Chapter 10

Evelyn Roland shot Adrian Valentine a cold glare. "We're over. Who I'm with is none of your business."

"Take your hands off me."

Adrian's lips curled into a sinister smirk, though his tone remained lazy. "Evelyn, are you that desperate? The divorce isn't even finalized, and you're already looking for your next man. Don't pretend you didn't betray me."

"Don't project your filth onto everyone else," Evelyn said coolly. Her fingers pressed precisely against a pressure point on his wrist. "You only married me because of a bet with your friends. Must have been such a burden for you this past year."

A flicker of pain crossed her eyes before she abruptly twisted her grip.

A sharp numbness shot through Adrian's wrist, forcing him to release her.

Frowning, he watched her walk away, an unfamiliar ache settling in his chest.

Her hands had always seemed delicate—how could they hold such strength?

Evelyn had changed.

She was no longer someone he could read.

Inside her speeding car, Evelyn clenched the steering wheel.

Betrayal?

She scoffed.

Typical Adrian—accusing her of the very thing he was guilty of.

Neon lights flickered across her face through the window, casting shifting shadows.

A month had passed.

She still couldn’t figure out where their marriage had gone wrong.

Her phone rang abruptly.

"Sweetheart."

"Grandfather." Her voice was rough.

"I secured the Violet Diamond—just in time for your birthday." His tone was warm. "I’ve commissioned the finest jeweler to craft a set for you."

Evelyn arched a brow lazily. "You’re sure it’s clean? I’d rather not wear it and end up with a target on my back."

"Brat!" He laughed. "Spent half my life building a name, the other half trying to scrub it clean, and you still won’t let me live it down."

"This diamond is special. If you’ve claimed it, you know what it means."

His voice turned serious. "The four-year agreement has ended. From today, Sterling Manor is yours. It’s time for this old man to step back—don’t make me regret it."

Evelyn’s fingers stilled. "Grandfather… do you want a great-grandchild?"

"Hm?" He caught the shift in her tone instantly. "That sounds like a breakup. Let me guess—the man’s an idiot. My granddaughter is stunning, brilliant, and comes from one of the most powerful families. What more could he want?"

Evelyn sighed.

"It’s just a man!" he boomed. "Come home and reclaim your place as the heiress. Give it a few years, and every eligible bachelor in Vienna will be lining up for you."

She massaged her temples.

The old man was getting too modern for his own good.

"Oh," he added, lowering his voice. "That unconscious man you sent back last month… he wouldn’t happen to be the father, would he?"