Evelyn's heart raced uncontrollably.

Four minutes and thirty-eight seconds of conversation could mean a lot.

She had a nagging feeling that every word Jason exchanged with William was somehow about her.

The intensity of Jason's gaze made her feel exposed.

"I’ve ordered your clothes for expedited delivery; they should arrive in about two hours," she tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "You haven't eaten yet, right? There's a restaurant on the top floor. What do you want me to get?"

"Want to guess what I talked about with William?" Jason leaned back, casually playing with her phone.

She shook her head.

"Mr. Leighton already transferred the two million for the advertisement to the TV station. Why are you still saying it hasn’t arrived?" Jason gestured for her to come closer.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she inhaled sharply and stepped over to him, whispering, "I was just worried you'd think too much about it."

"Because you have a soft spot for William, you assume I’d be jealous," Jason pulled her onto his lap, his chin resting lazily against her cheek.

"I have no feelings for any man but you." She pushed back against his chin, "It tickles."

Jason hadn't shaved that morning, and the light stubble brushed against her, a raw masculine scent enveloping her.

"What a little liar you are. You weave tales so effortlessly that I can't tell what's real and what's not."

"I haven’t eaten breakfast; I’m starving. I’ll head to the restaurant now." She slid off his lap, grabbing her phone to go upstairs.

Once in the restaurant, she still texted Jason on WhatsApp: What do you want to eat?

Jason replied instantly: Whatever you eat, I’ll eat.

She ordered two steaks.

They shared the most harmonious lunch they’d had in three years.

After lunch, Jason’s clothes arrived.

As Evelyn helped him take off the tags, Jason’s phone on the nightstand began to ring.

Their eyes both fell on it.

The screen flashed three words—Cecilia.

Evelyn’s expression darkened immediately.

Jason let the phone ring on, ignoring it.

Cecilia was persistent, calling again and again.

"Does Mrs. Stark want me to pick up, or should I ignore it?" Jason stretched out an arm and draped it over the back of Evelyn's chair.

Evelyn gritted her teeth and shot back, "Of course you should take Miss Brooks' call. Not only should you answer it, but you should rush back to Riverton to ease Miss Brooks' longing."

"Does Mrs. Stark really want me to return to Riverton?" Jason leaned closer, locking eyes with her. "If I go back, Mrs. Stark will be left all alone."

"I won’t be alone! I can download some steamy movies on my phone—American, Asian—you name it. I can explore all kinds of men’s charms in one night," she retorted, trying to provoke him. "Just dare to go back to Riverton, and I’ll hit the bar for some fun."

"Come on, let me see what kind of steamy movies Mrs. Stark has on her phone," Jason teased, lifting her phone with a playful smirk, pressing a kiss against her cheek.

"Hurry up and unlock it! I want to see if those men can hold a candle to my stamina," he added, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Her face turned beet red.

This was the first time she’d joked with Jason on such a risqué topic, and to her surprise, he seemed to enjoy it.

Her embarrassment only fueled the madness simmering beneath Jason's calm exterior.

He had no intention of letting it go; he grabbed her finger and unlocked her phone, "Let’s see how impressive the male leads in Mrs. Stark’s movies are."

"Not as good as you," Evelyn fidgeted with her hands, unable to meet his gaze.

Jason propped her upper body up, his warm breath lingering on her neck. "So, you really downloaded and watched them?"

"I did download them, and I watched them, but I deleted them six months ago." She felt her entire body heat up.

At that moment, her face was as red as a ripe strawberry, flushed with color, her dark eyes shimmering with a hint of moisture, innocent yet suggestive.

Jason’s gaze was bold as he leaned in to kiss her lips, but before their lips could meet, Cecilia’s WhatsApp voice call interrupted them.

“If you don’t pick up, Miss Brooks is going to throw a fit,” Evelyn jabbed at Jason, a smirk on her lips.

Jason’s eyes filled with disdain as he handed the phone to her. “You answer for me; just tell her I’m in the shower.”

“What if I say the wrong thing and she decides to self-harm?” Evelyn shot back playfully.

“It’s not your concern.” He moved to the doorway.

Before she pressed the call button, Evelyn adjusted herself into a comfortable position.

“Jason, are you not in Riverton?”

Cecilia’s sweet, soft voice was like sugar, almost making Evelyn yawn.

“Jason is indeed not in Riverton. He’s in the shower and can’t take your call, Miss Brooks.”

“You’re Evelyn?” Cecilia’s surprise was evident.

She had heard the two were at odds—when had they reconciled?

“Who else would I be?” Evelyn replied tersely. “I’m Mrs. Stark. If Mr. Stark left the house without me, do you think he’d take Miss Brooks along?”

“I need to talk to Jason; pass the phone to him.” Cecilia’s tone turned unfriendly.

“Whatever you need to say, I can pass it along just as well.”

Cecilia realized that arguing with Evelyn wouldn’t get her anywhere, so she decided to end the call.

“Thanks,” Jason said as he walked over to take the phone from her.

Evelyn couldn’t help but ask, “What did she do to get you so worked up that you wouldn’t even answer her call?”

“I could say she annoyed you; would you believe that?”

“Not a chance.”

Evelyn walked to the window, noticing that the snowfall outside had lightened since the morning. The main roads were already cleared.

“Since we’re in Lycheeville, shouldn’t we check on your mother?” Jason stood beside her, assessing the road conditions outside.

“No need; she doesn’t know you’re here.”

Evelyn wanted to avoid any conversation about investments that Agnes might bring up and didn’t want them to meet.

“Then we won’t go.”

Jason’s phone buzzed again; he glanced at it and coldly remarked, “Victor knows I’m in Lycheeville now. I can’t avoid this.”

Evelyn noticed Victor's name flashing on his screen and bit her lip in frustration. “Don’t answer it.”

“Some things are inevitable; you can’t run away from them.” He held a finger to his lips, signaling for her to be quiet, and headed into the bathroom with his phone.

Even if she didn’t listen in, Evelyn knew that old fox Victor was calling about investments.

Soon, she could vaguely hear Jason discussing business matters.

Not wanting to hear it, she picked up her phone and lay on the bed, requesting a day off from her superior for tomorrow.

Given the weather now, it would be a miracle if flights were operational by tomorrow evening.

Jean sent her a message, and they began to chat back and forth.

After finishing the call, Jason lay down beside her. “Victor is throwing a banquet tonight. I’ve tried to decline three times, but it’s no use.”

“Not going,” Evelyn replied firmly. “Just tell him I have a cold and fever and need to stay in the hotel to take care of myself.”

“What a childish excuse—only you would think of that.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Evelyn’s gaze was intense as she locked eyes with Jason, unwavering in her determination.