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3.28% The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot / Chapter 7: Who was the groom?

Chapter 7: Who was the groom?

The next day, Evelyn reluctantly accompanied Annabelle to the wedding boutique. She had arrived home late the previous afternoon to find out that Elias had been sent to their beach house in Velera City. She was relieved, knowing Elias would have opposed her plans, especially Zevian's involvement.

During the journey, Annabelle chattered excitedly about visiting the renowned store for the first time, but Evelyn's mind was elsewhere, stuck on the events at Zevian's home.

Even as Zevian tried to console his daughter, Kiana, the girl's tears had created chaos, only ceasing when Evelyn reluctantly agreed to consider becoming her mommy. Despite understanding the kid's yearning for a mother, she couldn't come to terms with Zevian's rescue plan for her. Rumors claimed he still loved his late wife, explaining his insistence on raising Kiana alone in a distant country, making it even harder to agree. 

"Oh, this place is gorgeous!" Annabelle's delighted squeal pierced Evelyn's thoughts as they entered La Belle Mariée, a grand boutique behind gilded gates. The lavish interior, adorned with crystal chandeliers and elegant floral arrangements, spoke of exclusivity, catering only to the wealthiest clients.

Evelyn frowned upon seeing not just Nicholas, her soon-to-be husband, and Vincent waiting for them in the lounge. Annabelle coyly smiled at Nicholas, prompting him to rush over to her.

"Did you have to drag her along?" Vincent glowered at Evelyn, who had been informed that she had forced Annabelle to come. The last bit of sympathy he had for Evelyn vanished when Nicholas confessed she had indeed been sleeping with him, plotting to marry if he broke their engagement. And he couldn't wait to see her marry his uncle, believing she deserved it for what she did to poor Annabelle.

"It's okay, Vin. I was the one who insisted on coming along," Annabelle said with a pout. Although she was telling the truth, Vincent didn't believe her and continued glaring at Evelyn.

"I am glad you came along, Miss Wright," Nicholas interjected, standing beside Evelyn. He suddenly hugged her waist and pulled her closer.

"You might try some gowns for your future wedding. Right, darling?"

Evelyn struggled to free herself from his grip, her discomfort evident. Nicholas, in his early fifties, had thinning hair clinging desperately to his scalp. His bulbous nose dominated his round face, and his smile, framed by crooked teeth, made Annabelle pity Evelyn for ending up with such a grotesque creature.

"Let's go! I am so excited for this date," Annabelle mumbled, turning to Vincent. As if it was a slip of the tongue, she instantly lowered her head and blushed, making Vincent smile. He nodded and helped her toward the dressing room, leaving Evelyn to be dragged by Nicholas.

The gown selection was a nightmare for Evelyn. More than the couple's lovey-dovey antics, she couldn't handle Nicholas's lustful stares.

"So, the total expenditure would be around..." Nicholas droned on, his hand squeezing Evelyn's shoulder. His touch was so overtly inappropriate that even the staff exchanged uncomfortable glances. Evelyn glanced at Vincent on the couch, feeling a surge of rage at how they seemed to relish her discomfort.

The manager continued explaining as a staff member brought a tea tray. An idea flashed in Evelyn's mind, and she sighed inwardly, having found a perfect way to distance herself and teach Nicholas a lesson.

As the worker finished pouring the tea, Evelyn accepted the cup with a smile. She pretended to sip the tea before "accidentally" spilling the entire cup onto Nicholas's lap, eliciting gasps from everyone around.

"What the fuck?!" Nicholas stood up, his grey pants stained with tea. The tea had spilled directly onto his crotch, causing him to panic and cry.

"I am so sorry, honey!" Evelyn faked a gasp, placing the cup down and retreating a few steps. She shrugged as Nicholas glared at her, hastily rubbing his pants as the manager handed him some tissues.

"Oh, no! You must hurry to the hospital, Mr. Blake." Avery's voice boomed from the entrance, surprising everyone. The manager quickly went to greet her, recognizing her as not just Zevian's cousin but also the only daughter of a popular politician, Mr. Theodore Cartwell.

Avery walked over and stood protectively beside Evelyn. She glared at the couple on the couch before returning her attention to Nicholas.

"What are you still standing there for, Mr. Blake?" She glanced pointedly at his pants. "Don't you want to save your tiny little companion?"

The staff suppressed laughter at her remark, while Nicholas's face darkened with anger. Before he could retort, Evelyn chimed in, her comment sent the entire room into muffled laughs.

"It's no use saving it. He's infertile anyway."

Avery broke into a smile and continued the drama. "Right? Isn't that why his wife divorced him a few years ago?" Clicking her tongue, she added, "Poor him."

"You bitch!" Nicholas yelled, his voice echoing through the hall. The bemused gazes and suppressed laughs only fueled his anger. Throwing the tissues aside, he grabbed the kettle of hot tea and marched toward Evelyn, intending to throw it at her since he couldn't afford to target her influential best friend, Avery.

Evelyn didn't have the time to react as Nicholas suddenly threw the tea in her direction. But before the hot liquid could touch her, she felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders. She instantly opened her eyes, wide and shocked, as Zevian hissed in pain as the liquid hit his back.

"Are you alright?" he asked, even though he was the one who took the blow for her. Evelyn nodded, still in shock.

"You bastard!" John, who had followed his boss, growled. The next second, the stunned crowd heard the kettle clatter and Nicholas's ear-piercing scream as John twisted his wrist. Many were certain his wrist was broken from the sickening crack they heard.

"Mr. Reign, what a surprise," Vincent's delighted voice broke the tension in the room. Rumor had it that Zevian had permanently returned to Vespera to take his father's position after working on their international branches for the past three years, and he couldn't miss this golden opportunity to become friends with him. 

Annabelle, who didn't know who this handsome man was, simply stood up, but her eyes didn't miss how he was looking at Evelyn. Did this beauty with brains manage to catch some big fish?

"Are you here to shop with your cousin?" Vincent asked with a smile, turning to Avery but both ignored him.

Zevian turned around and stepped beside Evelyn. He gestured for John to release Nicholas, who let go of his wrist with a huff. Grabbing the old man's collar, he pushed him outside stating to be taking him to the hospital. 

"Did you try any of them?" Zevian asked, glancing at the mannequins neatly arranged in the showcase. Evelyn shook her head, gasping when he suddenly placed his hand on her waist. Heat raced to her cheeks as she felt the warmth of his hand through her blue shirt. Why the heck was he doing this to her?!

Zevian broke into a small smile, his eyes fixed on one of the mannequins. "Let's try that one," he declared, filling the room with shock once more.

The workers exchanged glances, a few murmuring among themselves. Why was this tycoon acting like he was the groom?


Chapter 8: Thirst Traps

Avery, determined to cover for her annoying cousin's attempt to blow off their plans, kept telling the workers they were good friends, helping Evelyn for the big day. But the way Zevian's eyes followed Evelyn as she stood on the small dais, his icy demeanor softening instantly to one of admiration, left the workers suspicious. 

"Wow! This looks perfect," Avery mused, admiring the gown Evelyn wore—the very one Zevian had pointed out earlier. "You have good taste," she praised Zevian, sitting beside her. His puppy-like smile and twinkling eyes made her shake her head. Only her best friend could evoke such reactions from this iceberg.

Evelyn couldn't help but smile at her reflection in the mirror. The off-shoulder gown fit her perfectly. She stole a glance in Zevian's direction, appreciating his suggestion with a small smile. 

"Now that the gown is finalized, why don't we go have lunch, Mr. Reign?" Vincent's voice interrupted her thoughts. Evelyn scoffed, shaking her head at his blatant attempt to get Zevian's attention. It gave her a strange satisfaction, recalling the months she had spent yearning for his attention and love while he was busy caring for poor Annabelle. Karma was indeed a twisted thing. 

"We have no interest in having lunch with you, Mr. Blake," Avery retorted, glaring at Annabelle beside him. "Especially not with someone who has taken everything from my best friend. So, stop trying to lick my cousin's boots and get out of here."

Vincent's smile faded, his jaw clenched as the staff stifled their laughs. He had never liked Evelyn's so-called best friend and now even more so, not just for disrespecting him but also Annabelle. He shot a glare at Evelyn, hoping she would at least take her sister's side. But all he got was a blank stare.

"Let's go, Anna," Vincent said, grabbing Annabelle's hand. She winced in pain while trying to get up. Concern overtook Vincent's anger, and without a second thought, he lifted Annabelle in his arms and walked out, surprising everyone.

Avery watched them leave, shaking her head. "I pity Blake's future," she muttered. "Elder Edmund built his company with sweat and tears, and if it falls into his gullible grandson's hands, bankruptcy is inevitable." 

"Can you get me a first aid kit?" Evelyn asked a staff member as she took off the gown. The lady nodded and exited the room.

As Evelyn emerged from the changing room, Avery linked arms with her, beaming. "You looked smoking hot, babe!" she exclaimed, making Evelyn chuckle at her friend's effusive praise.

"Miss, here you go," the staff member interrupted, handing the first aid kit to Evelyn. She accepted it with a thank you and then passed it to Avery, eyeing Zevian, who was sitting on the couch, engrossed in his phone.

Avery blinked in confusion before understanding Evelyn's intention. She had been so excited about seeing Evelyn in a wedding gown that she had almost forgotten her cousin was hurt.

An idea struck Avery, and she shoved the kit back into Evelyn's hands. "You should treat him! I'll go settle the bill." Seeing Evelyn's face pale, she quickly added, "He got hurt while saving you, Evy. It only makes sense for you to help him out." 

Despite her fears of Zevian hurting Evelyn again, Avery knew no one could treat her better than him. Though they were only getting tied in a contract, she felt Zevian deserved a chance to grovel and win her heart again, understanding why he had betrayed Evelyn in the past. 

"Go!" Avery gently pushed Evelyn toward Zevian's couch. With a smile, she quickly went to the manager and asked for a tour of the boutique, admiring its interior. The manager eagerly agreed, thrilled to host the CEO of the city's top interior design company. The other staff followed, leaving the room exclusively for the couple. 

Hesitation was written all over Evelyn's face as she stood staring at her departing friend's back. Her gaze shifted to Zevian, who had moved to the French window to take a call. Taking a deep breath, she approached him, her heart pounding with each step. 

Stopping a foot away from him, Evelyn cleared her throat, but since Zevian was wearing his AirPods, he didn't hear the soft murmur.

"Zev—" She hesitated, shaking her head at the inappropriateness of using his first name after nearly six years of silence. "Mr. Reign, you should treat your burns."

"Mr. Reign?"

Frustration mingled with her anxiety as she failed yet again. With no other option, Evelyn tentatively raised her hand and tugged at his coat sleeve.

Zevian turned around, his frown melting into surprise at the sight of her. His creased brows relaxed as his eyes traveled to her hand holding his sleeve. A subtle smile unknowingly spread across his face, finding her flustered expression cute. 

"You should treat yourself," she mumbled, quickly releasing her and moving the box forward. From the way her heart was beating, she was certain this wouldn't end up well. 

Zevian glanced past her to see Avery and the staff leaving the room. Assuming Avery's hand in this, he refused to let her cupid efforts go to waste. 

"But I don't think I'll be able to reach it," he innocently murmured, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes. When he seemed genuinely concerned, Evelyn sighed and gestured for him to sit on the couch. 

Zevian moved to the couch and sat down, watching her with a mix of amusement and tenderness. Evelyn stood in front of him, her fingers trembling slightly as she placed down the first aid box and opened it.

Taking out the ointment for treating burns, she turned to him and her eyes widened at the sight of him taking off his shirt. Zevian's well-defined torso came into view, each muscle sculpted to perfection, making her gulp reflexively. From his Adam's apple down to his toned chest and defined abs, each feature stood out beneath his skin. Ah, it was impossible not to appreciate such a sexy sight!

Zevian then turned around to reveal a rather mesmerizing back, broad shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist. Her eyes then fell on the red marks below his neck, and that's when Evelyn realized she had been almost drooling at him. Heat crept through her cheeks, turning them the reddest shade of red.

Damn it! She was here to help, not admire his Greek-god-like physique! And this was exactly what she feared—falling for the thirst traps he always set for her, just like in the past. 

Zevian smirked, fully aware of her weakness and successfully exploiting it. But as her fingers touched his bare skin, he found himself falling into his own trap.

As Evelyn applied the ointment, he cursed inwardly, the coolness contrasting sharply with the heat radiating from his skin. A slight shiver ran down his spine as she massaged it in, her touch delicate yet firm.

Luckily, his burns were minor, and Evelyn decided to finish quickly and escape. But when he winced, she worriedly leaned closer and blew gently on the sore spots, her warm breath almost causing him to suck in a breath.

Each touch stirred unspoken emotions, and he gritted his teeth. Zevian decided to distract himself by breaking the silence that heightened the tension between them.

"Did you like the gown?" Zevian asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Evelyn nodded hesitantly, her voice soft as she replied, "Yep, it's beautiful."

Her small smile lit up the large mirror in front of them, and Zevian couldn't resist teasing her. "Nah, not more than you," he said softly, his words causing her heart to skip a beat.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Zelra Zelra

Ahhhh! Am I the only one squealing while reading this chapter >.< If you liked it too, don't forget to throw some gifts, golden tickets, etc. It will boast me to write more fluffy sweet scenes ლ(╹◡╹ლ)

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