Chapter 78

Evelyn stood outside the bubble tea shop, staring at the menu for a long time.

"One lemonade, extra sour, please." That was her final choice.

When the clerk handed her the drink, she immediately took a big sip. The sharp tang exploded on her tongue, yet it strangely brought her relief.

These little ones had such picky tastes.

Lately, her cravings had become unusual—she kept wanting things so sour they bordered on bitter.

In the past, she wouldn’t have touched anything this acidic.

But today, even this lemonade wasn’t enough.

She needed something even more sour to satisfy this sudden urge.

Evelyn walked slowly along the pedestrian street, her eyes scanning the roadside stalls.

Most of the crowd consisted of couples or families with children. Groups of students laughed as they passed her by.

The lively, everyday scene warmed her heart.

Having grown up under strict training, she cherished these ordinary moments of warmth more than anything.

Before she turned eighteen, it was Alexander who had accompanied her through those lonely years.

And then there were Gabrielle and the other four—sisters in all but blood.

The world knew the heiress of Sterling Manor had five formidable aides, but few had ever seen their faces.

Her grandfather’s teachings had given her the most precious gifts in life.

Evelyn’s lips curved into a faint smile. She had been fortunate—she had her grandfather, Sebastian, Alexander, and Gabrielle’s group.

Only that marriage...

What was one failed marriage? Life was full of setbacks.

She just hadn’t expected to be the one who got divorced.

And she hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.

A fruit stand at the corner caught her attention.

"Excuse me, do you have any especially sour oranges?"

The vendor eagerly pointed to a basket of green-skinned oranges. "These are perfectly balanced—sweet with just a hint of tartness. Would you like to try one?"

Evelyn broke off a segment and popped it into her mouth. The juice burst forth, tangy yet sweet—just right.

Under the streetlights, her satisfied smile momentarily dazzled the vendor.

She bought a pound of oranges and turned into the noodle shop next door.

The second-floor window seat offered an excellent view of the entire pedestrian street.

Red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a warm glow over the bustling crowd below.

Evelyn peeled an orange as she watched the lively scene.

"Pfft—"

A sudden spitting sound came from behind her.

Only then did she notice someone had taken the neighboring table. When she turned, her pupils contracted slightly.

Adrian was wiping his mouth with a napkin, his brow furrowed. "How can you eat something so sour?"

In his memory, Evelyn had always avoided even mildly tart oranges.

Her heart skipped a beat. He could never find out about the pregnancy—she hadn’t even been to the hospital for confirmation.

"What are you doing here?" she countered coldly.