Chapter 51

Evelyn's head throbbed when she spotted the viral hashtag. The last thing she wanted was to be famous for this.

Scrolling through the posts, she sighed in relief. Only a single blurry photo existed—her and Daniel walking into the venue together.

No clear shots of her face.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly. As long as her identity remained hidden, she could handle the nonsense. But the captions made her frown.

People were spinning wild tales about her and Daniel being secretly together for three years before "going public."

Typical tabloid garbage. The only truths in this mess were their names—everything else was pure fiction.

She explained everything to Sophia over coffee. How Daniel had merely been Harrison's body double, how the paparazzi had mistaken identities.

Afterward, Evelyn went shopping. She loaded up on gifts for Alexander and Olivia to take back to Nord City.

Turning to Daniel, she bit her lip. "Will these rumors cause problems for you?"

"Not at all." He flashed a reassuring smile. "I've already handled the media. That single back-view photo is all they'll ever get."

A pang of sadness hit him. How he wished he could proudly claim Evelyn as his beloved cousin. But the timing wasn't right.

Alexander cleared his throat. "Evelyn, with your competition win, you must have companies lining up. Vista Properties is the organizer—they'd offer the best terms."

His tone carried subtle encouragement. If she joined Vista, he could ensure her protection.

Vista Properties? Evelyn's nose wrinkled. Wasn't that one of Victoria's family companies?

"I've already accepted a part-time position elsewhere," she said firmly.

Disappointment flickered across Alexander's face, but he nodded. Her happiness mattered most.

After seeing them off, Evelyn headed to Jonathan's studio. En route, her phone rang.

"Ms. Carter? I'm the HR manager at Whitmore Group." The voice turned honey-sweet. "We'd love to discuss a position for you. Compensation is flexible."

Whitmore Group? Evelyn's grip tightened on her phone. "Why me?"

The manager hesitated. "Well... you're Genevieve, aren't you? We approached your friend twice before, but you declined."

A chill ran down Evelyn's spine. Nathaniel knew her identity now. Why still pursue her?

"Our CEO genuinely admires your talent," the manager pressed. "This could elevate your career."

Admires her? Evelyn suppressed a shudder. "I've already committed elsewhere. Please thank Mr. Whitmore for his... appreciation."

"Surely you recognize which opportunity holds more value, Ms. Carter?"

"First come, first served." She ended the call abruptly, staring at her darkened screen in confusion.

Why was Nathaniel still chasing her? Did his team not know...?

Meanwhile, the HR manager set down his phone, casting a nervous glance at Nathaniel. "She's... not interested, sir."

Most candidates would kill for this offer. What made Evelyn Carter different?

Nathaniel's expression remained unreadable. "Dismissed."

Alone, he scrolled to Evelyn's Instagram post from last night. His jaw clenched as memories surfaced—her teasing smile, those infuriating dimples.

How he longed to pull her close and wipe that smirk off her face. Properly.