Chapter 78
When she saw him, Evangeline was taken aback. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought you a dress.”
Glenn lifted his hand, and only then did she notice the elegant pink dress box he was carrying.
She hesitated. “This is…?”
“It’s for the charity gala tomorrow night.” Glenn placed the box gently in her hands. “UME’s decision not to accept Fawkes Enterprises‘ investment was mine, not yours
alone to fix.”
“I have an invitation to the gala too,” he added, his voice calm. “Let’s go together after work tomorrow.”
He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if he were simply suggesting they grab coffee.
Evangeline didn’t bother asking how he knew she was going to the gala, just as he never asked her how she planned to solve the funding issue. With them, a glance or a single word was enough to convey everything.
This quiet understanding was something they’d forged years ago, back when they first started the lab together.
For years now, Soren had made a habit of ignoring her, while Helena always tried to impose her own will. It had been a long time since Evangeline had felt this kind of effortless connection–like when you’re just about to feel thirsty, and someone’s already handed you a glass of water.
A strange, unfamiliar warmth flickered in her chest. The anxiety she’d been carrying slowly began to ebb away.
She nodded. “Alright.”
“But,” she added, curiosity flickering across her face as she glanced at Glenn, “did you really come all the way here just to bring me a dress?”
She remembered his hotel was nowhere near here.
“No,” Glenn replied. “Well, to be precise, the dress was just on the way.”
He stepped aside, revealing an open apartment door behind him. “I’ve rented a place here–I’m your new neighbor.”
A 10
For a moment, Evangeline thought she must have misheard him. But Glenn’s expression was serious; he wasn’t joking.
“So you’re the one who rented and remodeled that apartment a while back? The neighbor everyone’s been talking about?” she realized.
Before Glenn could respond, a man hurried out of the elevator and walked over. “Mr. Carlisle, I’ve found you a parking spot. Here’s the lease contract. Please take a look.”
The realtor handed him the papers with practiced politeness.
Evangeline stared at the man for a moment before realizing he was the same realtor who’d shown her the apartment.
He noticed her too, but after a quick glance, he looked away and pretended not to see her–probably out of embarrassment.
He turned back to Glenn, frustration flickering in his eyes. Both Evangeline and Glenn looked well–off; when they’d come to him about rentals, his colleagues had nearly been green with envy. But in the end, both had wanted these old, rundown apartments. The commission he earned wasn’t even as much as a few days‘ pay.
Sensing the awkwardness, Evangeline didn’t linger. “You should take care of this. I’ll go try on the dress.”
“If anything doesn’t fit, let me know,” Glenn said. “I’ll have someone adjust it for you.” Evangeline nodded and slipped back into her apartment.
The realtor watched as Glenn’s gaze lingered on Evangeline’s door. Suddenly, the realization dawned, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “Mr. Carlisle, do you… like her?”
For a moment Glenn’s composure faltered, startled by how easily the realtor had read him. But then he remembered Evangeline was already behind closed doors and couldn’t hear them.
His expression returned to normal, and he nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”
To be precise, Glenn had liked Evangeline for a very long time–long before the Whitmore family’s fall, even before she knew his name.
Back then, her heart already belonged to Soren. Glenn had tried everything to get closer to her, to create more chances for them to be together. Just when he thought he might finally have a chance, her marriage to Soren had hit him like a
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Chapter 78
punch to the gut.
Seeing Glenn’s answer–and the look of resignation in his eyes–the realtor figured out most of the story.
