The late afternoon sun poured golden light across the Kane estate gardens, where Evelyn sat on a marble bench. Beside her, Daniel, her childhood friend from the small coastal town she once called home, was laughing at a story she told. His laugh was warm, familiar, and far too loud for the kind of quiet Adrian Kane demanded from everyone under his roof.
Evelyn's smile came easily with Daniel. With him, she didn't have to measure her words, didn't have to walk on eggshells. For a few fleeting minutes, it was as though the wedding, the press, and Adrian's icy presence had all vanished.
"I can't believe you remember that day," Daniel chuckled, leaning back. "You were so small, and yet you were ready to fight those boys."
She laughed softly. "And you were the one who chased them away. I never forgot."
His gaze softened. "I'm glad you haven't."
From the mansion's terrace, Adrian watched the scene unfold, his jaw tightening with each passing second. The easy way Daniel's hand brushed Evelyn's arm, the way she tilted her head toward him, smiling, it burned in his chest like acid.
By the time Adrian crossed the garden, the warmth of the sun had been replaced by a sudden, almost tangible chill.
"Evelyn," he said sharply.
She turned, startled. "Adrian"
His gaze flicked to Daniel, assessing him with the same cold precision he might give a rival in the boardroom.
"This is Daniel," Evelyn began, her tone tentative. "He's"
"I don't care who he is," Adrian cut in, stepping closer. His hand closed firmly around her wrist, the heat of his grip contradicting the frost in his voice.
Daniel rose from the bench, frowning. "Is there a problem here?"
Adrian didn't look at him. His eyes stayed locked on Evelyn's, hard and unyielding.
"He's not welcome here," Adrian said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the summer air.