Chapter 28

Evelyn Laurent's fingers twisted the hem of her blouse unconsciously.

Victoria Langley's words—"I'll always believe in you unconditionally"—acted like a key, gently prying open the hardest lock in her heart. Her throat tightened, her eyes burned, and she hastily lowered her head.

"Silly child." Victoria pulled her into a tight embrace.

The warmth of the hug left Evelyn stiff. She caught the faint scent of jasmine on her mother—an unfamiliar yet comforting sensation of safety.

A single tear fell onto Victoria's shoulder.

"Mmm." Evelyn finally managed a soft sound from her throat. Something inside her chest quietly melted away.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains into the room.

Evelyn hesitated in front of her walk-in closet before finally selecting a light beige tracksuit. The girl in the mirror looked less sharp around the edges.

"Miss, the car is ready," the butler reminded her softly outside the door.

Morning light refracted through the café's glass door.

Evelyn chose a private booth by the window, ordered, and gazed outside. She had arrived half an hour early, her fingertips tapping idly against the table.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the air.

She noticed a familiar figure entering. Ethan Sullivan wore a dark gray suit today, his sharp gaze behind gold-rimmed glasses as piercing as ever.

Harrison Whitmore moved to follow, but a single glance from his boss stopped him in his tracks.

"What a coincidence." Ethan took the seat across from her without invitation.

Evelyn's spine straightened reflexively. "I'm waiting for someone."

"I can see that." Ethan glanced at the two coffee cups on the table. "Professor Klein is late?"

Her pupils constricted slightly. How did he know?

As if reading her mind, he adjusted his glasses. "I overheard keywords during your phone call yesterday."

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, Professor Benjamin Klein hurried across the street.