Evangeline dragged her exhausted body as she said her goodbyes to the team.

Honestly, some people were just built differently. She had always been on the lazier side—her stamina was practically non-existent. She felt like she was falling apart, while the younger girls at the studio were still buzzing with energy.

Note to self: I really need to start hitting the gym.

When she finally reached home, she peeled off her clothes, took a quick shower, and collapsed onto her bed, feeling like her bones had been shaken loose. A thought suddenly occurred to her; she reached for her phone and shot a quick text off to him. Once it was sent, her heavy eyelids drifted shut.

Across town, Marcellus read the message, a faint curve tugging at his lips. His eyes softened, an emotion flickering in them that he only ever showed to her. He tapped out a quick reply.

The next day, C&R Atelier was flooded with customers the moment the doors opened. The place was chaotic in the best way possible. The display racks were nearly picked clean, custom orders were backed up for over a year, and the studio had even started receiving collaboration inquiries from high-end labels.

Remi, who was currently slumped over the counter, finally understood what it meant to go viral.

Evangeline laughed as she read the latest reports. See? Raking in the cash wasn't as easy as people thought.

When Evangeline left the house that morning, she checked in with her mother. "Mom, I’m probably going to be tied up at the studio for a while."

Marilyn smoothed a stray hair from her daughter’s face, her voice gentle. "Don't push yourself too hard. Come home whenever you have a moment."

"I will!"

When she arrived at the studio, she looked at the empty display shelves. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought the place had been robbed.

"Remi, it looks like we need to go into full-on hermit mode for a bit!"

Remi nodded mechanically; the sound of the day’s frantic crowds still echoed in her ears.

"Is Ms. Montgomery in?"

Evangeline looked toward the door and froze. The first thing she saw was a massive—no, a gargantuan—bunch of red roses. It was so thick it completely obscured the person holding it.

The person set the flowers down on the floor by the wall, and only then did Evangeline realize it was Preston Wright.

"Ms. Montgomery, this is a gift from the CEO to celebrate the studio's success."

"Oh... wow." Evangeline managed a weak, surprised laugh. The man really didn’t know how to do anything halfway.

"There’s also this. I’ll need your signature." Preston handed her a thick folder.

Evangeline took it, confused, and began to flip through the pages. Her eyes widened with every word. Remi, curious, leaned over her shoulder to peek. "No way! Is that an office building?"

The girls in the shop caught wind of the commotion and crowded around, gasping. "Who is the legendary suitor dropping a fortune like this for her?"

"Please sign here, Ms. Montgomery."

"This is also for me?"

"Yes. The CEO said that with your talent and ambition, you’ll definitely need the space for your future expansion."

"Wow, what kind of god-tier boyfriend is this?" Remi sounded genuinely envious, though she’d practically exhausted the vocabulary for jealousy by now.

Evangeline didn't hesitate. She signed her name and handed the folder back to Preston. "Thank you, Preston. Tell him I appreciate the… upgrade."

"My pleasure, Ms. Montgomery. Good day."

Once Preston left, the studio erupted into a flurry of gossip. Everyone was dying to know who this mystery man was.

Marcellus sent a text, and Evangeline wiped the grin off her face, turning to Remi with a serious expression. "It’s time to clock in, Remi. Overtime starts now."

"You got it."

They shared a firm nod. They were the perfect partners—ambitious, capable, and confident. They hunkered down in the studio for hours, scouring through customer requests, brainstorming, sketching, and refining, determined to create perfection. Working with someone on her exact wavelength was a rare blessing.

It wasn't until the sky turned a deep, inky black that a loud, rumbling sound from their stomachs finally broke their focus. Evangeline looked out the window at the hazy evening and stretched, her back popping.

"Remi, I have dinner plans with Marcellus. I’m so sorry, I can’t hang out tonight."

"It’s fine! The guy literally just bought you a skyscraper. I can't compete with that. Go eat, I’ll grab something on my way home."

"You're the best, Remi!" Evangeline hugged her tightly.

"Go, go! You're being gross."

"Hehe... see you tomorrow!"

Evangeline grabbed her bag and dashed downstairs. As soon as she reached the lobby, she saw a familiar silhouette waiting on the sofa.

"Marcellus."

She sprinted over, plopping into his lap and nuzzling into his chest. "You're here! Why didn't you call me to come down?"

Marcellus reached up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his gaze tender. "I knew you were in the middle of a creative flow. I didn't want to break your stride."

"You're so thoughtful, I could die." She tapped her nose lightly against his cheek.

The staff watched in disbelief. The man who usually radiated a cold, "stay away" aura—a man who felt like a living deity—was currently melting while coddling their boss. The contrast was enough to give them whiplash.

Feeling their intense gaze, Evangeline glanced back at the shocked girls and gave a small, awkward cough. She buried her face in Marcellus’s neck and whispered, "Let's go. I'm starving."

"Alright."

He stood up, effortlessly sweeping her off her feet in a bridal carry and walking toward the exit. The staff’s jaws practically hit the floor.

Once they were in the car and out of sight, Evangeline let out a relieved breath and playfully punched his chest. "Look at you! You're going to be the talk of the office tomorrow!"

Marcellus caught her hand and kissed her palm. "I want the whole world to know you're mine."

"Wow, Marcellus. You're getting dangerously good at this."

"You little heartbreaker."

Evangeline found a comfortable spot in his arms. "Oh, by the way—can Wylder Shaw come back now? I don't think I'm in any real danger anymore."

Marcellus paused. "How would you know that?"

"Smart as I am!" She smirked. The incident with the shopping mall manager, the setup at the bar, the massive bouquet today, and the involvement of Luca Lee... the breadcrumbs were everywhere.

Marcellus flicked her nose with a look of adoration. "Yes, my wife is the smartest of all."

Evangeline didn't dare go for anything spicy tonight, sticking to a light porridge and a small dessert. A full stomach brought a sense of contentment, washing away the day’s fatigue. She squinted her eyes, looking cozy and lethargic.

The look on her face was effortlessly seductive, elegant and agile—like a little fox.

Marcellus tightened his grip around her, his voice dropping to a low, husky register. "Evangeline, come back to Elysian Estate with me, won't you?"

The raw desire in his eyes made her nerves tingle. "Behave yourself! I'm on my cycle!"

Marcellus sighed, burying his face in her neck. He inhaled deeply, looking for all the world like an addict seeking his fix. "But... you smell so good."

Hey! That’s a foul! And what is this puppy-dog act, exactly?

"Good boy," Evangeline murmured, stroking his head soothingly.