Evelyn felt a wave of irritation.

"Alexander! Must you always be so juvenile?" she exclaimed.

He remained completely unfazed by her scolding.

Alexander simply shrugged.

In his mind, being a little childish with his own wife was perfectly harmless.

Noticing her growing frustration, he decided to tease her further.

"If you're that desperate to know, I might be persuaded to share my secrets."

He leaned in slightly, a playful glint in his eyes.

"How about a kiss first? Then, I'll reveal anything you want to know."

Evelyn snorted dismissively and turned her face away.

Her lips formed a defiant pout.

"I've lost all interest in your silly games," she declared, convinced she had anticipated his usual tactics.

"Is that so?" Alexander's voice was light and teasing, a sound that tested her resolve.

Despite her burning curiosity, Evelyn held her posture rigid, arms crossed tightly.

"Absolutely. I don't want to know. You can keep your secrets."

Even with his back to her, Alexander could vividly imagine the fiery spirit in her eyes.

It made him adore her even more.

A deep warmth spread through his chest.

They arrived home shortly after.

Exhausted from the day's events, Evelyn quickly freshened up.

She slipped into bed, her body sinking gratefully into the soft, comforting sheets.

Later that night, after Alexander finished his remaining work, he joined her in the quiet bedroom.

As he settled in, he heard her murmuring in her sleep.

"Alexander... what wish did you make... you infuriating man, always hiding things..." her words were slurred, tangled in dreams.

He was initially surprised.

That surprise quickly melted into a tender smile, his eyes shining with affection.

He hadn't realized his wish had found its way into her subconscious.

It was a clear sign his words had struck a chord deep within her.

Alexander carefully lowered himself onto the edge of the bed beside her.

He leaned close until his breath was a whisper against her ear.

"Evelyn," he murmured with heartfelt sincerity. "My only wish is to spend eternity by your side."

At that exact moment, the antique clock in the living room began to chime midnight.

Its deep, resonant tones echoed through the silent house like a solemn vow.

Holding his breath, Alexander brushed a soft, affectionate kiss against Evelyn's forehead.

It was a silent seal on his whispered confession.

The next morning, the sun rose on another workday for Evelyn.

Her desk was already buried under a mountain of pending assignments and unread emails.

Her phone's shrill ringtone broke the morning's routine.

An unknown number flashed across the screen.

A flicker of anxiety shot through her.

Her mind instantly went back to the disturbing calls from Theodore Vance.

She took a steadying breath, gathering her courage before answering.

"Hello?" Her voice was calm but guarded.

A moment of silence passed before a voice, unexpectedly gentle, filled the line.

"Evelyn, how have you been holding up?"

Evelyn's voice rippled with genuine surprise.

"Lucas? This is a shock!"

Lucas Bennett's warm laughter resonated through the phone.

"I know, it's been far too long," he said. "I was hoping you'd be free this weekend. We're organizing a small college reunion."

Evelyn paused, a flood of memories from her university days washing over her.

She had been stretched incredibly thin back then.

Juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet had left her with little time to socialize or bond with classmates.

Furthermore, a few of her peers had always been inexplicably hostile towards her.

Why would she willingly spend her time at a reunion that promised no joy?

"I'm afraid I might have prior commitments this weekend," Evelyn responded, her tone polite but distinctly distant.

Lucas sighed, the sound tinged with disappointment.

"Evelyn, you've been keeping yourself very busy lately. I just got off the phone with Amelia Clarke—she accepted the invitation immediately. She's really looking forward to seeing you."

At the mention of Amelia Clarke, Evelyn's eyebrows shot up in astonishment.

"Amelia? Wait, when did she come back? And she's actually going to the reunion?"