Evelyn froze, her thumb hovering over the glowing screen of her phone. 1


    “The reporters you asked me to investigate are dead!” From: Oscar


    Her stomach feels twisted. She blinked twice, certain she had misread.


    She re–read the text. Then again. And again.


    “Dead?” she whispered under her breath. “How could they die so suddenly?”


    Her pulse quickened as she sank onto the nearest sofa, wishing she could feel better, but the soft cushions did nothing to soothe the


    unease twisting inside her.


    Her thumb hovered over Oscar’s name before she pressed call.


    The line connected on the second ring.


    “Eve!” Oscar’s voice came through, far too cheerful for the words he’d just sent her. “You won’t believe what I found.”


    Evelyn’s brows knit together. She gripped the phone tighter.


    “Didn’t you already tell me? Via text? Or did you forget what you wrote?”


    Oscar chuckled.


    “No, no. I just wanted to dramatize it a little, you know? Build suspense. Make it sound like one of those crime movies you like.”


    She shook her head, speechless, hearing his words. Only Oscar would treat death like a punchline.


    “Oscar, this isn’t funny. Tell me what really happened. How did they die? And when?”


    The yfulness in his tone dimmed, though she could still hear the amusement lingering.


    “Car ident. Two days ago. A nasty one, too… straight into a highway divider. Boom! Instant headlines, but…”


    He paused for effect.


    “…unfortunately for them, their tragic ending waspletely overshadowed by the great Lewis Harrison scandal. Everyone’s too busy


    gossiping about Mr. Minister’s dirtyundry to care about two low–level reporters.”


    Evelyn leaned back into the cushions, her heart still pounding.


    “Two days ago…” She whispered the timeline to herself. Axel had told her they’d snatch the reporters‘ documents, but he had never


    mentioned death. Not once.


    Oscar kept talking, his tone taking on the rhythm of aedian telling a story.


    “The papers gave it a tiny corner. Something like ‘two unfortunate souls met their end, ugh, unbelievable… Just two short paragraphs. If they had been celebrities, the media would still be mourning them. But no, just some nosy nobodies chasing the wrong story.”


    15:30


    <


    106 Death<i>? </i>


    Evelyn closed her eyes. The image of Axel’s stern face rose in her mind. His calm confidence. His ability to make things happen. Too


    easily. Too perfect.


    Her suspicion crept in before she could stop it. ‘Did Axel do this? Did he… silence them?‘


    “Oscar,” she said carefully. “And you’re sure it was an ident? Nothing suspicious? No… outside influence?”


    He gave a dramatic sigh, as if she’d just used him of beingzy.


    “Eve, please. Do you think I don’t check? Ibed through everything. The police report, eyewitness ounts, and even the weather


    that day. Rain, slick roads, and speeding. ssic fatal crash form.”


    “I see!” Evelyn nods slightly, agreeing with him.


    “Damn girl! Did you suspect your husband?” Oscar’s voice sounds slightly surprised.


    Evelyn signed silently, saying, “I didn’t say anything!” while inwardly cursing him for urately guessing what she was thinking.


    “Well… If Axel had a hand in this, then he must have invented time travel, fully controlled the traffic system and anyone in it, and then


    bribed Mother Nature herself to follow his n.”


    Despite the seriousness, Evelyn’s lips curved into a reluctant smile.


    “You sound almost disappointed that it was just an ident.”


    “Of course, I’m disappointed. A scandal keeps life interesting. Even a little one. But no, these guys went out the old–fashioned way: bad


    driving and… followed by a series of unfortunate events.”


    His humor settled some of her nerves, though not all. Axel’s shadow still lingered in her thoughts. If he wanted someone gone, could he


    make it happen so cleanly that no one suspected?


    But Evelyn shook the thought away. If God had intervened on her behalf, maybe she shouldn’t question it. Perhaps what happened to


    those reporters really was just fate.


    “Well,” she murmured softly, “at least this means they won’te back to Willowcrest. I don’t have to worry about being exposed


    anymore.”


    “Exactly,” Oscar said. “Take it as divine protection. Those pests won’t bother you again.”


    Then, his tone perked up with curiosity.


    <i>“</i>So, how’s life in your <i>cozy </i>little hideout? Still ying house with your mystery man?”


    Evelyn stiffened slightly.


    “Not exactly. We’ve… moved.”


    “You’ve what?” His voice shot up several octaves. “Moved? Where? Please don’t tell me you ran back to that city. Eve, have you


    obituary next?”


    15:30


    214


    106 Death?


    Evelyn rolled her eyes.


    “You’re being dramatic.”


    “I am dramatic. But I’m also right. Where did you go?”


    “The capital,” she admitted.


    Silence.


    Then an explosion from the other end.


    “THE CAPITAL? Eve! That’s like marching straight into the lion’s den and waving a steak in front of its nose!”


    Evelyn bit her lip, then said calmly, “I’m not in the city center. We live in a secluded area. No one for twenty miles around. It’s safe.”


    “Secluded or not, the capital is crawling with people who know your face. The Walters‘ princess doesn’t just disappear for four years and waltz back unnoticed. And don’t tell me you’re banking on new clothes and a haircut as a disguise.”


    Sheughed lightly.


    “It’s more than that. I’ve changed. My life has changed. No one will recognize me now unless they know me very well. Family. Close friends. That’s it.”


    “Evelyn, be serious. Reporters have eagle eyes. And if you’ve changed so much, why did those two sniff you out in Willowcrest the moment they spotted you? Answer me that.”


    Evelyn hesitated, then her voice lowered. “Because they weren’t just random reporters. They were the ones who ruined my name in the past.” <b>2 </b>


    Oscar went quiet. “What do you mean?”


    Her hand tightened around the phone. “They are the reporters that William Walters paid in the past to ruin my reputation. That’s why they knew me, even with just a glimpse.”


    There was a pause before Oscar let out a low whistle.


    “Well, damn. That exins a lot.”


    Evelyn said nothing more; she smiled at his words.


    16:30


    Sara Lili


    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.