EVELYN'S POV

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t in my hotel room. For a moment, I just stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out where I was. The sheets were softer, the curtains heavier, and the faint smell of cologne lingered in the air. My heart started racing as I sat up, panic tightening my chest.

This wasn’t my room.

Memories of last night came crashing back, blurry and broken like pieces of glass scattered on the floor. The bar, the drinks, the laughter. Then nothing but darkness. My palms grew sweaty. What had happened?

I turned and froze.

Sean was there, sitting casually by the small table in the corner. He was shirtless, his broad shoulders and toned chest catching the morning light. My breath caught in my throat. My mind went blank for a second, and an uncomfortable heat rushed to my cheeks.

Oh my god.

Did we… did we sleep together last night?

The question swirled in my head like a storm. I could barely look at him. My heart beat so fast that I thought he might hear it. Just as my nerves reached their limit, he looked up at me. His eyes were calm, steady, as if he could already read what was running through my mind.

“You don’t have to panic,” he said smoothly, his voice low but firm. “Nothing happened last night.”

I blinked, confused. “What… do you mean?”

He leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. “You got drunk and threw up. On me.” He glanced at his chair, then at the bed. “I had to send my clothes to the dry cleaner.”

For a second, I just stared at him in disbelief. Then the truth hit me, and I nearly wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I had thrown up—on him? My cheeks burned even hotter, this time from shame rather than panic.

“Oh my god,” I whispered, covering my face with both hands. “I am so sorry.”

Sean didn’t seem too bothered. He shrugged lightly, his calmness only making me feel more embarrassed. “It happens. Don’t worry about it.”

But of course, I worried. I quickly sat up, fumbling with the blanket. “I’ll pay for the dry cleaning,” I said in a rush, desperate to make up for the humiliation.

He gave me a small nod, not arguing, before getting up and walking toward the bathroom. My gaze trailed after him before I quickly forced myself to look away. The sound of running water soon echoed through the door, making my face grow even warmer. I hated how my thoughts wandered, hated the way my body reacted to being in this kind of situation with him.

I pressed my hands together tightly, trying to calm down.

I needed to leave. I needed to get dressed, act normal, and pretend last night had never happened.

As I slipped off the bed, my eyes fell on his phone lying on the couch. It buzzed softly, the screen lighting up. I hesitated. Normally, I would never even think about looking at someone else’s phone. But what if it was something important? Sean was my boss, and it might be work-related. My hand moved almost on its own, reaching for the device.

One glance was all it took.

A new message sat boldly on the screen: Progress in Cambray’s case.

I froze. My heart thudded in my chest.

Cambray.

My last name.

Case? What case?

The words burned into my mind. My first thought was denial. There had to be another Cambray, maybe someone unrelated, just coincidence. But the timing of everything, the fact that Sean had taken such a strange interest in me from the start… my stomach twisted.

Before I could think too much, I placed the phone back exactly where I had found it. I didn’t want to know more. I didn’t want to believe that it had anything to do with me.

When Sean stepped out of the bathroom, I quickly turned away, pretending to fix my bag. I didn’t want him to see the confusion in my face.

We checked out of the hotel soon after and headed to the airport. Sean was unusually quiet, his laptop open on his lap as the car moved through the busy streets. His expression was serious, his fingers moving fast over the keyboard. He looked completely absorbed in his work.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop thinking about the text message.

Cambray’s case.

It kept repeating in my head, louder and louder, until it drowned out everything else. I stared out the window, pretending to admire the view, but inside I was battling with questions. Was he investigating me? My family? Was I just imagining things?

The silence between us only made the weight in my chest heavier.

Just then, my phone rang, cutting through the tense air. The sound made me jump. When I saw the caller ID, my stomach clenched. It was the hospital.

Sean looked up briefly, his sharp eyes catching mine. He gave me a small nod, silently telling me it was okay to answer. I swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile, and pressed the button.

“Hello?”

The doctor’s familiar voice filled the line. “Miss Cambray, we’ve received your transfer last night. The payment has been processed. We will prepare for your mother’s surgery immediately, but you’ll need to come by to sign a few documents.”

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

Transfer? Payment? Last night?

I was stunned. My head spun as I tried to process the words. I hadn’t transferred anything last night—I had been completely drunk.

“I… I understand,” I said faintly, my voice shaking. “I’ll come by as soon as possible.”

After hanging up, I sat frozen, gripping my phone tightly. My mind screamed with questions. If I didn’t make the transfer… then who did?

Slowly, my eyes shifted toward Sean. He hadn’t looked up, still typing away on his laptop. His calm expression gave nothing away, but deep inside, I knew the truth.

It had to be him.

My chest tightened. A mix of gratitude and suspicion flooded me at the same time. If he really helped me, why? Out of kindness? Or because of something else—something connected to that message about Cambray’s case?

The thought sent chills down my spine.

I leaned back in my seat, pretending to relax, but my heart was racing. For the first time, I wasn’t sure if I should feel thankful… or afraid.