The next day.
For the first time in forever, Evelyn woke up feeling… free.
No mad dash to get ready for work.
No, her sister, Stella, barges into her room, shaking her awake.
No alarm blaring at ungodly hours.
No endless phone notifications screaming about urgent crises that were never actually urgent.
Just peace.
Tranquil and beautiful peace.
The sun was already blazing outside, but instead of stressing about being "late," she just stretched like a cat that owned the world.
"Good morning, Eve," she murmured to herself, hugging her pillow like it was her only loyal companion, eyes fixed on the patch of blue sky framed by the window.
Somewhere in the distance, she could faintly hear waves crashing against the shore, like nature itself was giving her a slow clap for her freedom.
"It's fine to be lazy today, Eve. Take your time. You've been running like a robot for years…"
She smiled to herself, enjoying the novelty of having no obligations.
Honestly, maybe this was a blessing; No bosses, no deadlines, no fake friends draining her energy.
Just her.
Completely alone.
However,
Her blissful morning came to a tragic, stomach-rumbling end when her belly growled like an angry lion.
"Oh my God, how could I forget..."
She tossed the blanket aside and scrambled out of bed.
Even if she'd wanted to skip breakfast and bury herself back under the covers, the tiny tenant in her belly had other plans, and this tenant was not shy about filing noise complaints.
Evelyn was beyond grateful that Aunt Martha had stocked her fridge like she was prepping for the apocalypse.
Seriously, there was enough food in there to survive a zombie outbreak.
She took out a carton of milk and a box of cereal, snatching a fresh banana from the kitchen island.
After throwing together a humble bowl of cereal, she finally glanced outside for the first time.
She took her breakfast to the tiny dining table with its two lonely chairs, positioned perfectly by the window.
One bite, one glance, and she was hooked.
The ocean stretched out forever, sparkling like it was auditioning for a travel commercial.
The beach below was pure white sand, no litter, no screaming kids, not even a stray dog marking its territory.
No tourists, no boats. Just waves slamming the shore in slow, dramatic fashion, like they were trying to seduce her to jump to swim.
"Aunt Martha, you're an absolute queen. How did you even find this place for that price? You deserve a crown," Evelyn said out loud, impressed.
Only a few days ago, after finally locking in her path, she'd called Aunt Martha, asking her to find a place to stay in this town.
The second she heard how ridiculously cheap this apartment was, she didn't hesitate to sign the five-year lease.
She made a wise investment and will raise her child in this peaceful, beautiful place.
When Evelyn finished her bowl of cereal and a banana, another growl from her stomach caught her off guard.
She glanced down at her perfectly flat stomach.
"Little tenant, don't say you're still hungry? Seriously?"
She could only chuckle, pushing back from the table before heading to the fridge.
Cooking wasn't on today's agenda, but a fresh apple winked at her from the middle shelf.
Biting into the crisp fruit, Evelyn let her eyes wander, and they inevitably landed on the television in the seating area.
Without realizing it, her feet carried her over until she flopped into the cozy sofa.
Maybe she should check the news.
Just to see if the scandal of her grand exit from the Walters family was still the hot gossip strangling the nation.
Curiosity won, as always.
She grabbed the remote and hit the power button.
The screen lit up, and her jaw dropped. Her eyes went wide, as if the Grim Reaper himself had just stepped out of the TV to ask for her phone number.
"What the…hell? Why does my personal source of misery pop up the second I turn this thing on?"
Because there he was... Axel Knight, gliding out of his luxury car like some corporate deity on his way to a business banquet.
Evelyn scrambled for the remote to turn it off, but of course, fate had other plans. Axel turned to the camera and gave a casual wave, acknowledging the paparazzi vultures lined up outside.
She hated to admit it, but the man looked sinfully good in his signature black suit and high turtleneck, his sleek black hair framing a face that could stop traffic and quite possibly her breathing.
Axel Knight was the top guy in the business world, the poster child for success, but he had nerves of steel and a stare that could make glass shatter.
At thirty-three, he'd already built a business empire that could make some of the nation's oldest companies break into a nervous sweat.
Of course, that kind of meteoric success doesn't just attract admiration; it comes with a side order of relentless rumors, scandal bait, and the occasional hit piece in the media.
As for why her ex-father... William Walters loathed the entire Knight bloodline. Especially Axel.
Evelyn had no idea. She just knew that there was no room for any negotiation with the Knight family!
A bitter laugh escaped her. He looked like he was waving at her, his eyes cold, his lips in that firm, unreadable line as he strode into the building without a pause.
Then, suddenly, her stomach clenched. Her hand instinctively rubbed her flat belly.
"Little tenant, did you just say you recognize him?"
She laughed, short and humorless, which was accompanied by a snort, while switching the channel, only to find herself staring at yet another segment… about her.
Apparently, she was still headline material. Which meant she couldn't exactly stroll around this charming little town without risking being spotted, reported, and dragged back into the media circus.
Peace, it seemed, remained a distant dream for her, at least for the foreseeable future.
Exhaling deeply, Evelyn pushed all her swirling worries and anxieties into a mental drawer labeled "Not Today."
She headed back to her bedroom, snagged her laptop bag, and returned to the kitchen island.
The laptop whirred to life, screen glowing in the dim light.
And then a "ding" sounded, surprising her.
Her eyes narrowed. An encrypted secure chat window popped up, filling the screen like it owned the place.
One message blinked at her: [ Are you alright there? ]