Chapter 382

Evelyn remained silent as she watched Victoria.

Ryan glanced around the room and asked, "Ms. Wright, where's Adrian and the others?"

Evelyn pulled Ryan outside the door. She lowered her voice and said, "I don't know the details. We'll have to wait for Liam to wake up before I can explain, but Adrian betrayed us."

Ryan's face paled. His voice cracked as he shouted, "That's impossible!"

Evelyn knew they had been as close as brothers. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Liam was injured because of him," she said quietly.

Ryan's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. Anger burned in his veins, his jaw tightening until his eyes reddened. He turned away, tilting his head back to take deep, steadying breaths, forcing the rage and grief down.

Evelyn didn’t know how to comfort him. His pain was raw, his fury barely contained.

But she knew Liam was suffering a hundred times worse.

The thought of him made her leave Ryan and return to the hospital room.

When she stepped inside, she froze.

Victoria sat beside the bed, elbows resting on the mattress, Liam's hand pressed against her cheek. Her gaze was intense, filled with emotion as she stared at him.

Then, slowly, she lifted his hand and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles.

The sight was so intimate that Evelyn hesitated, unsure whether to interrupt or leave. Should she tell Victoria to let go? Or reassure her that Liam would be fine?

But she had no right to demand anything. All she could do was swallow the ache in her chest.

Evelyn stepped forward. "Ms. Hudson—"

Before she could offer any comfort, Victoria cut her off without even looking up. "You can go now. I'll handle things here."

Evelyn stiffened.

Victoria finally lifted her head, irritation flashing in her eyes as she took in Evelyn’s lingering presence. She released Liam’s hand and asked coolly, "Is there something else?"

Evelyn inhaled deeply. "I want to stay until Liam wakes up."

"That’s unnecessary," Victoria replied. "Ryan will notify you when he’s conscious."

Evelyn said nothing.

Victoria continued, "You can have Rosalind pick you up, or take a cab. Once Liam wakes, Ryan and I will arrange for his transfer to Aldenria for recovery."

Silence stretched between them.

Victoria added, almost as an afterthought, "By the way, thank you for risking your life to rescue Liam from Obsidian Circle’s headquarters. We’ll never forget your bravery."

We?

Since when had she and Liam become a we? Was it during the past month—when Evelyn had deliberately avoided him, preparing to return to Solterra?

Now, witnessing Victoria’s possessive gestures, Evelyn felt a sharp pang.

This wasn’t how friends acted. This was something deeper—something reserved for lovers.

Her stomach twisted. She thought of the times in Shadowmire’s prison when she’d accidentally brushed against Liam, only for him to stiffen and pull away.

Had he changed?

Evelyn couldn’t stop herself from asking, "Ms. Hudson… are you and Liam—?"

Victoria’s gaze snapped up, sharp and assessing.

After a long pause, Evelyn forced the words out. "Are you two together?"

Victoria hesitated for a heartbeat before answering firmly, "Yes. We’ve been official for a month."

The words hit like a knife to the chest. Pain radiated through Evelyn’s body, leaving her numb.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced a weak smile. Her mind went blank, unsure how to react without breaking.

A month.

The same month she had rejected Liam and prepared to leave.

No wonder he hadn’t come to see her.