With these thoughts swirling, Evelyn sat down, powered on her computer, and navigated to the company's official page to find the post in question.

The signature at the bottom of the formal apology was unmistakably that of the founder of Aethelgard Industries.

Why had he gone out of his way to advocate for her in the past?

Was it possible he had known her before?

As Evelyn pondered this, her phone began to vibrate on the desk.

Snapping back to the present, she saw Alexander's name illuminated on the screen.

A sudden wave of guilt washed over her.

She had been intensely thinking about another man. If the notoriously possessive Alexander ever found out, his reaction would be severe.

Evelyn pushed the thoughts aside, answered the call, and spoke softly. "Hello, darling?"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Alexander responded, his tone laced with suspicion. "Evelyn, you sound different today. It's only been a day since I left. Have you been up to something I should know about?"

Startled by the accusation, Evelyn's eyes widened. "Why would you say that?"

Even as she spoke, she remembered her recent musings about the Aethelgard founder.

Though it was a fleeting thought, she knew that to Alexander's jealous nature, it could easily be magnified into a major issue. She resolved firmly not to mention anything about the founder to him.

Alexander chuckled lightly, the tension easing from his voice. "I'm only teasing you. Don't take it seriously."

His tone then softened considerably. "Have you been eating properly today? How did you sleep last night? Any discomfort from your cycle? Remember, there's pain medication in the nightstand drawer if you need it."

Evelyn's heart warmed at his thoughtful questions.

She decided against mentioning that her period was late. She would wait until she had taken a test to confirm anything, not wanting to worry him prematurely.

"Everything is fine with me, no need to worry," Evelyn reassured him gently. "What about you? How is the business trip progressing?"

A tender smile spread across Alexander's face, though Evelyn couldn't see it.

Unbeknownst to her, Alexander had traveled to a neighboring city to commission a diamond ring from the renowned jewelry designer, Jacquetta Beaumont. Taking advice from his friend Sebastian, he planned to reveal everything at the upcoming Aethelgard Industries gala and propose in a spectacular fashion, even though they were already married.

The ring required meticulous preparation, leading Alexander to seek out the celebrated designer. Due to her packed schedule, she was only available at an event in the adjacent city.

Alexander had arranged a personal consultation under the guise of a business trip, intent on creating the perfect ring.

He had meticulously planned this surprise for Evelyn, keeping his true intentions secret. He had even chosen to inform her of his departure via a simple text message to avoid suspicion.

So far, his secret was safe, with no accidental slips from Sebastian.

"You're my good luck charm. Everything falls into place effortlessly when I'm with you," Alexander said, his voice sincere.

Evelyn's face softened into a smile at his words.

"When will you be back?" she asked.

As she posed the question, she calculated the timing. She expected to have the results of a pregnancy test by then, which would finally provide clarity.