Chapter 153

Evelyn POV

I cradled Oliver protectively against my chest as Dante Romano entered our living room, his silver-streaked hair catching the afternoon light. His confident demeanor softened when his gaze fell on my son.

"The Carter family," he said with a slight bow. "It's an honor to see you all again." He looked at Oliver with genuine warmth. "And this must be the young man causing such a stir."

"Wow, I'm honored—everyone's dressed so elegantly," Dante continued, taking in Ryan's tailored suit and my carefully chosen blue dress that complemented Oliver's tiny cardigan. "He has your eyes," he remarked, studying Oliver's face. "But that chin—definitely a Carter trait."

Ryan laughed beside me, the sound vibrating through the sofa cushion where our bodies touched.

Dante's production crew moved efficiently around us, transforming our living room into a makeshift studio. They positioned lights, set up cameras, and tested microphones while being careful not to disturb Oliver, who was watching everything with curious eyes.

"We'll keep the lighting soft," his assistant explained, noticing my concerned glance toward Oliver. "And we won't need to move him at all."

Ryan sat beside me, his arm draped protectively around my shoulders. I leaned into his warmth, drawing strength from his presence. This was our first public appearance since Oliver's birth, and I was determined to present a united front against whoever had tried to plant negative stories about us.

When everything was ready, Dante took his position across from us. The red light on the camera blinked on, and his entire demeanor shifted into professional broadcaster mode.

"Good afternoon, my lovely audience," he began, voice rich and welcoming. "Today, I have the extraordinary privilege of introducing you to the newest member of one of Potomac's most talked-about families."

Dante turned to me with a practiced smile. "Evelyn, would you like to introduce yourself and your family to our viewers?"

I straightened my shoulders slightly, keeping my voice steady. "My name is Evelyn Moore, and yes, I'm Ryan's wife." The word 'wife' still felt new on my tongue, though technically we weren't married yet. "And this," I continued, gently shifting Oliver in my arms so the camera could capture his face, "is our son, Oliver Carter."

"Oliver Carter," Dante repeated warmly. "And how old is this handsome young man?"

"Just two weeks," Ryan answered, his pride evident. "Though he already seems to have quite the personality."

"How has the experience of becoming parents been for you both?" Dante asked, his expression genuinely interested.

Ryan smiled, looking at Oliver with adoration. "It's been a wonderful adventure. Exhausting but incredible."

"It's been an incredible experience, and I'm so happy to be a mother," I added, feeling a swell of emotion as Oliver's tiny hand wrapped around my finger. "He's perfect."

Dante nodded appreciatively before shifting to what I knew was coming. "Now, there have been some rumors circulating—"

"There always are," Ryan interjected smoothly.

"Indeed. But specifically about wedding plans. I understand congratulations might be in order?"

I exchanged a look with Ryan, our practiced moment. "Yes, we're currently planning our wedding," I confirmed, my smile genuine despite the strategic nature of this announcement.

"We're still finalizing the details," Ryan added, his hand finding mine. "But we wanted Oliver to be part of the celebration."

Dante's eyes lit up with professional excitement. "Well, you heard it here first, folks! An exclusive announcement from the Carter family."

The interview continued with questions about our life as new parents. I described the joy of watching Oliver discover the world, while Ryan shared anecdotes about midnight feedings and diaper changes that had us all laughing.

"We have some questions from viewers," Dante said, accepting a tablet from his assistant. "Here's one: 'How did you choose Oliver's name?'"

I smiled, having prepared for this. "Oliver comes from a character in a book I loved as a child—'The Clockmaker's Son.' It's about a boy who discovers he has the ability to fix broken things, not just clocks but people's hearts too."

The next question made Ryan tense beside me. "There's been speculation about Oliver's paternity. How do you respond to people questioning whether Ryan is willing to raise another man's child?"

Ryan's jaw tightened, but his voice remained controlled. "Oliver is my son in every way that matters. Anyone who dares say otherwise better have the guts to say it to my face."

I squeezed his hand in silent gratitude.

"Evelyn, how has your recovery been?" Dante asked, wisely changing the subject.

"Better than expected," I replied. "I'm being careful with my diet and following doctor's orders to rest, though that's challenging with a newborn."

"Another viewer asks about inheritance—will Oliver inherit the Finch family fortune?"

I felt Ryan's protective energy beside me but answered before he could. "Oliver will inherit what Ryan and I build together. We don't expect or want anything from the Finch family. We're perfectly capable of providing for our son and raising him to stand on his own merits."

Ryan leaned forward slightly. "And soon, we'll no longer be engaged—we'll be husband and wife."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "So the wedding is happening soon?"

"Evelyn's previous wedding was a closed civil ceremony," Ryan explained. "This time, we want to celebrate properly with everyone who matters to us."

"Evelyn deserves all the luxuries in the world and more," Ryan added, bringing my hand to his lips. "And that's exactly what our wedding will be—a celebration of our love and our family."

As the cameras stopped rolling, Dante rose from his seat, extending his hand to Ryan. "Thank you so much for having me."

"It's always a pleasure, Dante," Ryan replied, shaking his hand firmly.

"Anytime you need, just give me a call," Dante assured us. "I'll always have your back."

After the crew packed up and left, I turned to Ryan with a questioning smile. "Do we really need to stage a wedding to fool everyone?"

Ryan's expression softened as he pulled me close, careful not to disturb Oliver sleeping in my arms. "Of course not. I'm giving you a real wedding, Evelyn. You deserve the world and everything beautiful in it."

In that moment, with Oliver in my arms and Ryan at my side, I already had everything beautiful I could ever want.