Chapter 2 The Secret Revealed

Evelyn's POV

Above me, the ballroom lights glowed like stars, yet I felt as though I was in a vacuum. My mind was in disarray, and my feet were firmly planted on the shiny floor.

Daniel's comments, "Your past isn't as simple as you think," kept repeating in my head.

I discovered him drinking a beer while casually leaning against the bar. I plucked up the guts to go up to him.

"What were you referring to earlier?" I asked, making a terrible attempt to sound firm.

He turned and grinned mischievously at me. "Oh, Evelyn. So ready for answers already?

I crossed my arms and yelled, "Stop playing games." "What are you attempting to express?"

Leaning closer, he put down his drink. He said, "You're Richard Elmont's illegitimate daughter," in a thunderclap-like voice.

I looked at him in disbelief. "What?"

His smile grew as he said, "You heard me." Richard Elmont. The guy whose empire fell apart when Peter became involved.

"Stop!" My voice trembled as I snapped. "That isn't accurate."

"Isn't it?" Daniel's eyebrow went up. Consider it, Evelyn. What else could explain Peter Austin's closeness to you?

"I don't stay close to him!" My fists clenched as I spoke. "I am merely his assistant."

Daniel shook his head and laughed. "All well, if that's what you want to think. However, the truth has a humorous way of surfacing.

With my heart racing, I pivoted on my heel and left. He must have been making a mean joke. They couldn't possibly be true.

A familiar voice came from the other side of the room as I was trying to relax.

Olivia scoffed, her words brimming with derision, "Evelyn." "How is tonight's charity case going?"

Lila was giggling beside her. "Did you notice her gown? My maid, in my opinion, has greater taste.

I tried to ignore them by biting my lip. Lila wasn't done, though.

She made sure everyone could hear her say, "You know, Peter has such peculiar standards." "He destroys my father's business first, and then he takes this to a gala."

The words hurt. I sensed that everyone was watching me and that their opinions were highly important.

"That's sufficient."

Peter's voice pierced the air like a knife, and the room became silent. He took a step closer, glaring at Lila with a cold face.

"Lila, what did you say?" His voice was quiet yet menacing as he requested.

Lila stumbled, her self-assurance eroding in his presence. "Peter, I was just kidding."

"Joking?" he said in a chilly tone. "You think it's funny to make fun of my assistant in public?"

"I didn't mean that"

"Sorry," he ordered, interrupting her.

Lila's face became quite red. She glanced at me before turning back to Peter. "I apologize," she muttered.

"Louder," Peter insisted.

She apologized once more, her voice almost audible.

Satisfied, Peter nodded. "All right. Now go.

With her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor, Lila bounded off. Olivia trailed closely after her.

Stunned, I stood there. It was the first time Peter had stood up for me. Why now?

To avoid more attention, I spent the remainder of the evening close to the ballroom's edge. However, my mind continued to race.

What made Peter intervene? And what did Daniel hope to achieve by telling lies?

I was relieved to return to my tiny flat when the event was finally over. I exhaled deeply as I shut the door behind me.

I was emotionally spent from the night's events. After kicking off my heels, I fell onto the couch and allowed the room's silence to envelope me.

But it was short-lived.

I was startled by a knock at the door. I looked at the clock and scowled. It was almost midnight.

At this hour, who might it be?

A plain white envelope was on the floor when I carefully opened the door. The corridor was deserted.

I picked it up and looked at the front handwriting. In strong, black writing, my name was written: Evelyn Albert.

With shaky hands, I ripped it open.

Two lines were written on a single sheet of paper that was inside:

"You are descended from Richard Elmont. If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

The paper dropped from my fingertips as my breath caught.

My fingers shaking, I took up the letter again and read the words a second time. I couldn't stop thinking about the audacious assertion written on the paper: "You are Richard Elmont's blood." If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

Why would I receive this? Did Daniel do it? He had to be the one. But what's the point of all this hassle? Why would he want to cause such turmoil in my life?

My chest rose and fell with irregular breaths as I rested back against the couch. I could picture my mother's face, her soft touch, her loving gaze, and her hushed comforts when life seemed too much. She didn't bring up my father at all. Not once.

Was that something she was trying to hide?

I tried to ignore the thought by shaking my head. It didn't feel feasible. My mom couldn't be dishonest. She gave me what little we had by working so hard and making so many sacrifices.

However, the suspicions persisted.

Is this the case? Could I have something to do with Richard Elmont? A tycoon?

I felt a little at the concept. A nobody like me would never have been important to someone like that.

What does Peter have to do with this? Was the next question that came up, and it made me shiver.

"Ask him," the letter advised. However, how could I? He was Peter Austin, the icy, unapproachable CEO who hardly glanced at me, much less revealed intimate details.

I looked at the time. I knew I wouldn't go to sleep until I had some answers, even if it was beyond midnight.

Clutching the letter tightly, I decided. Tomorrow, I will confront Peter Austin, no matter the consequences. But as I stared out the window into the dark, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. Something I wasn't ready for.