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CHAPTER 25- The morning after

Author: Prettyveeh
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-18 22:39:20

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE — The Morning After

The morning after the gala felt quieter than Evelyn expected.

No dramatic headlines blared from her phone. No urgent messages flooded her inbox. Instead, there was a calm, steady hum of normalcy that felt almost suspicious.

She sat at her kitchen table, mug cooling in her hands, scrolling slowly.

Mentions. Articles. Short commentary pieces.

Nothing cruel. Nothing glowing.

Measured.

“That’s intentional,” Jesse said from across the table.

She looked up. He had arrived earlier than planned, jacket folded neatly over one arm, expression focused but relaxed.

“What is?” she asked.

“The tone,” he replied. “They don’t know what to make of you yet. So they’re being careful.”

Evelyn frowned slightly. “I don’t know if that’s comforting.”

“It should be,” Jesse said. “Careful means they’re paying attention.”

Later that morning, Jesse’s assistant sent over a summary brief media reactions, donor impressions, internal family feedback. Jesse scanned it quickly,
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