Chapter 21

Liam froze in place as the words coming from Evelyn’s lips matched the lines she had just struggled to memorize.

But even though these were scripted lines, Evelyn’s reaction, her tone, her delivery, still sent a jolt through Liam’s chest, a strange mix of pain and numbness.

To him, this pain felt trivial, almost laughable, like a fleeting itch. Yet, it only reinforced his belief that Evelyn’s every move was nothing but an act, a carefully crafted facade.

“You couldn’t string two words together earlier, and now you’ve suddenly mastered your lines?” Liam tightened his grip on her wrist, his fingers digging deeper into her skin. Despite the faint curve of a smile lingering on his lips, his entire body radiated tension.

The next moment, his smile vanished without a trace. With a sharp tug, he yanked Evelyn closer. “Too late!”

“Evelyn, don’t you love playing pretend? Two years ago, you played the innocent. Now, you’re putting on a show of helplessness?” His pace quickened as he dragged her forcefully out of the hall and into the blinding snowstorm outside. “I’ll let you take this charade as far as it can go!”

The biting cold seeped into Evelyn’s bones, spreading like poison through her veins. She stumbled after him, unable to match his strides, her trembling voice barely audible. “Liam ... please...”