275 I’m Sorry, I Can’t!
The day before Maxime’s funeral, news about him spread like wildfire across every major outlet. The headlines ran nonstop.
Senior government officials, militarymanders, and high–ranking politicians all expressed their condolences through somber statements and carefully crafted social–media
posts.
Some even rushed into studios for live interviews, each trying to sound more heartbroken and patriotic than thest…
All those condolences they sent to Henry Knight and his family.
Evelyn could not escape any of it.
Every time she unlocked her phone, a new article popped up.
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Every time she turned on the television, anothermentator analyzed the tragedy.
But one detail made her pause.
All the spection about Maxime’s drug use from the day before had disappeared.
Completely.
No media outlet has discussed the rumors
anymore.
Posts thatizens had made on forums and social tforms also disappeared.
Evelyn exhaled and gave a small smile. She knew exactly what this meant.
Maxime’s family had stepped in. And when that family wanted something erased, the entire nation obediently turned the page.
Evelyn continued monitoring the updates while
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staying home with Oliver.
The loyal maid and butler hovered around her from morning until evening, feeding her healthy meals every hour and treating her like a fragile princess.
They acted as if letting her walk from one room to another would cause her to copse.
She had given upining.
On this quiet afternoon, Laura entered Oliver’s yroom with her usual gentle knock.
“Ma’am, I brought you… warm tea and your
favorite blueberry donut,” Laura said with a bright smile.
Oliver perked up the moment he spotted the tray. “Laura… Is that for me too?”
Lauraughed. “Of course. Hot chocte and a donut just for you, young master.”
275 I’m Sorry, I Can’t!
Oliver pped excitedly and scooted closer to the coffee table. “Thank you! You are the best!”
“I agree,” Evelyn added with a smile. “Laura spoils
us.”
“That is my mission, ma’am,” Laura replied yfully before excusing herself.
Once she left, Evelyn and Oliver both dug into
their treats.
Oliver watched his cartoon with full
concentration, asionally giggling at whatever
chaos happened on screen.
Evelyn sipped her tea and returned her attention to theptop resting on herp.
She had be an expert at multitasking between news updates, motherhood, and
enjoying her afternoon snack.
But then her phone vibrated.
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It was a text message from Oscar.
She raised a brow and opened his message.
<i>“</i><i>Eve</i>, <i>I </i><i>just </i>saw <i>the </i>news<i>. </i><i>I’m </i>so sorry<i>, </i><i>my </i>friend. Please <i>ept </i><i>my </i><i>condolences</i>.”
Evelyn smiled, amused at his dramatic text. She typed back:
<i>“</i><i>Thank </i><i>you</i><i>. </i><i>You </i><i>are </i>so kind<i>, my </i><i>friend</i><i>.</i>”
He did not reply.
Instead, her phone started ringing. A call.
Evelyn frowned, staring at her cell phone.
Oscar absolutely wanted to gossip. And she absolutely did not want Oliver to hear any of it. So she set her donut aside and immediately stood <ol><li>up. </li></ol>
“I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Stay here, okay?” she told Oliver.
Oliver nodded, eyes glued to the cartoon again.
275 I’m Sorry, I Can’t!
Evelyn slipped out of the yroom and hurried
next door into her office.
She sat down on the soft sofa by the window, took a breath, and returned the call.
Oscar answered instantly.
No greeting. No hello. Nothing.
“Eve… do you believe the news?” he demanded.
A faint smile yed on her lips. She already knew where this conversation was headed.
Instead of replying to him, she asked, “What do you think?”
“Of course I don’t believe it at all,” Oscar replied, followed by a crisp, delightedugh. “The whole thing screams nonsense.”
“You are suspicious of everything, mister,” she teased.
“Well, someone has to be. You know these elite
275 I’m Sorry, I Can’t!
families. A little silence here, a little pressure
there, and boom. Suddenly, the whole city forgets what it saw yesterday.”
“Oscar, you sound like a conspiracy theorist,” Evelyn said, even though part of her agreed.
His indignant gasp was loud enough that she pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.
“Excuse me. I am a realist. There is a difference.”
He said.
She chuckled. “Alright, realist. What exactly do you think happened?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said dramatically. “But I have feelings.
“You and your feelings…”
“They are very urate feelings.”
Evelynughed softly, shaking her head. Oscar’s energy was exactly the distraction she needed
275 P’m Sorry, I can’t!
today.
“But really, Eve,” he continued in a lower voice, “people do not stop talking this fast unless someone powerful tells them to keep quiet. That’s why I’m suspicious.”
She didn’t reply but smiled.
“Would you like me to look into it and confirm whether my suspicion is correct?” Oscar offered.
Evelyn leaned her head back against the sofa.
“Oscar… no need. Axel already told me about the
truth.”
“I knew it! I knew something was suspicious… So
what is it?”
“Drug use! And his family was too afraid of their reputation.”
Oscarughed, “Poorizen…”
Evelyn can’t help butugh, too.
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“Alright, let’s stop talking about him,” Evelyn said.
They stop talking about Oscar and continue discussing their business.
But it didn’t take long; Evelyn remembers the DNA result she really wanted to know.
She feels impatient waiting several more days.
“Oscar, could you please hack to see the gic results at Grayenfall Medical Centre?”
Silence.
Evelyn frowned, wondering if the connection had dropped. But the call was still active.
“Oscar?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. Have you forgotten that you
your once asked me to search for traces of mother? I tried to find them, but someone with abilities simr to, or perhaps more powerful than mine, shielded the government files in your
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country.”
“Oh… sorry. I was just hoping you could do it since this one is through the hospital.”
“Even so, the DNA database in your country is protected by the government. I’ll be in trouble if I try again, Eve. Sorry.”
Evelyn felt disappointed, but she couldn’t me
him. She understood what it meant when he said
something was dangerous.
“It’s fine. They already have the match result, but I need to be there in person to ept it. I’ll be flying there on Tuesday.”
“Really?” Oscar sounded genuinely excited.
“Yeah-
“Congrattions, Eve. I’m happy for you, my
friend!”
They chatted for a few more minutes before he
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ended the call, leaving Evelyn shaking her head with a helpless, warm smile.
Her quiet afternoon was gone, but somehow her mood felt lighter.
She turned toward the window, letting her gaze drift over the view, when her phone began ringing again.
‘Ste!?’
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