Samuel's words sent a wave of warmth through Alexander.

His smile widened.

"Alright, I understand," Alexander replied.

Samuel, who had been quietly observing, sighed with nostalgia. "Mr. Blackwood, to be perfectly honest, I once feared you might never marry. But seeing you now—not just married, but clearly in love—it's remarkable. Your grandmother would be so happy. So relieved."

Alexander looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

"You seem truly happy," Samuel answered, his own smile gentle and knowing.

Alexander chuckled. The sound softened his typically stern features, making him appear more alive.

More vibrant.

Happiness was no longer a distant concept. It was his reality, all because of Evelyn.

"If Grandmother hadn't insisted, I might never have met Evelyn," Alexander mused.

He used to dismiss fate as a foolish notion. Now, he was a believer. He hoped it would continue to bless his and Evelyn's life with joy.

Sebastian and Beatrice's advice echoed in his mind. Total transparency with Evelyn was essential.

He wondered how she would take the truth.

Whatever her reaction, Alexander was resolved to face it bravely.

Just thinking of her made him smile again, a genuine expression of contentment.

Evelyn ended the call.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself, then began packing her bag to leave.

As she stepped out of her office, she nearly bumped into colleagues returning from their break.

"Evelyn? Leaving already?" one asked, noting her hurried pace.

A blush touched Evelyn's cheeks as she recalled Alexander's earlier message. "Yes. Aren't you all heading home soon?"

Another colleague sighed. "We still have designs to finish. Just grabbed a quick bite. Back to the grind."

A third colleague noticed Evelyn's flushed face and grinned. "Someone's in a hurry to get home to her husband, I see."

Light laughter filled the hallway.

Feeling the playful mood, Evelyn smiled and gave a soft nod. "Yes."

"Go on then! We'll see you tomorrow!"

"Alright, see you. Don't work too late," Evelyn said.

As she walked past, one colleague called out. "Oh, Evelyn! Be careful—the streetlights in the park are out tonight. It's pitch black."

"Thanks, I'll take a cab instead of the bus," Evelyn replied.

Outside, the park was indeed enveloped in darkness. A few people navigated the paths using their phone flashlights.

Approaching the park's exit, Evelyn pulled out her phone to book a ride.

For some reason, the signal was terribly weak. The app took forever to load.

The ambient sounds around her seemed to fade. A cold shiver traced her spine. Her heart hammered. She spun around.

No one was there.

Frowning, she tried to dismiss the feeling as paranoia.

But as she turned back, she gasped.

A figure materialized directly in front of her. She froze, instinctively stepping back.

Before she could scream, the figure lunged. A cloth was pressed hard against her mouth and nose, choking her breath.

"Hel—" The word was smothered. Her vision swam, dark spots blooming until everything went black.

Marrying A Secret Zillionaire: Happy Ever After