The First Trap

Evelyn’s POV

I left the restaurant with a single certainty.

Nathaniel Hayes knew something.

Something I didn't know yet.

I reached my car, but I didn't start the engine right away. I sat behind the wheel with my hands resting on it, his final words echoing in my mind.

“This time, he won't just ask you to marry him.”

What did he mean by that?

I knew the future.

I knew Ethan's plans.

I knew Victoria's betrayal.

I knew the exact sequence of events that had led to my ruin.

So why did I suddenly feel like I was the one missing something?

I pulled out my phone.

No messages from Ethan.

That wasn't like him.

In my first life, after I broke up with him, he had called me a dozen times.

He had sent flowers.

He had written letters.

He had even waited outside my apartment.

This time, nothing.

A quiet that was far too perfect.

I knit my brows.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message.

My mind immediately went to Ethan.

But it wasn't him.

Unknown Number: You should check your professional account.

My stomach dropped.

I reread the text.

Then a second one came through.

Unknown Number: Before it's too late.

I froze.

My first instinct was to check my bank accounts.

I opened my banking app right away.

Everything looked normal.

Next, I checked my investments.

Still nothing.

Then my professional contracts.

And there…

I went cold.

A document had just been modified.

A management authorization.

An authorization I had never signed.

I looked at the date.

Today.

My breath hitched.

Someone had tried to gain access to my assets.

I took a screenshot immediately.

Then I called my lawyer.

"Mr. Anderson?"

"Evelyn?"

"Someone attempted to alter my financial documents."

Silence.

"What?"

"I'm sending you the file."

I hung up.

A few seconds later, his message came through.

Mr. Anderson: Don't touch anything. I'm looking into it right away.

I stared at the screen.

An ice-cold sensation flooded my body.

In my first life, this type of modification hadn't appeared until several months after my wedding.

I had ignored it.

Then the transfers had begun.

But this time…

They were starting now.

I clenched my fists.

Ethan.

Or Victoria.

Maybe both.

I started the car.

This time, I wasn't going to wait.

The next morning, I went straight to my lawyer's office.

Mr. Anderson was waiting for me with several folders laid out.

"Have a seat."

I took a chair.

He slid a file in front of me.

"Someone attempted to obtain temporary authorization over several of your investments."

"Who?"

"We don't know yet. Do you have any idea?"

He hesitated.

"The document was sent from an address linked to your management agency."

I knit my brows.

"My agency?"

"Yes."

I picked up the document.

The signature was almost identical to mine.

Almost.

But not perfect.

I instantly knew who could have done this.

In my first life, this exact person had been responsible for managing a portion of my assets.

And that same person had vanished right after my wedding.

"I want to change my entire financial team."

My lawyer looked up.

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

"That might draw attention."

"I'd rather draw attention than lose my fortune."

He nodded.

"I'll handle it."

I stood up.

Before I could leave, he added:

"Evelyn."

I turned back.

"Be careful who you trust."

I gave a faint smile.

"I'm only just beginning to learn that lesson."

At noon, Emma called me.

"Are you free?"

"Yes."

"Then come to the studio."

"Why?"

"I have something to show you."

I drove over.

When I arrived, Emma was waiting for me with a strange look on her face.

"Look."

She handed me her phone.

An article had just been published.

“Ethan Blackwell spotted with a mysterious woman following his breakup with Evelyn Sterling.”

I skimmed the piece quickly.

The photo was blurry.

But I recognized the silhouette instantly.

Victoria.

I looked up.

"Already?"

Emma watched me.

"You knew?"

"No."

It was a lie.

I knew they would end up together.

Just not this early.

"Evelyn…" Emma hesitated. "Is that Victoria?"

I looked down at the photo again.

"Yes."

She fell silent for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you going to confront them?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"Why?"

I handed her phone back.

"Because I don't need to."

"So what are you going to do?"

I smiled.

"Let them believe they've won."

That evening, I received an invitation to a gala hosted by a major production company.

I knew several key investors would be attending.

And above all…

Ethan.

I hesitated for a few seconds before accepting.

I knew I had to start reclaiming my position in the industry.

I couldn't just hide away.

At eight o'clock, I walked into the venue.

Conversations trailed off briefly.

Heads turned in my direction.

I was wearing a long black gown.

No extravagant jewelry.

No forced smile.

Just a quiet confidence I had never possessed in my first life.

I crossed the floor.

Then I saw him.

Ethan.

He was talking with a group of businessmen.

Standing right beside him was Victoria.

She was wearing a red dress.

She spotted me.

Her smile faded instantly.

Ethan turned around.

His face went rigid.

I kept walking forward.

Without slowing down.

Victoria whispered something in his ear.

Ethan answered her.

Then he started heading straight for me.

"Evelyn."

I offered him a polite smile.

"Ethan."

"We need to talk."

"We've already talked."

"Not enough."

I took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray.

"Then talk."

He glanced around.

"Not here."

"Why?"

"Because everyone is watching us."

I smiled.

"That didn't seem to bother you when you proposed to me in front of the entire restaurant."

His jaw tightened.

"Are you trying to humiliate me?"

"No." I took a sip. "I simply came to attend a reception."

Victoria stepped up beside him.

"Evelyn, the two of us should talk."

I looked at her.

In my first life, I had always seen my sister as someone who needed my protection.

Today, I saw a woman smiling at me while actively trying to take my place.

"What do you want to talk about?"

She looked at Ethan, then back at me.

"About what happened yesterday."

"I have nothing to say."

She reached out to gently touch my arm.

I pulled my hand back immediately.

Her smile flickered.

"You really are different."

"So I've been told."

She eyed me with growing suspicion.

Then a man's voice cut through the room behind us.

"She's right."

We turned around.

A hush fell over the surrounding crowd.

Nathaniel Hayes had just entered.

Black suit.

Impassible expression.

He walked across the room as if every eye in the building naturally belonged to him.

Ethan stiffened.

"Hayes."

Nathaniel didn't even glance at him.

His eyes were fixed entirely on me.

"Miss Sterling."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Hayes."

He stopped directly in front of me.

Then, right in front of everyone, he extended his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

I looked at his hand.

Then at Ethan.

His face had gone dark.

Victoria, meanwhile, looked utterly unable to hide her shock.

I brought my attention back to Nathaniel.

I knew this dance would spark rumors.

I knew Ethan would despise it.

And above all…

I knew I probably shouldn't accept.

So I placed my hand in Nathaniel's.

"With pleasure."

He led me toward the floor.

The music started up.

His hand rested carefully against my back.

I immediately caught his scent.

Woody.

Subtle.

Strangely familiar.

"Do you enjoy provoking people?" I whispered.

"Only those who deserve it."

I looked up at him.

"Did you know Ethan would be here?"

"Yes."

"And did you know I would be here?"

"Yes."

I knit my brows.

"You planned all of this."

"Not everything."

"What, then?"

His gaze settled deeply on mine.

"Your reaction."

I didn't know how to respond.

The music continued.

We turned slowly in the middle of the floor.

I noticed the looks surrounding us.

The whispers.

The discreetly pulled-out phones.

By tomorrow morning, the press would likely be running stories about us.

But oddly enough…

I felt no discomfort.

On the contrary.

I felt safe.

The realization unsettled me.

Nathaniel leaned in slightly.

"You should leave with me."

"Why?"

"Because Ethan is planning something."

My heart gave a tight squeeze.

"What?"

"I don't know yet."

I stared at him.

"You told me you knew a lot of things."

"I know how to recognize a man who just lost something he believed he owned."

My brows furrowed.

"I don't belong to him."

"I know."

His response was immediate.

Then he added softly:

"That's precisely what makes him dangerous."

I glanced over at Ethan.

He was watching us.

His eyes were dark with anger.

Victoria was by his side.

And suddenly…

I understood.

In my first life, I had always believed Ethan was trying to protect me.

Today, I realized he had simply wanted to possess me.

And now that I was slipping through his fingers…

He was going to do whatever it took to get me back.

The music came to an end.

Nathaniel gently withdrew his hand from my waist.

"Take care of yourself, Evelyn."

"You too."

He looked at me for a few seconds.

Then he whispered:

"I know how to defend myself."

I offered a small smile.

"So do I."

A faint smile touched his lips.

And for the very first time, I saw something behind his cold mask.

Tenderness.

An emotion so brief I might have thought I imagined it.

But it was real.

And I didn't know why…

My heart had just missed a beat.