Chapter 242: Moving Forward


    "Who said someone has to sleep on the couch?"


    Eve stopped breathing. Her body became hollow and it moved on auto mode. The corners of her mind whispered to her the implications of Ambryan''s words. She wasn''tpletely clueless. Andie had stayed over at Jarrett''s ce numerous times. She knew basic details about them.


    The time when Ambryan was sick surfaced from her memories. She loved the feeling it gave her. It had the warmth and security no pillow could offer. She had almost fallen asleepthat was how much it pacified her.


    But she wasn''t sure if she was ready to experience more of that yet.


    "Right. You probably have a spare guest room," Eve eventually replied, wincing at her shaky voice as it got smaller. She took a sip from her ss of water. "I should have known better."


    Ambryan sensed his inevitable defeat. He could ask again but she had rejected plenty of times already. He probably wouldn''t be able to handle another one. They currently weren''t on the same pagethat much he knew.


    "You know I won''t do anything you''re notfortable with," he said, wanting her to know that at least. As much as he''d want to be closer, he respected her wishes more.


    Eve gulped. She did know that.


    "I-It''s not that I don''t want to. I justThere''sI have a lot in my mind," she stammered. Her thought process scrambled up as she figured out what she actually felt right now. "Today has been wonderful. I have no idea what came over you but I appreciate your presence."


    Her chest rose up for a sigh. "My priority right now is my career. I''m not sure what direction I''m headed or my next step. I want to establish my spot in this industry. If I can''t, I''ll consider another career instead. It can literally go anywhere from here."


    Without her sry from being a secretary, she needed to kick it up a notch to make ends meet. Eve wasn''t in Maize City anymore. She wouldn''t be able to find work that way. Evangelie was a high profile celebrity because of her rtionship with Ambryan. A normal job seemed out of the question, including as an online tutor.


    Biting her bottom lip, she peeked at Ambryan through hershes. A gentle gaze reflected in his violet eyes. "Maybe when I figure it out we can talk about it again? "


    "I understand." Ambryan smiled. He snatched both tes and headed for the sink. There was nothing else needed to be discussed. "Wait for me. Let me take you home."


    Once again, Eve questioned his workload. "Are you sure you need to render overtime?"


    "That wasn''t a lie," he defended, giving her a pointed look over his shoulder.


    "Don''t stay up toote." Eve huffed. She crossed her arms andid them on the counter. "And no meeting like this again during weekdays if that will be the consequence for you."


    "Can''t have exceptions?"


    "Maybe one in two weeks."


    "I hope that''s negotiable."


    "I''ll think about it."


    Half an ourter, the drive to the apartmentplex was a quiet one.


    Eve spent the time with her thoughts. A day to rx was really nice but reality hadn''t changed. She needed to know if Jane bought the charade or not. If so, what would be her next move? Would she try to convince Riffle to do her bidding? Or would she aim from a different direction?


    On the other hand, Eve already knew what she had to do but it would take time to aplish them. She could only hope Jane wouldn''t strike until that happened.


    Ambryan nced in her direction, spotting the deep frown on her face.


    Somehow he could guess what was going on in her mind. Whether he was right or he was wrong, he had made his choice to support her in the background. He''d review the materials Wen gathered the moment he reached his penthouse.


    He also needed to make a call if he wanted to fulfill his promise in supporting her.


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    "So you found out," Avery said. She swung the belt of her robe in circles and leaned against a tall post of her bed. "I have to admit that I''m impressed that you finally came to your senses."


    Her head was about to hit the pillow when the call came. The news jolted her awake faster than any brewed coffee. Her son had finally seen the light! The angels hade out to sing their songs of praise!


    And it was glorious.


    Ambryan paced behind his desk in his home office, one hand tucked inside his pant pocket. "Yes, it somehow dawned on me that it is so like my mother to bribe my secretary into bing a candidate for the special dating site she nned for me."


    "I''ve never been secretive about my thoughts about Eve." The madam scoffed. "Anyway, how did you figure it out?"


    A grin spread across her son''s face. Although she couldn''t see it, she could definitely hear it from his tone. "That''s for me to know and for you to find out once she does."


    "You haven''t told her?" Avery gaped.


    "I don''t want to. It''s her secret. It shoulde from her." The teasing was another good reason but after hearing her tonight, he realized how less fidgety she was around him. He had a feeling that telling him about the secret was part of her ns.


    But, if he jumped ahead now, he might ruin them.


    "Well, I am thrilled that you''re taking it well," the madam gushed. All of her worries evaporated into the air. Her son acted beyond her expectationsas he did on more than one asion.


    Ambryan scowled. "I wouldn''t phrase it that way."


    "Oh, really?"


    "To know how many people knew before I did isn''t a pleasant experience."


    "Mikael Davis?" His mother tried to guess.


    He shook his head. "Madison King."


    Thattest discovery hadpletely blown him over. If his memory served him right, Evangeline and Madison hadn''t encountered one another except maybe thepany party. People resembled others in different wayseven more so when they were identical twins or more.


    In order to fully connect two separate individuals as the same, it had to go beyond their looks.


    "Madison?!" Avery blurted out. Then, the light in her eyes dimmed back to their normal color. "Now that I think about it, that makes sense."


    "Why?" Ambryan demanded. This question had bothered him since this morning.


    "Oh, he had a thing for Eve''s mother back in the day," the madam exined inplete nonchnce as if it was about the weather. "And they look so alike. They''re practically twins when Eve is dressed as Evangelinewhich is why she picked that name in the first ce."


    "Thank you for the information." Ambryan sighed through his nose. None of his spections came close to the truth. "There''s another reason why I called."


    "And here I thought it was because you missed me."


    He ignored her and went straight to the point. "Have you heard about Eve''s resignation?"


    "I have, yes."


    "Did you happen to know Jane is involved in it?"


    The line became silent. Mother and son hardened their expressions. If someone walked in now, they wouldn''t think that their conversation had been light previously.


    "Hmm" Avery thought carefully. "Not directly, no. But I have heard about how she approached Eve several times since the Family Day event. She also appeared in the same studio as a model for another agency with Evangeline present."


    Ambryan pressed his lips together, dropping his gaze to the floor. "I''m sorry."


    "What are you sorry for?"


    "I know you see Jane as your own daughter."


    The madam nodded her head. "I don''t wish her harm but it wouldn''t be right to let her get away with her wrongdoings. I hope you let me try to talk to her before anything else, at least."


    "Of course."


    Once upon a time, she hoped for Ambryan and Jane to end up together. The picture was so perfect in her head but Ambryan proved how much he opposed the idea. She didn''t want to lose either of them and so she stopped meddling into their business. Ambryan continued to build his business career while Jane waited for him.


    Regrets were hard to swallow but Avery had to move forward.


    "Thank you," meaning it from the bottom of her heart. She looked at the time and yawned. "Congrattions again on joining the club, Yan. I look forward to working with you."


    "Join what club?"


    Ambryan ended the call as soon as he heard his father''s voice. With the way things wentst time, he figured his father didn''t know yet. That thought soothed his ego a bit and he''d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.


    After all, he''d want to be there when Jackson Hathaway would realize the truth.


    "Dear!" The madam eximed. "What''s with this new hobby of you appearing only at night?"


    Jackson set his things down and loosened up his tie. Visibles eyebags drooped under his teal eyes. He had bought the earliest first ss ticket he could board as soon as the papers were in order. His time overseas had officiallye to an end.


    Until further notice.


    "And what''s with your new hobby of being upte? Also, anything to tell me this time?" He rebutted, arching a bushy ck eyebrow. "Something to do with our son yet again?"


    Avery opened her mouth and closed it again. She searched for the best excuse. Ambryan was only the first step into epting Eve into the family. Her husband wasn''t the easiest nut to crackespecially with the scheme yet to be revealed.


    "Our son is so in love with Evangeline that I think he''ll ask her to move in with him," she made up as the words flowed out of her mouth. "He doesn''t think you''ll approve so he wondered if I could coax it to you a little."


    "You know how he is!" She chuckled, poking his arm with her finger. "It''s his first rtionship so he asked mommy for advice."