Chapter 58

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains when Evelyn Sullivan's phone rang abruptly.

"Sweetheart, are you free this weekend?" Grandma Sullivan's voice brimmed with barely contained excitement. "My old friend invited me to the new Lakeside Resort. They have an equestrian center and an amusement park. Will you come with me?"

Evelyn rubbed her sleepy eyes, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her phone. She hadn't planned to go out, but hearing the hopeful tone in the old woman's voice, her refusal dissolved on her tongue.

"Alright, I'll go with you."

Grandma Sullivan's delighted laughter echoed through the line. "I'll pick you up Saturday morning! Oh, and Ethan is coming too."

Evelyn's grip on the phone tightened. She should have known—this was another one of Grandma's matchmaking schemes.

"Grandma, I don't live at Grand View anymore," she said softly. "I'm in Northville now."

Silence stretched for several seconds.

"You're separated?!" Grandma Sullivan's voice shot up an octave. "Is it because of that Isabella girl?"

Evelyn lowered her gaze to the floral pattern on her sheets. "This is between us. Please don't worry about it."

"How can I not worry?" The old woman sounded frantic. "Just wait—I'm calling that ungrateful grandson of mine right now!"

"Grandma—"

The call ended abruptly. When Evelyn tried calling back, the line was busy.

She sighed and got up to wash her face. The woman in the mirror had faint shadows under her eyes. She touched her own cheek, suddenly feeling like a stranger.

Her phone lit up with a barrage of texts from Ethan.

[Did you complain to Grandma again?]

[Isabella has suffered enough. Must you turn Grandma against her too?]

[What do you even want?]

Evelyn swiped away the notifications without expression. Each accusation was like a dull knife, slicing into her already numb heart.

On Saturday morning, just as Evelyn finished packing, tires screeched outside.

She opened the door and was met with Ethan's cold profile.

"Get in," he said without looking at her.

Clutching her bag strap, Evelyn headed straight for the backseat. But as she pulled the door open, Grandma Sullivan's voice stopped her.

"Sweetheart, my friend will be sitting in the back. You take the front."

Evelyn froze, her nails digging into her palm.

The passenger door slammed shut behind her. Ethan suddenly leaned over, his crisp cedar scent enveloping her.

"Don't touch me!" She jerked back, her head hitting the window.

His eyes darkened as he yanked the seatbelt across her and buckled it. "As if I wanted to."

The air in the car turned suffocating. Grandma Sullivan kept trying to make conversation from the backseat, but only received clipped responses from both of them.

When the Lakeside Resort sign came into view, Evelyn realized—there had never been any old friend.

This had been a carefully orchestrated trap from the start.