Chapter eight: A son

Evelina and Adrian had just walked into the building through the back entrance. Hidden behind the heavy curtains, Adrian straightened his jacket before turning his attention to Evelina. He looked her up and down before rolling his eyes in frustration.

After refusing to dress in any of the outfits he had picked out at the boutique, she had stubbornly chosen to wear her jeans and sneakers instead... something that was completely different from the women Adrian usually dated.

Seeing the disappointment written all over his face, Evelina folded her arms across her chest in a defiant gesture. There was no way she was going to follow his every instruction like some lovesick puppy desperate to please him.

"Now listen carefully. We're going to sit over there and the reporters will most likely ask us some difficult questions. I want you to keep quiet... I'll answer everything," Adrian warned.

"So, since you're the one answering everything, what exactly am I supposed to do?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I want you to sit in the chair and just look pretty. We have to make everyone believe this relationship is real. If they don't believe it... then you know what will happen," he reminded her.

Evelina swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew exactly what would happen if anyone discovered their engagement was fake. Adrian would never return her father's café and all the sacrifices she had made would be for nothing.

"Okay, Mr. Adrian. I'll do just as you say. I'll sit there, keep quiet and let you take the reins," Evelina replied sarcastically. She was no longer in the mood to argue with him.

She watched as Adrian slipped a hand into the pocket of his tailored trousers and pulled out a small black velvet box. Slowly, he opened it before removing something from inside and holding it out to her.

The instant Evelina saw the dazzling diamond ring sparkling beneath the lights, she stopped breathing for a moment. Never in her life had she seen a real diamond ring up close.

"What is this?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer. She simply could not believe he was handing it to her.

"It's a diamond ring. Come on... don't tell me you've never seen one before," Adrian replied. The moment he looked into her eyes, however, he already knew the answer.

"You already know the answer. I've never seen a real diamond ring before... well, unless you count staring at them through shop windows behind protective glass," Evelina admitted quietly.

Her response only seemed to irritate him further.

"Just take it and put it on your finger," Adrian whispered, making sure none of the crew working behind the scenes noticed what they were doing.

"I'm afraid I can't. This looks far too expensive," Evelina replied, her mind racing as she tried to imagine how much a diamond that size could possibly cost.

"Oh, come on. It's not that expensive. It's probably worth around a hundred thousand dollars... that's all," Adrian said casually. The amount made Evelina's eyes widen in horror.

"A hundred thousand dollars?" she repeated breathlessly.

Never in her entire life had she imagined that much money. Yet Adrian spoke about it as though it were nothing more than spare change lying around in his pocket.

"I'm not wearing it," she blurted out.

The words had barely left her mouth before she noticed the expression on Adrian's face darken. It was obvious he had finally reached the end of his patience.

"Listen here, Evelina. I've been nothing but nice to you," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm telling you now... you're going to wear this ring, walk out there as my fiancée and we're going to get through this interview because I have far better things to do than stand here arguing with you. Now put on the damn ring." His firm tone sent a chill through her body.

Looking into his eyes, Evelina immediately realized Adrian was completely serious. One wrong move from her could cost her everything... including any chance of getting her father's café back.

With an angry sigh, she snatched the ring from his hand before sliding it onto her finger. To her surprise, it fit perfectly. It was almost as though Adrian had somehow known her exact ring size all along.

Only after the diamond was resting securely on her finger did Adrian finally let out a quiet sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

“That's better," he responded before taking her hand into his. The moment he felt Evelina's warm hand, something inside Adrian shifted. The unfamiliar feeling caught him off guard, but he refused to let it show. Instead, he slipped back into the role he knew best... stern, composed and robotic.

Nervous about what awaited her on the other side, Evelina took a deep breath. Together, they walked through the curtain, only to be greeted by a room packed with countless reporters and photographers. Cameras flashed relentlessly as photographs were taken from every angle. Some of the flashes were so bright that Evelina instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes.

Without saying a word, Adrian gently guided her toward their seats. He pulled out her chair before she sat down, waiting patiently until she was comfortable before taking his own seat beside her. The small gesture caught Evelina by surprise. For a brief moment, she wondered if this was truly the same man who had spoken so coldly to her just minutes earlier behind the curtain.

Once they were seated, the flashes gradually slowed before eventually stopping. Every reporter remained silent, notebooks and microphones at the ready, patiently waiting for the conference to begin. Adrian cleared his throat.

"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Adrian Beaumont and beside me is my fiancée, Evelina Bennette."

The moment he introduced her, questions began flying across the room from every direction.

Just as Evelina had expected, Adrian immediately took charge. He answered every question with remarkable precision and confidence, never stumbling over his words. Meanwhile, Evelina simply sat beside him, smiling politely whenever cameras were pointed in her direction.

She couldn't help noticing the lingering stares from many of the reporters. It was painfully obvious that she wasn't the kind of woman they had expected Adrian Beaumont to marry. They had probably imagined a glamorous supermodel with flawless features, designer clothes and a size-zero figure. Instead, they were looking at her... a woman with naturally curly hair, soft curves and a modest outfit bought from a thrift store rather than an expensive boutique.

As Evelina slowly turned her head, her heart skipped a beat. There she was. The same woman who had visited her café and handed her a business card.

The woman walked confidently into the room before taking a seat directly in front of them. She crossed one leg over the other with effortless elegance before locking eyes with Evelina. Then she winked.

That single wink sent a cold shiver racing down Evelina's spine because she immediately knew something bad was about to happen. Once the remaining reporters had finished asking their questions, silence settled over the room.

Suddenly, a hand shot into the air. From the corner of her eye, Evelina noticed Adrian tense almost immediately.

"Yes, Naomi," Adrian replied. Evelina was surprised that he knew the woman's name. She also noticed the tightness in his jaw as he impatiently waited for Naomi to speak.

"I'd like to ask a question to your fiancée, Evelina," Naomi said with a confident smile.

"I think my fiancée is a little tired after our shopping spree. I'm sure you can direct all your questions to me," Adrian interrupted without hesitation.

"I understand she may be tired, Mr. Adrian, but we've been hearing your answers throughout the conference." Naomi smiled sweetly before continuing. "I think it's only fair that we hear directly from your fiancée. I'm sure everyone here would love to hear from her." Naomi turned toward the other reporters.

Almost instantly, voices around the room rose in agreement. Adrian knew he had lost the argument.

"It's okay... I'll answer," Evelina said softly. The moment she accepted, Adrian's body stiffened.

"Thank you so much, Evelina," Naomi replied. "Many people would say that you and Adrian make a very unusual couple for several reasons. I'd like to ask... how did the two of you meet?" she asked. Naomi had expected Evelina to panic.

Instead, Evelina answered with surprising confidence. She carefully lied about how she had met Adrian a few months prior , recounting every detail naturally and without hesitation. Her story flowed so convincingly that even Naomi found herself believing parts of it.

When Evelina finished speaking, the room erupted into soft smiles and quiet murmurs of admiration. Everyone seemed convinced… Everyone except Naomi.

"Very sweet, Evelina," Naomi said with a smile that barely hid her mockery. "Your love story sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale." She then shifted her attention back to Adrian.

"I'd also like to congratulate you, Mr. Adrian, on your engagement to your lovely fiancée. And I'm sure you'll make a wonderful stepfather to her son." The room instantly fell silent.

At that very moment, Adrian felt a chill run down his spine. The words echoed in his mind...

Her son.

Every pair of eyes slowly shifted toward him, waiting for his reaction.

"Thank you very much for that," Adrian responded calmly. Despite his composed expression, the unexpected revelation lingered heavily in his mind.