Chapter 117

Nathan Evans tilted his chin up, his eyes gleaming with smug confidence.

Ever since receiving the Roland family's invitation, his ego had inflated noticeably. Now he deliberately struck a pose—one hand in his pocket, leaning casually against the wall like some cliché CEO from a bad romance novel.

"Evelyn Roland, I've seen right through your little game."

"If you want to seduce me, just say so. Considering your passable looks, I might reluctantly take you in."

Evelyn responded with a cold laugh.

She strode to the bedside, grabbed the crystal table lamp, and delivered a precise strike to the back of Nathan's neck. The man groaned before collapsing like a sack of potatoes.

Grimacing, she yanked him up by his tie and dragged his unconscious body into the bathroom, shoving him unceremoniously inside.

Just as she shut the bathroom door, the electronic lock beeped.

Evelyn froze.

This wasn't right—if Isabella Langley had come to stage a "cheating scandal," she'd have brought an entourage for maximum drama. The silence was unnerving.

Beep—

The door swung open.

The muffled thud of military boots against plush carpet grew closer.

When that sharply chiseled face came into view, both of them stiffened in mutual shock.

"Sebastian Valdemar?"

"Evelyn Roland?"

His gaze dropped to the sliver of suit pants visible beneath the bathroom door. "You—"

"Later."

A commotion erupted downstairs—stomping footsteps and Isabella's theatrically shrill voice: "Is Mr. Evans really here? That anonymous tip said—"

Evelyn's pupils contracted.

Right on schedule.

But with Sebastian here, things just got infinitely more complicated.

In a split-second decision, she seized his tie and shoved him into the walk-in closet, squeezing in after him just as the door clicked shut.

In the cramped darkness, his scorching breath grazed her ear.

Sebastian crouched awkwardly, his long legs folded uncomfortably, the scent of jasmine from her hair flooding his senses. Something unspoken crackled in the air between them.

He'd pieced together the gist of this farce.

Half an hour ago, he'd wrapped up a cross-border conference call. Passing this floor, he'd heard a heavy thud—enough to make him order Theodore to unlock the suite with a master key.

He hadn't expected this.

"Oh my God! Mr. Evans collapsed!"

"Call an ambulance!"

Chaos erupted beyond the closet doors.

Isabella put on her best concerned act: "Don't call the police yet—get the hotel physician first." She clenched her teeth. This was supposed to be her triumphant "other woman" reveal—so where the hell was the female lead?

Useless Nathan!

Inside the closet, Evelyn's knee accidentally bumped against Sebastian's rock-hard abs. His muscles tensed instantly, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly.