Reborn, I Refused the Man I Once Forced to Marry Chapter 04

I hated people who betrayed me.

So in this life, I had no intention of seeing Adrian again.

I had no plans to attend Chloe’s wedding, either.

But I couldn’t avoid the birthday charity gala hosted by Margaret, the Governor’s wife.

Fortunately, the event was divided into separate reception areas, with different arrangements for each family. I wouldn’t have to see Adrian.

To avoid Chloe, I greeted Mrs. Ansford and then slipped away to the garden behind the residence.

The fountain was cool, and the area was wonderfully quiet.

I rolled up my sleeve and reached down to play with the water.

Droplets splashed everywhere, sending ripples across the surface. Then another face appeared in the reflection, one filled with disgust and cold indifference.

The last person I’d expected to see.

Alexander Whitmore.

Mrs. Whitmore had been the noblewoman my mother had once tried so desperately to please. Alexander was her only son.

My mother had forced me to learn high-society etiquette, piano, and every kind of social skill.

She’d told me that marrying into the Whitmore family and winning Mrs. Whitmore’s favor was the sole purpose of my existence.

So I’d learned the dances Alexander liked and always chose clothes in his favorite colors.

When Alexander said he wanted to marry a lady with aristocratic grace, I perfected my manners, keeping a flawless smile on my face for half an hour at a time without letting it slip.

But Alexander told me he loved Chloe and ordered me to stop pursuing him.

He even said, “Evelyn Hayes, don’t you think you’re terrifying?”

Those words had once hurt me deeply.

But now, they meant nothing.

I looked at him calmly.

“Mr. Whitmore. It’s been a while.”

“Evelyn, how did you know Chloe and I were meeting here?”

Alexander stared at me suspiciously.

“Today is Mrs. Ansford’s birthday gala. Don’t try any of your tricks.”

His brows drew together as if he expected me to make some grand scene chasing after him at any moment.

And, to be fair, the old me probably would have.

“You’ve got it wrong. I just wandered in here by accident. I’ll leave.”

I took several steps back, just as he wanted, then turned to go.

There wasn’t a trace of my old competitive self in my words or actions.

Alexander’s gaze remained fixed on my back.

I was just about to leave the stone pavilion in the garden when I heard a group of women laughing somewhere ahead.

Damn it.

Everyone knew how much I’d liked Alexander. If they saw us together, they’d misunderstand again.

Alexander and I exchanged a glance.

His voice dropped to an angry whisper.

“Evelyn, and you still expect me to believe you aren’t playing games?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone get the wrong idea.”

I pressed my lips together. Ignoring the narrow gap between the stone walls beside the pavilion, I gritted my teeth and squeezed inside.

My foot slipped. I closed my eyes, expecting to hit the ground.

But I didn’t fall.

Instead, I stumbled into a familiar embrace carrying the faint scent of sandalwood.

I jerked my head up and found myself staring into a pair of cold, wary eyes.

“Who are you?”

He caught my wrist and pinned me against the stone wall.

It hurt.

I frowned and drew a deep breath.

“Evelyn Hayes of the Hayes family. I’m here at Mrs. Ansford’s birthday gala by invitation. I wandered into the wrong place. Now, please let go.”

I pretended not to recognize Adrian.

But the moment he heard my name, he froze.

The space was so cramped that Adrian and I were practically pressed against each other. It was painfully awkward.

I leaned back slightly, when suddenly, a drop of water landed on my face.

It was cold. The droplet slid down my cheek.

A tear.

I instinctively looked up and saw Adrian staring at me with furrowed brows.

He was doing his best to maintain a calm expression, but sorrow lingered in his eyes.

Another tear clung to the corner of his eye, just about to fall.

Adrian… was crying?

Before I could process it, footsteps approached.

Then I met Chloe’s eyes.

The next second, a piercing scream rang out above the garden.

“Evelyn! What did you do to my brother?!”