And, if he were being honest, he’d wanted to provoke Hannah a little.
He first met Hannah when she was just eighteen and he was twenty–one.
It had been at a gala, where she stood out in a loose, understated dress–completely different from the other women in their form–fitting, mermaid–cut gowns that flaunted
every curve.
He couldn’t quite describe the feeling she gave him.
It was like–love at first sight.
In that moment, every beautiful thing he had ever seen seemed dull in comparison to the soft, radiant smile in her eyes.
There were other young men at the gala, all from prominent families and all eager to win
her favor.
Initially, he hadn’t been interested. He had only shown up to make an appearance.
But the moment he saw Hannah, he changed his mind.
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He threw himself into the competition, using everything in his arsenal to win her over.
Christopher knew he was the best.
Among all the contenders, he stood out.
Their first real moment together was a trip to Southlake, where the spring rains fell gently on the blooming apricot trees.
It was just like something out of a novel.
She handed him her phone with a smile and asked him to take a photo of her.
When she started taking selfies, he leaned in to snap a picture with her. She didn’t object, only smiling softly, her expression both graceful and enchanting.
When they returned from Southlake, the marriage arrangements between the Gray family and the Ho family began to take shape.
She continued her studies and her painting, while he focused on business–making money and building a life for them.
Hannah seemed uninterested in most things.
She and Christopher lived as if they were from two completely different worlds.
Christopher had always wondered: if he confessed his feelings to someone else, or if he openly pursued another woman…
Would Hannah care?
Even if she didn’t love him, surely she wouldn’t tolerate the idea of him falling passionately for someone else.
When Christopher met Evelyn, he had already done his research.
She was an orphan with no family ties, no baggage, and just enough ambition to make her interesting
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The most important part? She had a bit of a unique edge to her personality.
She was exactly the kind of person he could use.
So, he chose her.
For three months, he kept her on edge, slowly reeling her in, step by step.
Evelyn had no idea that from the very beginning, she was just a pawn in Christopher’s game.
She believed she was the hunter, setting the perfect trap to seduce Christopher into
falling for her.
What she didn’t realize was that Christopher had already laid out the entire plan.
She was nothing more than a tool.
Christopher staged a grand spectacle–fireworks lighting up the city, a proposal broadcast across the globe. He made it look like he was madly in love with Evelyn.
But all along, he had meticulously prepared for what would come after.
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The luxurious crystal chandelier cast a warm, amber glow over the room, giving the air a faintly suggestive shimmer.
“Christopher, do you love me?” Evelyn asked suddenly.
It was a question she had asked countless times over the past year.
And every time, Christopher would reply, “Of course, Evelyn. I love
you.”
But this time, Christopher leaned back against the couch, tilting his head to look at her.
His gaze was different–cool, appraising, and faintly critical.
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He started from her feet, his eyes slowly traveling up her legs, before stopping blatantly
at her chest.
Evelyn’s cheeks burned with anger.
The way Christopher looked at her now felt degrading, like she was a piece of meat being inspected at a butcher shop.
“Christopher, you can’t treat me like this,” Evelyn said through gritted teeth, biting her lip to hold back her frustration.
“After everything we’ve been through for over a year, have you really never cared for me?”
Christopher pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took his time exhaling before responding.
“Evelyn, your only weapon is your so–called beauty.”
He chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery, as if he were watching an amusing performance.
“But do you know something?” he continued
“In the eyes of regular people, sure, you’re beautiful–better than most girls on the street.”
He paused, taking another drag of his cigarette, then added, “But put you in Hollywood, and you’re nothing special.”
“Ever thought about trying the entertainment industry? I could help you make your debut. You’ve got a knack for acting, after all.”
For a moment, Evelyn was stunned.
Then fury surged through her like wildfire, consuming her entire body.
She loved him. How could he humiliate her like this?
“Christopher, what are you saying? Are you comparing me to some cheap actress?” she snapped, her voice rising several octaves.
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Christopher blinked, momentarily surprised by her outburst.
He had always known Evelyn wasn’t as innocent as she pretended to be. From the moment she approached him, her intentions were clear, her motives far from pure.
But he hadn’t cared. She had been a tool for him, just as he had been one for her.
Over the course of their year–long relationship, they had played their parts–truth and lies blending seamlessly. He had whispered all kinds of sweet, cliché nothings, and she had played along.
Even when Evelyn masterminded an online smear campaign against Hannah and tried to have her injured in a staged accident, Christopher had kept his cool. Sure, he was furious- he’d locked Evelyn in the basement for a night to teach her a lesson.
But the game between them was over now.
As a man, Christopher felt he owed her something–a way out, at least.
She was beautiful and had some talent for performance. If he gave her the right connections, some money, and resources, she could go far.
Today, Christopher was in an unusually good mood, so he softened his tone.
“Evelyn, I’ve thought about this carefully. This is the best career for you. It’s the fastest way for you to achieve success and live the life you want.”
But Evelyn waved her hand dismissively, frustrated.
“I don’t want any of that, Christopher. I just want you. I want you to love me and marry me.”
Christopher’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t love you, and I’ll never marry you.”
Evelyn froze, staring at him.
No. This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He had told her he loved her.
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“This is because of Hannah, isn’t it?” Evelyn demanded, her voice shaking. “What does
she have that I don’t?”
Christopher hesitated, unsure how to answer.
When he had first married Hannah, her polite distance hadn’t bothered him.
In fact, he’d thought it was ideal.
Their marriage was, after all, a business arrangement–a merger of assets and mutual
benefits.
She could have her freedom, her secrets, her boy toys. He could pursue his own pleasures without interference.
But Hannah never had “boy toys.” Not even a hint of impropriety.
She didn’t even indulge in celebrity crushes. She would watch a show or movie, sure, but
she wouldn’t so much as buy merchandise or follow endorsements.
What kind of billionaire heiress didn’t splurge on something so trivial?
And as for the women Christopher kept on the side?
The more beautiful faces he saw, the more bored he became.
Somehow, over time, the most fulfilling moments in his life weren’t with those women.
It was the quiet evenings when he’d go to Hannah’s and cook for her.
Sitting together, talking about politics, sharing mundane stories about their days–it felt comfortable, like they were an old married couple.
Something real. Something lasting.
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Christopher stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He should probably quit.
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Hannah didn’t like it when he smoked.
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Tonight, he felt an odd urge to have a casual conversation with someone, to just sit and
talk.
Evelyn, of course, wasn’t the right person for that.
What he really missed was Tessa.
“Evelyn,” Christopher said, his voice calm but distant, “from the very beginning, this was just a game.”
He leaned back, his gaze steady and unfeeling.
“From the moment we met, when you broke the rules and handed that coffee directly to me–spilling it just enough to grab my attention–I knew what you were doing.”