Editor: Henyee Translations The company has been especially busy lately.
Matthias had been working nearly around the clock and had gotten less than four hours of sleep the night before.
Skipping a nonessential social event was probably the wiser choice.
His assistant thought so too and nodded.
“Understood.
I’ll let them know.” An hour later, Evelyn arrived at her destination.
The restaurant was an elegant French establishment with an atmosphere that perfectly blended luxury and romance.
As soon as she stepped inside, a server greeted her and guided her through the dining room.
When they reached a private dining suite, the server knocked softly before opening the door.
“Mr.
Lowell, your guest has arrived.” Only after Evelyn entered did he quietly withdraw and close the door behind her.
Matthias sat in his wheelchair, his gaze following her as she approached.
She wore a flowing white dress that brushed her ankles, with a beige shawl draped loosely over her shoulders.
Her dark hair cascaded down her back like silk.
Nothing she wore came from a famous designer brand, yet she stood out more than any meticulously styled socialite.
Perhaps the old saying was true—true elegance came from beauty, poise, and presence.
With those qualities, even the simplest outfit could appear extraordinary.
And Evelyn possessed all three effortlessly.
A strange flicker crossed Matthias’s eyes.
For a brief moment, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him, as though he had known her for much longer than he actually had.
Yet the feeling vanished before he could make sense of it.
Noticing his stare, Evelyn smiled faintly and raised a hand in greeting.
“Mr.
Lowell.
It’s been a while.” Caught openly studying her, Matthias felt an unfamiliar twinge of embarrassment.
Lowering his gaze, he gestured toward the chair across from him.
“Miss Ashford, please.” Evelyn sat down without mentioning it.
Instead, she got straight to business.
“I have reviewed all the medical records you sent over.
Your condition shouldn’t be particularly difficult to treat.
Once you choose a date, we can begin.” Matthias was silent for a moment.
“Of all the specialists who have examined me,” he said, “You are the first to sound so certain.
Are you really that confident?” Evelyn immediately understood.
He wasn’t questioning her abilities.
He was questioning his own body.
After months of disappointment, hope had become a dangerous thing.
Resting her chin lightly on her folded hands, she met his gaze.
“You told me you trusted me.
Why are you hesitating now?” Her tone was deliberately gentle, making the words sound unexpectedly intimate.
Matthias blinked and looked away.
Evelyn’s smile widened.
“What?
So you don’t trust me after all?” Instinctively, he looked back.
Her eyes were bright and unwavering, more dazzling than the stars scattered across a clear night sky.
For some reason, he found himself looking away almost immediately.
Several seconds passed before he spoke.
“I’m sorry.” Even he knew he was behaving oddly.
Throughout his life, he had negotiated with powerful executives, politicians, and investors without ever feeling unsettled.
Yet whenever he was around Evelyn, a strange discomfort surfaced.
It wasn’t unpleasant.
If anything, it was simply unfamiliar.
If he had to describe it in one word, it would be flustered.
Evelyn studied his evasive expression for a moment before suddenly laughing.
Matthias frowned.
“You…” “Mr.
Lowell,” she teased, “why are you taking everything so seriously?” The cool detachment she usually wore had softened.
With amusement dancing in her eyes, she looked surprisingly approachable.
Realizing she had been teasing him the entire time, Matthias’s lips twitched faintly.
Just then, the servers began bringing out the food.
As they ate, the conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics.
Matthias wasn’t naturally talkative, so Evelyn carried most of the discussion herself.
Halfway through the meal, a server placed down a dish and turned to leave.
Unfortunately, the radio clipped to his belt caught the edge of the light blanket covering Matthias’s legs and pulled it onto the floor.
The server immediately paled.
“I’m so sorry, sir.” Before he could bend down to retrieve it, Evelyn stood.
“It’s fine.
You can go.” She picked up the blanket herself.
The server thanked her repeatedly before hurrying away.
Matthias watched her fold the blanket neatly and place it on a nearby chair.
Knowing about his mild germophobia, she hadn’t allowed the server to put it back over him after it had touched the floor.
Matthias was about to tell her he didn’t need the blanket anyway when she suddenly crouched beside him.
Then, with a natural ease that completely caught him off guard, she removed her shawl and draped it across his legs.
Her slender fingers smoothed the fabric carefully into place.
Though he couldn’t physically feel the contact, he remained perfectly still, watching her.
A strange warmth spread quietly through his chest.
Why?
Why did she treat him with such effortless familiarity?
Could it really be because they were technically engaged?
“This blanket is too thin,” Evelyn said.
“When you get home, switch to something warmer.” Only then did Matthias realize she had already returned to her seat.
His gaze lingered briefly on her hands.
“Thank you.” Evelyn looked up.
A slight frown appeared between her brows.
“Your face is really red.
What happened?” Matthias blinked in confusion.
Evelyn continued studying him.
A moment ago, he looked perfectly fine.
Now his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes seemed slightly unfocused.
Immediately, she stood and crouched beside him again.
Brushing aside a few loose strands of hair from his forehead, she pressed her palm gently against his skin.
The sudden closeness filled Matthias’s senses with her faint, delicate fragrance.
His entire body stiffened.
Her face was only inches away.
Every detail of her features seemed impossibly clear.
His heartbeat faltered.
Then his gaze dropped involuntarily.
Without the shawl, her knit dress outlined her graceful figure perfectly.
His throat tightened.
Instinctively, he tried to turn away.
But Evelyn stopped him.
“Don’t move.” Her voice was firm, yet strangely reassuring.
Without realizing it, Matthias obeyed.
He lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes, his hands tightening around the wheelchair’s armrests.
Evelyn frowned.
“You definitely have a fever.
You’re burning up.” She rose and pressed the service button on the table.
At first, she had assumed he was simply embarrassed.
It turned out he was actually sick.
A few moments later, a server entered.
“Could you please pick up some fever medicine?” Evelyn asked.
“Of course.” The server left immediately.
Not long afterward, the medicine arrived.
Evelyn checked the dosage instructions, poured a glass of water, and placed everything in front of Matthias.
“Take all of these.” “Thank you.” Matthias stared at the medication for a moment.
Why are you so concerned about me?
The question lingered on the tip of his tongue.
But when he met Evelyn’s bright, attentive eyes, he suddenly laughed softly and shook his head.
“Nothing.” After taking the medicine, he set down the glass.
Evelyn returned to the topic of his treatment.
“Once the first stage of treatment is completed, you’ll need surgery at a hospital,” she said.
“Have you chosen where you’d like the procedure performed?”