He smirked at the memory, a small, mocking laugh escaping his lips.
“You wanted a little romance, a little excitement. Fine. I gave you what you wanted. But it was never serious, Evelyn. It was all just for fun–why did you have to take it so seriously?”
He paused, looking at her with mild amusement before continuing.
“If you don’t want to break into the entertainment industry, then tell me–what is it you want to do? I’ll set you up with a job.”
He flicked his hand dismissively.
“Sure, that degree from some no–name college won’t get you far, but no worries. I can work around that.”
Evelyn felt the humiliation hit her again, as sharp as a slap in the face.
A job?
She didn’t want a job. She had never wanted to work.
Her dream had always been to live a life of luxury without lifting a finger.
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14:33 Wed, Feb 5
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As a child, she had fantasized about being adopted by a billionaire family, instantly transforming into a pampered heiress.
As an adult, she believed marriage would be her ticket–becoming the wife of a wealthy man, living a life of endless glamour.
Work? Hard labor? Earning a paycheck?
In Evelyn’s mind, those things were for people beneath her.
She had always seen herself as someone destined to be the protagonist of life, the one standing in the spotlight.
How could someone like her lower herself to a job?
Christopher’s phone buzzed, pulling him away from her.
As he glanced at the screen, a soft smile appeared on his lips–one Evelyn hadn’t seen in a long time.
From where she was sitting, she could see the message.
It was her. That woman.
Of course, Evelyn thought bitterly. That shameless woman was texting him again.
“Evelyn, think carefully.”
Christopher’s tone turned cold.
“Right now, the situation hasn’t blown up publicly. You can still stay here without causing
too much trouble.”
“But now that everyone knows we’re just business partners, things are different.”
He paused, his voice sharp and final.
“I’m giving you two weeks. Think about what you want to do.”
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<
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“Do you want to break into show business, become a star, maybe even win an award someday? Or do you want something stable? I can arrange a cushy, low–pressure job for you. You’ll never have to worry about money again.”
Evelyn felt her whole world crumble.
But Christopher was already grabbing his coat and car keys, ready to leave.
“Was it all really just… business?” Evelyn’s voice trembled as she spoke, tears threatening to spill.
“Of course,” Christopher said with a nod, so matter–of–fact it hurt.
As he stepped out
the door, Christopher’s mind wandered. What he truly wanted–what he
had always wanted–was Hannah’s heart.
But even now, he wasn’t sure if his feelings were real.
Was it love?
Or was it her status, her untouchable elegance, that made her seem so perfect in his eyes?
He thought of that spring many years ago, the apricot blossoms falling in the gentle rain of Southlake.
A picturesque, man–made town, with beauty so carefully crafted it almost didn’t feel real.
Just like her.
19
Christopher’s phone chimed again. He glanced down at the screen–It was another message from Tessa.
He knew her well enough to understand that she was texting him this much, something must be going on. Tessa wasn’t the type to bother him unless it was important.
She was soft, alluring, and brought him a kind of pleasure–both physical and emotional- that he genuinely enjoyed.
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14:33 Wed, Feb 5 U
www
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Most importantly, Tessa understood her place.
She never asked for more than what he was willing to give.
Tessa was a small–time screenwriter who had a pet–a charming little Holland Lop rabbit. In some ways, she reminded him of Hannah. Both women were independent, self–reliant, and didn’t cling to men for their survival.
But Tessa had a fragility to her, like a delicate vine that couldn’t stand on its own for long.. Even so, she rarely reached out to him first.
That made her different.
Without sparing Evelyn another glance, Christopher stood up and grabbed his coat.
To him, Evelyn had always been nothing more than a fleeting game–a distraction.
She wanted to play, and so had he.
They had both gotten what they wanted.
But Evelyn had ruined the game by not knowing when to stop.
As he turned to leave, Evelyn lunged at him, throwing her arms around his waist.
In the past, when Evelyn flung herself at him like this, he might have indulged her.
He would have pulled her close, kissed her, and let things take their course.
But this time, he simply pried her hands off him, his grip firm and unyielding.
“Evelyn,” he said coldly, “I’ve got things to do. I don’t have time for your tantrums right
now.”
“Think about what you want. Do you want to try your luck in Hollywood? Or do you want me to set you up with a high–paying, easy job so you can live comfortably for the rest of your life?”
He paused his voice drinning with indifference
14:33/ Wed, Feb 5
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He paused, his voice dripping with indifference.
“Or maybe you should just find some decent guy to marry and settle down.”
“I don’t want any of that!” Evelyn shouted, her voice cracking. “I just want you! I want you
to love me!”
In her mind, this was the moment where the leading man, overwhelmed by her devotion, would finally realize her worth.
But Christopher didn’t respond the way she hoped.
Instead, he laughed.
It wasn’t a warm laugh or even a kind one. It was sharp, mocking, and cut straight
through her.
The sound of it made Evelyn’s stomach churn
Desperate, she waved her hands, trying to get his attention. “Christopher, listen to me!”
He looked down at his phone, quickly typing out a reply to Tessa.
“Fine,” he said, his tone bored. “You’ve got ten minutes. Say what you need to say.”
Evelyn bit her lip, her voice trembling with emption.
“Christopher, I mean it when I say I love you. You know that.”
“This isn’t some game. What we have is real. I’m not like the others.
Christopher couldn’t help but smirk.
Love?
