Chapter 188: The Unraveling

Jessica stared at Evelyn, completely caught off guard.

Her mouth opened, then closed again. The answer seemed to reach her lips before disappearing just as quickly.

Then Evelyn's phone rang, shattering the silence. She glanced at the screen. It was Roman.

“I’m sorry.”

She rose from her seat and stepped into the hallway to answer it.

Roman called to check whether they had arrived safely, how Noah was doing, whether the villa was comfortable, and if she had eaten. Evelyn answered each question, but part of her mind remained inside the drawing room, replaying Jessica’s reaction over and over.

When she returned a few minutes later, Noah’s cries greeted her before she crossed the doorway.

The nanny Jessica had assigned was pacing with him in her arms while Lena stood nearby, pulling ridiculous faces and puffing out her cheeks in a desperate attempt to distract him.

Noah was having none of it.

His tiny face had turned bright red, and his cries only grew louder.

Evelyn laughed despite herself. “I think someone’s hungry.”

She lifted him into her arms. The crying eased almost at once.

The nanny smiled knowingly. “I thought so too.”

Evelyn settled into the sofa and adjusted Noah against her.

Peace returned to the room.

Lena slumped into the chair beside her. “I’ve been replaced.”

“You never stood a chance,” Evelyn teased.

Lena pointed an accusing finger at Noah. “I was giving an Oscar-worthy performance.”

Noah ignored her completely. “Ungrateful little man.”

His tiny hand reached toward her.

“There we go.” Lena grinned. “You’ve redeemed yourself.”

Before long, Jessica returned. Nothing in her expression hinted at what had happened earlier.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” She looked from Evelyn to Lena. “Caspian had something urgent come up, so he won’t be joining us for dinner.”

She gestured toward the dining room. “The kitchen has everything ready.”

Dinner was served in a smaller dining room overlooking the gardens.

Without the grandeur of the main hall, the atmosphere felt much more welcoming.

After feeding, Noah had regained his cheerful mood. He remained in Evelyn’s arms, his curious eyes roaming around the unfamiliar room while she balanced him against one arm and ate with the other.

Jessica kept the conversation moving. She asked whether they liked the villa.

Lena praised the view, while Evelyn mentioned they hoped to explore Olyndria over the next few days.

Nothing touched the conversation from earlier. By the time dessert disappeared from the table, Jessica glanced at her watch.

“I’m afraid I have to leave.” She said, with an apologetic smile. “My schedule changed this morning, and I have somewhere I must be.”

Evelyn nodded. “Please don’t worry about us.”

“I’ve already had guest rooms prepared,” Jessica said. “If you’d rather stay here tonight, everything is ready.”

“Thank you.” Evelyn smiled. “But we’d still like to see the city before sunset. Besides, we’re already settled into the villa.”

Jessica laughed. “You make it sound as though you’re inconveniencing me.”

She leaned down and kissed Evelyn’s cheek before brushing Noah’s tiny chin with one finger. “Such a handsome boy.”

Noah blinked at her with wide eyes.

Jessica crossed the room and hugged Lena. “It was wonderful seeing you again.”

“You too.”

The sound of her heels echoed through the mansion until the front door closed behind her.

The silence that settled over the room afterward felt heavier than it should have.

Lena leaned back in her chair. “She's avoiding us, isn't she?"

“Yeah.” Evelyn lowered her eyes to Noah. “Let’s head back.”

—

The return trip passed in silence.

Carlos guided the sedan along the coastal road while the sea shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.

Evelyn rested her elbow on the armrest, chin in her palm, watching the scenery slip by.

Beside her, Lena had claimed Noah for herself. The baby reached for her nose with both hands.

“You’ve been staring at me this whole time.” Lena cooed. “Am I that pretty?”

Noah gurgled in response.

“I knew it.”

Another sigh escaped Evelyn.

Lena glanced over. “That’s at least the tenth one.”

Evelyn turned toward her, only to catch Carlos watching them through the rearview mirror. She reached forward and pressed the privacy button.

The tinted partition rose between the front and back seats. Only then did she speak.

“Did you notice Jessica’s face?”

Lena nodded. “When you mentioned not knowing Roman three years ago?”

“Exactly.” Evelyn folded her hands in her lap. “She looked just as confused as I was.”

Lena fell quiet. “So either she doesn’t know why Roman started building that aquarium…”

“…or it wasn’t built for you,” Lena finished.

The words lingered.

A name surfaced in Evelyn’s mind.

Avery.

Roman had whispered that name before. Later, he’d claimed he didn’t know anyone by that name.

She pushed the thought aside.

“He told me he built it for me,” Evelyn said. “That was before he proposed. But he never told me when the construction started.”

Lena shifted in her seat. "Eve, this is getting complicated. Don't you think you should just ask him?"

Evelyn was quiet for a long moment before she shook her head. "He won't tell me. I've been with him long enough to know that."

Her voice grew quieter. "Roman can be caring, doting, but when it comes to information, he can smile at you while telling you absolutely nothing.”

The car rolled past another stretch of coastline.

Lena rested an elbow against the window. “But you’re his wife.”

Evelyn looked at her.

"Haven't you heard of pillow talk?" Lena arched a brow. "Men are supposed to be the most open in bed. Especially during intimate moments. At the peak of... you know."

Evelyn's face turned red. "Lena."

Lena burst out laughing. "What? I'm just saying!"

Evelyn laughed too, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. "How can you say that with a straight face?"

"I'm not saying it with a straight face. I'm saying it with a very knowing face."

They both dissolved into laughter, and Noah stared at them, confused, before letting out a small squeal.

Lena pointed at him triumphantly. “See? Even Noah agrees with me.”

Evelyn laughed harder, cheeks still warm. "You're shameless."

"I'm practical."

The car continued along the coastal road, and inside the partition, the laughter slowly faded.