Undressed By His Arrogance

"Not again!" Evans sighed wearily, sinking into one of the stiff, uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. His hands ran over his face, fingers gripping his temples as he exhaled. He glanced at Ivy, who sat trembling, still clutching her sling protectively.

He never should have allowed Kane back into her life. She was supposed to be safe. He was supposed to keep her safe. Every instinct he had screamed that he had failed—failed to foresee the danger, failed to prevent it, and failed to protect her from people who thought her life was a game.

Sam’s words echoed in his mind. Let her make her mistakes. He groaned inwardly, fists clenching. Mistakes? Her mistakes were supposed to be small—minor heartbreaks—not near-death experiences.

Her life had been pulled into chaos again, and Evans Everest, no matter how composed or influential, felt powerless.

He looked down at her. Despite the cast, the accident, the near tragedy, there was still that unyielding spark in her eyes.

"I need you to go home," Evans said firmly. Every instinct screamed that she needed distance from danger—distance from this chaos that seemed to follow her. "You’ll be safe there until we figure this out."

"No. I’m not leaving Eugene!" Ivy snapped. Her gaze flickered anxiously toward the surgery doors, imagining every second that Eugene spent on the operating table, every movement and breath he took.

She couldn’t leave him—not when he had risked everything to protect her.

"What...what is this? Are you guys dating or something?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes!" Ivy said.

"So, what about Winn?" Evans asked.

"That’s done with," Ivy said simply. The clarity in her voice surprised Evans, leaving him unsure whether to feel relief or unease.

Part of him wanted to exhale in relief—finally, she would be away from Winn, away from the man who had brought turmoil into her life—but another part, a deeper, darker instinct, warned him that danger didn’t disappear with broken ties.

If she wasn’t interested in Winn anymore, why was she still being targeted? Why did someone still want to hurt her? The questions twisted in his mind, and a dull headache began to form behind his eyes.

"What am I going to say to Dad?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"That it was an accident. I really don’t want gramps to worry," Ivy replied softly, the concern in her voice betraying the strength she tried to show. Her arm ached, her body was sore, but the last thing she wanted was for her grandfather’s heart to race in panic over her.

"Maybe he should. Maybe then, he will start listening to me," Evans said bitterly.

"What are you saying?" Ivy asked, frowning.

"I wanted you to get back with Winn. I truly did," Evans admitted. "But his life is so chaotic... I’m sure this attack came because of him again. How long or how much are you going to suffer before Dad sees my side of it?"

"Gramps has nothing to do with me being with Winn or not," Ivy argued.

Evans ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. "He thinks you love him and should be with him if you want to. You haven’t told him about Eugene, have you?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"No, not yet. I guess now I have to," Ivy admitted, biting her lip. There was guilt in her confession, for the fact that she had been trying to manage emotions that were bigger than her.

"Please do. I’m tired of this. I’m...I’m exhausted worrying about you. I...listen, I know you find me overbearing..."

"I do. But I appreciate it too. And I thank you. I don’t take you for granted, Uncle Evans. You saved my life. I might give you hell for trying to keep me in a cocoon, but I could never despise you for it."

Ivy leaned against him, letting the warmth of his chest and the familiar strength of his embrace remind her of the safety she felt. Her head rested lightly against his shoulder, the tension in her shoulders slowly unraveling.

"I want you safe. I want our family safe...happy. Just tell me what you need, sweetie. Tell me, please."

"Just be you...my uncle," Ivy whispered softly.

Evans sighed heavily, running his hands down her back. "So Eugene is the lucky guy, uhn? He doesn’t seem like your type."

"What is my type?" Ivy asked, lifting her head just enough to give Evans a mock-offended glare.

"Annoying, arrogant, pompous, temper a hair’s trigger... did I mention arrogant?" He counted on his fingers as if reading directly from a handbook.

Ivy burst into laughter. "You are just seizing the opportunity to take digs at Winn."

"Who said anything about Winn?" Evans replied without missing a beat, feigning innocence.

"Oh... quit it!" Ivy laughed again, rolling her eyes. Her humor faded as her gaze drifted toward the closed double doors leading to the surgical wing. "I hope Eugene is going to be okay."

"He’s in good hands. He will be." He paused. "I remember his parents are touring Europe. Have they been contacted?"

"Yes, I called them." Ivy nodded. "It’s a small fracture in his knee. I don’t think they would want to abandon everything and head back."

"I owe the man. I owe him everything."

*****

The next day, at Everest Headquarters, Evans received a guest.

The secretary knocked once before ushering in a woman Evans hadn’t seen in months.

Sylvia Kane.

"Evans?" she greeted softly, stepping inside.

"Hi, Syl. I didn’t know you were back in town. How are Mary and Elizabeth?"

"They are fine. Doing good actually. Elizabeth has Mary wrapped around her little fingers. She is getting adequately spoiled."

"That doesn’t surprise me. So what brings you back home?" Evans asked finally, gesturing for her to sit, but Sylvia remained standing, her posture tense. Her purse strap slid slightly down her shoulder.

"My brother needed me," Sylvia began. "But we had a bit of a falling out and I will be returning soon. I do have a bone to pick with you."