Chapter 22: Soulmate
Both Zevian and Evelyn looked in the direction Avery pointed, their eyes wide with surprise. When they saw no one resembling Mr. Igor, they turned back to Avery, who burst out laughing.
"I was joking," Avery mumbled. Zevian’s grip on Evelyn loosened as he stepped toward Avery, his eyes blazing with anger. Avery instinctively stepped back, sensing the brewing storm. Before they could continue their argument, Sophia and Annabelle walked toward them.
"Ah, they have the nerve to show up!" Avery muttered under her breath, her lips curling in disdain at Sophia’s saccharine smile.
"Your father is sick and couldn’t make it to the party, Evelyn. But he has sent his blessings for both of you," Sophia said, masking her husband’s absence. William’s hatred for Evelyn had only grown after Annabelle’s confession online, and that was all that mattered to Sophia.
When there was silence, she spoke again, "I know there’s been a lot of feud between you and Annabelle, and you might think I’m involved. But we should end it all and start anew, Evelyn." Turning to Zevian, she continued with a smile, "After all, your mistakes led you to such an amazing husband."
Evelyn clenched her jaw, the familiar façade of Sophia’s innocence gnawing at her patience. Before she could say something, Zevian placed a hand on her waist, gently pulling her closer.
"You are right, Mrs. Wright," Zevian started, smiling at Sophia before turning to Evelyn. His gaze instantly softened, something even the guests noticed. "If not for your daughter’s mistake of spiking her drinks, I would never have had the chance to meet Evelyn."
"So, thank you, Annabelle, for helping me meet my soulmate," he finished, his gaze falling on Annabelle, whose cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Clearly, Zevian had declared Evelyn innocent, and many knew he wasn’t someone to trust blindly, not even his own family when it came to matters of righteousness. They had seen it in the past, and it made everyone rethink the spiking drinks scandal.