Chapter 38

"What's bothering you, Ethan?" Evelyn asked as she stepped into the room.

Pulling out his phone with a mischievous grin, Ethan suggested, "How about we snap a picture together?"

Evelyn arched a perfectly shaped brow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Still trying to get under your ex's skin, are we?"

It had been nearly a month since Ethan's breakup, and he had confided in Evelyn that his ex was still sulking over something trivial. His plan? Make her jealous enough to come crawling back.

Ethan's expression darkened slightly. "That video of us dancing when you came back went viral. She saw it, but still nothing. I think we need to turn up the heat. There's no way she can ignore this!"

Evelyn sighed dramatically, shaking her head. "Fine. What's your grand plan for this photo?"

Ethan already had it all figured out. "Just follow my lead," he said, his grin widening.

In the next moment, they snapped the picture—quick, effortless. Ethan barely glanced at it before posting it online, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Nathan was scrolling through his social media feed when Ethan's latest post caught his attention. His brows furrowed as he took in the image of Ethan and Evelyn, their faces close, their smiles bright.

In the photo, Ethan's fingers lightly pinched Evelyn's cheek, eliciting a mock-irritated expression from her. Though the pose wasn’t overtly intimate, the familiarity between them was undeniable. Something about the sight of them together sent an unexpected surge of irritation through Nathan. His jaw tightened as he swiftly scrolled past, refusing to dwell on it.

At nine sharp, Evelyn returned to the sprawling Grant estate. She stepped into the bedroom to find Nathan already there, his presence an unwelcome surprise. A faint crease formed between her brows.

"Nathan, Leonard insisted we stay in the house, not that we share a room," she said coolly, her gaze sharp. "Find another room."

Nathan looked up slowly, his expression dripping with disdain. "You think I want this? This is the only bedroom in this entire mansion with both a bed and a couch. Blame Leonard for his meddling."

His tone turned icy. It was clear Leonard had orchestrated this arrangement with deliberate intent.

Evelyn paused, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Leonard to be so relentless in pushing her and Nathan together. After a brief hesitation, she turned toward the walk-in closet.

"Evelyn," Nathan called out abruptly as she took a few steps.

She stopped and turned, meeting his gaze.

His voice was low, edged with warning. "We're still married, Evelyn. To the world, you're still my wife. That photo with Ethan—think about what it means for me."

A beat of silence.

"It affects my reputation."

?