Chapter 50

Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine at Liam's words. "What if I wasn't Isabella Grayson?" she challenged. "What if I was just an amateur who enjoyed learning from masters?"

Liam placed the DNA report aside, his lips curling into a teasing smirk. "Then you have an impressive collection of hobbies."

His piercing gaze locked onto hers. "You can replicate masterpieces. You claim to hate reading yet remember every word. Your scientific knowledge rivals experts. Foreign literature poses no challenge to you."

Evelyn's pulse quickened. "So you still think I'm an Obsidian Circle spy?"

Silence stretched between them. Liam had always been meticulous in his assessments.

Everything about Evelyn contradicted her background. Her graceful movements spoke of rigorous training, her composure under pressure was unnatural. These weren't traits one developed casually.

After a moment's consideration, Evelyn proposed, "Why not wire me and send me to their headquarters? That would prove my innocence."

Liam's expression darkened at her naivety. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Do you understand what Obsidian Circle does to failed operatives? If you were one of them returning empty-handed, they'd execute you. If you're not..." He let the implication hang.

Evelyn squared her shoulders. "Then arrest me. Better to eliminate a potential threat than risk national security."

A muscle twitched in Liam's jaw. "Must you always assume the worst?" His unusually gentle tone caught her off guard.

Before she could respond, a brilliant flash illuminated the room. Thunder cracked with deafening force.

Evelyn screamed, collapsing to her knees. Her hands flew to her ears as violent tremors wracked her body. Cold sweat drenched her clothes within seconds.

Liam reacted instantly, crouching before her and covering her hands with his own. "You're afraid of thunder?" His voice barely registered over her panic.

Another lightning strike plunged the room into darkness. The subsequent thunderclap shook the windows.

"Where are my headphones?" Evelyn gasped, scrambling toward the nightstand on unsteady legs.

As Liam moved to assist, another explosion of thunder sent her crashing into his chest. Instinct took over - she clung to him like a drowning woman to driftwood, her fingers digging into his shirt.

The storm raged outside, rain lashing against the now-closed windows. In the oppressive darkness, Evelyn's ragged breathing was the only sound between them. Liam's arms remained steady around her, an unexpected anchor in her terror.