LOGINAdrian POVThe drive to the hospital felt endless. Every second felt like an eternity. Images kept flashing through my mind—Evelyn hurt, Evelyn unconscious, Evelyn...No. I couldn't think like that. She was going to be okay. She had to be okay.Just as we pulled into the hospital parking lot, an ambulance was pulling up to the emergency entrance.I saw her being wheeled out on a stretcher.Even from a distance, I could see that she was severely hurt. Her clothes were torn and singed. Her face was pale. There was blood all over her face.Doctors and nurses were already waiting, moving into action the moment the ambulance doors opened.I jumped out of the car before Gabriel had even stopped it. I ran toward Evelyn, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest."I'm Adrian Whitmore," I said urgently to the paramedic who was still accompanying the stretcher. "I'm her emergency contact.""Come with us," the paramedic said, waving me along as they wheeled Evelyn toward
Adrian POVI was furious.How dare Gabriel Ross?Gabriel Ross had the audacity to ask me about Evelyn. To sit across from me and inquire what she loved most in the world. He was making a move on her. The sheer audacity was driving me crazy. I'd spent months trying to get Evelyn back, and now this mafia boss thought he could waltz in and claim her.I wasn't going to let that happen.I was using the last scrap of restraint I had to keep my expression neutral as we continued the meeting. First, I needed this deal to happen because I’d lost so much. After what happened at the auction a few days ago, this deal was the silver lining I needed to my cloud.Not to mention I’d lost out on an investment days ago because of Evelyn.So, this Bangria project must happen, and I need to swallow whatever fury burning inside me to see it through to the end.Papers were spread across the table, figures highlighted, maps of Bangria’s mineral belt projected on the screen.“Manpower allocation will need to
Gabriel POVI leaned back in my chair and watched him with amusement. "Why are you taking alcohol before such an important meeting? Isn't that going to affect your reasoning?"Adrian grimaced and sighed deeply. "It’s been one of those days, and I needed it to calm my frazzled nerves. I have a lot on my mind."“Still, alcohol only dulls the problem; it doesn’t fix it.”He sighed, rubbing his temple. “Right now, I welcome anything that slows my thoughts.”I studied him for a moment. The tension in his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes. Last night at the restaurant, I overheard two restaurant staff whispering about an altercation at the government summit held last weekend. They’d mentioned that Adrian Whitmore had a public altercation with his ex.The petite woman giving the gist said, of course, it wasn’t publicised, but she’d heard from a catering staff member that it was pretty brutal.I wonder if that was what was making Adrian depressed."Women problem?" I asked casually, tho
Gabriel POVIf anyone had told me a month ago that a woman would shut me down, walk away in the middle of breakfast, and still live rent-free in my head, I would have laughed in their face.I didn’t do attachments or explanations, and I definitely don’t do second chances.Yet here I was, staring out of the tinted window of my car, watching Crescent Harbour blur past, unable to stop thinking about Evelyn Bennett.I couldn't stop thinking about her.It was completely unlike me.Evelyn Bennett had walked out of that breakfast without looking back, and somehow, she'd managed to lodge herself in my brain like a splinter I couldn't remove.In my world, women came and went. There were always plenty of them. Beautiful women who wanted nothing more than to spend a night with Gabriel Ross, the notorious mafia boss. Women who understood that I wasn't the type for relationships. Women who were okay with being temporary sex mates.I'd never had a problem with that. I'd never wanted more. I'd never
Evelyn POV“Don’t talk to me like that, Evelyn, you have no right…”“Oh, are you going to bully me into silence now? In front of the entire city? I am an adult, Adrian, and I have the right to express myself however I want. Why are you trying to drag our failed relationship into everything? This is a business conference, you should know better?”“Evelyn…” he growled.“The fact that you had to go and get someone who looks like me to gratify your self-interests makes me know I made the best decision by leaving you.”People around us had grown completely still, listening to every word."You want to know what I think?" I continued. "I think you should marry her. Emma, right or whatever the fuck her name is. I think she's exactly what you deserve. Someone who will let you control her. Someone who won't challenge you. Someone who won't have her own dreams and ambitions that might conflict with yours."I looked at Emma directly. "And Emma, I genuinely hope you get what you're looking for fr
Evelyn POV"I'm not lying," I said calmly. "And I don't need to sabotage your project. The geological data will do that all on its own. I'm just giving people the information they need to make informed decisions."I stepped away from the microphone and returned to my seat, feeling a rush of satisfaction.Adrian had just been publicly humiliated. And it was completely deserved.The panel discussion ended shortly after, and people began approaching me to ask questions about my analysis. Business owners wanted to know more, and investors wanted to verify my claims.By the time I'd finished answering questions, Adrian's project was essentially dead. No one was going to invest in something that had been publicly questioned by a credible source.I saw Adrian across the room, talking to some government officials, his face dark with fury.Then the conference organizers announced a special presentation on new business partnerships in the region.Just as we all turned towards the spotlight, Vin







