Chapter 285

Ethan Sullivan's eyes darkened abruptly.

An indescribable emotion churned in his chest.

An uncontrollable thought surfaced in his mind.

The token necklace symbolizing their promise had first appeared on Sophia Lowell.

When he first saw Sophia wearing that necklace, he instinctively rejected the truth.

He dismissed the possibility almost instantly.

Yet the necklace hung around Sophia's neck.

What if the girl from back then was really Sophia?

Ethan's brow furrowed deeper.

A cruel realization struck him.

No matter who that girl had been, he wouldn't have fallen for her.

He might have offered generous compensation, but never marriage.

Once, he believed finding that girl meant he must marry her.

But when it wasn't Evelyn Laurent—

Ethan suddenly understood he felt no impulse to wed.

In other words—

He had fallen for Evelyn through their shared moments.

Before knowing she was that girl, he'd already regarded her differently.

At first, it might have been an act.

But later, Ethan knew with certainty—it was no longer pretend.

This realization darkened his gaze further.

"Ethan."

Evelyn's soft voice called to him.

She studied his tense profile. "How did you confirm it was me you sought?"

The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted as he masked the turbulence in his eyes. "The butterfly birthmark behind your left ear."

Evelyn's fingers flew to the spot in surprise. "You remembered after ten years?"

His voice lowered. "And the token."

"Token?"

After a pause, Ethan withdrew two items from his pocket.

One was his necklace. The other—a faded woven charm bracelet with a tiny longevity locket.

He opened his palm slowly.

Evelyn stared at the bracelet as memories flooded back.

Her trembling fingers closed around it.

The buried past sharpened into focus.

It was the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Margaret Hill had unusually taken her shopping.

The crowded mall dazzled young Evelyn with colorful stalls.

Though starved for maternal affection, she still craved attention.

When she paused at a charm bracelet stand, Margaret actually bought one—

An ordinary woven bracelet with a golden longevity locket.

Delighted, Evelyn fastened it around her wrist.

Her mother's first gift.

That day, Margaret didn't just buy the bracelet—

She also bought Evelyn ice cream.