The tension in the villa broke not with a shout, but with a calculated move from Michael.
As Eleanor prepared to launch another verbal assault on Evelyn, Michael's phone rang, or at least, he made it appear so.
"Mom," Michael interrupted, his voice cool and official. "The office in Spain just called about your new skin care line. There are reports of severe allergic reactions. I've already prepped the private jet; you need to head back and handle it yourself!"
"Allergic reactions?" Eleanor gasped, her face pale. That product line was her pride and joy. Driven by professional panic, she rushed upstairs, packed her bag in record time, and vanished from the villa before Evelyn could even process the silence.
Evelyn watched the front door click shut, stunned. "That's it? She's just... gone?"
Michael turned to her, a smirk on his lips.
"If you're uncomfortable at the company, you can stay home. I'll handle the staff."
"No," Evelyn insisted. "With your mother gone, I can handle the office. Staying home alone would drive me crazy."
"Fine. Then we're moving to Sunshine Estate tomorrow."
The move to the Sunshine Estate was handled entirely by Mrs. May and the staff. When Evelyn stepped into the new residence, she was speechless. It wasn't just a house; it was a private Villa with an artificial lake, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a closet the size of a small apartment, already stocked with all articles of clothing accessories.
That evening, Michael handed her a file.
Evelyn opened it and nearly dropped it. Inside was the property deed for the house in her name. Beside it was the transfer deed for the Island Mall complex, also listing her as the owner.
"Michael... this is too much. It feels like a dream," she whispered.
To prove that her reality was very much tangible, Michael pulled her into the oversized master bed, and the two spent the night lost in each other.
The following weeks were a blur of domestic bliss. Without Eleanor's interference, Evelyn and Michael grew inseparable. He teased her constantly, and she followed him like a shadow, their bond deepening with every shared meal and quiet evening. Until the heat of summer brought a change no one saw coming.
A bright pink Tesla screeched to a halt in front of Thorn International. It was closing time, and a crowd of employees watched as a suited assistant scrambled to open the rear door.
A woman stepped out, her presence instantly commanding the sidewalk. She wore a bright pink mini gown that stopped above her knee. Her long, brown hair flowed over her shoulders, and massive sunglasses masked half her face. She looked every bit like an international superstar.
"My God... is that Erica Jones?" someone whispered.
"Erica Jones!" a fan shouted.
Erica's assistant, stepped forward. "I'm sorry, Miss Jones is here for private purposes. No autographs or photos today!"
The lobby went into a frenzy. As Erica glided toward the executive elevator, the staff pulled out their phones, snapping photos of her profile to post on social media.
Upstairs, the atmosphere was far less formal. Evelyn was currently straddling Michael's lap, trying to "persuade" him to take her out to the amusement park.
"Honey! Please? Just this once?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her cheek against his chest in a playful, seductive pout.
Michael looked at her, fighting the urge to laugh. He wanted to see exactly how far she'd go to get her way. Evelyn, seeing no response, grabbed his face with both hands and planted a firm, messy kiss on his lips.
Michael didn't let the opportunity go to waste; he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. They were completely lost in each other when the office door suddenly opened without a knock.
They broke apart instantly. Evelyn, flushed and breathless, scrambled off his lap and smoothed her skirt.
Standing in the doorway was a woman in a pink gown, her sunglasses still on. She stood there, frozen, staring at the sight of the "iceberg" Michael Thorn being kissed by a woman in a common employee uniform.
The temperature in the room plummeted. Michael's face was so dark, his aura so cold it felt like someone increased the temperature of the AC.
Evelyn, still caught in the moment of their kiss, didn't immediately recognize the woman. She looked at Michael, confused.
"What's going on?"
Michael didn't answer. He simply pulled Evelyn back into his arms, tightening his grip as if trying to shield her, or perhaps to ground himself.
Evelyn felt the tension radiating from the stranger and gently broke free from Michael's embrace. "Hello," she said awkwardly. "Who are you?"
The woman reached up and slowly removed her oversized sunglasses. Her eyes were sharp, seasoned by the camera, and her smile was a masterclass in elegant condescension. She ignored Evelyn and focused on the man. "Michael, I missed you."
Evelyn's jaw nearly hit the floor. She had seen that face on a thousand billboards and movie posters. "Standing in front of her was Erica Jones! The Oscars Queen!"
Evelyn's fan-girl moment lasted exactly three seconds before the woman's words registered. She missed him? Evelyn's expression shifted instantly from amazement to a fierce, territorial defense. She looked at Michael and whispered "What's going on?"
She remembered the name "Eri" in his phone and the "ri ri!' his mother kept praising. The pieces clicked into place and her vision blurred.
"Hello," Erica said, her voice like velvet. "I am Michael's fiancée, Erica Jones."
If this were any other time, Evelyn would be scrambling for an autograph. But this woman was claiming her husband. Evelyn took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts. "Hello. I'm Evelyn, Michael Thorn's wife."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Outside in the secretary pool, Dominic was nowhere to be found, likely hiding in a different zip code to avoid the fallout.
Erica studied Evelyn, the simple high bun, the white dress, the natural beauty that didn't need the heavy contouring of a movie set. This wasn't the "seductress" Eleanor had described; this was a woman with the grace of an old-money heiress.
"Miss Meyers," Erica said, her smile widening but never reaching her eyes.
"Calling him 'husband' is quite bold," Erica noted, sitting elegantly on the sofa as if she already owned the room. "The family only recognizes one daughter-in-law, and that is me."
"Family recognition is nice, but we live in a society ruled by law," Evelyn countered, giving Michael's arm a sharp, hidden pinch. Say something!
Michael winced slightly but remained silent, his face unreadable.
"Laws can be changed," Erica said coolly. "But Michael, he doesn't love you. Does that not matter to you?"
The words hit Evelyn like a physical blow. But, she forced the pain down. "It doesn't matter. I love him. Besides, Having him by my side is enough."
To this, Erica scoffed.
"How generous. Or perhaps you're just after something else?"
Michael finally stood up. Without a word to Erica, he put an arm around Evelyn's shoulder and began leading her out of the office.
"Michael!" Erica called out. She chased after them, catching them just as they reached the executive elevator. The secretaries froze at their desks, terrified to even breathe.
Erica reached out and wrapped her arms around Michael's waist from behind.
Evelyn's temper snapped. She reached back, forcibly pried Erica's hands off her husband, and pushed her back against the wall. "Miss Jones, I am his wife! I believe I have a right to your respect!"
"Michael..." Erica ignored Evelyn, her voice turning fragile and weak.
Evelyn felt Michael's aura shift. The icy wall he'd built seemed to soften at that one pathetic, whispered call. A wave of dread washed over her. The other women were just flings, but this, this was the woman he had loved for almost a decade.
"Evelyn, go home first," Michael said, his voice quiet. "I'll be back later."
"I'm staying with you," she whispered, her heart pounding. "I'm not leaving you two alone."
"Don't make a scene, Evelyn." Michael said, rubbing her hair with a tenderness that felt like a goodbye. "I'll come home once we're finished."
Evelyn stared at him, then turned and stepped into the elevator without a second glance. The doors slid shut on his conflicted face.
Inside the office, Michael stood by the window, staring out at the city. Erica walked up behind him and pressed her face against his back.
"Michael, I'm here now. I'll stay by your side forever. Please don't leave me alone." Her tears soaked into his shirt.
A few months ago, if Erica had said these words, Michael would have married her on the spot. But now, as he looked at the reflection of the empty chair where Evelyn had sat on his lap just minutes ago, he realized the timing was all wrong.
"It's too late, Erica," he whispered. "There is no going back!"
Erica broke into a sob, her world crumbling at those simple, devastating sentences.