One of Cole's friends stepped forward at once, his tone filled with anger. "Cole's been the one handling the Sterling Reach project from the start. Everyone knows he and Shane don't get along, so what you're doing right now is humiliating him!"
With reddened eyes, Kendra spoke softly, as if trying to smooth things over. "Ms. Fowler, I understand why you're upset about today. If you need someone to blame, then put it on me. Please don't take it out on Cole. He only left because he was worried about me."
A crease formed on Cole's forehead as his grip on Evelyn's hand tightened. "You're just acting out right now, so I'll ignore it this time. Besides, the contract is already secured. Bring it over tomorrow, and apologize to my mother."
Even at this point, he still believed she was only making a scene and that the Sterling Reach contract would eventually land in his hands.
Evelyn looked at him, and a hint of mockery flickered in her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll be visiting your family tomorrow."
And she would make sure everything changed.
With a sharp motion, she pulled her hand free and spoke without emotion. "I have something else to deal with."
Without sparing them another glance, she walked past them and left.
The following day, as Evelyn followed the butler into the Bennett family's living room, Sharon's voice reached her ears before she even stepped fully inside.
"You've spoiled her too much! She actually ran off on her wedding day. She's turned our family into a joke!"
Cole remained seated on the sofa, saying nothing.
Seated beside Sharon, Olivia Bennett, Cole's young sister, let out a mocking laugh. "If you ask me, Cole should've chosen Kendra from the start. With someone like Evelyn as my soon-to-be sister-in-law, I can't even hold my head up in Slomery."
She added, "Let's be honest, if Kendra didn't have heart disease and could have children, Evelyn would never have had a chance at becoming Cole's wife."
Turning sharply toward her son, Sharon didn't hold back. "And you're no better! If you had gotten Evelyn pregnant earlier, would she even dare act like this now?"
A shadow passed over Cole's face, yet he said nothing in return.
Outside the doorway, Evelyn let out a quiet, cold laugh. In all the time she had spent with him, even something as simple as an embrace had barely happened.
After everything she had seen, she understood one thing clearly. His restraint had never been about her. It had always been for Kendra.
Without paying attention to the butler's uneasy look, Evelyn stepped inside.
The moment Cole saw her, he rose to his feet. "Evie, you made it."
"Looks like I arrived at the wrong moment." Evelyn's gaze swept across the room before settling on him. "I interrupted your discussion about me."
For a brief second, Cole's expression faltered, but he quickly moved closer. "You've got it wrong. We've been waiting for you."
While speaking, he extended his hand toward her. "Where's the contract? My father is upstairs. I'll bring it to him, and once everything checks out, the wedding will proceed."
"The wedding will proceed? That's not gonna happen!" A harsh sound rang out as Sharon slammed her cup onto the table. Her eyes locked onto Evelyn, filled with open hostility. "She's dragged our family's name through the mud! Everyone in Slomery is laughing at us now! If she still wants to marry you, that's fine!"
Her gaze dropped lower, lingering with clear intent. "But forget any ceremony. She already embarrassed us at the wedding yesterday. If she wants to be part of this family, then wait until she's carrying your child. Only then will we consider making it official. Otherwise, she can give up that idea entirely!"
A quiet laugh slipped from Olivia as she covered her mouth. "Mom, she's still a Fowler. Do you really think she'd agree to have my brother's child without a proper marriage?"
Disdain showed plainly on Sharon's face. "A Fowler? Don't make me laugh. She's nothing more than a woman from the countryside. Letting her step into this house was already more than she deserved."
Cole shifted slightly, unease flashing across his face, though his focus stayed elsewhere. "Mom, can we stop this already?"
All he cared about was getting the contract in hand. Everything else could be handled later.
With that in mind, he turned toward Evelyn, his tone softening. "Evie, don't take what my mother said seriously."
"It doesn't matter," she responded, and a faint smile curved on her lips as she cut in. Her eyes held a calm certainty as she continued. "To be honest, I never intended to marry you from the beginning."
For a second, Cole froze, caught off guard. He had always believed she wouldn't walk away from him, that she would even accept his mother's conditions without hesitation. Relief crept into his voice. "Evie, don't worry. Once we have a child, I'll make sure we get married right away."
Evelyn said nothing at first and simply watched them, the hint of a cold smile slowly forming.
"I won't be marrying you. Because..." With deliberate movement, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a document.
