Chapter 133 This Is Fate

Chapter 133 This Is Fate

The next morning, when Evie woke up, James was already gone.

His side of the bed was cold—even the warmth he'd left behind had faded.

A note sat on the nightstand. Evie picked it up. The handwriting was crisp and brief: [Wait for me.]

She sat there for a moment, clutching the note, warmth spreading through her chest. The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile she didn't try to suppress.

After getting ready, Evie headed to class as usual.

That evening, her old roommate Katie texted, inviting her to a campus event.

Since James wasn't around and she'd only be going home to an empty apartment, Evie agreed.

The event was held at the student center. Bright lights flooded the space, and clusters of students mingled with drinks in hand.

Evie stood in a corner chatting with Katie when her gaze drifted across the room—and landed on Vivian.

Vivian wore a brightly colored dress, surrounded by a small crowd. She held a wine glass, saying something that made people laugh and raise their glasses to her. She looked like she was on top of the world.

Vivian was mid-conversation when she turned and spotted Evie. She excused herself and wove through the crowd toward her.

"What a coincidence." Vivian stopped in front of her, wearing a practiced smile that looked rehearsed. "Long time no see. Did you hear? I just landed two major deals for the Vance family. Mom and Dad are treating me like their golden child now. I wasn't even planning to come tonight, but they insisted—said it'd be 'good to network,' you know?"

Evie studied Vivian's perfectly made-up face, and all she felt was a faint sense of absurdity.

She remembered the photo Dimitri had sent her—Vivian trembling on a carpet, curled up by a door, barely clothed, eyes vacant and broken.

That image clashed violently with the poised, smiling woman standing before her now. Like two negatives exposed on the same sheet of paper, refusing to align.

Evie let out a soft, bitter laugh. Vivian really was pitiful—packaging herself so carefully, as if that could erase what had happened.

"Congratulations," Evie said coolly. "Sounds like you finally got what you wanted—Daddy and Mommy's little treasure."

Vivian's expression hardened. "Don't pretend you're so unbothered. I can see right through you—you're jealous. I sent you to hell for three years, and you've been dying to drag me down with you ever since. Too bad for you—I'm thriving."

"Evie, this is fate. You were born to be beneath me."

Evie took a sip of her champagne, her tone flat. "Is that so? Well, your concealer could use some work."

Her gaze flicked deliberately to Vivian's neck, where faint marks peeked through.

Vivian's smile froze. Instinctively, she covered her neck with one hand and fumbled for a compact mirror from her purse. Sure enough, a faint red mark had bled through the makeup.

For a split second, panic flashed across her face. Then she forced herself to calm down. "I just bumped into something. Don't think for a second that I'm as pathetic as you! I'm living a thousand times better than you ever will!"

Seeing how rattled Vivian was, Evie shrugged. "I didn't say anything. You're the one giving yourself away."

Vivian's jaw clenched, fury simmering behind her eyes. But this wasn't the place to make a scene. She shot Evie one last glare before turning on her heel and rejoining the crowd.

The laughter and flattery swallowed her up again. For that brief moment, Vivian seemed to come alive.

Evie looked away, took another sip, and didn't spare her another glance.

By the time the event ended, it was nearly ten.

Evie stepped out of the student center into the cool night air. She was heading toward the parking lot when her phone rang.

It was Thea. When she answered, there was a two-second silence, then Thea's voice came through—rushed, hushed, like she was covering the receiver. "Evie, get to the hotel I'm sending you right now. It's an emergency!"

Before Evie could ask anything, the line went dead.

She stood frozen for a moment, confused but alarmed. Thea's tone was all wrong—this wasn't a joke.

Evie hurried to her car and tried calling back. The phone was already off.

Her heart beat faster than usual the entire drive. She didn't know what was happening, but something was very wrong.

When she reached the hotel, she rushed into the elevator, her mind focused on the floor number—but in her haste, she hit the wrong button.

The elevator stopped at the top floor. The doors opened to a quiet hallway lit only by dim yellow wall sconces.

She'd barely taken a step forward when she heard it—a sharp, anguished scream from behind one of the doors, followed by desperate pleading.

Evie froze.

Then the door burst partway open. An arm shot out, fingers clawing at the doorframe.

Evie recognized that arm.

Vivian collapsed against the gap in the door, her hair hanging in tangled curtains over half her face. One strap of her dress had slipped off her shoulder, exposing her neck—marked with bruises in varying shades. Her eyes were glassy and wild with terror.

When she saw Evie standing in the hallway, her entire body went rigid, like she'd been electrocuted. Her lips trembled violently, as if she wanted to speak but couldn't.

Vivian never imagined Evie would be here. In that instant, every shred of her carefully constructed facade shattered—and the humiliation was worse than the pain.

A man's voice came from inside the room, irritated. "Where do you think you're going? Get back here."

A hand reached out from behind her, grabbing Vivian's arm and yanking her backward.

The man leaned partway into the hallway, his gaze sliding past Vivian to land on Evie. He paused, then smiled—a leering, predatory grin.

He let go of Vivian's arm and took a step toward Evie instead, his tone dripping with interest. "You a friend of hers? Why don't you come in? We can all 'chat.'"

Evie took a half-step back, her hand tightening around her phone.

Just as the man was about to reach her, the elevator at the end of the hall chimed open.

Dimitri stepped out, his pace unhurried, as if he'd known exactly what he'd find.

He stopped beside Evie, his gaze sweeping over the man's face with polite detachment. "Excuse me. She's my guest."

Then he shifted slightly, positioning himself between Evie and the man, and gestured toward the elevator.

The man's grin faded. He didn't follow. Instead, he retreated to the doorway, leaning against the frame as he watched them.

Dimitri didn't look back. He guided Evie into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.

Just before the doors closed, Vivian's voice rang out from down the hall.

"Dimitri, save me! Please—please save me!"

Dimitri ignored her.

The elevator doors slid shut.

Silence.