Chapter 120
"Who did you say she was?" Matthew's voice was low, carrying a barely perceptible urgency.
Briar was startled by his sudden question and answered dumbly, "The Gray family's heiress, Adam."
She didn't understand why Matthew had suddenly changed expression and added fuel to the fire. "Mr. Perkins, you see how people keep hitting on this woman—she's really not a good person..."
"Enough." Matthew threw out those words, pushed open the door, and left quickly.
On the deck, Evelyn had a headache.
People approached her constantly to chat. She politely declined each one.
She could handle this kind of occasion, but tonight her heart held an inexplicable restlessness, like something pressing down, making it hard to breathe.
Perhaps tired of it, she drained her champagne and walked directly toward the yacht's central banquet hall.
Matthew reached the deck just as she left.
He stood where she'd just been. The area was empty, that figure that had shaken his heart nowhere to be seen.
Matthew's mind was in complete chaos.
Excitement mixed with confusion, like two tides crashing back and forth in his chest.
Adam... Adam... the Gray family's heiress hidden for over twenty years.
These past three years, he'd heard Adam's name many times, but never imagined it could be connected to Evelyn.
Susan's suddenly appearing granddaughter could actually be Evelyn?
He closed his eyes, sorting through the timeline in his mind.
Three years ago, Evelyn had gone missing at sea.
Some time later, Susan announced her heiress granddaughter.
Everything lined up...
Matthew's heart pounded like a drum.
He urgently wanted to see Adam, to see... Evelyn.
The birthday ceremony officially began.
Matthew followed the crowd into the main banquet hall, his gaze searching inch by inch over the bobbing heads.
Flora was giving a speech on stage.
At the end, she specifically left time to extend her hand toward Evelyn, who was seated to the side. "Dear friends, today I want to specially introduce a young friend. She is my old friend Susan's granddaughter, Adam, and the future heiress of the Gray family."
She lavished praise on Evelyn, highlighting her impressive achievements on Wall Street over the past three years.
Thunderous applause erupted below. Those who hadn't noticed Evelyn all turned their gazes her way.
Under the lights, Evelyn inclined her head slightly, smiling graciously, her expression composed and distant.
Matthew's gaze never left that face.
Absolutely no mistake.
This person... was Evelyn.
Memories flooded his mind madly.
Her panicked eyes when they first met.
Her unconscious state when he'd saved her.
Her shattered expression when she cried "I hate you."
And the despair when his whole world collapsed upon learning she'd boarded that exploding ship.
Three years.
She was alive.
She was really still alive...
Matthew stood there, fingers digging deep into his palm. The pain kept him alert and confirmed this wasn't a dream.
Briar and Willard had also arrived before the ceremony began.
As soon as Briar entered, she noticed Matthew's gaze glued to Adam.
The look in his eyes made her heart itch like a cat scratching it.
She bit her lip, a plan forming.
She intercepted one of the Seymour family's maids and whispered instructions.
Watching the maid leave, a cold smile appeared on her lips.
'Adam, let's see who has the last laugh.'
After Flora finished her speech, servers wheeled out a six-layer cake.
Evelyn was pulled to Flora's side, who warmly indicated they should cut it together.
Under so many eyes, Evelyn couldn't refuse.
But since earlier, she'd felt a gaze fixed on her—scorching hot as if burning through her, impossible to ignore.
Uneasy, she zoned out momentarily.
The maid brought up a tray with cake knives and forks. Evelyn watched Flora pick up a knife and reached for another herself.
The instant Evelyn's fingers touched the handle, the maid's body leaned in subtly, her elbow bumping Evelyn's side at a concealed angle.
Evelyn lost control and tipped backward toward the cake.
Just before impact, she felt a powerful hand firmly catch her waist, yanking her back.
Her dress's chest area grazed the cake's edge, picking up a patch of frosting.
At least she was unharmed.
"Adam!" Flora's anxious voice rang out.
Evelyn steadied herself, still shaken, but more concerning than nearly falling... was the hand that caught her and the familiar scent from that person.
That warmth, that strength, that enveloping shadow. She didn't even need to look up to know who it was.
Matthew.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions rising within, looked up, and smiled graciously.
"Sir, thank you. Thanks to you, I didn't crash into it."
She turned to Flora. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just got my dress a bit dirty."
As she spoke, she tried to leave Matthew's embrace.
But his arm showed no sign of loosening. If anything, it tightened.
"No need to thank me." He lowered his head, lips curving into an inscrutable arc.
"Adam, if you don't mind, there are backup gowns in the fitting room upstairs. I'll take you to change." Flora spoke up timely.
"Yes, please." Evelyn nodded quickly, then looked at Matthew, her voice steady. "Sir, I'm fine now. Please let go."
Matthew looked into her eyes.
Those eyes were the same as three years ago—clear, stubborn—but now held something he couldn't read. He slowly released his hand.
Evelyn left with Flora.
She walked quickly, not looking back.
But she felt that gaze following her the whole way, like nails pinning into her back.
Only after closing the fitting room door did she relax.
"Mrs. Seymour, that Mr. Perkins just now—is he also your guest tonight?"
She'd reviewed the guest list beforehand. Matthew's name hadn't been on it.
"Not really... My grandson Willard has a project with him. He just happened to invite him today." Flora said while searching through gowns for her.
"I see." Evelyn sighed inwardly.
Just bad luck on her part.
Flora was tonight's star and couldn't stay long.
After finding a suitable gown, she hurried back down.
Evelyn changed clothes and lingered in the fitting room for quite a while.
She faced the mirror, adjusting her hair and straightening her dress.
Estimating the guests outside had shifted their attention, she slowly drew a breath.
No matter what, she wasn't that Evelyn from before.
Matthew had nothing to threaten her with anymore.
She had children, a career, the Gray family backing her. She didn't need to fear him.
The woman in the mirror had calm, resilient eyes.
Evelyn pulled open the fitting room door.
Only to find Matthew leaning against the hallway wall.
He heard the sound and looked up, his gaze meeting hers directly.