"Oh!" the mirror replied softly.
Evelyn had been holding her breath, expecting Charlotte to explode. But she only heard a faint response. She looked up at her friend in surprise.
"Evie, before this, I kept wondering if you'd wait until your relationship with Alexander came out before you'd think to tell me you were married," Charlotte said with a sigh. "Now it seems I was right."
"Charlie, it's not that I didn't want to tell you. It's just... things got complicated. I didn't know how to bring it up!" Evelyn explained anxiously.
"And you only know how to speak now? Because when you see my cousins later, your relationship with Alexander will be exposed. You had to tell me, didn't you?" Charlotte stared at Evelyn, her eyes sharp.
"It's not like that. I was planning to talk to you today!" Evelyn shook her head.
"You mean, if we hadn't come here to play tennis, you would have told me anyway?"
"Yes. I've been thinking about how to tell you. We promised that whoever got married first would be the other's maid of honor. But I broke my promise. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you. At first, everything was so messy. I didn't know how to say it. I haven't told any of my classmates or friends that I'm married. I was afraid... afraid others would laugh at me!" Evelyn's voice grew softer and softer.
"Getting married is a joyful thing. Why would anyone laugh? And marrying into the Sterling family is something to be proud of! Others would envy you. What's there to be afraid of?" Charlotte replied.
Truth was, seeing Evelyn like this, her heart had already softened. But she was still angry. They were best friends. And Evelyn had kept something this important from her.
"I haven't even graduated yet!" Evelyn said, her voice dropping to a whisper. She took Charlotte's hand and begged, "Charlie, please forgive me!"
"No way!" Charlotte turned away stubbornly.
Evelyn's face fell when she heard that. She looked utterly defeated.
"Unless—" Charlotte paused, a sly smile forming on her lips.
"Unless what?" Evelyn immediately lifted her head, hope flickering in her eyes.
"Unless you beat me at tennis today. If you don't, I won't forgive you, you big liar!"
Evelyn broke into a smile and hugged Charlotte tightly.
"Get off me! It's too hot!"
"Charlie, you're the best!"
"I already told you. If you want to win, I'll forgive you!" Charlotte said, pretending to be stern.
"Beat you at what?" Evelyn asked blankly.
"Are you deaf? I said, if you want to beat me at tennis, I'll forgive you!" Charlotte suddenly grabbed Evelyn's ear and yelled.
"I heard you! I heard you!" Evelyn nodded frantically. The next second, she slumped. "But how can I beat you? You know how bad I am!"
A smile crept across Charlotte's face. Evelyn was still so easy to fool. Whenever she was angry, even if she was being unreasonable, Evelyn would try her best to cheer her up.
But this best friend... she was already someone else's wife. Charlotte had once thought the worst thing would be if Evelyn married Noah Grant. Then she'd have to be a bridesmaid. Her best friend marrying the man she loved, while she stood by and blessed them. How depressing would that be?
But now Evelyn wasn't marrying Noah. She was marrying someone else entirely. And somehow, that didn't feel any better. It was like the cabbage she'd been carefully growing had been stolen by someone else's pig.
No, that analogy didn't fit Evelyn and Alexander. It was more like the pig she'd been raising had been eaten by a wolf.
Sob. She wanted to cry. Wait. She'd teach Evelyn a lesson on the court first. She'd beat her until she couldn't walk, just to vent her anger!
Charlotte fumed silently.
At the front desk, Lucas gave his name. The attendant led them to the locker room to change into sportswear, then guided them to the tennis court.
Someone was already playing. Evelyn saw Alexander and froze for a moment. Not because she was surprised to see him here. She already knew he was here. But seeing him in sportswear... he looked different. Special.
"Alexander, your sister-in-law is here!" Owen called out to Alexander, who was playing.
Alexander signaled to Lucas that he needed a break. Both men walked to the rest area.
"Evie, who's this?" Owen asked after nodding at Charlotte.
"My name is Charlotte. I'm his cousin!" Charlotte introduced herself directly.
"So you're Lucas's cousin. I've heard he has a beautiful cousin. The rumors don't do you justice. I'm Owen!" Owen said cheerfully.
"Nice to meet you, Owen!" Charlotte replied sweetly.
Evelyn stared at Charlotte. This didn't seem like the Charlotte she knew.
"Owen, stay away from my cousin!" Lucas handed his racket to the caddie and walked over. "Charlie, he's not right for you!"
"Cousin, what are you talking about?" Charlotte blushed.
It was rare for Evelyn to see Charlotte so shy.
"Hey, Evie!" Lucas greeted Evelyn with a smile.
"Hello, Lucas!" Evelyn replied politely.
"Evie, that's not fair. You call me Owen, but you call him Lucas? Alexander, you need to teach your wife!" Owen protested immediately.
"You call her sister-in-law, and she calls you by name. That's a mess. She didn't call you brother. You should be grateful," Alexander pulled Evelyn to sit down and answered calmly.
"Why is Lucas her brother?"
"Because Lucas is Charlotte's cousin. She's following her friend's lead. Got a problem with that?"
"No problem. But I can't win against you!" Owen sighed and sat down dejectedly.
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't her first time meeting Alexander. But every time, she found him surprisingly humorous.
She looked at Evelyn sitting next to Alexander. They looked perfect together. Like they were meant to be.
Right now, she watched carefully, afraid Evelyn might still be angry. But honestly, how could she stay mad at Evelyn? As long as Evelyn was happy.
She just wasn't ready to let go yet. She hadn't fully gotten over it.
Alexander handed Evelyn the juice he'd been drinking. Evelyn took it naturally and took a sip. "Hot?" Alexander looked down at her face.
"A little, since we just got here," Evelyn replied.
"Can you play tennis?" Alexander asked.
"Yes, but I'm terrible," Evelyn admitted.
"That's fine. We'll play together later," Alexander reassured her.
"Alexander, my cousin and I are going to have a match. You and your wife can play together. No problem, right?" Lucas said from the side.
"No problem," Alexander raised his head and answered calmly.