Chapter 34
Evelyn
Thursday Morning
I’m at my desk, trying to lose myself in work I no longer care about, when a soft knock pulls me out of my zone.
I look up and blink in surprise. Alexander's brother stands in my doorway, looking strangely out of place in our pristine office environment.
Hoodie, jeans, eyes too kind for someone who likely knows every one of my browser tabs right now.
"Can we talk?"
I hesitate. "I... I'm kind of busy."
He steps inside anyway, closing the door behind him.
"Look, I know this is weird. But I need to tell you something.
" He looks like he's torn between guilt and frustration. “You don’t know me, and I don’t know everything about you.
But I know him. And I know what you must be thinking right now. About Grace. About what you saw."
My stomach is clenched. "It's none of my business."
"But it is, Evelyn. Because he’s doing this to protect you. And I can’t watch him destroy himself over it anymore."
I stared at him, unable to breathe.
He steps closer, lowering his voice. "Grace is blackmailing him. She's working with Vincent Dreyser, trying to sabotage Alexander’s company. That video? It could ruin him. That’s why he hasn’t told you anything.
That’s why he’s playing along with her in public.
But behind the scenes? He’s trying to erase every trace of her leverage.
He’s trying to end it without putting you in danger. "
The ground shifts beneath me.
"He looks like a man who’s choosing her. But he’s not. He never was."
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"
He smiles softly. "Because I’m tired of watching two people who clearly care about each other pretend like they don’t. And because my brother may be a lot of things—but he’s never loved anyone like he does you."
He turns to leave. "Do whatever you want with this, Evelyn. But just know... he never gave up on you. Not for a second."