A FAREWELL DISGUISED AS A GIFT

EVELYN'S POV

It's been two weeks since I heard the moaning sound and kisses from Adrian's room..not the first time but those moments broke my heart…

Why?

Because I silently fell in love with him. But I knew very well I could never have him, I didn't have the confidence and beauty like the rest… 

But on the bright side I was dressed for Graduation…finally leaving this school that gave me endless trauma along with papa.

Everyone seemed to have someone.

A mother fixing a graduation cap. A father proudly holding his daughter's shoulders. Friends embracing each other and making promises to stay in touch.

I stood near the entrance, adjusting my cap for the third time.

My mother had promised to come, although I wasn't sure whether she would arrive early enough to watch the ceremony. She had been busy with preparations for the family celebration, and I had learned not to expect too much from her.

Still, a small part of me hoped she would look at me today and feel proud.

Just once.

I smoothed the front of my gown and checked my reflection in my phone.

Not bad, Evelyn.

That deserved something, didn't it?

I was still staring at my reflection when the sudden excitement near the entrance caught my attention.

A black car had pulled up outside.

And then he stepped out.

Adrian.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, a white shirt, and a watch that probably cost more than everything I owned combined. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his expression carried the usual confidence of someone who had never needed to beg for anyone's attention.

Unfortunately for the girls around me, he had plenty of theirs.

Whispers broke out almost immediately.

“Is that Adrian?”

“Why is he here?”

“I heard he's Evelyn's stepbrother.”

“She's so lucky. Imagine having someone like him in your family.”

“Lucky? I'd give anything to be in her position.”

I lowered my eyes.

Lucky.

If only they knew.

They saw the handsome, wealthy young man who attracted attention wherever he went. They saw someone whose name opened doors and whose presence made people turn their heads.

I saw the person who had defended me when I couldn't defend myself.

The person who remembered little things about me.

The person I had fallen in love with despite knowing I had no right to want him that way.

He was my stepbrother, and he had never given me a reason to believe he saw me as anything else.

That was the problem with loving someone in silence. You could spend an entire day standing beside them and still feel impossibly far away.

“Evelyn!”

I looked up.

Adrian was walking towards me.

A few girls immediately stepped aside to give him room, while others continued staring as though they were hoping he might suddenly change direction and speak to them instead.

He stopped in front of me, his gaze travelling over my graduation gown.

“So, you finally made it.”

I frowned slightly.

“What does that mean?”

He smiled.

“It means I can stop hearing you complain about examinations.”

“I never complained that much.”

“Of course not.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, and he laughed.

For a moment, the noise around us faded into the background. It was easy to forget everyone else when Adrian was paying attention to me.

Then he reached into his pocket and brought out a small gift box.

“Here.”

I stared at it.

“What is it?”

“Your graduation gift.”

My eyes widened.

“You bought me something?”

“No, Evelyn. I picked up an empty box and wrapped it beautifully just to disappoint you.”

I gasped.

“Adrian!”

He laughed again.

“Open it, you little troublemaker.”

I carefully lifted the lid.

Inside was a delicate gold necklace with a small pendant. It wasn't overly flashy, but it was beautiful in a way that made my chest tighten.

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

I nodded quickly.

“It's beautiful.”

“Good. I thought it would suit you.”

I looked up at him.

“You chose this yourself?”

“Who else would have chosen it?”

I smiled, unable to stop myself.

“Thank you.”

He reached over and lightly tapped my graduation cap.

“Congratulations, Evelyn. I'm proud of you.”

My smile faltered.

Not because I wasn't happy.

Because I was.

His words meant more to me than he could possibly understand. I had spent so much of my life feeling like an unwanted burden that hearing someone say they were proud of me made something warm bloom inside my chest.

I wanted to hug him.

I wanted to hold on to him and pretend that the world couldn't take him away from me.

Instead, I lowered my eyes and held the gift box carefully.

“Thank you, Adrian.”

★★

By the time we returned home, the house was already being prepared for the evening celebration.

Staff members moved between rooms, arranging flowers and checking decorations. The dining area had been transformed, and the sound of people coordinating the arrangements drifted through the corridors.

I went straight to my room to change.

The necklace Adrian had given me lay on my dressing table. I picked it up and fastened it around my neck, admiring how the pendant rested against my skin.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

My mother entered, carrying a small gift bag.

I turned towards her in surprise.

“Mum?”

She closed the door behind her.

“Happy graduation, Evelyn.”

I stared at her.

For a moment, I genuinely didn't know how to respond.

My mother wasn't someone who usually bought me gifts. Even when I was younger, birthdays often passed with little more than a brief greeting. She had always been occupied with her own struggles, and after marrying into the wealthy family, she seemed even more determined to maintain her position.

So receiving a gift from her felt strange.

“Thank you,” I said cautiously.

She held the bag out to me.

“It's for you.”

I accepted it and looked inside. There was another small box containing a beautiful wristwatch.

“It's lovely,” I murmured.

“I'm glad you like it.”

I placed the watch on my dressing table beside Adrian's necklace.

For a moment, I wondered whether this was my mother's way of making up for all the times she hadn't been there for me.

Perhaps she had finally realised how much today meant to me.

Perhaps….

“Evelyn, we need to talk.”

The hope inside me faded.

I looked at her.

“About what?”

She sat on the edge of my bed, smoothing her dress before speaking.

“Now that you've graduated, I think it's time you started living independently.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“You're an adult now. You've completed your education, and you need to learn to manage your own life.”

I stared at her, waiting for her to explain.

“But I'm already managing my life.”

“That's not what I mean.”

She sighed as though I were making a simple conversation unnecessarily difficult.

“You cannot continue living here forever. People talk, Evelyn. You're no longer a child, and I don't want your presence in this house to become a subject of gossip.”

I felt something tighten in my chest.

“My presence?”

She looked away briefly.

“You know how these families are. I don't want people questioning why you're still living with your stepfather after graduation. It could create unnecessary problems.”

There it was.

Not concerned for whether I was ready.

Not a discussion about where I would live or how I would support myself.

Just gossip.

I lowered my eyes to the watch.

“When do you want me to leave?”

“After the graduation celebrations. We'll arrange something suitable for you.”