They stopped at a door, and Carlos knocked before stepping inside. The room was spacious yet warm, and two figures sat inside. Evelyn immediately recognized them—Carlos' grandfather, Louis Tyler, and his aunt, Jen Tyler.
"Whoa! You're finally here!" Jen exclaimed, standing up with a bright smile.
Carlos gave a slight bow, his expression unreadable but not as cold as usual. It was subtle, but Evelyn noticed—it was rare to see him like this.
She quickly bowed as well. "I'm Evelyn. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Jen's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "So, you really meant it when you said you were getting married?" She placed a hand on her chest in mock offense. "I'm a little hurt! You didn't even tell me."
Carlos met her gaze without hesitation. "I apologize. But there will be plenty of chances to make up for it," he said, his voice deep yet composed.
Jen hummed in approval, then turned to Evelyn with a teasing grin. "Wow, you married an angel. She's stunning."
Evelyn felt warmth rush to her cheeks. "Thank you," she said softly, bowing again, determined to make the best impression. She knew she had to be careful—this was Carlos' family. She couldn't afford to make mistakes.
The chairman, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. His voice was deep, laced with wisdom. "I'm truly happy to see you married, Carlos. I thought I wouldn't get to meet your wife until the day I died," he said, his words carrying both humor and affection.
Carlos' lips quirked ever so slightly. "You're exaggerating, Grandfather."
But the chairman only chuckled. "Come, let's go to the dining room. It's time for introductions."
Jen moved to assist him, but he raised a hand, stopping her. His sharp gaze fell on Evelyn. "I want her to do that today."
For a moment, the room fell silent. Her? Had she already earned his trust?
Evelyn hesitated before stepping forward with a warm smile. Carefully, she placed a hand on the chairman's arm, supporting him. She could feel Carlos' gaze on her—steady, unwavering.
As they made their way to the dining hall, an irritated voice cut through the air.
"Grandpa, let me take it from here."
Chloe approached, her tone sharp as she moved to replace Evelyn—almost pushing her aside.
But the chairman frowned. "It's fine. I requested her help," he stated firmly before leaning into Evelyn once more.
Evelyn resisted the urge to smirk at Chloe but instead lowered her gaze, keeping her composure. Suit yourself, she thought, walking gracefully beside the chairman.
By the time they reached the grand dining hall, Evelyn was taken aback. A long table stretched before her, filled with twelve people—excluding herself, the chairman, his aunt and himself. She glanced at Carlos, confusion flickering in her eyes.
How could he introduce only three people when there were eleven others here?
She sat beside Carlos, feeling queasy.
A plump woman on the right crossed her arms, eyeing Evelyn with clear disapproval. "And who do we have here?" she asked, her tone dripping with judgment.
The room went silent.
Evelyn instinctively turned to Carlos, unsure if she should speak. Hadn't he told her to let him do all the talking? But why wasn't he saying anything now?
She lightly touched his arm, and he turned to her. His dark eyes held no expression, but then, without a word, he stood.
His deep, steady voice filled the room. "I don't need to apologize for the late introduction, do I?"
No one spoke.
Carlos placed a hand on Evelyn's shoulder, his touch firm yet gentle. "Meet my wife, Evelyn."
His words carried weight, laced with something deeper—something possessive yet intimate.
Evelyn felt her heart race as she met his gaze. In that moment, she wasn't just a stranger in a room full of unfamiliar faces. She was his—and he wanted them all to know it.