Adrian, the other women -

Evelyn’s mind went blank—Adrian’s fiancée, Charlotte, was the one who slapped her! Charlotte’s father was the chief executive of the Local Government Association, wielding power nearly on par with Victor’s. Evelyn remembered how, a year after she married Jason, Adrian had met Charlotte through a family introduction. This was their first encounter.

“Miss Quill, if you don’t trust your own fiancé, that’s your problem. But don’t come here to insult me! I have a husband!” Evelyn’s voice was steady, especially on the last line.

“Insult you?” Charlotte pulled a photo from her purse and threw it in Evelyn’s face. “Look at this—standing outside the hotel, him gazing at you like that, you staring back at him, all cozy and affectionate! If Adrian hasn’t been cheating, I’ll write my name backward!”

Evelyn bent to pick up the photo, her body trembling at the sight. It was from the other night when Adrian had picked her up from the airport. She’d been caught accepting her suitcase from him as they entered the hotel. Snow was falling, the world was blanketed in white, and under the streetlights, Adrian’s face looked tender but restrained. Though she was merely looking at him, her expression was distant.

The problem was, the angle was deceiving.

In reality, she’d been standing more than a meter away from Adrian, but the photo made it look as though her face was pressed against his chest! No wonder Charlotte hadn’t bothered with words and just slapped her. Whoever took the shot had skillfully played with lighting, blurring out the hotel’s revolving door and her car, while exaggerating her and Adrian’s features with sharp clarity.

“Married women should stay in Riverton where they belong,” Charlotte sneered. “Even if your husband fools around, it doesn’t mean you get to meddle with Adrian!”

Charlotte stood a bit taller than Evelyn, her features were more refined than striking, but in her anger, her expression twisted into something almost vicious.

“Miss Quill, you’re mistaken.” Evelyn felt drained just speaking. “I haven’t seen Adrian in three years. The other night, I just happened to share a ride with him. This photo was taken from a misleading angle.”

“A misleading angle?” Charlotte laughed coldly. “Adrian has a locked drawer in his bedroom, filled with your old photos together—and an outdated phone that still has all your nauseatingly sweet messages! Tell me, isn’t that suspicious?”

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed instantly.

That phone—Adrian had gifted it to her when she was a freshman, back when they’d just started secretly dating. She’d been so enamored, texting him about every little thing, even complaining about her cramps. When they broke up, the phone mysteriously disappeared. She’d searched everywhere for it.

Turns out, Adrian had hidden it away.

She couldn’t deny the truth of her past with Adrian, no matter how she wished she could erase it. She’d been barely nineteen, and Adrian twenty-five, already three years into his career. They’d kept everything a secret, with Adrian traveling to the capital every weekend to be with her, giving her all his love and respect. Yet, despite their passion, they’d never crossed the final line.

“Evelyn, go on, explain it,” Charlotte sneered, her confidence growing as Evelyn stayed silent. “Wasn’t it you who sent Adrian all those messages?”

Seeing her silent, Charlotte sneered with even more arrogance. “You were luring men while still a student, and now, married, you can’t even behave. I’ll go to Riverton and ask Jason if he’s willing to rein in his wife!”

Evelyn’s hands shook as she gripped the photo, muttering, “I swear, nothing improper happened between Adrian and me—”

“Come at me if you have a problem! Why do you have to drag Evelyn into it?”

Adrian’s angry voice echoed down the hall.

Evelyn had long been humiliated by Charlotte’s accusations. She lowered her eyes, refusing even to look Adrian’s way.

"Evelyn, I just wanted to remind you to keep your distance from others in the future. After all, you have a family, a husband, and Adrian and I are newly engaged." Charlotte immediately masked her fury, forcing a smile for Adrian's sake.

Ever since they met through a family introduction, Charlotte had been drawn to Adrian, and coming here to confront Evelyn was just meant to set boundaries, not to harm her relationship with Adrian.

"Come on, I'll explain everything between Evelyn and me," Adrian said with a barely contained anger.

Charlotte, who had grown up adored by everyone, glared at Evelyn, then spun on her heel, storming into the elevator.

"I'm sorry, Eve. I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble again," Adrian murmured, regret and concern evident in his eyes. "I promise, this will be the first and last time Charlotte bothers you."

With trembling fingers, Evelyn handed him the photo. "Handle the PR."

"It's already been shared online thousands of times. No matter how good my PR is, I can't erase everyone's memory." Adrian's mouth twisted in a half-smile. "People have even dug up our names and workplaces by now."

Her hands went cold, and the photo slipped from her grip. Jason’s affection last night now seemed like a dream—one disrupted by this image that had clearly incensed him, and he wasn’t even answering her calls.

"I shouldn’t have come to Lycheeville!" She slammed the door shut.

"Eve," Adrian's voice was tense from the other side. "I'll hire a team to do damage control and reduce the impact on you as much as possible."

Evelyn didn’t respond. She opened her social media apps, and that photo had already gone viral with captions like "Farewell" under its ethereal snowy scene. Some admired their seemingly perfect match, others pointed out that Adrian was already engaged.

Panicked, she dialed Jason again, but still, no answer.

She sent him a voice message, explaining, "Jason, that photo was taken at a tricky angle. I kept my distance from Adrian the entire time."

Only after sending it did she recall that Adrian had come to the hotel with a Cherry-Infused Roast Goose, and Jason had asked if she'd seen Adrian beforehand. Fearing it would raise unnecessary suspicions, she had lied.

She recorded another message, her voice trembling, "Jason, I didn’t want you to overthink it, so I didn’t tell you the whole story. My flight got delayed, and Adrian offered a ride. As he handed me my suitcase outside the hotel, we got photographed.”

But her voice messages went unanswered, like stones thrown into a silent lake. Their brief reunion felt like a sweet dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.

Desperate, Evelyn booked a flight back to Riverton. Midday flights were fully booked, so she settled for one at 5:30 p.m.

Barely had she put down her phone when her mother, Agnes, called. Evelyn braced herself for a scolding as she answered.

“Did you learn nothing? Why are you still tangled up with Adrian? Are you rekindling things?” Agnes’ voice was laced with restrained fury. “Adrian isn’t just Victor’s son—he’s Elijah’s soon-to-be son-in-law! Are you trying to ruin yourself?”

Evelyn closed her eyes, stung but silent.

“Half an hour ago, someone anonymously reported Adrian for misconduct, and he’s now under investigation. Victor won’t let you off lightly. What do you want me to do?”

A surge of helplessness hit Evelyn, her voice shaky. “I swear, there’s nothing improper between Adrian and me.”

“Evelyn, I’m begging you, for once, stay away from him. Call Victor, apologize. I’ll handle the rest.”

With a bitter laugh, Evelyn replied, "Just focus on being Mrs. Johnson." She hung up and began packing, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Coming to Lycheeville had caused a whirlwind of complications from one innocent photo.

Jean called, her voice note laced with suspicion, asking if she was back with Adrian. Evelyn typed back, each word emphatic: “Not in this lifetime.”

Meanwhile, at Stark’s house…

Victor, a veteran political strategist, never expected his newly engaged son to be caught in such a scandalous photo with Evelyn—and for it to spread online like wildfire. The anonymous report against Adrian was swift, resulting in a suspension.

Adrian entered the study, unflinching under Victor’s sharp, discerning glare.

Victor broke the silence, his face clouded with rage. "Close the door."

Adrian obeyed.

“Slap!”

“Slap!”

“Slap!”

Victor’s palm cracked against Adrian’s face three times, leaving it red and swollen.

Adrian bowed his head, respectful despite the pain. “I was wrong, Father.”

“Wrong how?” Victor demanded, eyes blazing.

“Firstly, I should have left Evelyn immediately after dropping her off. Secondly, I didn’t manage the PR right away. Thirdly, I failed to clarify things with Charlotte.” Adrian’s face was emotionless, like a puppet. “Please, give me one more chance to make amends.”

“Every step from meeting her at the airport was a mistake.” Victor’s clenched fist shook with frustration. "If she can’t keep quiet in Riverton, I’ll find someone to remove her and clean up every loose end."

“Father!” Adrian dropped to his knees. “If something happened to her, do you think I’d even want to keep living?”

Victor’s mouth twisted as he considered. "Then take the other option. Bring the wedding forward—marry Charlotte by the end of the year."

Adrian felt as though a rope tightened around his neck, suffocating him. The icy light from the snow outside flickered in his vision.

After a long silence, he forced out a “Yes.”

“Good. Set a date. You have thirteen days before the year ends. If there are any delays in the preparations, make up for it afterward. Charlotte’s an understanding girl; she’ll appreciate what you’re doing for her.”

“Father, I’ll follow through and marry Charlotte immediately,” Adrian’s voice was bitter. “Just leave Evelyn alone.”