Chapter 494
She remained his lawful wife!
Three sharp raps echoed against the office door.
Evelyn glanced up to see Sebastian Whitman standing there, his lips curved in that familiar gentle smile.
After hastily organizing her desk, she gestured him inside and prepared his favorite Earl Grey tea.
Sebastian took a delicate sip before cutting straight to the chase. "Your phone's been switched off for two days. What did Alexander say to you outside Blackwood Enterprises?"
At the mention, Evelyn's entire face lit up, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained joy. "I've found my child."
Sebastian's hands trembled slightly. "Your firstborn with Alexander?"
"Yes." Her dimples appeared as she smiled. "Can you believe Ethan has been right beside me all this time?"
"Ethan is your son?" Sebastian's teacup clattered against the saucer.
Evelyn nodded eagerly. "It explains why I've always felt this inexplicable bond with him."
Sebastian studied the radiant expression she'd never shown him before, his gaze softening despite the tension in his brow.
"Congratulations on finally being reunited."
His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You got into Alexander's car this morning because of Ethan, didn't you?"
Evelyn nodded. "I never wanted to be separated from him in the first place. As his mother, I owe him everything. Victoria only tortured him because of me."
"None of this is your fault." Sebastian gently grasped her hand. "The blame lies entirely with Victoria and Alexander. When you file for divorce, I'll help you fight for full custody of Ethan."
Evelyn's brow furrowed at the word 'divorce.' "Sebastian, I—"
"Just give me a little more time to settle some unfinished business." His obsidian eyes gleamed with tenderness. "Then I'll take you and Ethan back to France to see Amelia. We'll marry there—live simply and happily as a family of four."
He pulled her into a light embrace.
Evelyn hesitated, torn between returning the hug or pushing away. This had been her dream too—to leave behind the rumors and start anew after her revenge.
Yet now, her resolve wavered inexplicably.
Not long after Sebastian left, Olivia Bennett arrived at the boutique.
Evelyn recounted everything from the past two days, causing Olivia to nearly drop her teacup in shock.
"That bastard actually had the nerve to say he loves you? Love my ass!" Olivia's voice shook with fury. "Don't you dare believe him, Evelyn! He's probably just trying to manipulate you into stabilizing Blackwood Enterprises' stocks."
Evelyn nodded firmly. "Relax. Whatever feelings I had for him died years ago."
"Damn right!" Olivia squeezed Evelyn's shoulder affectionately. "As despicable as that bastard is, I'm overjoyed you found your son!"
"After everything you endured giving birth to him, then being tortured nearly to death by that monster and his bitch..." Olivia's eyes glistened. "I'm just relieved he's safe. And my god, he's grown into such a handsome boy."
"Ethan's remarkably mature for his age." Evelyn's voice cracked. "Knowing what he suffered breaks my heart."
"It breaks mine for you." Olivia wiped her eyes. "But don't let this change your plans, Evelyn. After everything Alexander put you through, you can't possibly go back to him."
Long after Olivia left, her words echoed in Evelyn's mind.
She wouldn't return to him.
Never again.
Evelyn spent the entire day locked in her office, redrafting divorce papers.
Outside, an icy wind howled against the windows.
Just as she finished typing, her finger accidentally hit 'close' instead of 'save.'
Frustrated, she rummaged through old files and inadvertently opened one of the unnamed folders copied from Alexander's computer.
She remembered it contained thousands of text documents. Clicking randomly, one file opened to reveal a single line: "It's nice to see you again. I mean it."
A strange unease settled over Evelyn as she reread those words.
She immediately closed it, only to open the first document in the sequence.
What she read there left her utterly stunned—