Chapter 256

Raindrops drummed against the car window like a frantic percussion beat.

Evelyn stared at the caller ID on her phone, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Grace?" Peter's voice came from the driver's seat.

"Yeah."

"Probably worried about you."

She answered the call, and her mother's voice exploded through the receiver: "Evelyn! Where are you?"

"We?"

"You and Peter! Aunt Lucy told me he took you to his company gathering. I’m not trying to interfere, but the weather forecast said there’d be heavy rain tonight—"

"We’re already on our way."

"Good. By the way, has Peter been drinking?"

Evelyn glanced at the driver's seat. Peter's sharp profile was outlined by the streetlights, his fingers firm around the steering wheel.

"No."

"That boy is always reliable." Her mother’s voice suddenly dropped. "Aunt Lucy came over for dinner today, and she kept hinting about you two..."

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palm.

"Mom, I’m driving. We’ll talk later."

The call ended, leaving only the rhythmic swish of windshield wipers in the car.

Peter broke the silence. "Grace pushing for marriage?"

"Yeah."

"Funny. My mom sent me a dozen voice messages today." He gave a wry chuckle. "Said if I don’t get married soon, she’ll set me up on blind dates."

The traffic light turned red, and the car slowed to a stop.

"Actually..." Peter turned to her. "What if we just got the license first?"

Neon lights refracted through the raindrops on his glasses.

Evelyn met his gaze. "Peter, do you really want to marry me?"

Her voice was soft, but the words landed between them like a hammer.