Chapter 450

The morning Evelyn returned to the hospital coincided with the annual blood drive. Without a second thought, she rolled up her sleeve and donated.

When Olivia and Marcus discovered she'd hidden her severe allergic reaction from them, their expressions darkened. "You could have died!" Olivia's voice trembled with barely contained fury.

After extracting a solemn promise that Evelyn would never conceal medical emergencies again—and securing her reluctant agreement to a blind date—they finally relented.

That evening found Evelyn seated across from a strikingly handsome man at an intimate bistro in downtown Manhattan. The candlelight cast dancing shadows across his chiseled features.

"Ms. Hartley, I presume?" His deep baritone resonated through the quiet space as he extended a well-manicured hand. "Harrison Whitmore."

The way his gaze lingered on her face made Evelyn's cheeks warm. "Evelyn Hartley," she replied, shaking his hand before they settled into their plush velvet chairs.

After the waiter took their orders, Evelyn didn't mince words. "Mr. Whitmore, I believe in honesty." She met his hazel eyes squarely. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now. This was Olivia's doing."

Harrison's smile faltered momentarily. He'd been instantly captivated—not just by her delicate beauty, but by the quiet strength radiating from her. Her bluntness, however, caught him off guard.

After a beat, he chuckled softly. "I admire your directness. No pressure, of course." He swirled his wine thoughtfully. "Though I'd be honored if you'd consider me a friend?"

Evelyn's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Friends I can manage."

"Excellent." Harrison produced his phone with a charming smile. "Shall we exchange contacts then?"

As Evelyn added his number, Harrison studied her profile. "I understand," he said gently. "Divorcing Nathan Black isn't something one recovers from overnight."

Her fingers stilled on the screen. How much had Olivia told him? Before she could respond, the waiter arrived with their appetizers, providing a welcome distraction.

The conversation flowed surprisingly easily after that. Harrison proved to be witty and perceptive, steering clear of personal topics. By dessert, Evelyn found herself actually enjoying his company.

When he walked her to her car later, the autumn breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves between them. "Thank you for tonight," Evelyn said sincerely. "It wasn't what I expected."

Harrison's smile held a hint of something unreadable. "The pleasure was entirely mine, Evelyn." He hesitated, then added, "For what it's worth? I think you're worth waiting for."

As his words settled over her, Evelyn realized with a start that for the first time in months, the thought of moving on didn't fill her with dread.