Chapter 38
Evelyn shot down that idea outright. Having lived with Adrian for six years, she wouldn’t claim to know him perfectly, but she was sure he’d never kidnap her.
A bright smile curled her lips. Just then, the driver glanced back and caught that smile. For a split second, he felt as if Evelyn could see right through him.
Evelyn was unnervingly calm, even in a kidnapping. It was striking, almost disconcerting
She tapped the car window. The driver’s expression shifted instantly. He glared at her coldly, his voice sharp with a threat. “Stay quiet, or I won’t play nice.”
Evelyn gestured for him to come closer. He obliged, opening the door and sliding in beside her.
He thought, “This woman is likely to be trouble.
“The one who hired you is a woman, isn’t she?” Evelyn said, calm as ever. “Give me your phone. Let me talk to her.”
She held his stare calmly. When she mentioned his client was a woman, the flicker of shock in his eyes didn’t escape her notice.
“Quit your games. Sit put.” The driver snapped, but Evelyn merely curled a sardonic smile, unfazed.
She noticed his phone call was still connected. Raising her voice, she said, “Clarissa, I thought you’d be a worthy rival. But it turns out you’re just a fool.”
The words hit like a jolt. Even Clarissa, on the other end of the line, froze.
Clarissa mused, ‘How did she know it was me? I even told the driver to drop Adrian’s name. How could she still guess right?‘
Clarissa became so nervous that her palms were slick with sweat, her heart racing wildly.
She stayed silent, and Evelyn, glancing at the driver’s phone, spoke as if musing aloud, “If you had any sense, you shouldn’t have acted so recklessly.
“You know what? Adrian and I have been married for years. So in a divorce, the court favors the wronged party when splitting assets.”
Evelyn analyzed the situation methodically, determined to make Clarissa realize she was really being a fool.
Clarissa itched to argue, but reason held her back. She thought, ‘What if this is a trick? If the driver has betrayed me, he may let Evelyn record this conversation. That would be a disaster.
Clarissa had once been smug, convinced Adrian loved her, but little moments in their time together had chipped away at that confidence.
Evelyn, sensing Clarissa’s cautious scheming in her silence, went on, still as if talking to herself, “Adrian and I
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are bound by interests. You made your relationship public to stake a claim, but you have no idea the fallout our divorce would trigger.”
A cold smile curved Evelyn’s lips.
“Who do you think you are? You’re overestimating yourself.” Clarissa finally snapped, her voice icy.
Evelyn could almost picture Clarissa rolling her eyes over the line.
Unfazed, Evelyn pressed on, calm and analytical. “Our marriage is sanctioned by both families, even the board.
“He’s worn himself ragged socializing to cover for you, and here you are, dragging him down. Nothing stays hidden forever. Suppose word gets out that you kidnapped me. Never mind the legal trouble, do you think the Rivers family or the board shareholders would stand by you?”
Fear coiled in Clarissa. She’d always assumed Adrian’s love would shield her from any storm, but now, Evelyn’s words sent a chill down her spine.
“Clarissa, you’re wasting your efforts. Adrian and I will divorce. What you should be focusing on is how to earn the Rivers family’s approval.”
No sooner had Evelyn said that than two familiar figures came into her view.
Nathan and Clayton strode over quickly. Evelyn kept talking to Clarissa, her voice rising unconsciously as the driver listened intently, waiting for Clarissa’s orders to decide Evelyn’s fate.
Soon, Nathan and Clayton reached the car. Nathan tapped softly on the window. The driver glanced over, then froze in shock.
Clayton wrenched open the passenger door, leaned in, and locked a hand around the driver’s throat, pinning him in place.
Evelyn pushed open the car door and stepped out. Nathan’s eyes raked over her.
He asked, “Are you alright?”
Evelyn hadn’t expected them to arrive so suddenly. Her earlier words to Clarissa had been deliberate, meant to make Clarissa realize she was fixating on the wrong target and buy time until Helena’s rescue.
Clayton hauled the driver out of the car. Just then, Helena rushed over with her team, a golden retriever at
her side.
Evelyn said earnestly, “Mr. Ford, thank you so much for today.”
The moment Evelyn saw Nathan, the panic she’d been stifling dissolved into a wave of relief.
“Words are cheap. Better to show your gratitude with action,” Nathan replied as his dark stare locked on her, sending a flush of embarrassment creeping up her cheeks.
Helena approached with the dog, visibly relieved to find Evelyn unharmed. She said, “Walter thought ahead,
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Chapter 38
sending me to bring Rockie to protect you.
“Rockie is a specially trained guard dog, top of his class, and super gentle. I feel better since he’ll be with you. But I’m crashing at your place tonight. I’ve been trying to steal Rockie, but Walter dotes on him so much I never get close.”
Helena chattered on, as if Nathan weren’t even there.
Nathan had been in a decent mood, but at the mention of Walter sending over a guard dog, his expression soured.
He shot Evelyn a sharp look, his voice cold. “Consider this a debt. I’ll collect it when I think of how.”
After saying that, he left with Clayton and the driver.
Clayton felt a twinge of sympathy for Nathan. He thought, ‘What a perfect hero–saves–the–day moment, but ruined by an ignorant girl.‘
Evelyn frowned a little, watching Nathan walk away. She mused, ‘Weird. Why do I get the feeling he was angry?‘
“Evie, you’re not saying Nathan just saved you, are you?” Helena asked, disbelief coloring her tone.
She mentally weighed the odds, ‘If Walter and Nathan went head–to–head, who’d come out on top, winning Evie’s heart?‘
“Yes, he did. But I didn’t expect him to show up,” Evelyn admitted.
Glancing at the time, she saw it was long past her office’s scheduled check–in time. So she decided to have a day off.
“Come on. Let’s head back,” she urged Helena.
Since Evelyn wasn’t working, she might as well rest at home.
That night, Helena left for a social engagement, leaving Rockie alone with Evelyn.
Deep into the night, Evelyn was jolted awake by Rockie’s frantic barking.
She opened her eyes to see a figure on the balcony, fumbling with the door handle, trying to get in.
Ever since that break–in, she’d made a habit of checking all doors and windows before bed.
Evelyn climbed out of bed. Rockie stood in front of her, a clear warning to keep back.
The intruder, sensing trouble, panicked and scrambled down the exterior wall pipe, fleeing into the night.
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Chapter 39
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
