You're Playing With Fire

Alexander's retort was sharp and immediate.

His brows furrowed deeply in clear annoyance.

"Cut the nonsense, Sebastian," he huffed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He knew exactly what Sebastian was hinting at—that he had been intimate with Evelyn.

But the truth was, they hadn't. Not yet.

He was determined not to let anyone, especially not Sebastian, joke about something so significant.

Sebastian's playful smirk vanished, replaced by a look of genuine disappointment.

He had expected a different reaction, some sign of passion from his friend.

In Sebastian's eyes, Evelyn was the embodiment of allure.

Her figure alone could captivate any man's desire.

Yet here was Alexander, her husband, seemingly untouched by her charms.

To Sebastian, this was just typical Alexander—always the controlled, stoic figure.

If Alexander had actually succumbed to Evelyn's beauty, that would have been a real shock.

Sebastian leaned in closer, his curiosity visibly piqued.

"Changing the subject," he began, a new spark in his eyes. "That necklace you gave Evelyn last night... what was her reaction? She must have been over the moon. It was a stunning piece."

Alexander shook his head, a hint of disbelief coloring his expression.

"Quite the opposite," he admitted, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Her first thought was the cost. She outright refused to accept it. I had to threaten to throw it away before she reluctantly agreed to keep it."

Sebastian's eyes widened in genuine shock.

"Seriously? A woman who thinks jewelry is too expensive?"

He squinted thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

"Maybe she's just playing hard-to-get, you think?"

"No," Alexander replied firmly, pressing his lips into a thin line. "It's not a game. She's genuinely worried I'm wasting money. She's concerned I won't be able to pay off my debt."

This revelation left Sebastian utterly dumbfounded.

"Debt? What debt are you talking about?"

As Alexander laid out the fabricated story of the 100-million-dollar debt, Sebastian burst into hearty laughter, clutching his stomach.

"I can't believe it, Alexander... You? In debt? You're the one who messed this up?"

Regaining his composure, Sebastian leaned in again, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"You realize if Evelyn ever uncovers this lie, you're in deep trouble. The sweeter they seem, the harder they fall when betrayed. And Evelyn? With her personality..."

Alexander's expression darkened immediately.

A deep frown creased his brow as he considered the implications.

"She won't find out," he stated with a hint of defiance.

After a brief, heavy pause, he added more quietly, "And even if she does, she won't care that much."

"You're playing with fire, man," Sebastian warned, shaking his head in clear disapproval. "You're still a novice in these matters. Listen to me—confess to her at the first chance you get. Otherwise, you might live to regret it."

Alexander's frown deepened.

His gaze dropped to the floor as he seriously contemplated the advice.

The silence between them grew weighty.

After a long moment, he finally murmured, "I understand what you're saying. I'll consider it."

Meanwhile, in her office, Evelyn sneezed abruptly, startling herself.

She scrunched her face in displeasure and quickly grabbed a tissue.

A nagging feeling crept into her mind—was someone talking about her?

Her instincts, though she didn't know it, were spot on. Alexander and Sebastian were indeed discussing her.

Almost on reflex, her eyes darted across the room toward Genevieve.

She saw Genevieve, clearly not working, huddled with a small group of colleagues.

They were chatting animatedly, and every so often, their glances subtly shifted in Evelyn's direction.

Evelyn's brows knitted together in fresh irritation.

It seemed some people never learned. The gossip mill was clearly still churning.

Choosing to take the high road, Evelyn forced her attention back to her computer screen, diving into her work.

Her concentration was shattered when Nathanial approached her desk.

His face was etched with unusual gravity.

"Evelyn, come to my office. Now," he stated, his tone firm and leaving no room for discussion.

As she rose from her chair, Evelyn's eyes accidentally met Genevieve's across the room.

The sight of Genevieve's smug, self-satisfied smirk sent an immediate shiver of anxiety down her spine.

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

What on earth was happening now?