Chapter 35

The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. Evelyn hesitated before speaking. "Three years ago, Uncle Benjamin was in an accident and needed extensive medical treatment. I dropped out of the competition to work as a caregiver for a wealthy family."

She couldn't bring herself to tell Alexander that she had married Nathaniel.

Daniel leaned forward, his eyes bright. "The awards ceremony is next week, isn't it? Let's get you something stunning to wear, Evelyn."

When it came to high-profile events and red carpets, no one had more expertise than him.

Evelyn nodded, though her fingers twisted nervously in her lap.

Alexander exhaled quietly. The Sinclair family was behind the Fleur International Design Competition, which meant he couldn’t reveal himself just yet. The last thing he wanted was for Evelyn to discover his identity and resent him for it. Reluctantly, he had to let Daniel accompany her instead.

But fate had other plans. Both Alexander and Daniel were swamped with work the next day, leaving Olivia to take Evelyn shopping.

The moment they stepped into the upscale mall, Evelyn’s breath caught. The price tags made her stomach drop. She tugged Olivia’s sleeve. "These brands are way out of my budget. Let’s try somewhere else."

Olivia waved her off with a confident smile. "Relax, Evelyn. I know someone who works here—she can get us a discount on an evening gown. This is your first awards ceremony! You deserve to shine."

Before Evelyn could protest, Olivia pulled her toward a Chanel boutique.

Penelope Whitmore had just left the spa when she spotted Evelyn entering the mall. A smirk curled her lips as she followed, designer bag swinging from her arm.

She sauntered up, voice dripping with condescension. "Well, well. Fancy seeing you here, Evelyn. Do you even know how much these dresses cost? A few thousand dollars—peanuts for me, but probably a year’s salary for someone like you."

Olivia arched a brow, unimpressed. "It’s just a dress. I think we can manage."

Money had never been an issue for her. Back in Nord City, she never even glanced at price tags.

Penelope burst into laughter. "Oh, please. This isn’t some flea market where you can haggle over prices. This place is for people like me—not peasants who can’t afford a single piece."

Evelyn’s hands clenched into fists. "Watch your mouth, Penelope."

She could tolerate the insults aimed at her, but she wouldn’t stand for Olivia being disrespected.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. The moment Penelope introduced herself, she recognized her—another rotten apple from the Whitmore family tree.

Just then, a sales associate approached with several gowns. "Ladies, I’ve selected a few options that might suit you."

Penelope scoffed, eyeing the dresses. "Why are you even looking at evening gowns, Evelyn? Don’t tell me you’re attending the awards ceremony."

Evelyn met her gaze evenly. "I am. Got a problem with that?"

Penelope smirked. "You do know only finalists get invites, right? Unless, of course, you’re someone important—like me."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Who said Evelyn didn’t make it to the finals? Unlike some people who got disqualified for paying someone else to do their designs."

As the wife of the competition’s organizer, she knew exactly what had happened.