Morning light poured through the tall windows. Evie, as she stirred on one side of Ezra's bed, was fully clothed, with the scent of his cologne still lingering on the pillow.
They hadn't exchanged words. Not a single one. Only the sounds of breath and heartbeat filled the thick silence that pressed upon her.
Ezra was gone.
At the edge of the bed lay a folded robe and a note in his handwriting: "There's breakfast downstairs. Take your time."
Evie studied the note, letting the moment linger longer than necessary. She rose, adjusting the robe over her shoulders, and made her way downstairs. The mansion echoed with an eerie elegance. Following the enticing aroma of coffee and pastries, she entered the dining room. A long table showcased a carefully arranged breakfast of croissants, fruits, scrambled eggs, and freshly brewed coffee, all positioned with meticulous precision.
"Good morning, Miss Evie," the butler greeted from behind. Evie turned, meeting his gaze with a smile and a slight bow.
"Good morning," she replied, her eyes narrowing. "Ezra's already left?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am. He had an early board meeting," the butler informed her. Evie paused, then nodded in acknowledgment.
"He asked me to prepare breakfast for you, so please enjoy." The butler offered a warm smile.
"Thank you," Evie said appreciatively as she approached the table. She took a sip of the coffee.
He then excused himself to attend to his duties while Evie savored her meal. Before she prepared for the day, she sent a message to Ruby, who had left early to avoid another embarrassing encounter with Ezra.
"I'm going live today. It's time to get back to work," Evie messaged Ruby.
Noticing that Ruby wasn't online yet, Evie slipped her phone into her pocket and headed back upstairs to get ready.
Eventually, she emerged dressed in a black skirt and a pink shirt adorned with a bold bow at her neck. Her hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail, with minimal makeup and jewelry complementing her ensemble, completed with heels.
As she reached her usual workspace, a smile broke across her face, filled with nostalgia. It had been some time since she had departed due to the toxic environment, but now she was back to reclaim her place.
Upon opening the glass window, she noticed Ruby already inside, focused on her tasks. Ruby had finished preparing for the live session, including setting up the camera and the seating.
"Hey," Evie greeted as she approached.
"Seriously, Evie? You're going to do a live today?" Ruby asked.
"Absolutely. I made that clear in my message, didn't I?" Evie replied, dropping her bag onto the table.
Ruby crossed her arms skeptically. "Are you prepared for this? Who knows what people will say?"
Evie raised her eyebrows. "Say what? Look, Ruby, I've made my decision. Nothing is going to stop me. We need to return to business and keep it running, or how will we afford our lives? You never know what people will say unless you follow through with what you want."
Ruby pursed her lips. "Come on, you can't compare yourself to me. You've got a billionaire wrapped around your fingers," she teased.
Evie rolled her eyes. "Shall we begin?" she asked decisively.
Ruby nodded in agreement. "Sure."
As Evie took her seat, Ruby started operating the camera. A countdown commenced, and then Ruby gave Evie the signal to begin. Evie cleared her throat, instantly commanding her presence.
"Hi everyone," she said, waving with a soft smile that radiated warmth. Then she regained her composed posture. "It's been a while… I've seen your messages, your support, your questions—thank you for waiting, for holding space, and for believing in more than just rumors."
She continued, "Sometimes, silence isn't a sign of weakness. It's strength. When everything is loud, silence grants you the clarity to hear yourself again."
"I took the time to breathe, reset, and remember who I am—and now I'm ready. This comeback isn't about proving anything; it's about doing what I love."
She took a deep breath and smiled. "So here's to clarity, growth, and new beginnings. If you're still here, thank you. That means everything to me."
Her gaze locked onto Ruby, who stood with folded arms, giving Evie a thumbs up and a nod of approval. Evie's smile broadened in response. Suddenly, several dings resonated across the space, and their eyes widened.
"People are joining the live, and they're reacting," Ruby informed Evie.
"And it looks good," Evie replied. They exchanged a triumphant high five, the brightness in Evie's eyes reflecting her excitement as she scanned the comments pouring in. Her fans were thrilled to see her.
'It's so good to see you, Evie. You're as radiant as ever.'
'Evie's on live? I'm here for it!' One fan commented, showering her with hearts, and Evie couldn't hold back a delighted giggle.
'For real, I've been waiting for this moment. So glad you're back, babes,' another person chimed in.
"Thank you for the positive comments, everyone. I truly appreciate it," Evie responded to each message, maintaining her enthusiasm. "And feel free to ask me any questions; I'm here to engage. Let's keep it straightforward, alright?"
"Evie, did you change your makeup? I need that tutorial!" someone typed eagerly.
"Yes, it's stunning."
"It complements your features perfectly."
"Can someone alert me when she does the tutorial?"
Evie responded, "Alright, if everyone wants the tutorial, I'll make it happen," smiling directly at the camera.
"Evie, are you and Ezra real?" someone inquired, catching her attention.
With a slight smile, she replied, "You'll just have to keep watching to find out."
Another question came in: "Evie, how did you stay strong through everything?"
She straightened up, acknowledging the seriousness of the question. "I wasn't strong every day. Some days I broke, and some days I leaned on the small things—people who reached out, quiet support, the love I deserved. That's what saved me."
"Will you ever discuss what truly happened?"
Evie answered gently, "Not everything needs to be vocalized. What truly matters is that I'm here, standing tall, and moving forward."
"So, what did you learn from your time away?"
Evie continued, "I learned that people will believe what they want—but I have to believe in myself louder than their noise."
"I love you so much, Evie. You're so sweet and confident. I hope you're happy," a fan commented.
Evie chuckled, "Thank you. I'm learning to embrace happiness, and that's enough for now."
"Is Ezra as mysterious as he seems?" another question rolled in.
"Maybe... but I'm figuring him out slowly," Evie stated.
And next was this question that made her narrow her eyes. She swallowed, of course, she didn't expect that everyone would say good things, there'll still be some set of people who would hate but it didn't matter to her. "Of all the women in the world, how did *you* end up with Ezra?"
Evie laughed softly, "I ask myself that every day too, but I think he saw something that others didn't." She winked subtly. "Maybe mystery is more attractive than perfection, don't you think?"
"Evie, how did you and Ezra meet?"
Evie teased, "Let's just say... fate has a flair for dramatic entrances."
"You two don't seem like a typical couple—how do you make it work?"
Evie replied confidently, "We're not typical, and perhaps that's exactly why it works."
"Does Ezra smile when it's just the two of you?"
Evie laughed, "He does... but don't expect me to prove it—that smile is for me alone."
"Was it love at first sight?"
Evie answered, "It was... complicated from the start."
Fan: "What's one thing Ezra does that always catches you off guard?"
Evie smirked, "He says very little — but when he does, it completely shuts down my brain."
"Do you trust him?"
Evie stated seriously, "With more than I expected to."
"Is Ezra watching this live?"
Evie glanced to the side, smiling, "If he is, he'd better be liking every comment."
The questions kept flowing in, and Evie maintained her composure, answering each one thoughtfully. They gravitated toward her relationship with Ezra, and she was careful not to slip up. She understood well that a single misstep could lead to consequences she wasn't ready to handle.
"Alright, everyone... Let's take a break. We'll continue the live later," she declared, and before anything else could be said, the camera went off. Evie exhaled heavily.
Ruby chuckled, "Life of a celebrity, huh?" she teased, and Evie rolled her eyes.
Soon after, Evie's phone rang from her bag, and she hesitated before going to answer. Perhaps it was Ezra, wanting to discuss the live, that's if he has seen it. She felt a mix of curiosity and nervousness. When she reached for her phone, her eyes narrowed at the unknown caller ID.
Taking a deep breath, she answered the call. Silence lingered on the other end. "Hello? Who's this?" Evie inquired.
"Have you forgotten me so quickly?" the person questioned.
Evie's eyes narrowed as her hands clenched into fists at her sides. That voice. It could only belong to Derek.
Why was he reaching out to her after everything that had happened?