascaded over her shoulders, her emerald-green halter dress hugging every curve. The stilettos made her legs look endless.

She was laughing at something the man said, her smile radiant.

Nathan moved before he realized it, drawn toward her voice like a moth to flame.

"Why the sudden divorce?" Donovan asked casually.

Evelyn shrugged. "Because he died."

"Oh." Donovan accepted this with the same indifference as if she'd told him the weather.

Nathan and Tristan froze mid-step.

The allegedly deceased man in question stared at Evelyn's back, his expression unreadable.

Tristan burst out laughing and clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "Well, damn. You're officially a ghost."

His phone finally buzzed. Tristan glanced down—and nearly choked.

The photo was unmistakable.

It was the man standing right next to Evelyn.

Tristan's voice cracked. "No freaking way."

Nathan snatched the phone, his eyes widening.

Evelyn turned at the commotion, her smile vanishing the second she spotted them. "Ugh. Not you two again."

Tristan forced a grin and stepped forward. "Fancy meeting you here, Ms. Sterling!" He glanced at Donovan, barely containing his excitement. "This is—"

He couldn't even finish. The man they'd been hunting for months was right here, casually chatting with Evelyn like it was nothing.

And worse—they looked close.

Donovan nodded politely. "Hello. I'm Dr. Soren."

A pseudonym. One the world knew him by, though few had ever seen his face.

Evelyn crossed her arms. "Are you stalking me now? Because I swear, you two pop up like bad pennies."

Tristan hesitated. Should he lie? But if he did, they'd lose this chance.

"We weren't stalking you," he said quickly. "We're here to meet a friend. Total coincidence!"

Evelyn gave him a flat look. "Then hurry up and disappear."

"Right. On it." Tristan turned to leave.

Nathan didn't move.

His gaze lingered on Evelyn, dark and unreadable, before shifting to Donovan. "Dr. Soren," he said slowly. "You two are friends?"

Donovan slid an arm around Evelyn's shoulders. "The best."

He wasn't lying.

In Donovan's world, "friends" were a rare commodity. He had exactly three—his siblings.

Evelyn tugged Donovan's arm. "Let's go."

She didn't spare Nathan a single glance.