The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot-Chapter 56: A Familiar Face

Evelyn stared at Ronan in shock, her words catching in her throat. She knew he had the means to dig up information if he wanted to, but she hadn’t expected him to be this powerful. Regaining her composure, she replied, "If you already know that, then you must also be aware that we were dating six years ago. That’s the main reason we agreed to this marriage."

"So, you still have feelings for each other?" Ronan asked, his voice steady, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper. He wasn’t surprised—Zevian’s behavior had already made it clear—but he wanted to hear it from Evelyn herself, even if it meant facing rejection for the first time in his life.

"We do," Evelyn nodded, though a part of her remained unsure. They were still finding their way back to each other, rekindling the feelings that had once bound them. Each day brought them closer, just like when they first started seeing each other. It was nostalgic, and she wanted to savor every moment without worrying about the future.

Ronan’s jaw tightened. "But doesn’t it bother you that he has a child?" The frustration in his voice was barely concealed. How could she give a second chance to a man who had seemingly moved on?

Evelyn’s response was calm, surprising Ronan. "Not at all. I’m happy to be Kiana’s mother."

Ronan sighed, the last traces of hope slipping away. There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She wasn’t putting on an act to maintain the facade of their fake marriage; she genuinely meant it. Zevian was incredibly lucky to have a second chance with such a wonderful woman.

"Are you really happy with him?" Ronan asked, his voice softer now, a final attempt to hold onto something that was already lost.

Evelyn’s smile was warm, her eyes sparkling with an undeniable truth. "Yes, I am."

Ronan couldn’t push it any further. She had always been reserved around him, never showing the slightest interest, yet he had fallen for her. Hearing about their sudden marriage had driven him to confess his feelings, even though he knew his chances were slim. Now, those chances had vanished completely.

"I hope you understand my feelings and won’t pursue me further, Mr. Igor," Evelyn said, her voice firm as she reinforced the wall between them.

"Yes, Mrs. Reign," Ronan replied, addressing her formally just the way she did. Evelyn smiled in response, and the tension between them began to ease.

"Now that you’ve rejected me so brutally, shall we focus on work?" Ronan asked, finishing his cup of tea. He noticed the tablet Evelyn had brought, signaling her readiness to get down to business.

"Sure," Evelyn beamed, quickly pulling out her tablet. She opened the designs for his new resort, and they began discussing the details.

Almost an hour later, they finalized the designs. Ronan couldn’t help but be impressed by how much her skills had improved.

"Your suggestions were helpful. I’ll consider them and send a final draft to your assistant, Mr. Igor," Evelyn said, packing up her things.

Ronan nodded with a small smile. Standing up, he extended his hand for what might be their final farewell. "I wish you a happy life ahead, Grace. Take care of yourself."

"You too, Mr. Igor. I’ll be watching to see you break more records and become a legend one day," Evelyn replied, shaking his hand with a soft chuckle. They had shared such banter before, but this time, it felt different— a final one perhaps.

Ronan escorted her out of the café, his thoughts returning to the woman he had met during lunch. As they walked to the parking lot, he couldn’t resist asking, "So, your step-sister, what was her name again?"

Evelyn frowned slightly. "Annabelle. Why?"

Ronan shook his head. "She reminds me of someone." When Evelyn’s confusion deepened, he added, "Maybe I was mistaken."

"Maybe. She gets that a lot," Evelyn replied, her smile tense as she tried to hide her concern about anyone discovering Annabelle’s true identity.

Ronan nodded, brushing off his thoughts. They were two states away, and he was certain he had confused her with someone on his hunt list. As they reached the parking lot, Ronan’s driver, John, opened the door for Evelyn.

"Have a safe flight, Mr. Igor," Evelyn wished him, having heard about his early departure the next morning.

Ronan nodded and waved as she got into her car. Once she was gone, he let out a heavy sigh and headed to his vehicle.

Evelyn’s journey back home was brief, the café being nearby. She entered the house to find Zevian waiting for her, seated on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone. His frustration was palpable—she had seen his message but hadn’t replied, leaving him stewing in impatience.

Evelyn smiled, walking toward him. "Don’t you work, Mr. Reign?" she teased.

Zevian looked up, relief washing over him as he saw her. "Go freshen up. I’ll make dinner," he said, eager to continue what had been interrupted the night before. She hadn’t tasted his cooking, and he was determined to impress her—more than Ronan ever could.

But Evelyn’s stomach protested. "We had a bit too much at the café. I’m full," she said, rubbing her belly with a sheepish grin.

Zevian’s expression fell, his disappointment evident. "I’ll make coffee then," he offered, knowing she could never resist his coffee and pancakes.

Evelyn’s smile brightened. "That sounds perfect. I’ll be back real quick," she said, heading upstairs to change into something more comfortable.

Zevian watched her go, a smile playing on his lips. He was confident that his coffee alone would erase all the good memories she had with Ronan.

A few minutes later, Evelyn came down, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Zevian emerged from the kitchen with a tray in hand.

"It smells amazing," Evelyn commented, settling beside him on the couch. She took a sip from the cup he handed her, her eyes lighting up with delight. "It’s really good. So you weren’t bluffing last night."

Zevian shrugged, leaning back casually. "It’s a pity you didn’t get to taste the pancakes."

"Teaching you how to crack eggs made up for it," Evelyn replied, making Zevian scowl. She put down her cup and added with a grin, "But I must say, you have a sturdy forehead."

Zevian’s hopeful smile faltered, and he glared at her playfully, causing Evelyn to laugh. They continued their banter until they finished their coffee, and Zevian let her enjoy the moment, knowing he had a bigger surprise in store.

"Thanks for the coffee," Evelyn mumbled, setting her cup down. "I really enjoyed it."

When Zevian didn’t respond, she stood up, stretching. "Good night. I’m tired, I’ll be heading to bed early."

Zevian usually joined them late, after finishing his work. Evelyn planned to join Kiana, who was already fast asleep after her new dance classes, which Evelyn had missed the night before.

But just as she passed the couch, Zevian suddenly scooped her up into his arms, making her heart skip a beat. It had become a routine, yet her heart still reacted the same way every time.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Evelyn stammered, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Fulfilling my wife’s wish," Zevian replied with a smirk as he carried her up the stairs.

"Wh-what wish?! Put me down!" Evelyn protested, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Her mind replayed the scene where he had picked her up before, teasing her about doing it on command.

"I’m afraid you’ll start pretending to be injured again just to enjoy this privilege, so nope," Zevian teased, shaking his head firmly. A smile crept across his face as Evelyn gave up the fight, scowling as she clutched his shirt.

Zevian carried her into their room and gently set her down beside their sleeping daughter. Kiana stirred, blinking her tired eyes before cuddling closer to Evelyn.

"Mommy," the little girl murmured, clinging to Evelyn, who pulled her into a warm embrace. "I missed you," she added, snuggling closer.

"Aww. I missed you too, baby," Evelyn whispered, kissing her head. "Good night, sweetie."

Kiana smiled in her sleep, her little hand wrapping around Evelyn, melting into her mother’s warmth. Zevian pulled the blanket over them and lay beside Kiana after turning off the lights.

"Good night," Evelyn whispered, closing her eyes. But just as peace finally settled over them, Evelyn’s phone vibrated, breaking the silence.

Evelyn slowly turned around, picking up the phone to see a call from Avery, who was probably still working late at the company.

"Check your sister’s post," Avery said urgently. Evelyn, frowning, opened her social media.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Annabelle’s latest reel, where she excitedly announced their upcoming meeting this weekend. Annabelle had even gone so far as to lie, claiming that everything between Evelyn and Vincent was resolved and that they were now on good terms. The post instantly fueled everyone’s curiosity, leaving them eager for the weekend’s events.