Chapter 272

Evelyn's eyes widened in shock. "Why is it you?"

Though her freckled face was half-hidden beneath a messy wig that resembled a bird's nest, there was still an undeniable innocence in her expression. Alexander Whitmore flashed her a charming smile. "Can't I be your blind date?"

She pressed her lips together, momentarily speechless. His directness caught her off guard, but the warmth in his gaze eased the tension. Part of her wondered if this was just another one of his playful jokes.

"Mind if I take a seat?" he asked politely.

"Please do," Evelyn replied, smoothing her skirt as she gestured to the chair across from her.

Alexander looked every bit the refined gentleman she remembered—dressed in a tailored navy pinstripe suit, his gold-rimmed glasses adding an air of sophistication.

"Evelyn, you look delightfully unique today," he remarked, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "But you don’t have to pretend with me. Just be yourself."

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "I distinctly recall my blind date wasn’t supposed to be with you. What are you doing here?"

His lips curved into a knowing smile as he adjusted his glasses. "Because I had a feeling you might want to see me again. And as it turns out, I was right."

Evelyn studied him, her curiosity piqued. "Interesting. Ever since we first met, I’ve been wondering about who you really are. So yes, I did hope to run into you again." She met his gaze directly. "Thank you for your help, Alexander. You’re the fourth son of the Whitmore family, aren’t you?"

A flicker of surprise passed through his deep-set eyes, and his fingers twitched imperceptibly against his knee. Suppressing his reaction, he replied smoothly, "Evelyn, it’s been a long time."

She hesitated before responding politely, "It’s nice to see you again."

Though they had shared a childhood friendship, over a decade had passed since they last met. The man sitting before her now felt like a stranger.

Her memories of him were faint—a small, quiet boy with delicate features who had often been the target of bullies. Back then, Evelyn had been known as "The Little Devil" for her fiery temper and fearless nature.

She vividly recalled the day she had seen him being cornered by three older boys. Without hesitation, she had charged in, fists flying, and sent them running. From that day forward, no one dared to lay a hand on him—not with Evelyn watching his back.

But those memories had faded with time. Unbeknownst to her, Alexander had clung to every moment of their past. Through years spent abroad, through every hardship, she had remained the brightest light in his otherwise shadowed world.

To him, she wasn’t just the moon—she was the sun, radiant and untouchable.

Evelyn tilted her head. "That night at the karaoke bar—when I was drunk—did you recognize me?"

A faint smile touched his lips. "Yes."

Her brows furrowed. "I was in danger that night. You didn’t just happen to save me, did you? You were following me the whole time?"

He nodded.

"But why?" she pressed. "If you knew who I was, why keep it a secret?"

"Because I was waiting," Alexander admitted, his voice roughened with emotion. "I stayed silent, hoping you’d remember me on your own."

A pang of guilt twisted in Evelyn’s chest. It felt like she had somehow failed him. "This place—did you choose it?"

"Yes," he said, his eyes softening. "I thought you might like it. It reminds me of Willow Creek Estate."

His gaze grew distant, as if lost in memory. "Do you remember? When we were kids, we used to play hide-and-seek in your garden. You always loved hiding in the fake mountains."

Back then, he had always known exactly where she was. But he’d pretend not to, spinning in exaggerated circles just to hear her stifled giggles. He had never minded letting her win—those small concessions were reserved for her alone.

Evelyn blinked in surprise. "Wow, you still remember that?"

She reached up self-consciously, tugging at her tangled wig. A flush crept up her neck.

Alexander merely smiled, his expression unreadable.