Chapter 190

"Your choice." Liam's gaze darkened imperceptibly as he brushed past her and strode toward the driver's seat. He yanked the door open and slid inside.

A surge of irritation hit him the moment he caught sight of Evelyn's dress from behind.

From the front, it looked modest—elegant even. But the back? A daring plunge, exposing the smooth expanse of her pale skin beneath the cascade of her hair.

Completely inappropriate.

Liam turned on his heel and seized her wrist, steering her toward the passenger side.

"What are you doing?"

"Wait in the car." He nudged her into the seat and slammed the door shut.

Then, he circled the hood and dropped into the driver's seat.

"Seatbelt."

Evelyn reached for the door handle. "Go handle your business. I'll find a café to wait in. Just text me when you're done."

Liam leaned over, his fingers brushing against her waist as he buckled her in.

The sudden closeness startled her. She pressed herself against the seat, putting as much distance between them as possible. Her breath hitched, lashes fluttering nervously.

The faint scent of her perfume coiled around him, tugging at something deep in his chest. He forced his expression to remain neutral, ignoring the rapid thud of his pulse, and focused on the road.

Thirty minutes later, the car rolled to a stop outside the hospital. Liam unbuckled his belt and told her to stay put.

"Who's in the hospital?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Adrian. He's injured."

Evelyn immediately undid her seatbelt. "How bad is it? I want to see him."

"It's fine. Stay here. I'll update you if anything changes." His tone was gentle but firm.

Since he clearly didn’t want her inside, she didn’t push further.

After he disappeared into the building, she waited in the passenger seat for what felt like hours. The sun blazed through the windshield, the heat oppressive despite the AC.

Eventually, she climbed out and moved to the backseat instead.

Bored, she stretched out across the leather and closed her eyes. Without realizing it, she drifted into a deep sleep—one that lasted from mid-afternoon well into the night.

Evelyn woke groggily, disoriented by the sensation of movement. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up.

In the driver's seat, Ryan was focused on the road when a shadowy figure suddenly appeared in the rearview mirror. Wild, tangled hair framed a pale face, and he nearly screamed, slamming on the brakes.

His shout startled Evelyn just as much. She scrambled into the corner, clutching her chest. "Who are you?"

Recognition dawned on him. He exhaled sharply, composing himself. "Mrs. Blackwood?"

She peered at him, blinking. "Ryan?"

Understanding flashed across his face. "You were asleep in the back? I thought you'd left."

"What?"

"General Blackwood instructed me to take you home before heading to the military base," he explained. "When I didn’t see you at the hospital, I assumed you'd gone on your own."

Only then did she notice the darkness outside. Leaning against the window, she took in the dense forest whipping past. "Where are we?"

"The border. We're returning to the Aldenrian Military Base," he answered respectfully.

Her stomach dropped.

Where’s Liam? Weren’t we getting divorced? How did I end up at the border?

Evelyn was speechless.

Ryan shifted uncomfortably. "My apologies, Mrs. Blackwood. This is my mistake. I’ll arrange a flight back to Phoenicia for you first thing tomorrow."