Chapter 1569

No.1

Lance credited that promise to Evelyn.

With this safeguard, he could finally love openly.

Who cared about the media storm?

No more hiding.

Even if they lost everything... as long as they had each other...

......

"Congratulations on getting your wish."

No.2

Evelyn suddenly looked toward the door.

Lance spun around, pupils dilating.

"W-Winston?" His voice shook.

He'd just come from the ICU.

The man in that bed was still tubed up, barely out of danger last night. Multiple compound fractures. Severe brain trauma...

How was he standing here unharmed?

"Problem is," Winston leaned against the doorframe, smirking, "I wanted to keep pretending a few more days—see you worry over me. But the longer the act, the worse the beating I'd get later..."

No.3

"You—" Lance whirled toward Evelyn.

She was already removing her oxygen mask, sitting up effortlessly.

"The crash was fake?" Lance's voice wavered.

"The crash was real," Evelyn said gravely. "Someone is critically injured—just not us."

"What... the hell... happened..." Lance braced against the wall, pale.

......

"We switched cars mid-route," Winston locked the door behind him. "Only the driver and bodyguards were in that one."

No.4

He clasped Lance's shoulder. "It was a trap."

His gaze shifted to Evelyn. "All Miss Sinclair's idea."

Evelyn arched a brow.

Typical Winston, deflecting blame. He'd contributed plenty when planning this.

But she didn't expose him.

"Melissa planted a spy beside Madeline Kingsley. She wanted me dead, so she had Mrs. Laurel convince the old lady to send me on that vacation—then strike en route."

"You knew all along?" Lance's pupils trembled.

No.5

"We got stuck in traffic that day. Winston and I exited the car in the driver's blind spot." Evelyn tapped her fingers lightly against the bed frame. "We weren't even at the scene when the accident happened."

Lance's throat moved.

He should have realized sooner.

No matter how forceful Madeline Kingsley was, Winston would never have cooperated without Evelyn's consent.

That roadside interview, sharing the same car...

Would Winston really cancel such an important meeting?

"You two..." Lance's chest tightened. "Planned this from the start?"

No.6

"We didn't anticipate the crash." Evelyn shook her head. "But the driver and bodyguards were Alexander's people."

Lance clutched his chest.

So Alexander Kingsley had known everything?

No wonder he'd confronted Madeline immediately upon arriving at the hospital.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lance's voice shook.

Evelyn simply looked at him.

The answer was obvious.

No.7

Winston's performance had one purpose—to force Lance to go public with their relationship.

And as for her...

"How did Melissa Lee find out about your secret marriage?" Winston smoothly changed the subject. "Who else knows?"

"She's just a pawn." Evelyn's gaze turned icy.

Who else but Isabella Winslow?

......