Chapter 391

"Do you miss them?" Serena asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"I recall you mentioning you don't have any family. Or… a boyfriend, perhaps?" Evelyn replied with a knowing smile.

Instead of answering directly, Serena shrugged. "I do have family. We just don’t stay in touch much."

"A woman as remarkable as you must have suitors lining up," Donovan teased, leaning back in his chair.

Serena waved a dismissive hand. "You have no idea. Evelyn is brilliant, but she’s married to her work. If it weren’t for that jerk—"

She frowned, suddenly blanking on the name. Shaking her head, she continued, "Anyway, if he hadn’t been so persistent, I doubt she’d have ever settled down. Sorry."

Realizing she’d touched on a sore subject, she quickly backtracked. Serena didn’t know the full story—only what had happened to Evelyn recently.

"It’s fine," Evelyn said, her tone light. "That’s all in the past now."

"So… do you have a boyfriend?" Serena ventured cautiously.

Evelyn hesitated, then smirked. "I suppose you could say that."

Technically, it was two steps beyond boyfriend.

Alexander was her husband.

The thought made her lips twitch in amusement.

She’d never actually called him that to his face.

She wasn’t sure she could without laughing.

"Wow, you’ve been holding out on me! You have to introduce us sometime!" Serena beamed.

If Evelyn was seeing someone, it meant she’d truly moved on. That was something to celebrate.

"Evelyn’s partner must be extraordinary," Donovan mused, watching her reaction.

"Of course," Evelyn said without hesitation.

Alexander was extraordinary. He deserved every bit of praise.

Donovan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her lack of modesty.

The meal passed pleasantly, but just as Evelyn was about to leave, a commotion erupted from the staircase.

"Let me through! Do you know who I am? How dare you stop me!"

The shrill voice was unmistakable.

Before Evelyn could place it, the woman stormed up the steps.

"Donovan, you can’t keep me from seeing Oliver!"

It was Penelope.

Evelyn hadn’t expected to run into her here, but Donovan had likely ordered the staff to block her entry.

The servers tried to hold her back, but she shoved past them, desperation fueling her movements.

Oliver perked up at the sound of his mother’s voice, but a sharp glance from Donovan made him sink back into his seat.

"Oliver! Oliver! Mommy’s here!" Penelope shrieked, oblivious to the other diners.

"Mr. Blackwood, I apologize—she just—" A flustered server stammered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Donovan dabbed his lips with a napkin, his expression unreadable. "Let her come up."