Chapter 105
Evelyn’s POV
Calvin stayed quiet, but I noticed his eyes move from the confrontation to my study window on the third floor. The fancy windows were open and white curtains were moving in the breeze. My flower boxes were blooming beautifully, creating a colorful display down the side of the house. I’d made the same flower arrangement that I used to have at his mansion. It was a small comfort I’d allowed myself to keep.
For a moment, I thought I saw longing on Calvin’s face, but then it changed back to that calculating look I knew so well. He nodded to Zeon, who gave a document envelope to Jackson.
“I’ll wait for her to come to me,” Calvin said before getting back in his car.
After the black Maybach drove away, Jackson looked at the envelope. His face went pale when he saw the official seal on the back.
Twenty minutes later, Jackson was in my study, holding the envelope like it might explode.
“It’s about your research permit application,” he said seriously. “The one for the pathogenic microorganism experiments you wanted to do with the university p>
I sighed. My Ravenshade laboratory had been waiting for approval on an important research project for months. The application process was always strict, but this delay was weird. I’d asked around through different people but nobody could give me clear answers.
“Let me guess,” I said, taking the envelope. “Calvin managed to speed up the approval process p>
Jackson nodded. “The Department of Supernatural Research Ethics Committee’s seal is on it p>
I threw the envelope onto my desk without opening it. “Of course. His way of making me come to him p>
“There’s more,” Jackson said reluctantly. “The Red Cedar Resort land deal is stuck too. The current owners suddenly don’t want to sell anymore, even though your offer was way higher than what the property is worth p>
I felt my anger rising. The Red Cedar property had the perfect soil for growing Moon Root, a rare plant I needed for my LDS stabilizer formula. Without it, my research on the cure would be seriously damaged.
“Calvin’s doing this too p>
“Can’t prove it, but it feels like Wolfe Haven’s influence p>
I laughed bitterly. “So he blocks my research permit and the land I need to buy, then brings me the solution like a gift, expecting me to come begging p>
“Pretty much,” Jackson said. “Want me to look for other properties with similar soil p>
I looked at the envelope again. Part of me wanted to throw it in the shredder and find another way. The research was important, but not important enough for me to go crawling back to Calvin.
“We have other projects,” I said, opening my desk drawer and putting the envelope inside. “Let him play his games. I’m not playing along p>
Days later, Operation “Keep Keith Busy” worked perfectly. After Jackson messed up several of Keith Frost’s company projects with my permission, his surveillance team suddenly disappeared from my property. No more watchers on rooftops, no more “accidental” meetings at my favorite coffee shop.
I should have felt better about it. Instead, I had a new problem to deal with.
“Another one?” I asked when Jackson handed me his tablet.
“Third one this week,” he said, looking serious.
I looked at the latest anonymous photo sent to my email. The picture showed Calvin going into a suite at the Ravenshade Grand Hotel with a woman whose face was hidden by her long hair.
“They’re getting bolder,” I said, looking through the collection.
The first picture was pretty mild, just Calvin letting a woman into a hotel room. But each photo after that became more intimate. The second showed a woman against Calvin’s bare chest, and I could clearly see the distinctive birthmark on his collarbone. The third was taken in a dark room with a man who looked like Calvin leaning back on a sofa while a woman’s silhouette knelt between his legs.
“Real or fake?” Jackson asked, watching my reaction.
I gave the tablet back to him. “Does it matter? Calvin and I are divorced. His sex life isn’t my business p>
“So you’re not bothered p>
I shrugged. “I’m more impressed by how skilled the photographer is. Those are some difficult angles p>
Jackson smiled, clearly relieved I wasn’t upset. “Want me to find out who sent them p>
“Not worth it,” I said. “Someone obviously wants me to hate Calvin more than I already do. Let them waste their time p>
“You know what? I need a break from all this,” I decided. “I’m taking Alexis shopping p>
“The entire security team will love that,” Jackson said dryly.
Two hours later, I was pushing my daughter’s stroller through Ravenshade Mall with two intimidating bodyguards walking beside me. The sight of them made people move out of our way better than any VIP service could.
Alexis was excited about everything, pointing at anything colorful and making happy sounds. After months of careful medical treatments, seeing her so lively and energetic was the best thing I could ask for.
“Look at the puppies, sweetie,” I said, stopping in front of a pet store window where several puppies were playing together.
“Woofie!” Alexis clapped her hands and pressed her face against the glass.
While I watched my daughter’s excitement, I felt like someone was watching us.
I looked around casually, checking the crowd while pretending to fix Alexis’s blanket.
That’s when I saw her.
A pregnant woman coming out of a mother and baby store, wearing a mask that covered the bottom half of her face. She had wavy brown hair and was dressed in an expensive maternity outfit. But what got my attention were her eyes, which were deliberately made up to look like mine.
Even though she used makeup techniques to hide most traces of the cosmetic surgery, my professional background had some connection to medical experience, giving me a natural sensitivity to these things.
Especially her eyes, which gave me a familiar feeling somehow.
I knew the fish had taken the bait.