Chapter 4

The next morning, on the bus back into town, Clara sat next to me scrolling through entertainment news on her phone.

The host was reporting dramatically on the sudden postponement of Carter Design Group's grand three-year retrospective exhibition, sparking wild speculation across the creative industry.

Clara had no idea about my history with Evelyn. She leaned over, showing me the screen with a disappointed sigh.

"I used to admire Evelyn Carter so much, and I was looking forward to this showcase. Why did it get delayed out of nowhere?"

"I hope they work it out soon... Wait, Logan, didn't you study fine arts too? Do you know her?"

I glanced briefly at the woman being surrounded by reporters on the screen, keeping my mouth shut.

Over the past few years, Evelyn had built an illustrious name for herself in the design world. But every single layout, concept, and curation had been produced by me behind closed doors.

Back then, I foolishly thought a married couple shared everything. What did it matter who took the public spotlight?

Yet Evelyn had rested on my uncredited labor for so long that she had completely forgotten her own lack of talent.

The moment I walked away without hesitation, her empire suffered an immediate, crushing blow.

She had assumed I was the same pathetic fool as before—that whenever she snapped her fingers, I would crawl back, soothe my own bruised ego, and stand dutifully by her side.

Only when all her messages hit dead ends and her calls were blocked did she finally realize things were spiraling entirely out of her control.

She believed our marriage was something I had bought with my own career and my mother's dying wish, convincing herself that I would never dare walk away.

She thought that just because we hadn't filed the legal marriage papers yet, she could bring a man who looked like her dead lover into our home, and I would simply endure it in silence.

Now, panic had finally set in.

Clara and I walked back to the old apartment building. Heading up the stairs, I asked her where she planned to move once the area was cleared.

Clara paused, as if she hadn't given it much thought until I asked.

She gave a small, resilient smile. "It's just me, so anywhere works. Once the compensation check clears, I can finally pay off all those old debts. If there's enough left, I'd really love to study abroad!"

"Watch out," I warned.

The zipper on her backpack had split, and her compact sleeping bag was slipping out.

If I hadn't caught it in time, it would have dropped right onto her foot.

I instinctively knelt down to grab it just as Clara bent over. Our foreheads knocked together with a soft thud.

She lost her balance and landed flat on the concrete step behind her.

We both froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

Looking at her bright, unburdened smile, the heavy cloud hanging over my chest seemed to dissolve.

I slowly raised my hand, intending to brush a stray lock of hair from her cheek, when heavy footsteps echoed down the stairwell above us.

Immediately after came Evelyn's furious screech.

"Logan! I knew you were sleeping around behind my back!"