บททั้งหมดของ Billionaires flash marriage: Always you.: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

CHAPTER ELEVEN — Into the Lion’s Den The next evening arrived faster than Evelyn wanted. The afternoon melted away in a blur helping her mother with dinner prep (even though they weren’t eating home), pacing her room trying to choose something appropriate to wear, then pacing again because every outfit suddenly felt like it carried hidden symbolism. Finally, she settled on something simple: a clean blouse, dark pants, and a jacket that looked “put together” without trying too hard. At exactly six, Jesse knocked. When she opened the door, he looked composed in a way that wasn’t quite natural polished, formal, almost guarded. His coat was neatly pressed. His hair was styled back. He looked like someone stepping into a courtroom, not a family dinner. “You okay?” she asked quietly. He nodded once. “I will be.” Evelyn locked the door behind her. “Then let’s get this over with.” The drive was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Jesse answered her few questions honestly yes, his

CHAPTER THIRTEEN — The Test of Truth Evelyn had expected many things from the Vance estate long hallways full of polished wood, framed portraits of ancestors, perhaps a room so quiet you could hear your heartbeat. What she had not expected was the way her stomach knotted the moment she realized every member of Jesse’s extended family was already seated around the long dining table, waiting for them. Jesse paused with his hand on the doorway, giving her a look that was half apology, half encouragement. “They take traditions seriously,” he whispered. “But you don’t have to impress them. Just be yourself.” Evelyn tried to smile, even though her nerves were marching around inside her chest. “I’ll try,” she murmured. “But I can’t promise I won’t trip over something.” Jesse’s laugh quiet, warm took the edge off her fear. “If you trip, I’ll trip with you. Then we’ll pretend it was choreography.” She nudged him gently with her elbow. “That does not help.” “It helps me,” he said, and f

CHAPTER FIFTEEN — The Place He Never Shared Evelyn wasn’t sure what she expected the next day, but she definitely didn’t expect Jesse to pull up outside her house in a simple grey hoodie, hands tucked in the pockets, hair slightly messy as if he hadn’t bothered with the usual sleek Vance polish. He looked… human. Relaxed. Almost boyish. “You look different,” she said as she stepped onto the porch. “Different good or different bad?” he asked. “Different… real.” Something flickered in his expression something warm and he motioned toward the car. “Come on. It’s not far.” The drive was quiet but comfortable. No tense expectations, no upcoming interrogations, no need to pretend they had everything figured out. Just them. Evelyn watched the scenery shift from neighborhood houses to open fields, then to a long road lined with tall oak trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering patterns over the windshield. “Is this a place from your childhood?” she asked. He tappe

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN — The Announcement No One Expected The announcement was supposed to be simple. A short statement drafted by the Vance family’s communications team. Two signatures. A neatly arranged post on the official website and a few controlled press releases. Clean. Orderly. Predictable. Except nothing involving Jesse and Evelyn was predictable anymore. Evelyn sat beside Jesse at the long dining table in the Vance family’s private office suite. Polished glass, perfectly aligned documents, and a view of the city that made her feel tiny and enormous at the same time. Jesse skimmed the final draft the publicists had prepared. “‘A mutually beneficial engagement between two promising young leaders’,” he read aloud flatly. “Absolutely not.” Ms. Caldwell, the head of public relations, blinked. “What part is the issue?” “All of it,” Jesse replied without looking up. Caldwell stared at Evelyn as if hoping for backup. “What do you want it to say?” Evelyn asked gently. “The

CHAPTER NINETEEN — The Cracks in the Plan Evelyn had never wanted fresh air more in her life. The office had been warm, almost stifling, and the moment she and Jesse stepped outside, she drew in a long breath like she’d been underwater. Her hands were still slightly cold, but not from the weather. From them. From the Vances. Jesse walked beside her silently, his expression calm but only on the surface. She could see the tightening around his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. He held the folder against his side as if he were shielding it. They reached the car. He unlocked it but didn’t open the door. He just stood there. Evelyn waited. She’d learned that when Jesse went quiet like this, something important usually followed. Finally, he exhaled. “They’re accelerating the timeline.” “I figured,” Evelyn said softly. He nodded once, like he wasn’t surprised she caught onto it so quickly. “Their questions weren’t just tests. They were measurements. They’re trying to c