Chapter 24 I Do Not Like Seeing You Cry, Evelyn!
Adrian
Yesterday:
My body turned slowly toward Evelyn.
An uncomfortable position trapped her between sleep and exhaustion, half sitting on the couch as though she had been fighting sleep itself because of me.
Did she truly think I would touch her while she slept?
Pathetic... Evelyn.
Quiet steps carried me closer until her face filled my vision. Even asleep, she looked dangerously beautiful in a way that irritated my nerves. Beneath the blanket, part of her thighs remained exposed, and tension instantly locked my jaw.
Those thoughts had to disappear.
Carefully, I adjusted her position before pulling the blanket over her body with unexpected gentleness.
I should not be thinking about her this way.
Warm fingers wrapped around her hand for only a second before something made me stop.
A small birthmark near her wrist.
Everything inside me froze.
“Impossible...”
Closer. I leaned closer again, staring at it as though my mind refused to believe what my eyes were seeing.
No... it cannot be her.
But it is.
My fingertips brushed against the mark slowly while violent heartbeats slammed against my chest in a way that felt almost unreal.
“Damn... and I have been searching for you all this time.”
Without warning, the memory crashed into me.
Rain. A crying little girl beneath the streetlight. Those same eyes.
Evelyn.
Disbelief escaped through a quiet laugh while my eyes remained fixed on her sleeping face.
“So you really are that girl.”
Frustration dragged harsh fingers through my hair as heavy breaths left my chest.
Never expected this. Not even once.
The couch creaked beneath me when I sat down, trying to understand what the hell was happening.
“But this changes nothing.”
Cold words left my mouth despite the complete chaos inside my head.
Marcus trusts me in a ridiculous way... enough to leave me alone with his mother without hesitation. How is that my fault? I cannot look at her as someone’s mother. I tried... damn it, I truly tried.
And now she turns out to be the girl I spent years searching for.
How did this happen? Why do I even care about what Marcus would feel?
Since when have I cared about anyone?
\---
“Take care of yourself... it seems we will not meet again.”
Color instantly drained from Evelyn’s face.
Confusion filled her eyes as she lifted her head toward me, almost unable to process my words.
“What do you mean by that? Do not misunderstand me, I—”
No chance was given for her to finish.
My feet already moved toward the door as though the decision had been made long ago.
“Wait... do not go, Adrian, wait!”
Panic trembled through her voice.
Still, I kept walking.
Then a loud crash echoed behind me.
My body spun around immediately.
Evelyn had tried to follow me, but dizziness struck her midway. Her body hit the floor hard enough to make my chest tighten.
Pain escaped her lips while one hand held her head. Redness spread across her knee from the impact.
A second later, I was beside her.
“What do you think you are doing? Why did you even stand up? Are you okay?”
Concern slipped too clearly into my voice. Enough to frighten her more than my anger.
“I do not know... I felt dizzy after standing up, and I hurt my finger...” Pain softened her voice into a weak murmur.
My hand immediately caught hers, eyes locking onto the tiny drop of blood.
“Wait here. I will call the doctor.”
“No, please.”
Her fingers tightened around mine quickly.
“I do not want him to examine me again.”
Confusion pulled my brows together.
“Why?”
“I do not know... I just do not want that. I am fine.”
Silence stretched for several seconds while I studied her face carefully.
“Are you sure?”
A quick nod followed. “Yes.”
Without another word, I lifted her into my arms again.
The warmth of her body against mine sent a dangerous tremor through my chest. Carefully, I placed her back onto the bed.
My fingers wrapped around her injured hand.
Before she could understand what I intended to do, her finger slipped between my lips as I gently sucked the blood away.
God...
Nervousness tightened her throat while she stared at me.
Even to me, the way I did that felt absurdly seductive.
“Are you okay now?”
Her answer never came.
Instead, Evelyn clung tightly to my hand.
“Do not go... please, Adrian. I did not mean what I did.”
Dark eyes lifted toward her slowly while my voice dropped lower.
“And why do you want me to stay?”
“I do not know.”
Weak words. Honest words.
“All I know is that I do not want you to leave.”
Then suddenly—
Her arms wrapped around me.
For a full second, my entire body froze.
No idea where she found the courage for that. It felt as though her mind had completely surrendered and allowed her heart to take control instead.
“Evelyn... you do not need to pretend.”
Yet the embrace only tightened.
Tears burned inside her eyes while she interrupted me in a trembling voice.
“I am not pretending! I am sorry... I know you are not a bad person. It is just... that woman filled my head with terrifying thoughts.”
A frown crossed my face immediately.
Slowly, my hand moved along her back.
Why did that feel so comforting?
“Wait...” Slight surprise slipped into my voice. “Are you crying right now? And who exactly are you talking about?”
Embarrassment colored her expression while she pulled away slightly, wiping at her tears.
“Mrs. Nira... my neighbor. She told me horrible things about you. She said you are dangerous, that men visit you at night, and that she saw blood on your clothes several times.”
Silence followed her confession.
For a long moment, my gaze drifted toward the floor.
Nervousness returned to her instantly, and her fingers wrapped around my hand again.
“I do not even know why I believed her for a second!” A broken gasp escaped between her tears. “You are kind... you care about Marcus, and you stayed beside me all night even though you barely know me. Still, I was afraid of you... I treated you unfairly, and I am truly sorry.”
Only then did my eyes rise toward hers again.
A strange smile rested across my lips.
Sad. Warm. Painfully warm.
“I do not like seeing you cry, Evelyn.”
Gentle fingers brushed across her cheeks, wiping away the tears one by one. Instinctively, she melted beneath my touch.
“Just stay away from that woman from now on. Everyone knows she is slightly insane and enjoys inventing stories about people.”
Her eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment when my hand touched her face.
Dangerous.
That feeling was becoming dangerously addictive for me too.
“I promise,” she whispered softly. “But promise me something too... do not change toward me or Marcus.”
Silence settled between us before I answered quietly enough to make my own heart shake.
“I promise. We are family now... okay?”
A tearful smile appeared on her lips before she nodded gently.
“Okay.”
The coffee cup returned to her hands along with the dessert piece. As though nothing emotional had happened moments ago, I started feeding her myself.
Soft laughter escaped her.
“Are you spoiling me now, Adrian?”
Confidence curled into my smile immediately.
“I actually am.”
Clear admiration remained in my eyes while I forced her to keep eating sweets despite how little she liked sugar.
Still... Every bite disappeared without complaint.
“Will you not go to university?” she asked quietly before taking another sip of coffee.
“I will go after taking you home.”
Simple. Direct.
“So eat and stop worrying about me.”
Truthfully, university meant nothing to me at that moment.
“Thank you, Adrian, but... are you not tired? Your eyes look exhausted.”
Surprise flickered across my expression.
Almost like nobody had ever noticed before.
“You are the first person to pay attention to my eyes.”
A small smile appeared across my lips, leaving her visibly flustered.
“But no... I am not tired.”
My gaze remained fixed on her while she drowned completely inside my dark eyes.
“Your eyes drown me like the ocean...” The words came out low and rough. “And I do not even have a lifeboat.”
God...
Heat rushed across her entire face instantly while amusement curved lightly against my lips.
Watching her become shy was entertaining in the most dangerous way.
“Why do you laugh like that? You are embarrassing me... do you know how long it has been since I heard words like that?”
Light laughter escaped me again, my front teeth showing enough to make her melt even more.
“No idea... but it seems you will hear plenty of it soon, so prepare yourself.”
Shy teeth caught her lower lip before a quiet sigh escaped her.
“Since my divorce, I have not heard real flirting... only disgusting comments from creepy men.”
Everything inside me darkened immediately.
My smile vanished completely.
“What is wrong?”
“That student from my university came to mind...” Sharpness cut through my voice instantly. “The one talking about your ass.”
Shock widened her eyes while anger continued building inside me.
“Listen carefully. Do not wear that dress again.”
Despite her nervousness, laughter burst from her lips.
“What, are you jealous or something?”
“I do not know.”
Dangerous coldness filled my tone.
“But if I see that idiot again, I will smash his face.”
“Please calm down... we do not want problems.”
Right then, my phone started ringing.
The device disappeared into my hand before I walked out of the room to answer the call.
Behind me, Evelyn remained staring absentmindedly toward the door.
“Are you okay?”
Every muscle in my face froze the second I heard the voice on the other side.