Chapter 302

Charles couldn’t tear his eyes away from Evelyn, his fingers gripping the edge of his glass like it was a lifeline. A tidal wave of emotions swept through him, breaking the calm he’d maintained for the past two years. His eyes, usually so composed, now sparkled with undeniable joy as he gazed at Evelyn. She was alive. It was a miracle. His excitement was written all over his face, impossible to hide.
Dahlia, on the other hand, was struggling to keep her jealousy under wraps. That woman, Evelyn, had the nerve to survive and come back, immediately setting her sights on Charles. How brazen!
Evelyn was aware of Charles’s stare but paid him no mind, not even sparing him a glance. Instead, she made a beeline for Mabel. Right now, Evelyn was the star of the show. All eyes were on her as she moved through the crowd, then suddenly stopped. There, in front of her, sat Dahlia in her wheelchair. Evelyn’s pause shifted everyone’s focus back to Dahlia, and memories of her earlier gaffe came rushing back.
Before Ms. Mabel could even make an announcement, Dahlia had jumped the gun, eager to claim the spotlight. It was embarrassing, really. Even though everyone expected it to be her moment, her impatience turned her into a laughingstock. Dahlia felt the sting of the crowd’s ridicule, her face a canvas of red and white hues. For two years, without Evelyn around to stir things up, life had been smooth sailing. As the soon-to-be fiancée of Charles, she was always in the limelight, never subjected to such disgrace.
But Evelyn, that persistent thorn in her side, seemed destined to thwart her. Seven years ago, Evelyn had derailed her plans, stopping her from sealing the deal with Charles. And now, after vanishing for two years, she was back, stealing the show and making Dahlia the butt of the joke. How could Evelyn be so charmed? Not even a dip in the river had claimed her life.
Dahlia seethed quietly, knowing she couldn’t make a scene with Charles and everyone else watching. She buried her resentment, put on a forced smile, and said with fake enthusiasm, “Evelyn, I never imagined you’d still be with us.”
Evelyn caught the underlying jab. She knew Dahlia was marveling at her survival. Seems like the universe has a way of keeping things interesting,” Evelyn replied, her tone deliberately vague. She stood tall over Dahlia, her expression calm but her gaze icy. Her eyes flicked to Dahlia’s crippled legs-a clear, silent message. Her disability was cosmic justice.
Two years back, Dahlia had scoffed at the idea of karma. But Evelyn held firm in
her belief that karma was just waiting for the right moment. Dahlia’s legs were merely the beginning.
Evelyn moved on, leaving Dahlia behind, and approached Mabel with a smile. “Ms. Mabel, it’s an honor that you appreciate my design.”
“The pleasure’s mine, wearing your jewelry on my birthday,” Mabel responded warmly, clearly
impressed with Evelyn. She admired talent and found Evelyn’s work and her presence-charming. Mabel picked up two glasses of wine and offered one to Evelyn. “To a delightful collaboration.”
“To a delightful collaboration,” Evelyn echoed, clinking glasses gently.
Meanwhile, Dahlia sat there, feeling utterly out of place. She wished the ground would swallow her up. She glanced at Charles, hoping he’d come to her rescue, offering some dignity. But he was still lost in Evelyn’s orbit, oblivious to Dahlia’s plight. Unable to call out to him without drawing more attention, Dahlia had to swallow her pride, maneuver her wheelchair over to him, and reach for his hand. “Charles, I’m feeling a bit tired,” she said softly.