The Internet Explodes
The world stopped.
At least, for Evelyn, it did.
Her phone wouldn't stop buzzing.
Hundreds of notifications.
Her name—everywhere.
And then she saw it.
The photos.
Two images that sent her entire world crashing down.
The first—Elias lying beside her in bed, her shirt slightly unbuttoned, her face peaceful in sleep.
The second—far worse.
Both of them under the sheets, their bare shoulders visible.
It looked intimate.
Like something had happened.
Like she had chosen him.
Her hands shook as she scrolled through the comments.
The world had already made its judgment.
"Evelyn Carter caught in bed with billionaire Elias Bennett."
"Elias Bennett's brother's rumored girlfriend betrays him—secret affair exposed?"
"Was Evelyn playing both sides all along?"
Her vision blurred.
Her stomach twisted.
She could barely breathe.
No. No, no, no.
This wasn't happening.
This couldn't be happening.
Her ears rang as she heard Theo's voice behind her.
"Evelyn?"
She froze.
The phone slipped from her hands.
She turned slowly.
Theo stood at the doorway.
His expression unreadable.
His knuckles white.
He had seen it.
Of course, he had.
The whole world had.
A moment of silence.
And then—
"Did he touch you?"
His voice was deadly calm.
Evelyn sucked in a breath. "No."
His jaw clenched. "Did he force you?"
She shook her head. "He wanted to scare you. To make you—" Her voice wavered. "To make you hate me."
Theo's hands balled into fists.
"That bastard."
His rage was uncontainable.
Evelyn panicked.
"Theo, listen to me."
His eyes snapped to hers.
"He's waiting for you to lose control," she said desperately. "That's what he wants. If you go after him now, he'll win."
Theo exhaled sharply.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
For a moment, she thought he wouldn't listen.
That he would walk out that door, hunt Elias down, and burn everything to the ground.
But then—
He took a breath.
A long, deep breath.
And stayed.
Evelyn stepped closer.
Took his hand.
Held on tight.
"I only love you," she whispered. "Only you."
Theo's breath hitched.
His fingers laced through hers.
"You're mine," he murmured.
Evelyn nodded.
His forehead pressed against hers.
"I'm going to destroy him," he vowed.
Evelyn shivered.
Because this wasn't a threat.
It was a promise.
And Elias had no idea what was coming for him.
---
End of Chapter 58