The moment she stepped out of the car, a blast of cold air hit her. Evelyn couldn't help but shiver. Even in her down jacket, the chill was biting. She glanced at Alexander, who was only in a shirt. Worry flickered in her eyes. The next second, she was pulled into a warm embrace. Alexander held her close and walked straight into the elevator. Evelyn looked up at him. All she could see was his sharp jawline. He pressed the elevator button with one hand. His other arm stayed wrapped around her shoulders, shielding her. Nestled against his warm chest, Evelyn didn't feel so cold anymore. When the elevator doors closed, he let her go. Instead, he took her hand. Despite wearing only a shirt, his hands were warmer than hers. For a moment, Evelyn felt like Alexander was a man she could rely on for life. But the thought scared her. Even if he was dependable, she couldn't let herself depend on him. She realized she kept falling into his tenderness without thinking. That was a bad sign. They entered the apartment. Alexander turned to close the door. He didn't let go of her hand. Evelyn stood still, waiting. Inside, the warmth was a relief. She was about to take off her down jacket. The next second, Alexander pinned her against the wall. Evelyn froze, staring at him in shock. His deep eyes were unreadable. She watched as his face came closer. Their breaths mingled. Alexander didn't say a word. He just leaned in and kissed her lips. They were slightly cool but very soft. Evelyn was stunned for a moment. Then she closed her eyes. Her ears felt hot, but she didn't pull away. Everything felt natural and inevitable. After a long moment, Alexander pulled back. He took her hand and led her into the living room. He didn't plan to take things further. Some things were meant for the wedding night. Good things were worth waiting for. Evelyn felt the pressure leave her body. She opened her eyes, dazed, and followed him into the living room. Alexander let go of her hand. "Evelyn, can you make me some noodles?" he asked. "Oh, sure," she replied, still flustered. She put down her bag and hurried into the kitchen. Her face was still burning. As she took ingredients from the fridge, a thought crossed her mind. Had Alexander come to pick her up just so she could cook for him? She shook her head. She was overthinking. If he wanted noodles, there were plenty of restaurants open. Even the Sterling family chef could cook better than her. He was probably just hungry and wanted a home-cooked meal. Reassured, Evelyn relaxed. Some things got complicated when you thought too much. She heated the pan, sautéed the aromatics, and added water. Her cooking wasn't great, but she could manage simple dishes. Soon, she had a bowl of noodles ready. She set it on the table and called Alexander. He came out of the bedroom, his hair still wet from a shower. "The noodles are ready. Eat while they're hot," she said with a smile. "Join me," he said. "I ate a lot tonight. I'm still full," she replied. "Have a small bowl. I'll finish the rest. Did you go shopping with your classmates?" he asked, handing her a bowl. "I went with my elementary school friends. We visited our old school and had dinner together. Owen called me later to invite me for a snack, but I was with my classmates," Evelyn explained. Alexander nodded lightly. He didn't ask about her relationship with that classmate. He acted as if he knew nothing. Even if there was an issue, he would give her time to handle it. After all, their marriage wasn't like others. They were only getting to know each other now. Some things needed time to settle. After a pause, he added, "Owen is busy all day. Don't bother with him." Evelyn glanced at him and lowered her head to eat. After dinner, they sat in the living room watching TV. Evelyn was watching a variety show. Alexander stayed with her, even though he looked bored. But companionship was important in a marriage. Truth be told, Evelyn hadn't watched TV in a while. She was just too full to sleep. And with Alexander there, she couldn't focus on reading. So TV it was. Soon, she felt drowsy. Without realizing it, she fell asleep against Alexander. He turned off the TV and carried her to the bedroom. Evelyn woke up in the middle of the night. She instinctively snuggled closer to the warmth beside her. Then she froze. There was an arm around her waist. She opened her eyes and looked up. Through the dim light, she saw Alexander's face. Even in sleep, he looked like a prince. More accurately, he was a prince. Wide awake now, Evelyn lay in his arms and thought. It was normal for a prince to marry a princess. But a prince marrying Cinderella was a miracle. And even Cinderella needed a beautiful dress to catch the prince's eye. Without that dress, she was just an ordinary girl. She would never have gotten close to the prince. So Cinderella's dream wasn't for everyone. At the very least, you had to stand out. You had to be able to stand beside a real princess without looking inferior. Only then could you catch the prince's eye and stand by his side. Evelyn knew she didn't have that kind of charm. She and Alexander were together because of a twist of fate. Without that chance, they would have been strangers. Just like her and Noah. They had once been drawn to each other. But like two semicircles, they had come close and then drifted apart. Meeting someone required fate and timing. Only when everything aligned could two people truly be together. She didn't know if she and Alexander were meant to be. She didn't know how far they would go. For now, she could only take it one step at a time. She thought of Noah leaving tomorrow. She thought of what he had said tonight. They had missed their chance. Some things, once missed, could be found again. But some things, once missed, were gone forever.
You Can Never Divorce Me
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