You Put Her in My Room?

Avery had just stepped out of the shower, skin still damp, her body practically glowing. After drying her hair with a towel, she let it fall to the floor, reaching for her underwear.

Just as she was pulling on a lacy black thong—

BAM.

The door flew open.

Startled, she gasped and scrambled to cover herself, heart racing. Who the hell—?!

She lunged for the towel, but in her panic, her foot slipped on the polished floor—and she crashed to the ground with a thud.

Before she could even see who had barged in, the door slammed shut again.

Evander stormed down the hall, his face as dark as a storm cloud, fury radiating off him like heat from pavement.

His jaw clenched. His fists balled.

A woman. Half-naked. In his damn room.

What. The. Hell.

Aunt Kim had been wheeling a food cart down the hallway when she saw him coming. One look at his face, and she froze.

He stopped in front of her, voice sharp and ice-cold.

“Who is she?”

Aunt Kim blinked. “Uh—um—”

“Who let her into my room?”

The tray rattled slightly in her hands. “Hehe, well... you see, young master... that’s your fiancée.”

Evander stared at her like she’d just told him the house was on fire. For a second, it looked like he might snap someone’s neck.

He didn’t.

Instead, he turned and walked straight out of the villa, grabbing his keys and slamming the door behind him.

Mommm...

Evander jumped into his car and peeled off, gripping the steering wheel like it owed him money. At a red light, he yanked out his phone and hit speed dial.

“Hey, Mom.”

Peggy’s voice came through warm, calm. “Sweetheart? Everything okay? You sound tense. Is it work?”

“Something like that,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “Listen... I really don’t need you interfering in my life, okay? I told you—I’ll handle finding someone on my own.”

A beat of silence. Then:

“Evander... what did you do?”

He let out a slow, frustrated breath. “I come home from the airport, and there’s a girl in my room. Half-naked. I nearly had a heart attack. Don’t do this. Please. She’s not my type. She’s not even supposed to be there.”

Peggy gasped softly. “Wait, what? What girl? I didn’t send anyone to your villa! I’ve been waiting for you to come back before I even contacted any of the candidates.”

Evander blinked. “So… it wasn’t you?”

“No! Of course not! You really think I’d sneak someone into your bedroom like I’m matchmaking on a reality show?”

He groaned. “I’m sorry. I just thought—”

“No, baby, don’t apologize. I’m heading to the hospital now to check on your grandfather. I’ll ask him if he knows anything about this.”

They talked a bit more before hanging up, but Evander didn’t say a word about also heading to the hospital. He wanted to catch the old man off-guard.

Because this? This had his grandfather’s fingerprints all over it.

At the Hospital

Evander pulled into the Conrad family hospital’s private lot and made his way inside. It didn’t matter how powerful he was—he always checked in on his grandfather first.

He stopped by the nurse’s station, spoke with the attending physician, and reviewed his grandfather’s recovery report. It wasn’t as serious as he’d feared.

Thank God.

The doctor nodded respectfully. “We’ve been monitoring everything closely, Mr. Conrad.”

“Good,” Evander said. “Show me to his room.”

He followed quietly down the hall—until he paused outside the door.

Inside, he could hear voices.

“…and that’s how I picked her. She’s perfect. Smart, beautiful. Just what he needs.”

Evander’s expression went blank.

Of course.

He pushed the door open.

Inside, his mother, Peggy, and grandfather Lawrence were mid-conversation. Both looked stunned when he entered.

Lawrence blinked. “Evander…?”

Peggy smiled in surprise. “Well, that was fast! I was just telling your grandfather I’d ask him about this mystery woman—”