Chapter 64 Between Horizons
Roman kept his promise.
Later that afternoon, once she could walk without glaring at him every few steps, he took her out.
Not just anywhere.
Everywhere.
He showed her Italy the way only Roman could — unhurried and intentional. Cliffside restaurants overlooking endless blue. Quiet cobblestone streets where elderly couples lingered over espresso. Cathedrals that stood like silent witnesses to centuries of devotion and betrayal.
They wandered through citrus-scented markets, walked along sunlit harbors, and stood at scenic overlooks where the wind tangled her hair and she laughed freely.
Evelyn brought her camera.
It had survived its dramatic fall into the lake days ago—thankfully, and she used it without restraint. Golden light catching Roman’s profile. His reluctant tolerance of candid shots. His hand finding hers instinctively in crowded streets.
For two days, it was like that.
Blissful. Unhurried.
Just the two of them discovering corners of the world and, somehow, new corners of each other.
Then they moved on to another country. Another skyline.
Another set of breathtaking views.
And Roman kept showing her beauty she had only ever seen in magazines.
The world felt vast.
And yet, when she stood beside him, it felt small enough to hold.
—-
At first, she only sent all the photos she took to Lena.
Then she hesitated.
Her last public post had been the scandal — the exposure of her ex-fiancé and her stepsister. That post had exploded with millions of views, endless commentary, pity, applause, and shock.
It had been chaos.
Now…
Now she had something different to show.
She uploaded a new set of photos with beautiful moments of them.
With a simple caption.
‘Healing looks different on everyone.’
The internet erupted.
It got millions of views within hours.
Thousands of comments flooded in.
Some sent love. Some sent envy wrapped in humor.
“From cheating fiancé to his powerful uncle? That’s the upgrade of the century.”
“Retribution exists after all.”
“Wait… I didn't pay attention from the start. ROMAN SINCLAIR? Is that uncle??”
“The universe really said balance must be restored.”
Others joked about looking up their own ex’s uncles.
“My ex’s uncle has a pot belly and collects stamps. I'll sit this one out.”
There were debates, admiration posts, entire bloggers dissecting her story like it was a modern fairytale — betrayal, humiliation, and then marriage to Roman Sinclair.
The Roman Sinclair.
Coupled with the circulating news of Maya’s miscarriage, public sympathy shifted entirely. People began calling
Evelyn’s story proof that karma had finally decided to work overtime.
She didn’t know how to feel about that.
But she did know one thing.
She wasn’t miserable anymore.
—
By the time they reached their seventh country, nearly two months had passed.
Two months of movement. Of discovery. Of stolen kisses in foreign cities and quiet conversations at midnight.
Evelyn sat by the ocean now, scrolling through the latest articles written about her.
The breeze was warm.
Her reflection in her phone screen startled her.
She looked… different.
Brighter.
Her skin glowed with health. Her cheeks were fuller. She had gained a little weight — soft curves filling out dresses that once hung loosely.
She’d needed to buy new clothes because her hips and bust had grown subtly rounder.
Roman had been unbearably proud about it.
“My hard work,” he’d boast shamelessly.
She would swat him.
He would kiss her until she forgot why she was annoyed.
If there was one thing she was certain of, it was this:
Roman adored her.
Openly. Unapologetically.
Her body. Her laugh. Her temper. Her silence. Every version of her.
He was always near. Always aware.
Her gaze drifted from the screen to the ocean.
The word lingered in her mind.
Love.
She wasn’t sure when it had crept in.
Their marriage had begun as a contract.
A two year trial period.
She stared at the waves and smiled faintly.
Even after the two years were up…
She would still choose him.
Not because she had to. Because she wanted to.
Their relationship had changed in ways she hadn’t anticipated. They talked about almost everything now.
She no longer felt guarded around him.
She felt… open, and free.
Yes, he still made her blush with his shameless words.
But she was no longer the timid woman who avoided his gaze.
She had grown into herself beside him.
And that alone told her she had made the right decision when she signed that contract.
She was still staring at the setting sun when arms wrapped around her from behind.
She didn’t startle. She simply smiled.
Roman.
She leaned back into him instinctively.
He pressed a brief, warm kiss to her lips.
“Let’s go,” he murmured.
“To where?” she asked, tilting her head.
“I’m taking you to a formal dinner tonight.”
She raised a brow.
“A formal dinner?”
“I picked out your dress,” he added smoothly, already taking her hand.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You picked my dress?”
He smiled in that maddening, confident way.
“Trust me.”
He intertwined their fingers and gently pulled her to her feet.
The ocean behind them shimmered gold.
Evelyn followed him without resistance.
—-
Roman took her to the Republic of Olyndria.
A country of striking contrasts — crystalline coastlines and sleek glass towers, ancient marble structures standing beside modern architectural marvels. Wealth breathed in its air. Only the elite truly thrived here; the cost of living alone was enough to keep most outsiders away.
They were in Valenne City — the glittering heart of Olyndria.
And tonight, they were attending an evening dinner ball.
As expected of any elite gathering filled with power players and inherited fortunes…
It was boring.
Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead. Classical music drifted softly through the hall. Conversations revolved around investments, acquisitions, political favors disguised as philanthropy.
Evelyn didn’t understand why Roman had brought her.
He wasn’t socializing like the rest.
Roman being the youngest global business mogul to expand the Sinclair empire across continents — was a magnet for attention. Business partners approached him one after another, eager smiles plastered on their faces.
He dismissed them politely.
And then he returned to her side.
He barely left her.
Instead, he kept bringing her plates from the buffet.
Seafood. Exquisite pastries. Imported fruits.
More food. And more.
The gold backless mermaid gown he had chosen clung beautifully to her figure, the fabric hugging her curves and tapering elegantly at her legs. Her bare back shimmered under the lights, and she could feel the stares — curious, admiring, envious.
But none of those gazes compared to Roman’s.
His arm stayed wrapped protectively around her waist the entire time.
If he wasn’t holding her, he was feeding her.
At this rate, she was certain her stomach would peek through the tight dress before the night ended.
“I’m full,” she sighed, trying to push away another grape.
Roman calmly ignored her protest and pressed it to her lips anyway.
“Open.”
She narrowed her eyes but obeyed.
“Did you bring me here just to stuff me with food?”
He smiled faintly, thumb brushing the corner of her mouth to clean a trace of juice.
“Patience, little one.”
His voice was low. Amused.
That only made her more suspicious.
“Roman, why did you—”
The grand doors at the far end of the hall opened.
The music didn’t stop, but the atmosphere shifted.
An elderly man entered, dressed in a simple dark suit that somehow commanded more authority than anyone else in the room. Conversations softened. Spines straightened.