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.

she saw it was a few minutes before lunch break. As she grabbed her handbag and headed for

Liam.

back to Husla, but he hadn't. She had brushed it off initially, thinking

and so without thinking, once Evelyn got into a cab, she pulled out her phone and scrolled to Liam's name in

over the call symbol as she thought of

made her wonder if she should bring up the

going to do that. It was best to leave that as it was. There was no reason to do so when he knew about Derek. She didn't owe him an apology for being with someone else. It wasn't like she

to check in to confirm that he

line and brought the phone to her ear,

the line,

hear the usual cheerfulness in his voice. "I just wanted to see how you're doing. You said you'd call

that. Look, I'm in the middle of something right

chance to say more. He had never hung up first, no matter how busy he was. The dismissal stung, even if he didn't mean it that

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

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

really busy- not in the way he'd made it sound. But he couldn't bring himself to have a proper conversation with Evelyn right

around the apartment, the boxes still stacked against the walls. He hadn't even

he hadn't gone back to Husla as he told them. He had not traveled down for 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