Belle froze, unsure of how to respond.

She instinctively picked up the teacup, her fingers lightly tracing the intricate design on its surface. “What I meant is, in my understanding, Evelyn isn’t the type of person who would quietly disappear after having a relationship with someone like you. Just like her mother, she and her mother both pursue a high-quality life and have ambitious aspirations.”

Alfred sat upright.

His broad shoulders shifted as ...