A smug smile played on Evelyn's lips.

Alexander had only meant to give her a small scare. He reached out to pull her from the water.

But Evelyn swam backward with a swift motion, easily evading his grasp. A delighted laugh bubbled from her as she put more distance between them.

"Alexander, you can try again when you're fast enough to catch me!"

Confined to his wheelchair, Alexander watched her glide toward the deep end. Frustration was clear on his face.

If he weren't committed to this charade of being disabled, he would have already swept her into his arms.

Still, Alexander knew other ways to make her come to him.

A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. A slow, cunning smirk spread across his features.

He lifted a hand to his temple. A soft, pained groan escaped his lips.

"Ah..." Alexander winced, exaggerating his expression of discomfort.

Evelyn saw his act from the pool. Her brow furrowed with immediate concern. She swam back quickly.

"Alexander, what is it?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. "A headache? Did you get a chill from the water earlier?"

Alexander kept his face partially turned away. His tone was deliberately distant. "It's nothing. Don't trouble yourself. I should just go to my room and rest."

Seeing his apparent pain, Evelyn's anxiety grew.

She hurriedly climbed out of the pool. Water dripped from her as she rushed to his side.

"Alexander, wait..." she began, wanting to check on him properly.

Before she could finish, his hand shot out and captured her wrist. "See? I caught you after all," he said, one eyebrow arched triumphantly.

Evelyn stood frozen for a second. The realization that she'd been tricked dawned on her.

This devious, cunning man! And she had been genuinely worried!

She had fallen right into his trap.

Irritated, she bit her lip and tried to pull her hand back.

Alexander gave her no chance to escape. With a firm tug, he pulled her onto his lap. His arms locked around her, holding her securely in place.

"Still thinking of running?" Alexander's whisper was warm against her ear. It sent a shiver across her skin.

Evelyn glared at him. "You're completely shameless!"

Alexander chuckled, utterly unbothered by her accusation. "You said if I caught you, I could have anything I want. Are you going back on your word now?"

Evelyn shot him an exasperated look. She immediately recognized the playful, predatory gleam in his eyes.

What a miscalculation. How had she not seen this sly side of him before?

Then again, Alexander would never truly hurt her... would he?

After a brief internal debate, Evelyn decided to play along, albeit reluctantly. "Fine, I'll honor the bet. What is it you want me to do?"

Alexander's expression softened. A faint, knowing smile touched his lips. "Just promise me one thing. I haven't decided what it is yet. So you'll owe me for now."

Evelyn agreed without a second thought. "Alright."

After all, whether she actually followed through later was her decision. If she refused, what could he really do about it?

Having agreed, she instinctively tried to stand up. To her surprise, Alexander's grip tightened. He held her even closer, making her position feel increasingly intimate.

Evelyn frowned. She shifted slightly in his lap to relieve the pressure.

Suddenly, her leg brushed against something hard...