My love, My Unfamiliar Husband

Evander extended his hand, and the frigid aura emanating from him instantly silenced the surrounding crowd.

Vivian Garrett, with her head down, quickly walked over to stand behind Evander.

Evander lifted his head, his gaze sweeping contemptuously over the reporters who had just been asking questions, as if he were examining ants.

“Miss Garrett is an artist friend whom I invited. My wife is feeling under the weather today and was unable to attend. My poor handling of the situation has caused some misunderstanding, and I hope you can all forgive me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters and guests who had been gossiping began to smooth things over.

Anyone with eyes could see that Evander Calloway was not a man to be crossed.

To oppose him was to court death.

The live broadcast had ended, but Evander’s final words still echoed in my mind.

I wasn’t sick. I could have been there.

Evander just hadn’t allowed it.

Over the years, very few people had actually met me. I never went to those social events, and he never asked me to.

I sighed, sitting on the balcony, lost in thought.

In my youth, I was the definition of brash and ambitious.

As soon as I graduated from Wharton, I started making a name for myself on Wall Street. Everyone thought a young woman like me couldn't possibly make waves in the financial world and advised me to give up. I refused.

The more they doubted me, the more determined I was to succeed.

The projects I handled soared to the top of the industry in just a few short months, and major corporations were clamoring to partner with us.

The Donovan Group cemented its place as an industry giant.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until Evander returned from Europe with someone by his side: Vivian Garrett.

For her, Evander began to cast aside all the other women in his life, including me.

I started to feel a sense of unease.

I had grown up with Evander, and in his world, it seemed no other girl had ever existed besides me.

Let alone someone who could capture his interest.

He was always cold and distant with everyone.

That year, on Independence Day, at a family party in the Hamptons, the air was filled with the clamor of voices and celebration.

I stayed in a corner by myself, going nowhere.

As dusk settled, I heard a voice call my name and thought I must be imagining it.

“Freya.”

I looked up. Under the moonlight, Evander stood not far away, his eyes sparkling like stars.

“Freya, happy Fourth of July!”

His bangs fell across his forehead, and in the soft, misty starlight, his deep, dark eyes held a rare tranquility.

His pleasant voice sounded above me, and at the same time, the dark night sky behind him erupted in a magnificent private fireworks show, prepared just for me.

In that moment, my heart skipped a beat.

So this is what it feels like to fall in love.

I had always thought I was an exception. It wasn't until Vivian Garrett appeared that I realized, all these years, it had been nothing but my own wishful thinking.