Chapter 69

"I had prior engagements," Evelyn replied with a practiced smile.

Beatrice had been like a second mother to Evelyn ever since her biological parents passed away. Beatrice and her husband Arthur Whitmore had stepped in to fill that void.

Only when Evelyn turned eighteen did Beatrice finally stop hovering and began her globetrotting adventures.

Throughout Evelyn's formative years, Beatrice had been the maternal presence she desperately needed. That bond made Evelyn consider her family.

Evelyn's gaze swept the room before landing playfully on Beatrice. "Aunt Beatrice, where's Uncle Arthur hiding?"

"Why bring him up?" Beatrice feigned irritation. "Don't waste breath on that impossible man."

"Understood." Evelyn suppressed a chuckle. Beatrice and Arthur were like oil and water - constantly bickering when together, yet anxious when apart.

Their youthful passion had led to a divorce during one particularly heated argument.

Arthur's regret had been instantaneous. Thus began his decades-long quest to win back his wife.

He'd abandoned all interest in running Whitmore Enterprises, dumping the responsibility on Harrison's shoulders when the boy wasn't even eighteen, choosing instead to chase Beatrice across continents.

"Evelyn, Dominic told me about your divorce." Beatrice tapped Evelyn's nose reproachfully. "You're a grown woman now. When will you stop treating marriage like some fleeting whim?"

"My dear, haven't I always taught you? When someone wrongs you, strike back twice as hard." Beatrice's eyes flashed with protective fire. "You're my precious girl. Between Whitmore Enterprises and Kingsley Industries, you've got an army behind you."

"I stayed silent because I didn't want to burden my family." Evelyn clung tighter to Beatrice's arm, her voice softening. "Forgive me."

Evelyn wasn't incapable of vulnerability. She simply reserved her tenderness for those who truly mattered.

Beatrice's sudden sigh after Evelyn's apology prompted concern. "What troubles you, Aunt Beatrice?"

Fingers carding through Evelyn's hair, Beatrice murmured, "Given how close I was with your mother, you should have been my daughter-in-law. Then you'd never have endured such pain."

"But the Prescotts claimed you first." Beatrice's voice thickened with regret. "My fault for being so preoccupied with travel."

"That chapter's closed now."

Eyes glistening, Evelyn leaned into Beatrice's embrace. "You and Uncle Arthur are family. With you both in my life, I lack for nothing."

"Evie darling," Beatrice's tone turned mischievous, "now that you're unattached, have you considered Harrison? Tall, devastatingly handsome, mature beyond his years. I should arrange a meeting."

"If sparks fly, we could host the wedding immediately." Beatrice's enthusiasm grew with each word. "Well? What say you, my dear?"

Silence stretched. Only Evelyn's steady breathing filled the space between them. Beatrice paused, then squeezed Evelyn's hand with understanding.

"Rest now, sweetheart. It's been an exhausting day."

That night, Evelyn slept more peacefully than she had in months. Come morning, she accompanied Beatrice to the highly anticipated photography exhibition.

Beatrice wasn't merely Harrison Whitmore's mother. She was also the legendary travel blogger "Sunny," ranked among Instagram's top three influencers.

Her photographs were hailed as timeless masterpieces in artistic circles. Today's exhibition chronicled her global adventures.

Art connoisseurs and corporate sycophants alike had fought viciously for tickets, with the gallery selling out six months in advance.

"Aunt Beatrice, did you truly encounter a tribal chief in the Azantian rainforest?" Evelyn asked in awe.

"Would I fabricate such tales?" Beatrice guided Evelyn toward a striking photograph. "There's the man himself."

Just then, Evelyn's peripheral vision caught Nathan Sterling and Isabella Delaney across the gallery. Nathan stood ramrod straight amidst the crowd, his aloof demeanor and piercing gaze projecting his usual aristocratic detachment.

Isabella, noticeably pregnant, flaunted her Chanel ensemble while constantly cradling her belly. The sight turned Evelyn's blood to ice.

Her smile froze as an arctic chill spread through her veins.