Chapter 9

His comfort was like an instant sedative.

Evelyn slowly stopped crying, but still clung tightly to his neck.

She lifted her tear-filled eyes to look at the handsome face right in front of her and mumbled, "Do you... still want me?"

"Of course I do." Alexander's heart ached in that moment.

He bent down, slipped one arm under her knees, and effortlessly picked her up.

"Let's go home."

Evelyn didn't resist. She simply leaned her head against his shoulder.

Closing her eyes, she curled up quietly in his arms.

As they stepped out of the nightclub, Evelyn seemed to regain a bit of clarity.

She fumbled for her phone, and by muscle memory, dialed William.

"Will..." Her voice was thick with alcohol, "I'm going with Alexander... not coming back tonight."

William paused for a moment, surprised, but knowing the kind of person Alexander was, the worry in his heart lightened.

"Alright, I got it. Evelyn, get some rest. Call me if anything comes up."

He hung up quickly. Then staring out at the night through the window, a small smile tugged at his lips.

Could it be that Evelyn and Alexander were finally getting together?

—

Alexander gently set Evelyn in the front passenger seat and carefully buckled her seatbelt.

He gave her his whole heart.

This warmth, this kindness—she didn't want to lose it again.

That thought floated in Evelyn's dazed mind.

On the way back, Alexander drove slowly, avoiding bumps along the way.

Evelyn was slumped against the seat, her breathing deep and steady.

Tiny teardrops still clung to her long lashes.

Alexander reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

In the end, he didn't take her back to the Mitchells'.

His car pulled into the Gray family's garage and came to a stop. He unbuckled his seatbelt, turned to look at her, and just stared for a while.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on her face.

He took a deep breath, lifted her into his arms again, and walked steadily toward the house.

He laid Evelyn down on the living room couch.

Only a couple of warm-toned lights were switched on, casting a cozy hue on her sleepy, flushed face.

She curled up into the cushions, her pale yellow dress fanned out like a soft blooming flower.

He knelt beside her and carefully brushed away the messy strands of hair near her cheek.

His fingers brushed her warm skin, causing him to shiver slightly.

Staring at her, his eyes were full of things he didn't say.

He couldn't lie—for a moment, when she clung to him, the urge nearly broke his self-control.

But he just couldn't cross that line.

Her closeness tonight, her reliance—it could all just be drunken vulnerability.

Once she sobered up, would she go back to being that girl who always pushed him away?

Taking advantage of her now would ruin everything between them.

He reined in his tangled emotions and gently pulled his shirt hem from her grasp.

He was ready to take her back to the Mitchells once she woke up.

"Alexander..." Her soft, nasal voice brushed his ear like a breeze.

Evelyn's eyes were still closed, as if she were dreaming.

She instinctively leaned toward him, pressing her fevered cheek against his arm.

"Don't go... just hold me..."

Those few mumbled words shattered the wall Alexander had tried so hard to put up.

He froze, still kneeling there, heart pounding like crazy.

She called his name.

Even in her drunken state, he still had a place in her heart.

The realization hit him like a surge of warmth, making him want to pull her into his arms right then and there.

To tell her he was here, and he wasn't going anywhere.

But a shred of reason clung tightly, resisting.

Alexander closed his eyes briefly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he forced his hand back.

"Evelyn, you're drunk. Get some rest," his voice was low and rough.

He stood up right away, not daring to even glance back at her.

He hurried towards the upstairs bedroom.

He had to change out of his suit soaked in the smell of alcohol and splash some cold water on his face.

The second his figure vanished, Evelyn opened her eyes.

Though she still looked a bit dazed, there was a sharp clarity beneath.

She'd just been pretending to be drunk—for courage.

Sitting up on the couch, she noticed the lingering scent of him in the room.

The cool-toned decor matched the impression he gave: distant and unreachable.

But oddly enough, it made her feel safe—a safety that tugged at her heartstrings.

A guy like him, in her past life, would have given up everything just for her.

Her eyes began to sting.

She quickly wiped at them, straightening up with new resolve.

——

Alexander came back down dressed in a simple, dark grey loungewear set.

As he entered the living room, he spotted Evelyn now sitting upright on the couch, her posture quiet and still.

Her delicate face was streaked with dried tears, and her puffy red eyes made her look like a hurt little bunny.

Those watery eyes blinked slowly up at him, not looking away.

Alexander froze mid-step. "Evelyn, you're awake."

His stunned expression made Evelyn blush slightly.

Whether it was leftover alcohol or something else, she looked away, hesitant.

Then she glanced up and gave him a little wave.

Like he was under some kind of spell, he couldn't stop himself from going over to her.

He sat on the edge of the couch, close enough to catch the faint scent of wine on her.

"You still feeling sick?" he asked, voice soft.

"I'm okay," Evelyn murmured, shaking her head.

She hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek, then said, "What's that thing with Sophia Thompson and the marriage talk?"

Alexander's chest tightened. He'd figured she would bring it up.

"It's not real. That's all from the Thompsons. I already turned them down."

He paused, then asked carefully, "Evelyn... Does it bother you?"

Her heart skipped a beat at that.

"I..." She lowered her head. "I always thought of you as someone really important. But then Lillian told me she liked you and asked me to help bring you two together. I thought she was a good friend, so..."

Her words were jumbled and all over the place, but he understood what she meant.

His brows furrowed, and his eyes darkened with frustration.

So it really was Lillian stirring up trouble.

"So... you weren't avoiding me because you hated me?" he asked, tense.

"No!" Evelyn looked up quickly, her eyes red again. "I just thought helping her was the right thing to do."

Thinking about how her past mistakes had hurt them both, her throat tightened. "After the car accident, I finally saw through Lillian. She's never cared about me."

"She and Nathaniel are in this together. I'm done with both of them."