Chapter 2

(Evelyn's POV)

The smell of roasted garlic and butter hit me the minute I pushed through the doors of our pristine apartment. My feet halted at the door, and my lips parted slightly as I took in the scene stretched out.

I could see the table from where I stood, the single candle burning in the middle, and the flowers at one end.

"What's going on?" I whispered to myself, pushing further into the space. My steps were more urgent, my mind wheeling all over the place. I felt a migraine coming on, and at the same time, there was a tinge of excitement in my bones.

Tossing my bag onto the couch, I moved in the direction of the kitchen. The smell was at its peak here, and my stomach rumbled in betrayal.

Great.

I was a few feet away from the door when I heard the loud thud.

"Julian?" The scream left my lips despite myself, and everything that'd happened earlier. I raced like he was all that mattered, my brown hair bobbing all around my face.

My feet pressed to the ground, my chest thumping harshly, when I reached the door to the kitchen. He was there all of a sudden, right in my face, almost bumping into me. His hand reached out at once, wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against his skin.

It was hard to resist the urge to let my eyes flutter close, to lean into his warmth and just remain there. I could feel his heart thud hard against his chest, through the dark apron he had on. He looked funny, with his hair sticking all over the place and a sheen of sweat on his forehead.

If the situation were different, I would have burst out laughing. But right now, I couldn't even muster the slightest grin. I tried so hard. I wanted to believe this.

To believe Julian.

And the thoughts crept in at the right moment. What if I was making the wrong decision? What if there was an explanation for everything?

"Hey," my husband drawled, oblivious to the thoughts that snaked through me. His warm breath grazed my ears, and despite myself, I felt a shiver run up my spine, just the way I used to react to him all those years ago.

And Julian knew that. I saw the satisfied smirk before he muttered. "You're home early."

"I got tired," I sighed, careful not to give anything away. My eyes met his, and I swallowed when those blue pools stared right back at me. I tried to move away from his arms casually, but Julian held me in place, his thumb teasing the exposed skin on my waist.

So, I took a dramatic look at the kitchen, bringing my attention back to him with the best smile that I could muster. "What are you doing here?"

"Well…." He let go of me then, spreading his arms beside him with a boyish grin on his face. "Surprise!" Julian laughed, his shoulders bobbing with every moment. "Or at least, it was supposed to be until I almost burned the kitchen."

It was easier to laugh when I took in the state of the room. Flour covered every surface, with oil spills, dirty utensils, and the smell of raw chicken.

"You really are making something for me." It was hard to believe.

"Of course, honey." Julian drew closer again, his warm breath teasing my face. He lifted a finger then, and my body stiffened. I doubted he noticed, because he moved slowly, pushing a stray curl away from my face.

"Happy birthday, Evelyn Hart," he whispered. "I am so happy to be married to you. God! I wish I could scream it from atop the roof."

When he pulled away, there was a glint in his eyes. He leaned against the marble top, with his finger stroking his chin. "Maybe I can do that. How about a cruise in our private jet? I can yell it from that point. Sexy, right?"

It would have been, if I had no idea who Julian really was. I couldn't help but think that the skies were the perfect point to scream, just so no one could hear him.

"Yeah," I murmured, wrapping my arms around my frame. For some reason, I felt so cold inside. "I'd love that."

Julian smiled. The same one that never failed to turn me into butter. "Why don't you go and freshen up?" He suggested, angling his head. "By the time you get down, dinner should be ready."

A smile splayed across my face, chilling and hard. But Julian didn't see through it. He never did.

Nodding, I turned around to leave, but before I reached the doors, my feet came to a halt when I heard him call me again.

When I looked back at him, he'd shrugged out of his apron and tossed it onto the countertop. He still had that smile on his face that I wanted to believe so badly. Julian hadn't forgotten my birthday, right?

I tilted my head, watching as he moved to his jacket hanging on the wall. His hand disappeared into one of the pockets, returning a second later with a small velvet box.

"I know you deserve the world," he muttered as he drew close. "But before I get you that, I'd get you every single thing that brings a smile to your face. Happy birthday, my love."

I reached for the box, already deciding that I might have been a jerk for going to see the lawyer. Inside was a charm bracelet, each of the charms engraved with tiny stars that glowed.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, careful to keep my voice even. It broke still, and Julian must have mistaken it for something else as he brought me into his arms, patting my back slowly. Delicately.

"It's not as beautiful as you," he breathed, threading his fingers through my hair. "I had it custom-made because I know how you like things like these."

A knot worked its way to my throat, and I pushed it down as he pulled away from me, the warmth from his arms gone. "Want my help?"

I shook my head, returning it to the box. "I should take a bath first," I murmured, already pulling away from the kitchen. But I didn't totally go out. I needed to be sure I wasn't running insane. That I wasn't imagining things.

I turned too when his feet padded against the ground, returning to hang his jacket back up. I followed his movements, the silence getting louder every second.

Suddenly, the jacket slipped out of his hands and fell open. In that moment, something fell to the ground. I bit my bottom lip so hard when my eyes took it in.

A lipstick tube that didn't belong to me.

Julian had yet to notice it. He'd moved back to watch the chicken, humming a song under his breath. Swallowing, I moved forward, bending to pick up the lipstick.

It was in a soft coral shade. Definitely not mine.

I turned to leave, abandoning the lipstick on the ground, but in that split second, my eyes caught something else.

It was in the inner pocket of the jacket, a tiny charm identical to the one my husband had just given me. A silent scoff worked its way to my lips as I angled my head to get a better view.

The only difference was that it was engraved with another set of initials from the one in the velvet box that now lay nestled in my hand.

S.V.

Serena Vale.

My best friend.

Nothing changed within me. I just stood there, my eyes on the man I'd gotten married to. He was still humming, his feet moving in no particular rhythm as he started plating dinner.

My phone buzzed in my purse, and grateful for the distraction, I turned to slip it out. When my eyes took in the message on the screen, it brought a little wistful smile to my lips. It was Mr. Creighton.

"The identity erasure will be completed in two weeks. It is unusual, but we made it happen. Just in case you change your mind…"

I didn't read the rest of the message. Instead, I pushed away from the jacket, heading closer to my husband. It was the perfect date.

"I have a gift for you too" I drawled, my fingers grazing the tip of the envelope in my purse.

"Really?" Julian laughed, turning around. "It's not my birthday."

"It's our anniversary," I murmured, my smile still in place. "But you can't open it until then. Deal?"

"Urghhh," he groaned, scratching the side of his head. "Okay. Deal. I won't open it."

"Great," I muttered, turning around. "I'll leave it on the top of the drawer."