Silent Heartbreak: My Love No Longer Belongs To You

Chapter 1 This Engagement Is Over A man's resonant tone pierced the stillness of the room. "Does it h**t?" Heavy, uneven breaths thickened the air. He loomed above, every muscle tense as he struggled to coax a response from the woman pi**ed beneath him. She resisted, her body stiff and unyielding, forcing him to try again and again. Maybe it was the liquor dulling their senses, but his hand slid to her narrow waist, gently steering her closer, trying to ease the tension between them. Only when the first light of dawn spilled across the tangled sheets did the two figures finally fall silent, ex**ustion overtaking them both. The hush was broken by the hiss of water in the bathroom. Evelina Quinn stirred, emerging from the depths of sl**p. Wrapped tightly in the blanket, she hugged herself, mind racing to piece together the fragments of last night. Yesterday, she had celebrated her engagement to Cole Dawson. Their families had gone all out for the event, hosting a lavish party crowded with powerful business associates from both sides. Night had already settled in when Cole's friends gathered for drinks. Evelina, unable to voice her refusals, kept accepting glass after glass until the room blurred. The last thing she remembered was Cole gently steering her toward the presidential suite at the very top. The rest vanished in a haze of al**hol--except for the fragments that surfaced now and then: heated touches, uneven breaths, and a night of passion. A sudden hush fell as the water in the bathroom cut off. The door swung open, sending out a warm rush of steam. A man strode out, a towel slung low on his hips, his powerful build unmistakable--broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist, beads of water tracking over sculpted muscle. Evelina, recalling her first in**mate experience with her fiancé from last night, flushed and quickly looked away, her heart pounding as she struggled not to relive the intense moments that had unfolded in the dark. "You are awake." Andreas Wright tilted an eyebrow, his gaze locked on Evelina curled beneath the covers. Even now, a faint blush lingered on her soft cheeks, her skin so flawless he imagined a single touch might leave a mark. He looked utterly enthralled, eyes glinting with a predatory satisfaction. A chill threaded through Evelina as his voice broke the silence. That was not Cole's voice! She jerked her head up, locking eyes with the man--and was instantly met with a stormy, penetrating stare that radiated raw dominance. Shock drained the color from her face. The moment she recognized his features, her breath caught and her thoughts scattered, panic rising in her ch**t. Tears slipped silently from her wide eyes, staining the tangled bedsheets. The truth struck Evelina all at once--every trace of warmth and happiness from the previous night had come from a man she'd never even met. Her whole body shook as silent sobs racked her frame, tears spilling down her cheeks. Panic and despair swallowed her, leaving her grasping for answers. Her trembling hands flew through the air, signing again and again. "Who are you? Why are you here? Were you really the one with me last night?" Andreas blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face when he noticed she couldn't speak. Now it made sense--her soundless cries and silent suffering from the night before. He stared at her, eyes dark and impossible to read, the tension in the room thickening with every heartbeat. Dragging in a heavy breath, Andreas pressed his fingers to his temples, fighting a throbbing headache and a wave of anger that burned in his ch**t. He'd barely set foot back in the country before his old friends cornered him at a bar, drowning him in drinks and shoving a hotel key into his hand as some sort of comforting gift for his breakup. The room was heavy with shadows, the air thick from too many drinks. He could still recall how she had leaned in, stealing that first, unexpected k**s. The thrill had swept him along, and in his intoxication, he'd never bothered to check who she was before giving in to the allure. Now, seeing her wide-eyed and shaken, he couldn't fathom her sudden panic--especially after she'd made the first move. Andreas dragged a hand through his hair, lips twisting into a scornful half-smile. "Whatever you're trying to say, I don't get it. Just get dressed and go." Evelina realized she couldn't stay hidden beneath the covers forever. She hurried into her clothes, fumbling with her torn underwear and settling for whatever she could manage. At last, she forced herself to stand tall in front of him. Andreas lingered near the window, caught off guard by the sight before him. In the quiet glow of morning, Evelina stood there--her features delicate, eyes hauntingly luminous, lips bitten and faintly swollen. Her dark hair tumbled in wild tangles down her back, mascara smudged beneath eyes still rimmed red from crying. Even disheveled, she had an inexplicable allure, vulnerable yet breathtaking. The bed behind her was a chaotic mess, white sheets twisted and stained with a vivid red mark that drew Andreas's gaze, tightening something in his ch**t as the truth hit him--last night had been her first time. Seeing her standing there, unwilling to leave, Andreas understood why. Without a word, he pulled out a stack of cash and forced it into Evelina's hand. He didn't bother to hide his contempt. "Will this cover it? Or do you want more..." Before he could finish, Evelina hurled it straight at his ch**t, her eyes flashing with silent fury. His expression twisted into a dangerous smirk. "What's wrong? Not enough for you? My buddy already paid the middleman a fortune just to set this up. Didn't you check the going rate before selling yourself? Or are you trying to squeeze out a bigger payout? Keep dreaming..." Evelina's slap cracked through the room, stopping Andreas cold. He staggered, wiped the bl**d from his mouth, and shot her a look that could have ki**ed. For a moment, it seemed like he might lunge at her. His voice dropped, rough and seething. "I don't care how you managed to get in here. But you're the one who threw yourself at me last night, so drop the act…" Evelina couldn't stand another word. Choking back tears, she bolted from the room, her shoes crunching over the scattered money as she ran. On the curb, she waved down a taxi with trembling hands, switched her phone back on, and was instantly flooded with missed calls and frantic messages. She tapped her destination into her notes app and held it up for the driver to read. City lights blurred past the window, but Evelina barely noticed. Her mind spun, replaying the man's harsh words on an endless loop. None of it made sense. The stranger she'd woken up beside--how had her life unraveled so completely overnight? The taxi finally pulled up in front of an imposing villa. Evelina paid and darted inside, desperate to retreat to her room, to scrub away every trace of the night beneath a hot shower. But her hopes were dashed the moment she entered the villa. The living room overflowed with guests. Every pair of eyes locked onto her: tangled hair, mascara streaked down her cheeks, swollen eyes, her dress wrinkled and twisted, red marks scattered along her neck--a silent confession no one could miss. An icy hush fell. Then, with a theatrical sigh, her adopted sister Tessa Quinn broke the silence, lips curled in a smug little smile. "Evelina, where have you been? We've all been worried sick. Cole nearly called the police looking for you." Cole's expression darkened as his gaze lingered on the hi**eys along Evelina's neck, his eyes turning icy. "Where were you last night? What did you do?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Every head swiveled toward Evelina, the Quinn family included. They glared at her like she was something rotten dragged in from the street, their gazes brimming with contempt as they studied every shameful detail. A storm of humiliation, bewilderment, and dread crashed through Evelina. Her hands shook as she signed the same question over and over, desperate for an explanation from Cole. "Why did you abandon me at the hotel?" Cole knew perfectly well what she was saying but feigned ignorance, choosing instead to weaponize his words and pin every accusation on Evelina, who was mute and cornered. "We're engaged, Evelina. And you vanished for an entire night--now you come back covered in someone else's marks. Have you ever once thought about how that makes me feel?" His accusations lashed out with the practiced pain of a master manipulator, veins bulging in his forehead, every inch the picture of a wounded lover. Everyone felt sympathy for Cole, their eyes full of pity. "Look at what she's done to poor Cole--how could she betray him, despite all the love he's given her?" "What kind of upbringing did she have? No shame, no sense of decency. She's engaged to Cole, but she's out all night with another man. There's no way she could ever make a good wife." The room buzzed with cruel whispers and barely contained contempt, accusations ricocheting through the crowd, some laced with biting insinuations. Stunned and lost, Evelina stood frozen amid the barrage of insults. The memories from last night were a haze of al**hol and confusion, but she remembered, with absolute clarity, that Cole had personally escorted her to the presidential suite. Mute and defenseless, Evelina's frantic attempts to communicate were met with nothing but cold indifference. With desperate motions, she tried to explain, "It's not like that at all. Let me make it clear!" Cole seized the moment, his voice slicing through the noise, more eager to wound than to listen. "We just got engaged, and you vanished to spend the night with another man. Evelina, I never thought you could be so shameless." The motion in Evelina's hands faltered, her arms falling limp as tears shimmered in her wide, wounded eyes. His tone icy, Cole pressed on. "I won't marry someone who betrays me. This engagement is over. Let's end things here." With panic rising, Evelina's gestures grew frantic. "I didn't betray you. Did you set me up?" Grabbing the front of his shirt, she tried to force him to look at her--only to spot a fresh k**s mark blooming on his neck. The realization barely registered before a brutal slap landed across her face. Her father, Albin Quinn, stood over her, hand trembling from the blow, his rage burning through every word. "Shameless s**t! Have you lost all decency? Where is your sense of honor?" Chapter 2 Who Truly Belonged In This Family "Albin!" A gray-haired elder's voice cut through the room like a whip, his cane slamming against the floor with a resonant thud. Slowly pushing himself upright from the sofa, he fixed Albin with a piercing glare, his features carved in stone. "By now, don't you think it's time you gave me an explanation?" he demanded, his tone heavy with authority. "I've long kept my distance from the private matters of the younger generation, but this--this is not something I can overlook. Our family has stood firmly behind you all these years. Without the financial lifeline extended by Dawson Group's bank, your family would've crumbled into bankruptcy long ago." Albin's complexion went ashen with fury, but the weight of the situation forced him to lower his head in bitter submission. "We'll always remember the Dawson family's generosity, but..." His eyes darted to Evelina, burning with silent blame. If looks could k**l, she'd have vanished on the spot. She was the one who'd ruined everything. With no other option, he had to swallow the humiliation of being the one to end the engagement. But Gerald Dawson, Cole's grandfather, slammed down his decision before Albin could speak. "The engagement will not be dissolved," he pronounced, his tone final--leaving no room for debate. Worried Gerald would coerce him for the family's benefit, Cole blurted out, "Grandpa, I won't marry a woman who's betrayed me. She's mute and has sl**t with someone else. How am I supposed to face anyone after this? Everyone will think I'm a joke." At first, Cole had only agreed to the engagement because Evelina's beauty was unmatched in all of Uclard--no one could deny that. Still, every time he remembered her muteness, a wave of discomfort rose in his ch**t. The idea of a wife who couldn't even g**p his name in bed unsettled him in ways he hated to admit. What gnawed at him most was his obsession with Tessa, who was bold and free-spirited where Evelina was guarded and distant. Tessa was the girl he'd grown up with. That reckless night when he finally gave in to te**tation and sl**t with her had left them both reeling--Tessa had sobbed in his arms, insisting he take responsibility for what they'd done. Cole relented at her pleading and agreed to marry her. If marriage was inevitable, he'd rather settle for someone less striking but easier to control than Evelina, who always seemed impossible to please and kept everyone at arm's length. The night before, he'd orchestrated the whole fiasco himself, scheming for a way out of his engagement to Evelina. If only Tessa hadn't been keeping an eye on him, he would have spent a pa**ionate night with Evelina himself and made it look like she'd betrayed him--instead of letting another man sl**p with her. Now, he had no idea which lucky man had gotten her laid. His gaze slid shamelessly over Evelina, taking in the curve of her bare shoulder. His mind drifted, imagining her groaning and mo**ing beneath another man, wishing he were that man. Catching the direction of his thoughts, Tessa's lips twisted, jealousy and resentment flashing in her eyes. Deep down, she vowed she'd see to it that Evelina's reputation was shattered for good. Suddenly, Tessa's honeyed tone pierced the tension, yanking everyone back to the present. "Evelina, hurry up and apologize to Cole." A deep shadow settled over Gerald's features. He finally spoke up. "The engagement stands. The Quinn family, after all, has more than one daughter to offer." Instantly, all eyes in the room drifted to Evelina and Tessa, who stood side by side. The defiance on Cole's face evaporated. He clamped his mouth shut, suddenly as docile as a scolded child who'd been handed a treat. A rosy flush crept up Tessa's cheeks, and she shrank behind her adoptive mother, Joanna Quinn. Her gentle, bashful act only heightened the guests' disdain for Evelina's supposed shameful behavior. Evelina, rooted in place, felt all color drain from her face. She watched helplessly as Cole's gaze lingered on Tessa, the two exchanging sly, knowing glances that spoke volumes. Low murmurs rippled among the guests. Years ago, the Quinn couple's world had shattered when their daughter vanished. Joanna's grief had nearly broken her, until the family adopted a girl from an orphanage--a gentle, timid child who quickly became the new center of their lives. That girl was none other than Tessa. After a decade, the police had shown up out of the blue, clutching a DNA report--a perfect match for the long-lost Quinn daughter. Whispers swept through the city, fueling speculation. Desperate to protect their reputation, the Quinn family publicly welcomed back their biological daughter, Evelina, a girl who had weathered years of hardship. They even declared both Evelina and Tessa part of the family, refusing to send Tessa away even after finding their lost child. Yet, Evelina's life in the past few years had been anything but charmed. At seventeen, she'd lost her adoptive mother in a devastating car crash, and the shock had stolen her voice--leaving her with a silent world she couldn't escape. In every way--her grace, beauty, and bearing--Evelina eclipsed Tessa, save for one cruel detail: she couldn't speak. A few years ago, when the Quinn family's business teetered on collapse, the Dawson family's bank swooped in with a lifesaving investment. Their help had resurrected the Quinn family's fortune. Business ties had pulled the Quinn and Dawson families closer, making a marriage alliance feel almost inevitable. The families' elders soon settled on the idea, seeing it as the best way to secure their mutual interests for years to come. At first, the plan was simple: Tessa, raised in the Quinn household, would marry Cole, her childhood companion. But stability mattered more than sentiment. The Dawson family insisted on Evelina instead. After all, she was the Quinn family's true daughter by bl**d. That way, there could be no question of loyalty, no last-minute denial of the connection. With Evelina's reputation now in ruins, her chance to marry into the Dawson family vanished overnight. Yet family interests still took priority. Gerald reluctantly accepted Tessa as Cole's new bride, seeing no other way to keep the alliance intact. "Maybe we can talk about this another time. I'd rather not rush Tessa into marriage," Joanna burst out, breaking her silence as she tried to shield Tessa from the marriage plans. Evelina watched the scene unfold with a numb, frosty detachment. No one had bothered asking if she wanted this marriage. She'd only ever been a bargaining chip--nothing more than a pawn for the Quinn family to trade away for profit. If marriage was possible for her, why was Tessa any different? Her lips twisted in a bitter, mocking smile as she glanced around the room, searching for a single sympathetic face. None met her eyes. Even her own bl**d family regarded her as a burden, treating Tessa as if she were the trueborn daughter. To those who didn't know any better, it seemed that Tessa belonged here, not her. Evelina's icy gaze lingered on Tessa. She remembered those first days after being brought home--the careful way everyone tiptoed around Tessa's feelings, the endless gifts, the gentle reassurances, the way the Quinn family poured all their warmth into a girl who wasn't even theirs by birth. In contrast, the Quinns had not shown even a trace of affection toward their biological daughter, Evelina. Tessa was bright and charming, a natural favorite, while Evelina's silence made her easy to overlook. Seventeen years old and thrust back into a house that never truly welcomed her, Evelina learned quickly that her parents had no love left for her since Tessa absorbed all of it. At the Quinn family estate, Evelina's bedroom was barely more than a broom closet tucked beside the maid's quarters, cramped and windowless, while Tessa's was a sprawling, sunlit suite fit for a storybook princess. Evelina's monthly allowance was a meager five hundred dollars--barely enough to cover necessities. Each day, she squeezed onto a crowded bus just to get to school. Meanwhile, Joanna fussed endlessly over Tessa's safety, insisting on a private driver and assigning a dedicated maid to serve up elaborate meals. If Tessa grew tired of home-cooked meals, she could simply call for a reservation at any luxury restaurant in the city. Her spending money? An unlimited credit card. While Evelina packed her bags for a crowded public boarding school, Tessa was chauffeured each day to Uclard's most elite academy. Evelina rotated through the handful of worn clothes she'd salvaged from her old life. Meanwhile, Tessa's closets overflowed with dazzling dresses and luxury handbags, every item carefully curated and never worn twice. When Tessa turned eighteen, the driveway sparkled with a cherry-red sports car topped with a velvet bow. Evelina's own eighteenth birthday slipped by in silence--no cake, no cards, not even a whispered acknowledgment. Their birthdays were only two days apart, but each year Evelina stood at the edge of Tessa's lavish celebration, watching from the shadows as the family gathered to shower Tessa with gifts and affection. No one ever seemed to notice when Evelina's day arrived, let alone mark it with a simple wish. The family worried constantly about Tessa, terrified she'd be sacrificed in some marriage alliance, but not once did anyone pause to wonder what Evelina wanted--her engagement to a total stranger decided without a whisper of concern for her. Sometimes, Evelina questioned who truly belonged in this family. She stood invisible in her own home. Ignored by her parents, betrayed by the man she was supposed to marry and her adoptive sister, she was left with nothing but silent humiliation. Her entire life felt like a twisted punchline to someone else's joke--her very existence a mistake no one wanted to acknowledge. Chapter 3 Harold's Birthday Banquet Evelina barely remembered how she'd left the Quinns' house that day, her mind shrouded in a fog she had no interest in clearing. She wanted nothing more to do with their lives, yet Tessa managed to shove her new reality in Evelina's face at every turn--never passing up a chance to parade her engagement for the world to see. Evelina found refuge in a cramped apartment near her office--forty square meters of solitude with bare white walls, a partitioned bathroom, and secondhand furniture that rattled when she brushed past. But it was hers alone, a fragile boundary the Quinn family couldn't cross. On a rainy evening, Tessa's barrage of Instagram updates finally pushed Evelina past her limit. She intended to block Tessa, but her finger slipped and opened the latest post instead. Tessa had outdone herself: a glossy photo of the Quinn family's sunlit living room, glittering with a rainbow of jewelry and a proud heap of property deeds fanned out across the coffee table. Her caption screamed across the screen: "This is what my parents gave me: wedding gifts that arrived early, worth over ten million!" Scrolling through Tessa's feed felt like wading through a fever dream of luxury--sleek sports cars lined up like trophies, designer handbags scattered across tufted beds, rows of couture dresses and diamonds sparkling in the light. Even the family group chat screenshots stung: Albin, usually all sharp edges, joking and affectionate; Joanna, who had never spared Evelina a kind word, oozing warmth and doting on Tessa. To the world, they looked like the perfect family--close-knit, glamorous, and overflowing with love. Who wouldn't be jealous? A bitter, lopsided smile tugged at Evelina's lips. The family chat group consisted of only three members--she hadn't even been added. The last time Albin and Joanna messaged her, it was to strong-arm her into that arranged marriage, all while feigning concern as they discussed wedding gifts. "We'll keep the wedding gifts here for you," they had insisted. "Otherwise, the Dawson family will just take everything once you move in. But don't worry, we ordered some lovely silk blankets just for you." Looking back, she almost laughed at how naïve she'd been to feel even a flicker of gratitude. For Tessa--who wasn't even related by bl**d--they handed out houses and flashy cars, filling the mansion with glittering jewelry and luxury gifts, terrified their precious girl might suffer after marrying into the Dawson family. For Evelina, though, their only worry was whether she had enough blankets. With a single decisive tap, Evelina blocked her parents and Tessa. Her reputation was already in ruins; they probably wished she would vanish for good, sparing them further embarrassment. She took a steadying breath, smoothing down her nerves for the workday ahead. Pulling on a high-necked undershirt beneath her uniform, she hid the fresh marks that mottled her skin--especially the dark, unmistakable hi**eys scattered along her neck. Evelina held a key position at Rise Bank, one of the country's top private banks with branches scattered across every major city skyline. She specialized in credit operations--scrutinizing and approving every loan application before landing in the hands of the department director, Jordy Bailey. The department couldn't process a single case without her sign-off. Yet, Evelina's aphasia complicated daily life. She couldn't use sign language during client meetings; no one else in the room would understand her. Still, her impressive résumé--dual degrees in finance and business management--had prompted Rise Bank to bend their usual rules to bring her on board. Of course, her entry into the bank hadn't relied solely on credentials. Her schoolmate, Jordy, had put in a good word for her at just the right moment. One afternoon, Jordy swept into her office with his trademark easy charm, placing a thick folder on her desk. "Wright Group's credit documents--dig in as soon as you can. Leadership wants us to nail down a relationship with them. Their annual cash flow hits the billions. If we lock in this partnership, year-end bonuses will skyrocket." His gentle manner and bright smile made him a favorite among the younger women in the office, though he seemed oblivious to his own popularity. Evelina inclined her head in silent agreement, her practiced composure betraying no hint of nerves. She had managed credit cases so often that the process felt as natural as breathing. Jordy leaned in, his tone casual but eyes intent. "I'll be out of town on the third--flying to Otresh for meetings. You'll need to go in my place to Harold Wright's birthday banquet." With that, he slid an ornate, crimson invitation across the desk. A flicker of confusion crossed Evelina's face as she glanced at the invitation. "I've already arranged for your dress," Jordy continued, offering a reassuring smile as he reached over to ruffle her hair--a gesture that lingered a second too long. "All you need to do is deliver the gift I picked out and show your face at the banquet." That brief, affectionate touch unsettled her, but Evelina chose not to dwell on it. She quickly lifted her hands, signing her question, her brows knitted with concern. "Me?" Catching the hesitation in her eyes, Jordy's expression softened with genuine concern. "All you have to do is show up, use my invitation, and hand over the gift. You don't need to mingle with anyone," he said, his voice low and reassuring. A knot of anxiety tightened in Evelina's ch**t. She dreaded the thought of stumbling or making a scene--anything that might embarrass Jordy or jeopardize his trust in her. Sensing her unease, Jordy leaned in, his tone gentle but insistent. "Landing this Wright Group deal is crucial for us. My dad pulled some strings to get this invitation--it wasn't easy. Please, Evelina, just this once." He had opened countless doors for her over the years. She owed him more than she could ever repay, and this--walking into a banquet with the city's elite--was a small price compared to all he'd done. Plenty of people would die for a chance to mingle with the Wright family; she'd be a fool to turn it down. Evelina drew a steady breath, steadied her nerves, and signed her agreement, a grateful smile lighting up her face. "Alright, I'll go." A month slipped by, and the Wrights' house erupted with activity--valets darted between a parade of high-end cars stacked along the roadside. Evelina exited her taxi at the curb, cradling an ornate wooden gift box against her side. Rather than mingle with the fleet of luxury vehicles, she slipped quietly down the sidewalk, preferring to approach on foot and escape notice. Even so, her graceful figure and composed presence drew more than a few sidelong stares through the crowd. As the line of high-end cars came to a standstill, heads in designer interiors swiveled to follow her. The apricot dress Jordy had chosen hugged her silhouette with subtle, sculpted lines, the neckline and slim waist artfully showcased by intricate tailoring. She wore her hair in a simple, low ponytail, no jewelry gleaming at her throat or ears--yet something about her air made her impossible to overlook. An attendant, waiting by the door, ushered her briskly inside. Just as she crossed the threshold, a jet-black Bentley glided to a halt at the front of the drive, calmly claiming the best spot as the waiting crowd parted in quiet recognition. Reclining in the backseat, Andreas lounged in a perfectly fitted suit, his long legs casually crossed. His expression betrayed nothing but boredom as he glanced out at the commotion beyond the tinted window. Without moving, he flicked his gaze toward the butler standing beside his car. "So Grandma's finally back from her spiritual retreat?" The butler, ever composed, replied, "Your grandmother notified us two months ago. She wanted you to start immersing yourself in the company's business. Her plan was to return right before your grandfather's birthday--just in time for the family reunion." Without waiting for the rest of the line to move, the butler opened Andreas's door with practiced efficiency, ignoring the annoyed drivers in the luxury cars behind them, all desperate to attend Harold's eightieth birthday banquet. For Andreas, though, this was just a reluctant homecoming. After five years away, the Wrights' house felt both familiar and alien. Staff hustled through the courtyard, assembling a lavish dessert display while elegant guests mingled beside the music-flecked fountain. Andreas strode inside, his composure unshakable, his presence commanding attention without a word. He cut a striking figure in his immaculate suit, angular jaw and cold, mesmerizing eyes drawing lingering glances from everyone he passed--yet his demeanor remained distant, untouched by the celebration swirling around him. His striking good looks drew a flurry of furtive glances from the city's privileged young ladies, yet none dared approach--his presence radiated an icy confidence that kept everyone at bay. Evelina, uncomfortable amidst the chatter and bright lights, quietly handed the gift for Harold to the attendant and slipped away to the edge of the crowd. She pressed a hand to her temple, a wave of nausea rising as the sweet scent of desserts mingled with the sharp tang of champagne. Her stomach had been unsettled for days, each bout of nausea arriving without warning. A familiar voice suddenly cut through the noise. "Evelina--what brings you here?" Tessa swept in, somehow armed with an invitation, peacocking through the crowd in a dazzling dress. Every gesture was staged for effect--the way she swirled her w**e, the tilt of her chin, the flash of the diamond ring on her right hand. The same ring, Evelina realized, that the Dawson family had chosen for her own engagement party--now glinting shamelessly on Tessa's finger, barely two months later. Evelina's patience frayed. She had no desire for drama and moved to slip away, but Tessa, with a practiced turn, blocked her path, refusing to let her escape so easily. Tessa's voice dripped with mockery. "Evelina, everyone's talking about your little scandal. If I were you, I'd have the decency to stay home instead of further tarnishing our family's name." Evelina barely spared Tessa a glance, the corners of her eyes cold and sharp with quiet disdain. She watched Tessa's theatrics, easily reading the script--provoke her, stir up a scene, then pin the fallout on her for the whole Wright family to see. She refused to play into such an obvious ploy. With an icy composure, Evelina turned to leave, ignoring Tessa entirely. But just as she took a step, someone's foot pinned her elaborate gown. The heavy skirt snagged, and Evelina pitched forward, unable to catch herself. Glass crashed spectacularly against the manicured lawn as an entire pyramid of champagne flutes toppled with her, the shattering echo cutting through the party and snapping every head in her direction. Chapter 4 Are You Pregnant Shattered champagne flutes and toppled dessert trays littered the grass, the once-perfect refreshment station now a chaotic wreck. Guests clustered in the courtyard, murmuring and craning their necks to witness the spectacle. Lounging on the chair, Andreas barely listened to his grandmother, Ruby Wright, as she pressed him--yet again--to settle down. His attention drifted, distracted, until a surge of noise outside drew him from his reverie. With an air of idle amusement, he tipped his head to one side, narrowing his eyes as he sized up anyone bold enough to challenge the Wright family gathering. For Andreas, petty power plays were standard fare among the privileged. He assumed this was just another desperate bid for attention and felt no urge to get involved. Instead, he stretched, then rose from his seat, determined to escape upstairs from his grandmother's nagging. The Quinn family's drama was an open book to everyone present. Their tangled household--one biological daughter, one adopted--was notorious for its constant friction. Rumors had swirled since the engagement fiasco--Evelina, the Quinn family's legitimate daughter, had supposedly been caught cheating on the very day of her engagement. The Dawson family was furious. To prevent their carefully arranged marriage alliance from falling apart, the Quinns' adopted daughter Tessa took Evelina's place to get engaged with Cole. Now, the courtyard was a stage for fresh humiliation. Evelina sprawled across the grass, her dress soaked with champagne, a glaring stain blooming across the delicate neckline. Dozens of guests hovered nearby, their faces alight with anticipation, as whispers rippled through the crowd. Erick Watson, a friend of Andreas, spoke up as he spotted Evelina on the ground through the floor-to-ceiling window, her hands flashing in frantic signs. "Hey, is she mute?" The question snapped Andreas out of his apathy. He turned from the staircase, gaze sharp as he peered through the window. When he recognized Evelina, a storm of emotion swept over him--his jaw tightened, bl**d icing over as his hands curled at his sides. Oblivious, Erick continued with a mocking snicker, "Did she get shoved by that woman next to her? Talk about misery--she can't even yell for help." Although Erick hadn't meant any harm, his careless words yanked Andreas straight back to that morning after their pa**ionate night. Evelina had been seething with unspoken grievances, her hands flying as she tried again and again to pour her heart out in sign language. Now, wincing through the sharp throb in her ankle, she forced herself upright and stared at Tessa. "Did you deliberately step on my dress to make me fall?" "Let go of me!" Tessa hissed, wriggling to break free, her eyes burning with spite. This time, Evelina refused to play along. With her grip tightening on Tessa's wrist, the last shred of politeness shattered, her expression stone-cold as she held her ground. Although Harold had officially retired, his authority still loomed over the city, untouched by age or absence. The Wright family remained the pinnacle of Uclard's elite--an old-money dynasty with tendrils in every corridor of power. Andreas' father, Millard Wright, had transformed Wright Group into Uclard's financial juggernaut. Their empire spanned everything from gleaming high-rises and tech startups to private hospitals and luxury hotels, making the Wright family untouchable and their coffers bottomless. Despite years of being spoiled by the Quinn family, Tessa had never experienced a grand party like this one. Underneath her polished façade, she nursed a deep-rooted insecurity--something that even their constant indulgence couldn't cure. Terrified of losing her place, Tessa had clawed her way to the Quinn family's affection, manipulating every advantage she could. She'd gone so far as to seduce Cole, desperate to keep Evelina from taking the spotlight. Tessa always felt Evelina's shadow looming behind her, threatening to unravel everything she possessed. That was why she seized every opportunity to sabotage Evelina, hoping the woman would be despised and abandoned by her own family. Whenever petty quarrels broke out, the Quinn family inevitably excused Tessa's cruelty toward Evelina. Still, she understood Albin better than anyone--he was calculating and ruthless, and if her antics ever threatened the family's standing, he'd cut her loose in a heartbeat. Offending the Wright family was a risk the Quinn family couldn't take. They had gone to great lengths to secure an invitation to Harold's birthday banquet, desperate to keep up appearances in front of the city's elite. They couldn't risk the slightest misstep, let alone a scandal. Tessa's confidence faltered as she realized just how precarious their position was. The moment she imagined the consequences of causing a scene, all the color drained from her face. Still, a flicker of relief crossed her mind--at least Evelina was mute. No matter what happened, Evelina couldn't call her out or expose her tricks in front of these powerful guests. Forcing a sweet, conciliatory tone, Tessa stepped closer. "Evelina, I know you're not fond of me, but let's not create trouble at a place like this," she murmured, her voice dripping with false concern. She reached out as if to steady Evelina, playing the part of a caring sister. But Evelina sidestepped her hand in one sharp motion. Evelina held herself with chilling composure, eyes glinting as she leveled a silent warning at Tessa, who fidgeted uneasily beneath her gaze. Her designer dress, now ruined by spilled liquor and smeared caviar, clung to her uncomfortably. The overwhelming sweetness in the air turned her stomach; she pressed a trembling hand to her lips, fighting the urge to gag. The involuntary motion only deepened the suspicion swirling among the onlookers. Pretending to care, Tessa's soft words were loud enough for everyone to hear. "Evelina, are you pr**nant?" The words sliced through the murmurs like a blade, and Evelina's heart clenched. She longed to deny it, to set the record straight, but a fresh wave of nausea rose, halting her before she could muster the strength. The guests didn't hesitate to draw their own conclusions. After all, Evelina's public disgrace--the annulled engagement, the scandal of infidelity--was still fresh in their minds. To them, this was just the next sordid chapter. Their stares burned into her like branding irons, heavy with contempt and barely disguised curiosity. Evelina lowered her gaze, her shoulders stiff with humiliation. She had long grown used to the cruel whispers, the unrelenting judgment, and yet each venomous glance left her feeling more exposed, more powerless. She stood there in suffocating silence, letting their gossip tighten around her like a noose. Andreas lingered by the towering window, his silhouette sharp against the glass. A thunderous look shadowed his face as he beckoned the butler with a flick of his wrist. "Bring her to my suite. She needs a change of clothes," he commanded flatly. As his gaze slid over to Tessa--the root of the chaos--his eyes narrowed, cold and merciless. "Get that woman the h**l out of my sight." From the sofa across the room, Erick perked up, surprise glinting in his eyes. He sprang to his feet. "Andreas, since when did you start playing hero? Could she actually be one of your ex-girlfriends?" He stretched his neck, angling for a clearer view of Evelina through the glass. Ignoring Erick's theatrics, Andreas shoved his hands deep into his pockets and strode away, his expression grim, heading for the stairs without so much as a backward glance. From his place at the window, Erick let out a low whistle. "Never thought I'd see Andreas go soft over a woman!" he exclaimed, watching as the butler led Evelina out of the fray. Tessa, on the other hand, met a harsher fate--her bravado wilted as a group of black-suited bodyguards quietly ushered her out past the gawking guests. Ruby, a woman of deep faith who rarely missed a Sunday at church, never ceased to worry about Andreas' future. Among Uclard's upper crust, whispers circulated about Andreas--the Wright family's only son--claiming he was incapable of producing an heir. Unlike other wealthy heirs who chased nightlife and splashed out on starlets, Andreas was a study in restraint, never getting involved in such frivolities. Despite his seven years with his ex, there had not been a hint of a child. The rumor only gained traction with time, yet the Wright family neither acknowledged nor refuted it. No one dared broach the subject openly, so the truth hung in the air as ta**alizing gossip. Ruby watched Evelina being quietly led upstairs. Andreas' sudden protectiveness was deeply out of character, and it caught her attention at once. The guests just whispered that the woman might be pr**nant. Could it be that she had something to do with Andreas and was carrying his child? The very possibility sent a rush of hope through Ruby. Chapter 5 Don't Think You Can Use A Pregnancy As Leverage Evelina trailed the butler up the grand staircase, her nerves tightening with every step along the dimly lit, vintage hallway. Her ruined dress whispered over the polished wood, each soft swish echoing in the hush. At the final door, the butler paused, then glanced back at her. "You'll find fresh clothes inside. Please make yourself comfortable." Evelina signed her appreciation with a subtle smile. "Thank you." He offered a polite nod and retreated down the corridor, his footsteps fading until she was alone with her unease. She stared at the door, bracing herself. With a steadying breath, she pushed open the door. The scent of sandalwood greeted her--crisp, masculine, oddly comforting. The room was steeped in old-world elegance: heavy velvet drapes, dark paneled walls, a vast bed, and, just off to the side, a walk-in closet lined with pristine white shirts and sleek, tailored suits. Behind glass, an array of luxury watches caught the faint light, their polished faces glinting. It hit her then--this was a man's bedroom, and she was trespassing. Evelina froze on the threshold, her posture wary, not daring to venture further. A deep, sardonic voice broke the silence. "Are you planning to stand there in that filthy dress all night, or do you intend to change?" A wave of memories crashed over her, and Evelina instantly recognized the man's unmistakable voice from that night. Instinctively, she took a step back, her pulse thudding in her throat. Andreas moved fast, blocking her escape, eyes narrowing as he scanned her from head to toe. For a split second their gazes collided, and all color drained from Evelina's cheeks. She recoiled, putting another step between them. He caught her wrist in an unyielding grip, his stare dropping from her trembling face to her stomach. His jaw tightened, an unreadable storm flickering across his features as he ground out, almost against his will. "Whose is it?" Baffled, Evelina could only stare back, confusion clouding her expression. Andreas didn't let up. Instead, he pressed forward, trapping her between his body and the cabinet behind her. The difference in their height made her attempts to resist feel almost laughable. She twisted away, stubbornly turning her face from the heat of his breath, refusing to meet his searching eyes. In one swift movement, Andreas' strong hands circled her waist, effortlessly lifting her onto the cabinet so she was eye-level with him. He braced both arms on either side of her, caging her in, his gaze boring into her soul. "Are you pr**nant? Who is the father of your baby?" Evelina's cheeks flushed with humiliation and anger as the implication dawned on her. She shot Andreas a fierce glare, instinctively shielding her belly with both hands. She stared him down, but Andreas had little patience for silent defiance. He dug his thumb into the delicate bones of her wrist, voice low and forceful. "Look at me. Answer me." The cramped air was thick with the sticky reek of spilled w**e and caviar. Nausea crashed over her, and she wrenched herself free, stumbling to the bathroom. Gripping the edge of the sink, Evelina doubled over and retched, her body trembling with each wave. Andreas lingered in the doorway, his eyes unreadable as he watched her. The truth was plain--he remembered clearly that neither of them had bothered with precautions that night, lost in reckless abandon. For a moment, his hand drifted toward his jacket pocket, seeking the comfort of a cigarette. Catching sight of her colorless face, he hesitated, then flicked the pack away. "Don't try to pull that act on me--I know how women like you operate." His voice was cool, almost detached. "Don't think you can use a pr**nancy as leverage. I remember using a condom that night." He threw out a lie just to dismiss her, never bothering to mention that a strange illness made it difficult for him to father a child. After shutting off the tap, Evelina caught sight of his cold, hard expression reflected in the mirror. His earlier question--about who the father of her baby was--still rang in her ears. She pivoted, offered him a thin, almost mocking smile, and signed her response. "I'm not pr**nant, and I'd never want to have a child with someone like you." Andreas' brows knitted in frustration, his temper starting to fray. "I don't know sign language, and I don't care. Don't think you can trap me by showing up pr**nant and expecting me to take responsibility for it." A brittle calm settled over him as he remembered Erick's careless remarks--about the stack of cash he'd supposedly handed her that night. In his eyes, she'd taken Erick's money, sl**t with him, then played the wounded innocent the next morning. Now she'd shown up at Harold's birthday party, as if trying to force his hand with another calculated scheme. To Andreas, it all reeked of manipulation--a relentless game of seduction and retreat. Evelina's hands faltered mid-sign. Spotting a stack of notepaper and a fountain pen, she seated herself at the desk, every line of her posture radiating focus as she wrote. "Don't worry. I have no interest in clinging to you, and I don't want to have a child with you at all." Her penmanship was sharp and elegant, every st**ke confident--an unexpected contrast to her delicate frame. Andreas lingered for a moment, his eyes flickering between the page and the woman before him, confused by the disparity. Without another word, he balled up the note and flicked it into the tr**h. "Fresh clothes are on the bed. Get changed and come out," he instructed aloofly. Evelina didn't decline his offer of clothes, wanting to avoid prolonging her misery. She waited until the door clicked shut before slipping into the bathroom with the fresh clothes. There were no youthful outfits to be found in the Wright family residence, but the butler had carefully followed Ruby's instructions and had someone bring back a dress from a boutique. The dress, though simple in design, was crafted from immaculate silk and tailored to perfection. The open-front cut hugged her figure in all the right places, transforming Evelina's delicate beauty into something quietly magnetic. Evelina stepped out with a bundle of dirty clothes clutched in her arms and immediately noticed Andreas stationed by the wall, radiating impatience as his eyes tracked her every move. He stood there, cigarette smoldering between his fingers, exhaling sm**e in slow, bored tendrils. As boredom had weighed down his features, her presence only seemed to irritate him further. He watched her in silence, each drag of his cigarette punctuating the tension in the hallway. His gaze drifted over her, lingering in a way that felt almost predatory. Evelina's skin, impossibly soft, seemed even more luminous beneath the hallway's shadowy light. The elegant line of her neck and the neat, low ponytail framing her face drew his attention to the aqua blue dress that skimmed her form. His eyes followed the graceful slope of her collarbone, down the subtle curve of her waist, and finally to the delicate arch of her ankles. Unsettled by his scrutiny, Evelina instinctively hugged the clothes to her ch**t. The movement tugged something buried in Andreas--a flicker of memory from that pa**ionate night. He couldn't help but picture the way her damp lashes had fluttered shut, her lips flushed and trembling, her hair spread out against his skin. The phantom sensation of her nails scraping down his back, the faint ache where she'd bitten his shoulder, the scent of her breath tangled with his--all of it came rushing back, vivid and intense. Andreas' Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, the woman standing before him blurring into the haunting memory of that night--an intoxicating siren he'd never quite shaken. Her presence sparked the de**res he'd kept buried for so long. After that incident, he had kept his distance from intimacy, and that night was nothing but an accident fueled by al**hol. But now, Evelina--her every detail, from the silky fall of her hair to the delicate curve of her neck--lit a slow, smoldering hunger in his ch**t. He crushed his cigarette, dropping it carelessly into a ga**age bin in the hallway. His gaze landed on Evelina with a cold, almost mocking amusement. "What are you doing here? Did you sneak in somehow?" Evelina hesitated, weighing whether to explain she was here on business for Rise Bank. Her hands started to move, but Andreas cut her off with a wave, voice flat with annoyance. "Spare me the sign language--I'm not interested. Just remember what you promised." He didn't give her a chance to reply. His eyes swept down to her belly, cold and dismissive, before he pivoted and strode away. She hung back, careful to match his pace without drawing attention, trailing him down the corridor in wary silence. &6&