Chapter 354
Evelyn had just set her phone aside when Sophia's message notification popped up.
"Breaking News: Renowned Designer Evelyn Carter Romantically Linked to Entrepreneurial Campus Heartthrob."
Her breath hitched at the headline. What in the world?
She tapped the link. A photo filled the screen—Jonathan Reeves on one knee in a sea of flowers, surrounded by flickering candles, while Evelyn stood with her head bowed, as if overcome with shyness.
Her pulse spiked instantly.
Worse, the article spun an elaborate tale of their long-standing mutual affection, claiming she'd turned down a prestigious corporate offer just to join his studio.
It read like some cheesy romance novel.
Disgust coiled in her stomach.
Evelyn immediately called Sophia. "Who posted this garbage in the campus forum? It's complete fiction! I never had feelings for Jonathan! And that corporate offer? I rejected it for Nathaniel!"
Not for him.
"Evelyn, I know," Sophia said. "That's why I sent it. We need to shut this down before it spreads. I'll check with the Journalism Department to trace the source."
"Fine. I'll deal with Jonathan directly." She hung up and dialed his number.
He answered on the second ring. "Evelyn, what can I do for you?"
"Where are you right now?"
"At the studio."
"I'm coming over. We need to talk." She hailed a cab, her grip on her phone tightening.
During the ride, she watched the article's engagement skyrocket. Strangers flooded the comments with congratulatory messages, clueless about the truth.
Who was behind this? Jonathan himself?
Evelyn swiped open an encrypted file, lines of code flooding her screen. She hacked into the campus server, tracing the poster’s IP address.
Phones weren’t as efficient as laptops. It took longer than usual.
By the time the cab reached Oak Street, the results loaded.
The IP matched the studio’s location.
Ice flooded her veins.
So it was him.
Was he truly this delusional? Had she not been clear enough? Or was he just selectively deaf?
The moment she stepped into the studio, confetti exploded around her.
Her head jerked up as colorful shreds rained down. At the end of the path stood Jonathan, cradling a massive bouquet of red roses.
Right then, she decided red roses were officially her least favorite flower.
Her coworkers erupted into squeals.
Jonathan beamed as he approached. "Our moment got interrupted yesterday, but today, nothing will stop us."
He dropped to one knee. "Evelyn, I’m in love with you. It took me a while to realize it, but I’m done hiding it."
As roses dominated her vision, she inhaled sharply. "Jonathan, I already told you—I don’t feel the same."
"Stop lying to yourself," he said, undeterred. "So what if you’re divorced? It doesn’t matter to me. You don’t have to be ashamed—I don’t care about your past!"
Evelyn’s fingers curled into fists.
It took every ounce of self-control not to unleash a storm of curses.