It was impossible to tell how long Ryan Sterling had been standing outside, but a quick glance revealed several cigarette butts glowing crimson at his feet.
He'd smoked, if not a whole pack, then at least half of one!
Perhaps he heard her, or maybe it was a sixth sense.
Ryan Sterling slowly turned. The dappled moonlight fell on the high bridge of his nose, highlighting his deep-set, refined features.
Their eyes met. Neither of them spoke, as if an immeasurable distance lay between them.
In the end, it was Ryan who lost his patience and took a step forward. "Just now, why did you hide this from my brother?"
From what Evelyn Grant had said, it was obvious she was terrified he would tell Julian Sterling what happened at the Sterling Estate that day.
He didn't understand.
And Evelyn understood him even less!
"Do you want everyone to know that I, in a moment of desperation, begged you to help me get pregnant?"
'This was no joke.'
If word got out, it would involve not just her and the Sterling Family, but could even cause trouble for her mother and brother!
After all, Ryan Sterling was Julian Sterling's full-blooded younger brother!
Even though she and Julian were already divorced, for her to turn around and get pregnant with her ex-husband's brother's child... how many people could accept or understand something so absurd?
All it would bring was a torrent of vicious gossip and condemnation.
And not only that, but Ryan would inevitably be dragged into it, becoming the target of everyone's scorn!
His parents, his own brother, all the relatives and friends of the Sterling Family... how would they look at him?
Evelyn certainly didn't want, nor was she willing, to let Ryan be implicated because of her.
"You helped me, and I'm truly grateful, but our... transaction... I hope you won't tell anyone."
The last cigarette between Ryan's fingers burned down, nearly scalding his skin.
After the searing heat pricked him, he lowered his gaze, tossed it to the ground, and crushed it with his foot before looking up again.
"Evelyn Grant, you're the one who told me you regretted it. That's why I helped you!"
"Yes, and I wasn't lying."
Ryan took a few steps forward, closing the distance until Evelyn could clearly feel his warm breath seep past her ear and into her very being.
He just stared into her eyes, unblinking.
As if to confirm she wasn't lying.
After a long moment, Ryan let out a heavy breath and took a small step back.
"To prevent what happened today—my brother suddenly showing up to see you—from happening again, you have to move to a place I designate."
Evelyn froze. "I can just keep the door locked—"
"Then why wasn't it locked just now!"
"..."
"Since you yourself just said this was a consensual transaction, then as the father of the child in your womb, I should have the right to demand and implement the necessary measures to protect my son's safe delivery!"
His tone was so forceful that it left Evelyn, a lawyer, at a loss for words.
'This is just a verbal agreement, and logically speaking, this kind of agreement is invalid and not legally binding.'
"I..."
"Otherwise, what if something happens to my son? Wouldn't all my effort have been for nothing?" Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Or are you saying... if there's an accident, you'd be willing to get pregnant for me again?"
For some reason...
his words instantly pulled Evelyn's memory back to that day at the Sterling Estate.
Pinned beneath Ryan, she had felt not only nervous, but also a fear of the unknown.
But he had been so gentle the entire time.
He even noticed when she furrowed her brow in pain, and he would lean down to soothe her with a kiss.
Even though she was the one who had begged him, she had subconsciously shied away countless times. Yet he never lost his patience. Instead, he would gently rub her back with the pads of his fingers and ask in a hoarse voice, "Are you still okay?"
Of course, Evelyn had said she was.
Because at that moment, she felt it was the only path she could take.