Charles moved so fast that Evelyn barely had a chance to react before he pulled her firmly into his arms from behind.


    Her back met his solid chest, and with every sharp breath he took, she could feel his heart pounding against her. He was practically buzzing with energy-so much that it felt like he wanted to absorb her into himself.


    But Evelyn didn''t catch even a spark of his excitement. Her voice was ice-cold as she snapped, "Charles, let go of me!"


    There was no mistaking the rejection in her tone. She reached up, trying to pry his arms away.


    ...


    Charles only held her tighter, his arms locking around her, pressing her even


    closer until there was no space left between them. His big hand slid carefully from her waist to rest over her lower stomach, as if every movement needed to be


    gentle.


    His palm was hot against her. His fingertips trembled as they grazed her.


    The touch made Evelyn freeze, her body going stiff as her mind nked. For a moment, all thought of struggling slipped away.


    From a distance, they could have been mistaken for lovers, lost in a secret embrace.


    Evelyn''s face turned grim, her expression dark and stormy.


    Charles''s actions made his message painfully clear: he knew. He knew the baby was his.


    This was thest thing she wanted.


    She''d lied at the hospital, hoping to avoid giving Charles any reason to chase after her. She knew all too well how impossible it was to shake him off once he set his mind to something.


    The problem would only get bigger.


    She wanted to believe she was overthinking it, but Charles quickly destroyed that hope, his voice rough and low as he breathed into her ear, "Eve, I know everything. You never slept with Brooks. You lied to me. This baby isn''t his—it''s mine."


    Evelyn''s denial died on her lips.


    Before she could say a word, a furious voice, trembling with anger, rang out behind them. "Evelyn!"


    It was Mrs. Robinson.


    She''de out to remind Evelyn that her car was waiting, but just as she was about to call, she''d seen Charles''s car tailing Evelyn''s. If they were only siblings, she wouldn''t have thought twice. But after learning they''d been together for five years-and even had a daughter-seeing their cars leave one after another made her blood run cold.


    If they had nothing to hide, why sneak around behind her back?


    She''d followed, needing to know if she was just being paranoid, or if they were


    still tangled up in each other.


    She never expected to hear Charles say it out loud: the baby wasn''t Brooks''s, but his.


    The baby wasn''t even two months along.


    Which meant Evelyn had been with Charles while she was with Brooks.


    She''d let past mistakes slide because Evelyn was pregnant, but this? Even after getting together with Brooks, Evelyn still dared to keep things going with Charles.


    What did she think Brooks was, some kind of joke?


    Hearing Mrs. Robinson''s voice, Evelyn felt a chill run through her veins.


    She turned around, her heart pounding, and saw Mrs. Robinson''s face twisted with rage. Evelyn stepped forward instinctively, voice small and shaky. "Aunt Josephine..."


    Mrs. Robinson''s chest heaved as she red at Evelyn, her voice sharp and full of usation.


    "Is it true? The baby you''re carrying isn''t Brooks''s, but his?"


    Evelyn''s face went ghostly pale.


    She opened her mouth, but the denial never made it out. In the end, she barely whispered, "Yes."


    The doubt was already rooted in Mrs. Robinson''s heart-no denial would change her mind.


    If Mrs. Robinson demanded a paternity test, the truth would be impossible to hide. "Evelyn, how could you?!"


    Mrs. Robinson trembled with rage, words failing her. She raised her hand and pped Evelyn, hard.


    Evelyn saw iting, but stood still, not even trying to dodge.


    Smack.


    The sound echoed, sharp and final.


    But Evelyn didn''t feel any pain. She opened her eyes and saw Charles standing in


    front of her, taking the p in her ce.


    Mrs. Robinson hadn''t held back. Charles''s face was already marked with a bright red handprint.


    Seeing Charles shielding Evelyn


    made


    what he do? Charles''s


    S. Robinson angrier, I


    s too high to ignore. Co


    He had taken the first p for Evelyn. She''dnded it. But to keep going would be crossing a line.


    She lowered her hand, ring at Evelyn past Charles, her voice dripping with disgust.


    "Fine. Just great. Evelyn, you think because Brooks loves you, you can walk all over him and the Robinson


    family? You think he''ll marry you no matter what you do?"


    "Let me make one thing clear: as long as I''m alive, you will never set foot in the


    Robinson family''s house!"


    With that, Mrs. Robinson turned and stormed off.


    Evelyn stood frozen, silent.


    She didn''t bother to exin.


    She knew it wouldn''t matter.


    Even if she told Mrs. Robinson that night wasn''t what she thought, she knew there''d be no forgiveness.


    No matter the reason, the facts were clear:


    She was with br


    she''d slept with Charles, and


    was carrying his child.


    Mrs. Robinson, who''d already resented her for her past, would never let this go.


    She watched as Mrs. Robinson''s car drove away, her eyes filling with tears.


    She knew, without a doubt, there was no future for her and Brooks. "Eve, please don''t cry."


    Charles stood beside her, his heart aching as he reached out to wipe away her tears.


    But before he could touch her, Evelyn raised her hand and pped him, hard. "Are you happy now?"