The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot

Zevian gently cradled Kiana, who was nestled soundly against his chest, her soft murmurs revealing how much she missed her mommy. He carefully lifted her off his chest, placing her gently on the bed. Just as he stood up, his phone buzzed, and the moment he heard John’s panicked voice, his heart plummeted.

"She must have been kidnapped again!"

Those words sent an icy chill through Zevian’s veins, his mind flashing back to Evelyn’s pale, lifeless face as they pulled her from the grave. The memory was too fresh, too raw. His world felt like it was collapsing all over again.

No, not again!

"Get the team and search the entire mansion, inside and out!" he barked, his voice betraying his fear despite the icy command. His fingers trembled slightly as he dialed Damien’s number. If this turned out to be Sophia’s doing, he would toss aside any plan Damien had and dig a hole into that damned woman’s skull himself.

"What now?" Avery asked from the hall, noticing his frantic demeanor as he cursed aloud when Damien didn’t pick up.

"Evelyn is missing! Find her location now!" he demanded through gritted teeth, the urgency in his voice making both Damien and Avery freeze in place.

"Again?" Damien’s voice dripped with irritation as he finally answered, pausing his moment of intimacy with the woman trying to climb over him. "Where the hell did she go this time?" he muttered darkly, silently swearing vengeance on whoever dared lay a finger on Zevian’s beloved. If it was Sophia, she wouldn’t live to see the sunrise.

Zevian cut the call, frustration burning in his chest as he turned to Avery. "Call me if she comes here," he ordered. Without waiting for a response, he rushed out of the house, his heart thudding painfully in his chest, fear squeezing tighter with each passing second.

John had already begun the search, and in his desperation, he sought out Elias, the only person Evelyn trusted implicitly.

"Are you sure she left the house?" Elias asked the maid who had alerted John, his voice thick with suspicion. She nodded, trembling under John’s intense gaze as he tried to peer into her soul, seeking any trace of deceit.

"Where’s the security room? We need to check the CCTV," John said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Elias quickly led him to the small room near the garage, but their hopes were dashed when they arrived.

"Sorry, sir, but the system’s under maintenance. Mrs. Wright was informed, and the technicians are expected tomorrow," the head of security explained, his words tightening the knot of anxiety in Elias’s stomach. John clenched his fists, ready to press the issue further, but stopped when two women rushed into the room.

"What’s wrong?" Sophia asked, feigning concern, though her heart danced with malicious glee. By now, her pawns would have whisked Evelyn away, advancing her twisted plan.

"Evelyn is missing!"

"Again?" Annabelle gasped, putting on her best-shocked expression. But internally, her heart sank. Sophia had promised her a future with Vincent, and if things fell apart now, all her efforts to worm her way into his life would be wasted.

Elias sighed heavily and nodded, and Sophia dramatically covered her mouth. "Oh my god! Who would target our poor Evy?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with false compassion.

"Are there any cars parked out front?" John cut through the charade, his sharp gaze fixing on Elias.

Elias nodded. "Some of ours haven’t been parked yet."

"Let’s check the dash cams. We might catch something," John said, leading the way.

Sophia’s heart raced with panic. She hadn’t anticipated this. She prayed that the footage revealed nothing incriminating, but the gods weren’t on her side. One of the dash cams captured a dark silhouette sneaking toward the garage. Moments later, the screech of a bike echoed through the still night.

"Did she take the bike?" Elias wondered aloud, surprised. No one in their family would dare touch his bike without permission—except for his sister.

John didn’t waste time. He called Zevian immediately, alerting him and sending men out to scour the area for any sign of the bike.

Zevian, his nerves frayed, suspected Evelyn had slipped away on her own. She had a habit of doing this when she needed space, but now wasn’t the time. Not when so many threats loomed over them.

Avery’s name flashed on his phone, and he answered it quickly.

"You should come home. Evy just arrived," Avery’s voice was filled with relief, but it did little to calm Zevian’s pounding heart.

"This woman is going to be the death of me," Damien grumbled as he and Zevian rushed back to the house. The moment they arrived, Zevian stormed inside, anger and fear boiling over.

"Where is she?" Zevian roared, his eyes blazing with barely controlled fury.

Avery flinched at the sight of him, her usually composed cousin now looking like he was on the brink of losing control. Clearing her throat, she pointed upstairs. "She’s in our room. She seems a bit off, so it’s better—"

Zevian didn’t wait for her to finish, charging up the stairs, with Damien close behind, his own concern pulling him along. But Avery grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Leave them alone," she urged, glancing worriedly upstairs. Sighing, she sank onto the couch, downing a glass of water and praying that things didn’t spiral out of control.

Zevian unlocked the door and stepped inside, his eyes sweeping the room until they found her. Evelyn emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair clinging to her pajama top, her face pale and drawn.

"Why the hell do you carry a phone if you won’t even pick it up?!" Zevian’s voice thundered, his fists clenched at his sides. His gaze fell on her phone lying innocently on the bed before glaring at his sweet wife.

Evelyn flinched at his outburst, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to respond. "I... I..."

"Yes, speak! Give me a damn good reason why you didn’t inform John! Why the hell did you leave the house alone when I specifically warned you—"

"Can you stop shouting?" Evelyn cut him off, her own frustration boiling over, her voice cracking as she fought back tears.

Zevian’s rage melted away as he watched her eyes well up. Screw anger! His heart clenched as she broke down, her sobs wracking her small frame. Without thinking, he crossed the room in a few strides and pulled her into his arms.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, his voice soft as he gently patted her head, holding her close as she sobbed into his chest.

Evelyn’s walls crumbled under the warmth of his embrace, all the emotions she had been holding in spilling out. After her argument with William, all she could think about was visiting her mother, forgetting that someone else cared for her just as much.

"I won’t yell again, I’m sorry," Zevian repeated, thinking his anger had pushed her to this point.

Evelyn shook her head, clutching him tightly. "I... I just missed Mom," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper, giving Zevian a glimpse into the turmoil that had driven her to leave.

"You should have taken me with you," Zevian murmured, his voice laced with a gentle sadness. "It’s been too long since I visited her." He stroked her hair, trying to ease the ache in her heart.

"I promised her I’d bring you and Kiana next time," Evelyn murmured, nestling deeper into his chest. Zevian hummed in response, rubbing her back as her sobs gradually quieted, her heart finally calming under his touch.

"I’m sorry too," Evelyn whispered as she pulled away slightly, guilt coloring her cheeks. She should have at least sent him a message before leaving.

Zevian wiped away her tears with his thumb, his voice tender. "I was just scared they would try something again."

"Sophia actually did," Evelyn revealed, her voice shaking slightly as she looked up at him. Zevian’s expression darkened, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. "She ordered something to be mixed in my drink. Luckily, Darah sensed something was wrong and switched the glass before I drank it."

"What kind of drug?" Zevian asked, his voice cold and steely. If Sophia kept pushing, she would soon find herself in hell.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Wright Mansion.

"What do you mean, the glass was switched?" Sophia demanded, her voice rising in fury as she glared at the trembling maid.

"The maid carrying it accidentally dropped the glass, and it was changed last minute," the frightened maid stammered, recounting how Darah had outmaneuvered them.

Sophia’s fury exploded, and in a fit of rage, she hurled her glass across the room. Annabelle flinched as it shattered against the wall, narrowly missing the maid.

Sophia seethed, her mind racing. "You’re still in touch with him, right?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing on Annabelle, who nodded hesitantly.

"Good! Use a date as an excuse and make them meet. I will arrange the rest of the things," Sophia ordered, her voice icy and determined.

"But-"

"I will give you a week. If you fail, I will be the one blowing your cover in front of William." Sophia cut her off with a strict warning. Walking to her, she patted her cheek and smiled, "And I am sure William will cut his sweet Anna’s little throat after knowing her real identity."

"Do it if you wish to live a longer life."