Charles felt his heart flutter. His fingers were just about to weave through Evelyn''s, aiming for that perfect interlocking grip, but she skillfully pulled away at thest second.


    Patrick, noticing the exchange, nced at his right-hand man, who took the hint and slipped away quietly. Charles and Evelyn stepped into the spotlight together. Patrick ceded his space to them, and as évelyn brushed past him, he shot her a look full ofyered meanings-a look that said she was getting more than she deserved, in his opinion.


    Evelyn ignored himpletely, moving forward to face the media. All attention was on Charles and Evelyn, leaving no one to notice Dahlia and her daughter being manhandled by bodyguards in the background. Their mouths were covered, and they were being rudely ushered out.


    "Who do you think you are, treating us like this? Charles will hear about this and won''t let you get away with it!" Dahlia spat out, her voice strained as she forced the words through clenched teeth. But these men answered only to Patrick. Her threats only earned her rougher handling. They were dragged away from the crowd and out of the Jenkins estate.


    By the time they reached the gates, Dahlia and Sandy''s once pristine designer outfits were filthy and torn. They were shoved unceremoniously into a car, which sped down the private drive only to dump them out in a muddy puddle. Sttered and shivering in the biting wind, they were a pitiful sightpared to their earlier bravado.


    ...


    At the Jenkins Estate.


    Charles was not one for public appearances, but this was a first. He had invited a slew of media outlets, and as soon as he and Evelyn appeared, the questions flew.


    "Mr. Jenkins, is this your fiancée? We''ve heard you have a five-year-old daughter. Is that true?"


    "Yes!" Charles replied, short and


    sweet, not a moment''s hesitation in confirming Evelyn''s status. His gaze, howevernded on Brooks, a prominent figure in the crowd, silently staking his im. Today, with Evelyn by his side, the whole of Capital City would know she was his.


    But Evelyn''s voice cut through his deration, "No!" Her denial was like a bombshell, leaving everyone, Charles, included, in shock. He was both stunned and furious, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper, "Do you even know what you''re saying?"


    Evelyn didn''t spare him a nce, dismissing his words entirely. Facing the media calmly, she continued, "Yes, Charles and I have a daughter, Charlie. She was named after the carefree spirit in a famous poem, reflecting our hope for her to live freely. Her name, Charlie, captures that essence."


    Her voice softened when she mentioned her daughter, and she articted each word clearly and slowly to ensure everyone heard Charlie''s name.


    "But," she continued, "Charlie was the result of an ident five years ago. Beyond that, there''s nothing between Charles and me. It was true then, and it''s true now."


    Evelyn''s words drew a clear line between her and Charles, leaving no room for spection.