Evelyn’s POV
I hadn’t been awake long when Emma brought the phone.Calvin was already talking with Gary—I couldn’t face Calvin myself, so I’d asked Gary to represent Dr. Blake. When I picked up, they seed to have been chatting for a while.
I was shocked by my playful colleague’s three bold questions.
That last one—was he serious?Gary really shouldn’t joke during such important negotiations, but... I couldn’t help feeling curious about Calvin’s answer.
Yet Gary didn’t seem to think his question was inappropriate at all.
When silence followed, Gary pushed further, "What’s wrong? Too hard to answer?"
"Not hard," Calvin’s cold voice ca through the phone.
My heart clenched at his tone. I knew I shouldn’t hope for anything, but I still wanted to know if those five years had ant sothing.
He continued,"Beg for dicine, show remorse, but save..."
"This ti I need to save Clara."
I loosened my grip on the phone, unsurprised.
This was Calvin Wolfe, after all. Cold and ruthless. I was glad I’d seen through him years ago.
I didn’t wait to hear his explanation.I hung up, staring blankly at the bright painting across from my bed.
Calvin’s POV
I studied the "Dr Blake" before .His blue eyes held anger and displeasure, his questions seeming more like defending Eve than a professional negotiation.
His features were striking. Sharp cheekbones, a strong nose, and light blue eyes that watched with barely hidden hostility. The white lab coat added scholarly authority to his tall fra. Nothing like Keith, that coward who’d harassed Eve at the restaurant.
The way Gary questioned , the protective anger in his eyes,was there sothing between him and Eve?
"Haven’t you ever loved Evelyn?" The man asked with a frown.
Love?
The question stopped cold.
My mind flashed to Evelyn’s betrayal—abandoning and our sons, rejecting without hesitation, even having an adorable daughter with soone else.
Yet I also rembered my breathtaking first glimpse of her, the difficult births of our twin boys, and the peaceful early days of our marriage.
I stared at him coldly.Of course I love her,then and now.The misunderstandings between us were none of his business.What right did this man have to question ? If I didn’t need his help, I’d tear his throat out right now.
Instead of answering his question directly, I asked about his relationship with Evelyn.
The man’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "I’m one of her most important n."
One of them...
Little Alexis even called him uncle!
I watched Gary study my face. When he finished his own words, he noticed my eyes grow darker.
Gary’s eyes suddenly brightened.
"I was there when Eve had Alexis," he said lightly. "Signed all the family paperwork."
"You should have seen her as a newborn. Most beautiful baby I’d ever seen."
"And best of all. I was the first one to hold her."
My fist clenched, muscles tensing under my sleeve, though my face stayed calm.
Gary glanced at my arm, noting my control. This seed to encourage him.
Before he could continue, I cut in, "Did you know she remarried?"
Confusion flashed across his face for a mont. It made suspicious, though I kept it hidden.
Too caught up in his ga, Gary didn’t notice my scrutiny. He just smiled smugly.
"So what?" he said, clearly trying to provoke . "I’m still her favorite!"
His claim was ridiculous, but my expression darkened anyway.
"Are you her lover?" I asked directly.
His eyes glead as he answered vaguely. "Lover is too simple a word. Let’s say I’m her greatest love."
As he expected, my face turned cold with anger.
Thoughts of Clara’s treatnt disappeared.
I let my muscles relax slowly.
I’d seen the cunning in his eyes. He thought his trap had worked. I decided to let him think he’d succeeded, giving him the reaction he wanted.
I abruptly stood up.
"If Dr. Blake doesn’t wish to cooperate, then forget it," I said, turning to leave.
A scornful laugh stopped .
"Alpha Calvin, I didn’t understand before, but now I see why Eve rejected you," Gary said.
"Based on my brief hints, you imdiately suspected her of having an inappropriate relationship with ."
"No wonder she left you."
His words stung like thorns. My jaw tightened, but I stayed silent, not leaving his office.
I turned to face him.
My Alpha presence,no longer contained,filled the room.
I saw him shift uncomfortably.Only then did Gary realize my previous passivity had been an act. He was facing a predator now.
My gaze fixed on his face.
"You’re not Dr. Blake," I stated.
Exposed, he didn’t panic, just nodded.
"No, I’m not. The real Dr. Blake is my colleague. He’s away and has no ti to treat your precious Clara’s face."
He smiled coldly, "Even if he were here, I wouldn’t let him."
His words were clearly ant to provoke .
"Evelink Biosciences is impressive, but my Bloodbane Pack isn’t to be challenged lightly," I replied.
Gary’s smile widened.
I didn’t react to his provocations. Instead, I calmly exposed his true identity, making his expression freeze.
"And you, Gary, are just the illegitimate son of the forr Alpha of Eros Pack in Duskwatch Bay. Your half-brother Logan is the current Alpha, isn’t he?" My voice was cold but asured. "I thought you looked familiar. Your mother brought you to claim recognition at Logan’s succession ceremony. I was there, rember? Quite the spectacle."
My upbringing prevented from being more cruel.
Perhaps Gary had forgotten our previous encounter.On that humiliating day...His mother knelt before the Pack elders, pleading for Gary to be recognized.Logan’s mother stood there, fury in her eyes at this illegitimate son’s appearance during her precious son’s Alpha succession ceremony. The timing couldn’t have been worse.
Gary’s arrogance vanished. He stood there trembling slightly in his lab coat, trying to hide it.
He looked down, a cold smile on his lips. Only after several deep breaths did he et my eyes again.
Gary curved his lips slightly. "Alpha Calvin, what an impressive mory you have." His eyes turned cold. "But let tell you sothing. You’d better not fall in love with Eve, or I’ll beco your biggest obstacle."
"Believe , without my approval, you’ll never gain acceptance from her or Alexis."
The certainty in his voice made frown.
I gave him a dismissive glance. "If that day cos, you won’t have the power to influence anything between us."
Gary’s smile widened.
"Is that so? Then we’ll see."
"I bet you’ll regret this one day."
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