The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter

149

The next morning, Evelyn sat at her desk, her fingers tapping restlessly against the cool surface as she stared blankly at her computer screen.

Her mind wasn't on work. It was far from it. She was thinking about Rayna. The image of her friend's tear-streaked face from last night haunted her, making it impossible to focus.

Rayna had always been the one with a level head, the one to offer advice and support. Now, seeing her like that, broken and vulnerable, made Evelyn feel utterly helpless.

She sighed and picked up her phone, dialing Raynas number again, hoping that this time she'd pick up. But once more, the call went straight to voicemail.

'Her phone must be off, Evelyn thought, biting her lip anxiously.

What was she supposed to do now? Rayna needed her, and she didn't know how to help.

As the minutes dragged on, Evelyn found herself spiraling deeper into worry. She couldn't shake the guilt that weighed heavy on her chest. Rayna had always been there for her- Rayna had been her rock. But now, when it was Rayna who needed support, Evelyn felt lost.

I have to do something, she thought. Maybe instead of giving Rayna space, she could swing by her place during her lunch break.

Even if Rayna didn't want to talk, Evelyn could at least check in on her and make sure she wasn't crying alone.

it was a few minutes before lunch break. As she grabbed her handbag and headed for the door, another thought intruded,

Liam.

call her after he got back to Husla, but he hadn't. She had brushed it off initially, thinking he was probably busy, but now she wondered if it was because he was avoiding

Evelyn got into a cab, she

only for a moment, her thumb hovering over the call

made her wonder if she should bring

to do so when he knew about Derek. She didn't owe him an apology for being with someone else. It

was reading too much into it. She just needed to check in to confirm that he arrived safely and see how he was doing. That

line and brought the phone to her ear, listening to the ringing tone. After a few moments, Liam

the line,

little awkward when she didn't hear the usual cheerfulness in his voice. "I just wanted to see how you're

other end, long enough for Evelyn to wonder if the connection had dropped. Then, Liam sighed. "Yeah, I've been really busy. Sorry about that. Look, I'm in the middle of something right now, but I'll call you back later, okay?" Before Evelyn could respond,

hadn't even given her a chance to say more. He had never hung up first, no matter how busy he was. The dismissal stung, even

to respect that and let him be, hoping that he would come around lately. He was a

there, Liam leaned back on the couch in his apartment, staring at the

it sound. But he couldn't bring himself to have

around the apartment, the boxes still stacked against the walls. He hadn't even unpacked properly yet because he

a conference either. He had applied for a job in Ludus and had moved down to be closer to her and Samantha. He had planned to surprise her, to show her that he was ready to be part of her life. But seeing her with Derek had crushed any hope he had. And now, he didn't