Chapter 90 Between Truth and Lies
Evelyn’s fingers trembled as she stared at her phone.
“…Roman…”
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
Roman immediately stilled.
The moment he saw her expression, something in his chest tightened.
“What happened?” he asked, already moving toward her.
Evelyn didn’t answer. She simply held out the phone.
Roman took it from her hand, his brows furrowing.
Then he saw the headline.
His heart skipped.
For a split second, everything around him went quiet.
Slowly, his thumb moved.
He clicked the video.
The screen flickered. Voices overlapped in panic.
“Evelyn!”
“Christ—she’s bleeding!”
“Call emergency! NOW!”
Roman’s breath hitched. His entire body went rigid.
The video ended. But he didn’t move.
His hand tightened around the phone, knuckles paling as his grip grew stronger.
“Roman?”
Evelyn’s voice pulled him back.
“Roman!”
He blinked, turning to look at her.
The moment his eyes met hers, something sharp twisted in his chest.
“Lyn…” His voice came out rough. “I can—”
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Evelyn cut in quickly, sitting up straighter, her mind already racing, “but this might actually work in our favor.”
Roman froze.
“…What?”
Evelyn exhaled, trying to steady herself.
“Your brother brought up my pregnancy today,” she said. “He was clearly trying to use it against me. And the executives, especially the ones who attended your father’s birthday banquet, they were already suspicious.”
Roman’s gaze darkened slightly.
Evelyn continued, her thoughts coming faster now.
“And with your father’s trust tied to you having an heir… if they find out I was never pregnant, it won’t just damage your credibility. It’ll give them the perfect excuse to push you out completely.”
Roman said nothing. He simply watched her. Listening.
“Right now,” Evelyn went on, “this changes everything.”
She lifted her chin slightly.
“The media thinks I was pregnant… and lost the child.”
Her fingers curled slightly against the bedsheet.
“That will explain why there’s no baby.”
A brief pause.
“And it'll also stop them from digging deeper.”
Roman’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Evelyn looked at him.
“We can use this,” she said softly. “We just… go along with it.”
Silence fell between them.
Then a faint smile appeared on Roman’s lips.
“Good girl,” he murmured.
He reached out, gently brushing his fingers through her hair.
“I didn’t know my wife was this smart.”
Evelyn smiled faintly, a small sense of pride warming her chest.
But Roman’s heart clenched.
Because Evelyn didn’t know.
She didn’t know that what she was suggesting as a cover…
…wasn’t entirely a lie.
A lump rose in his throat. He forced it down.
He had no choice.
His hand lingered in her hair for a second longer before he pulled himself together.
“Come,” he said softly.
Before she could react, he bent down and lifted her into his arms.
“Roman—!” Evelyn let out a small yelp, instinctively grabbing onto him.
He held her securely.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he murmured near her ear. “You’ve had a long day.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“And… I want to hold you tonight.”
Evelyn’s cheeks warmed.
“…Okay.”
He carried her into the bathroom, setting her down gently.
Without a word, he began preparing everything—her nightwear, her skincare, the small things she liked.
Evelyn watched him for a moment before stepping into the bath.
By the time she settled in, Roman had already arranged everything neatly within her reach.
“I’ll be back,” he said quietly.
She nodded.
Roman turned and walked out.
—-
The moment the bathroom door closed behind him, his expression changed completely.
The softness disappeared. Replaced by something cold, and dangerous.
He walked straight into his study and pulled open a drawer.
Inside was a separate phone. He picked it up.
Then his gaze shifted to a small, sealed black packet resting at the corner.
His hand paused.
For a moment he hesitated. Then he picked it up. Along with a lighter lying beside it.
Without another word, he turned and walked out to the balcony.
The night air was cool, and still.
Roman stood still on the balcony for a long moment.
Then slowly, he exhaled.
With a sharp motion, he tore open the black packet with his teeth and pulled out a cigarette. His fingers trembled slightly. He quickly tried to steady them.
He brought it to his lips and lit it.
The flame flickered briefly in the night air.
Roman inhaled deeply, held it, and released it in a slow stream, the smoke curling into the darkness. He continued taking slow drags.
Only then did his breathing begin to even out.
After a few moments, he unlocked the phone.
His expression hardened. He dialed a number.
The call connected almost immediately.
“How did that video get out?”
Roman’s voice was low, controlled. “I don’t pay you to lose control over anything related to me or my wife.”
There was a hurried apology on the other end.
Roman let out a quiet scoff.
“You haven’t been paying attention,” he said flatly. “Or you’ve been busy with something else?”
“Sorry, boss—” the voice rushed out again.
Roman took another drag.
“Don’t remove the video.”
Silence.
“…Boss?” the man asked, uncertain.
Roman inhaled, then suddenly coughed.
“Cough—cough—” He turned slightly, covering his mouth as the harsh smoke caught in his throat.
After a moment, he forced the words out.
“Help me spread it,” he said hoarsely. “And do it properly.”
Before the other person could respond, he ended the call.
He stood there for a while, coughing lightly, but he didn’t put the cigarette out.
Instead, he lifted it again, and took another drag.
He didn’t notice when Evelyn stepped onto the balcony.
Only when she coughed softly did he turn.
Roman’s eyes widened slightly.
He immediately crushed the cigarette against the railing, extinguishing it.
His gaze dropped to her.
She was wearing a thin nightdress, her hair slightly damp, her skin still warm from the bath.
“It’s cold,” he said quickly. “Let’s go inside.”
He stepped toward her, lifting a hand as if to shield her from the night breeze.
Evelyn shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
She walked past him, stopping by the railing, her gaze drifting over the quiet garden below.
Roman sighed and turned as well, standing beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Roman’s hand tightened slightly around the half-crushed cigarette.
The urge to light it again clawed at him.
“You smoke?” Evelyn asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Roman stilled.
“…Yeah,” he answered after a moment. “But not often.”
Her gaze shifted to the cigarette still held between his fingers.
A small smile touched her lips.
“You can,” she said softly. “I don’t mind.”
Roman turned to look at her, searching her face.
She didn’t look uncomfortable or upset. Just… calm.
He hesitated for a moment, then lit it again.
This time, he took a slower drag. The smoke curled past his lips as he tilted his head slightly upward, his expression distant.
Evelyn watched him.
There was something different about him like this— Less controlled, and more dangerous.
His shirt was half unbuttoned, his hair slightly disheveled, the sharp line of his jaw catching the dim light.
For a brief moment, her breath caught.
She looked away quickly.
“Lena smokes too,” she said suddenly.
Roman paused mid-drag before continuing.
“When she’s overwhelmed… or when her depression gets bad,” Evelyn added quietly.
She turned to him again.
“So… what’s bothering you, Roman?”
Roman choked.
“Cough—”
He coughed again, harsher this time.
“Are you okay?” Evelyn stepped closer immediately. "Should I get water?"
He waved her off, but the coughing wouldn't stop. His eyes watered. His chest burned—but not from the smoke.
"I'll get water—”
She turned to go, but Roman caught her wrist.
Evelyn gasped softly as she was pulled back.
The next second, she collided against his chest.
Roman’s arms wrapped around her tightly.
The cigarette slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground as he held her.
He pulled her closer, burying his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent like he needed it to breathe.
Evelyn froze at first. Then slowly, her body softened.
Her hand lifted, resting gently against the back of his head, her fingers threading lightly through his hair.
“Roman…” she murmured softly. “What’s wrong?”
No answer.
His hold only tightened.
“You can tell me,” she whispered. “What’s happening?”
Silence.
Only his uneven breathing against her skin.
A sudden dizziness hit her. Evelyn’s brows furrowed.
Her grip on him faltered slightly.
She heard faint voices.
“…Are you okay?”
“Where’s your father?”
“Roman…? Roman!” Her own voice, screaming his name, over and over.
Her breath hitched. The voices grew louder. Overlapping.
Blurred images flickered in her mind.
“Roman…” She gasped softly.
“I think… something like this has happened before.”
“…What?” Roman murmured against her neck, his breath warm against her skin.
She winced slightly. A sharp pain shot through her head.
“Hiss—”
Her hand left his hair, pressing against her temple.
The pain intensified.
Roman immediately pulled back.
His expression changed instantly.
“Are you okay?” he asked with concern. “Let’s go inside.”
He reached for her, but she stopped him.
“Roman…”
“You can tell me anything inside,” he said quickly. “You need to rest. You haven’t even eaten since you got back. Let’s go—”
She didn’t move. Instead, she looked at him directly.
“Roman…” she called again.
“Have you ever hugged me like this before… and then you fainted?”
Roman went completely still.