Chapter 32 Jealous of Ghosts
Roman looked at Evelyn with genuine confusion written across his features. "Who is Avery?" he asked, mirroring her question back to her.
Evelyn stared at him speechless, her fork clattering to the plate as her appetite vanished completely. She studied his face intently, her own brow furrowed. The confusion in his eyes looked absolutely genuine, as if he truly had no idea what she was talking about. ‘Was I wrong about what I heard?’ she questioned herself.
"Lyn?" Roman called out, noticing her distant expression. "Who is Avery? What are you talking about?"
Evelyn snapped back to the present. "Oh, nevermind, it's just..." She wanted to drop the subject, but the question had been eating at her all night. She bit her lip.
“Last night when you came home late and drunk, you held me tight and called out that name—Avery. You sounded like you were in pain. So, I’m asking you. Who is Avery?” She raised her eyebrows expectantly.
Roman looked at her with complete bewilderment. "Lyn, you must have heard wrong. Maybe I was calling out to you, and you mistook it for Avery. That isn't a name I know. I don't have any Avery in my life."
At his words, Evelyn began to doubt herself. ‘Avery, Evelyn—they do sound somewhat similar. Maybe I misheard due to his slurred speech.’
Seeing the conflict in her eyes, Roman reached across the island and took both of her hands in his. "Lyn, look at me," he whispered softly.
Evelyn slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat at the intense way he was looking at her—an expression she couldn't quite decipher but that made her stomach flutter.
"I'm sorry about last night," he continued earnestly, his thumb stroking her knuckles. "I didn't know you'd gone to the trouble of cooking for me. Thank you. I hope I can make it up to you."
Evelyn's heart raced uncontrollably. "It's... it's fine. So you don't have any past girlfriends?" She cringed internally at how young and insecure it sounded.
Roman couldn't help but laugh at her direct question. “What’s this? Is my wife getting jealous of ghosts?”
Evelyn simply stared at him, waiting for his response with surprising intensity.
Seeing she was completely serious, Roman cleared his throat and began caressing her hands gently. Evelyn shivered at the sensation.
"Lyn, it doesn't matter if I had relationships with other women before. What matters is that you're my present and my future. And I'm really sorry about yesterday—for not informing you I'd be late. My phone died, and I had to entertain clients late into the night. That's why I came home drunk. It won't happen again, hmm?"
Evelyn lowered her head, avoiding eye contact. She was suddenly fascinated by the pattern of the marble countertop. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it, and her cheeks felt burning hot. Though she felt slightly disappointed that he hadn't completely dismissed having "other women," the feeling disappeared quickly upon hearing his sincere explanation.
"Wife," Roman called softly, using his fingers to lift her chin. "At least give me some credit, I'm trying to make amends by preparing all this for you, hmm?"
The sincerity in his eyes made her believe him — completely. She could no longer suppress her smile. Seeing her expression brighten, Roman smiled back and gently brushed his thumb over her bottom lip.
"There's something on your lips," he said, standing up to lean closer to her.
The next thing Evelyn felt was something cool and wet brushing the corner of her mouth.” She froze like a statue, eyes going wide with shock.
CRASH!
The sound of something hitting the marble floor loudly interrupted them. They both turned toward the source of the noise, Roman still standing over her with his hand on her chin.
Leo stood in the doorway, a tablet at his feet, staring at them in complete shock.
He'd arrived minutes earlier to find the mansion eerily quiet. After calling out with no response, he'd followed the delicious aroma to the kitchen, thinking it safer to find someone there, than potentially interrupting something important in his boss's bedroom.
But instead of finding any household staff, he'd walked in on his stone-cold boss... licking his wife's face. Who knew his intimidating boss was secretly… unexpectedly… a puppy? This was a completely different side of the CEO he thought he knew.
Seeing both of them staring at him in confusion, Leo quickly scrambled to pick up his fallen tablet.
Evelyn immediately scooted her chair back, blushing furiously. Seeing his wife create distance and their intimate moment ruined, Roman turned to glare at Leo with murderous intent.
Sensing his boss's menacing stare, Leo shivered slightly. He knew exactly what Roman was capable of when truly angered.
He quickly retrieved his device, clearing his throat awkwardly to break the deadly silence. "Boss, I... I brought news."
Silence. That terrifying stare continued.
"A-and, uh, the list of vacation destinations you requested."
Roman remained silent for several long moments before slowly straightening up.
"What news?" Roman asked, still extremely displeased.
"Boss, you should see for yourself," Leo said, offering him the tablet with trembling hands.
Roman took the device, scrolling through it. Moments later, a genuine smile broke across his face. He waved dismissively at Leo, signaling him to leave immediately.
Leo didn’t need to be told twice. He gratefully fled the scene.
Roman walked back to Evelyn, who was still blushing but trying to focus on her food.
"You're quite famous now," he said with amusement.
Evelyn blinked at him, confused.
He handed her the tablet. "See for yourself."
The internet had been completely shaken by the unexpected plot twist in the story that had been circulating for days. Her evidence had created a viral sensation, with millions demanding she give interviews or release video statements.
They quickly pointed out that from the beginning, Evelyn had remained relatively silent, with just one initial statement, then this bombshell evidence, followed by another bold declaration. The hashtag #JusticeForEvelyn & #TheLadiesQueen was trending.
Evelyn wanted to scroll through more of the online reaction since she hadn't checked since yesterday, but Roman quickly took the tablet back.
“I didn’t know,” he said, leaning against the counter with a lazy, teasing grin, “that marrying me was such a huge flex.”
"What?"
Roman showed her the final line of her now-viral post: ‘Ladies, if your fiancé is cheating? Aim higher. Go for his uncle. Or better yet, his dad.’
Evelyn’s face turned red again. “I just… wrote what felt right in the moment.”
“Hmm,” he hummed, his smile turning more mischievous. “Just a spontaneous thought, was it?”
"I'm going to do the dishes," Evelyn announced abruptly, standing up to escape his knowing look.
Roman chuckled in amusement. “We’ll discuss your public declaration of wife-ing up later.” He said, as he walked out with the tablet.
He had something to handle, but he'd definitely return to continue teasing his wife later.
Alone in the kitchen, Evelyn was smiling as she rinsed a plate.
A few minutes later, her phone rang loudly in the kitchen, startling her from her thoughts and making her jump.
She quickly rinsed her hand to get the phone. But when she saw the caller ID, her blood ran cold.