Chapter 54: Absolutely Not, I Won’t Marry Her

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Absolutely Not, I Won’t Marry Her

Evelyn Grant’s face paled.

It was as if she was reliving the despair of that moment.

"Did Julian..."

"He didn’t! He never touched you," Ryan Sterling cut in. "When I realized I couldn’t reach you, I went straight to The Sterling Estate. He didn’t get the chance to do anything!"

The corners of Evelyn Grant’s eyes reddened. A single teardrop fell, dampening the white comforter.

"If you took me away, wouldn’t he find out about us...?"

"You’re the only one who’s cared about keeping this a secret from the start. You’re the one who wouldn’t let me say anything. I never wanted to hide it."

He had come back from Eldoria, after all. He was prepared for anything.

Evelyn Grant suddenly looked up, as if she had just realized something.

Ryan Sterling pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. His voice softened. "Evelyn Grant, I came back just for you."

"..."

"I went to Eldoria because I couldn’t stand to watch you and my brother playing the happy couple. I was afraid I’d lose control and try to take you from him! But I knew you were in love with my brother."

Back then, he had truly believed Evelyn Grant would choose him when it was time to pick a husband.

After all, they had spent more time together, and both their families had intended to set them up.

Ryan Sterling had never dreamed the final news would be that Evelyn Grant had chosen his older brother.

His mother had even described in vivid detail how red her cheeks were when she’d said she wanted to marry Julian, saying she looked exactly like someone who’d had a secret crush for ages.

In that moment, Ryan Sterling had felt as if his heart, a blazing fire, had been suddenly doused by a torrential downpour.

’So that’s how it was...’

’It had been his own wishful thinking from the very beginning.’

He remembered his mother, Florence Morgan, sighing after she spoke. "I really thought Eve would like Ryan! And Julian... he’s all tangled up with some woman named Jiang. Who knows if she’s going to cause a scene!"

Ryan Sterling had tuned out whatever came next.

He had driven straight from The Sterling Estate.

That evening, Julian Sterling had called. "Ryan, have you heard that Evelyn Grant says she wants to marry me?"

Ryan Sterling had pulled his car over to the side of the road, lit a cigarette, and simply said, "Yeah."

"I don’t want to marry her; the person I want to marry is Jane! Is there any way you can help your big brother get out of this?" Julian’s voice had been frantic, full of his unwillingness to go through with the marriage.

In that moment, Ryan Sterling had desperately wanted to offer to marry Evelyn Grant in his place.

But the words had died on his lips; he couldn’t say them.

’Because the person Evelyn Grant loves is my brother,’ he had thought. ’If the engagement changed and she had to marry me instead, she’d be so disappointed, wouldn’t she?’

’That silly girl, hiding her feelings for Julian so deeply... she must really love him.’

So, Ryan Sterling had said nothing.

After finishing his cigarette, he had spoken calmly, "Brother, Evelyn Grant... is a good person."

"I don’t care if she’s a good person, I don’t want to marry her! Grandfather is forcing me to agree, but I’m already in love with someone else!" Julian’s voice had become pleading. "Ryan, Grandfather has always favored you, can’t you help me talk to him? Or... you could just say you’re in love with Evelyn Grant and have Grandfather marry her to you! A fake marriage, you don’t touch her, and after a while, you say you’re not compatible and divorce! You’d be doing it for me and Jane. Will you?"

Will you?

A self-deprecating smile had touched Ryan Sterling’s lips as he tossed the cigarette butt away.

"No. I won’t marry her."

’Because she’s in love with you.’

Of course, he had only said that last part to himself.