Chapter 217

Evelyn Sullivan smoothed the bedsheets with practiced efficiency, her movements crisp like someone accustomed to this routine. She lifted her gaze to Ethan Sullivan standing by the window, her voice calm. "Mr. Sullivan, it's time to rest."

Ethan turned, his dark eyes lingering on her composed face for a fleeting moment. He said nothing.

They lay side by side, the room silent except for their breathing. Evelyn stared at the ceiling, fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of the blanket.

"Mr. Sullivan, are you asleep?" she finally whispered.

"No." His voice cut through the darkness, sharp and clear.

Evelyn bit her lip. "About today... thank you. But I don’t want to owe you anything else."

The air turned icy.

"Then don’t repay me." Ethan suddenly turned to face her, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "Evelyn, how long are you going to keep pretending?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"I—"

"If I didn’t care about you, why would I drop everything to find you?" The words sounded forced through clenched teeth.

Her grip tightened on the sheets. She understood, but the scars of the past made trust impossible.

"But Isabella—"

"That’s over." He cut her off. "Right now, I just want your answer."

Evelyn closed her eyes, lashes trembling. "Give me time... I need to think."

In the darkness, she heard Ethan exhale softly.

The night stretched endlessly. Evelyn’s mind replayed the moment Ethan had severed the rope—the shock of it still reverberated through her.

At dawn, Ethan’s assistant arrived with a rescue team. Before leaving, Ethan insisted on compensating the elderly Howards, but they refused.

"Young man, helping you was enough," Grandma Howard said kindly, pressing a talisman into Evelyn’s hand.

When the helicopter landed in Rongcheng, Zoe Zade was waiting at the villa entrance. Her eyes red, she crushed Evelyn in a breathless embrace.

"You scared me to death!" Zoe’s voice cracked. "The news said you were swept into the sea—I almost—"

Evelyn patted her back. "I’m fine."

"Fine? If it weren’t for Mr. Sullivan—"

"I need to shower." Evelyn gently pulled away, retreating to the bathroom.

The hot water did nothing to untangle her thoughts. As she towel-dried her hair, her phone lit up with a message from Sophia Reynolds.

"7 p.m. Usual place. We’re celebrating your survival."

Evelyn replied with a quick "OK" and drove to MY Fashion Group. The moment she stepped into her office, Sophia burst in.

"Next time, put your safety first," Sophia said sternly, then lowered her voice. "The Sullivan family is in chaos. Brace yourself."

Evelyn’s hand paused mid-air, the pen trembling slightly.