Chapter 5: Pretend Husbands

Marriage, marriage, marriage...

Ever since his rebirth, Evan's life seemed to revolve around those two words. It was something he had desperately yearned for in his past life, but now, it hovered over him like a curse, threatening to suffocate him.

Christian glanced down at Evan before continuing calmly, "I originally wanted to introduce him to Grandpa earlier, but Evan is far too shy. So, I thought it best to wait until things settled down at the company before bringing him over."

Evan stared in astonishment at Christian lying through his teeth without batting an eye, inwardly giving him a thumbs-up.

If he had possessed such a knack for lying back then, he wouldn't have been controlled and manipulated by Julian for so many years.

Just as he was lost in chaotic thoughts about his past life, Evan's hand was suddenly taken in a warm grip and pulled forward slightly. A gentle voice fell by his ear: "Evan, let me take you inside."

The soft, tender tone of Christian's voice sent a wave of goosebumps across Evan's skin. Disgusted, he pressed his lips together and tugged hard at his hand once the old master turned around, only to be startled by a stern, warning glance from Christian.

"This isn't right..."

Evan's low mutter was caught by Christian, who stopped in his tracks, pulling Evan over to the far end of the corridor before letting go of him.

"What isn't right?"

Finally freed from the hold, Evan shrank back slightly, lifting his head with a troubled expression. "We've known each other for less than a week. I don't even... don't even know you... How do you expect me to act like we're madly in love?"

Christian stared into Evan's eyes, nodding thoughtfully, and then asked, "Did you ever join a drama club in college?"

"Um... what does that have to do with anything?" Evan had indeed joined several clubs during his college years. Studying design, he was often dragged in by the drama club to help with props and behind-the-scenes support.

"Just treat them all as your audience. You and I are the leads in this show."

Christian's suggestion sounded simple enough, but executing it was immensely difficult. Evan desperately wanted to remind this high-and-mighty heir that drama clubs required countless rehearsals before presenting a flawless performance on stage; amateurs like them would be riddled with glaring flaws.

Seeing Evan's facial features practically scrunched together in distress, Christian thought for a moment before offering a brief summary: "Accustomed to quiet environments. Likes spicy food. Owns five properties and two sports cars. Currently living at the Grand Horizon Estates. A workaholic."

Utterly baffled by Christian's sudden barrage of details, Evan widened his eyes, a look of complete blankness on his face.

"What are you standing there for? Write it down." Christian rested his palm against his forehead, wondering if Evan suffered from a lack of intelligence.

Evan let out a soft "Oh," inwardly grumbling that Christian's self-assessment was actually quite spot-on. He closed his phone's audio recording app, opened the notepad, and typed in Christian's exact words, character by character.

"What about you?"

Evan shifted his gaze away from his phone, tilting his head as he thought it over. "There's nothing special about me. I like reading, can't handle spicy food very well, savings... I don't think I have any..."

When mentioning his savings, Evan's eyes dimmed significantly—ever since graduating from college, he had been placed into Julian's company under the dignified title of Julian's personal assistant, though his real role was far more embarrassing than anyone could imagine.

"Oh, right. I graduated from the Seaside Academy of Fine Arts, and my work was... women's fashion design."

Comparing the two, Evan felt the gap between himself and Christian was vast. They didn't belong to the same world at all, and ordinarily, their paths would never have crossed.

"Women's fashion design... In that case, I'll say we met on an airplane. You helped me out, and as we gradually got to know each other, we started a long-distance relationship across international borders."

Christian lied without so much as a blink, pulling details out of thin air. The backstory he crafted was remarkably romantic, resembling a sweet trope deliberately set up by an author for a novel's main couple.

Yet real life was mostly a angst-filled tragedy. Evan let out a quiet sigh, joking half-heartedly, "We could say we ran into severe turbulence on the plane, and I saved your life."

Christian nodded. "That sounds a bit more believable."

Just as both of them opened their mouths to add something more, a chestnut-haired head suddenly popped out from the dense vines on the other side of the corridor, calling out toward them: "Young Master! Young Master's partner..."

Christian signaled to the person with a wave of his hand, indicating he would be right over.

Turning back, Christian lowered his hand helplessly. "That's the butler's son. I'll introduce you to him later."

Evan gave a quiet "Mm," swallowing back the words he had been about to speak. He figured that since this relationship was merely meant to deceive Christian's family, there was no need to take the play too seriously or reveal everything about himself to Christian.

"Just so we're clear, I haven't agreed to this deal yet. I'm only helping you out today." As soon as Evan spoke, the cozy atmosphere that had briefly built up vanished in an instant. Christian remained silent for a few seconds before letting out a low "Got it."

---

Guided by Christian's hand through a doorway decorated with intricate carvings, Evan's eyes lit up at the interior design. Back in school, he had always admired such classical architecture, but when even his freedom was stripped away later, his dreams had shattered into dust.

In the center of the spacious main hall stood a massive rosewood root-carved tea table, neatly arranged with a complete tea set. Deeper inside the hall sat rustic sofas and minimalist solid wood tables, with the old master and Serena seated together. A series of ink-wash folding screens behind them partitioned the path leading further into the estate.

Seeing that Evan couldn't take his eyes off the paintings on the screens, Christian leaned down, whispering softly into his ear, "There's a small pond behind those. You'll see it when we head to the dining room for dinner later."

Brought back to reality by Christian's reminder, Evan realized he had been acting a bit too out of place. He quickly withdrew his gaze, standing properly and obediently by Christian's side.

Hasty footsteps echoed from behind the screens. Curiously tilting his head, Evan saw a woman in a teal dress rushing in. Looking up and catching sight of Evan, she halted, covering her mouth with her hand as a delighted, surprised smile spread across her face.

"Mom, you always walk so fast. Dad must be having a hard time keeping up behind you." Christian's tone was relaxed as he curved his lips, giving Evan's fingers a subtle squeeze where no one else could see.

Receiving the cue, a bright smile bloomed across Evan's face. He stepped forward on his own initiative, bowing his head slightly. "Hello, Mrs. Christian. I'm... Christian's partner, Evan."

Evan was actually extremely nervous. Growing up in an orphanage, he had never experienced a mother's warmth or true family affection. Stepping close to such a bond made the deep-seated timidness inside him surge uncontrollably.

He feared Christian's family would spot that cowardice, and even as he raised his head, he didn't dare meet the woman's eyes directly.

"May I call you Evan?" The woman's gentle voice felt like a warm bath to Evan's heart, the soothing heat slowly driving away his anxiety.

"You don't need to be nervous. Christian has never brought a friend home before—you are the very first. His father and I are both thrilled." As she spoke, the woman reached out to take Evan's hand, her soft touch sending a gentle flutter through Evan's heart.

Evan could genuinely feel that Christian's mother was happy from the bottom of her heart; the genuine joy in her eyes and the warmth of her fingers could not be faked.

"Thank you, Mrs. Christian," Evan gathered his courage to meet her gaze. "Thank you for accepting me."

Christian's mother and grandfather pulled Evan over to sit on the sofa and chatted with him for a while before a chubby man—Christian's father—came trotting out from behind the screen, out of breath and looking at his wife with a aggrieved expression.

"Sir, please have a seat." Evan quickly stood up to offer his spot to Christian's father, taking a seat opposite the elders alongside Christian.

Hearing his voice, Christian's father noticed the slender, delicate young man for the first time. He blinked, looking distinctly puzzled.

"Dad, this is my partner, Evan. I'm planning to marry him."

"B-But... isn't he a man?"

The Christian family was traditional at heart. Although Christian's father had mentally prepared himself for his younger son getting married, he had never imagined Christian would choose a man.

Hearing this, Evan looked toward Christian in a sudden panic, only to be met with a reassuring glance. Immediately after, he heard Christian speak calmly:

"Evan is intersex, but that doesn't stop me from being with him."

*Intersex...*

In an instant, every gaze in the room darted straight toward Evan. Taken completely off guard, Evan felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. Sitting beside Christian, even his breathing became cautious and tentative.

He could easily guess what would follow.

A traditional family like the Christians could never accept a body that was neither fully male nor female. They would treat him with cold indifference, mock him with harsh words, and perhaps even force him to cut all ties with Christian.

That was simply how the world worked—it was never forgiving toward anything that deviated from the norm.

Evan let out a long breath of relief. He had initially worried he wouldn't perform his part well and would be despised by Christian, but now it seemed he had overthought things—he didn't even possess the qualification to continue acting in this play.

"Mr. Christian, my body indeed has severe flaws... I know..."

"WOAH—Evan, you are way too cool!" An exclamation abruptly cut off Evan's remaining words. He turned to look at Serena in complete shock, utterly bewildered.

"There's a kind of beauty in the art world called androgyny—it's usually found in depictions of angels, but this is the first time I've ever seen it in real life!" Serena casually draped an arm over Evan's shoulders, her voice brimming with sincere joy and admiration. "My brother is so lucky to be with you!"

Evan froze, his tightly clenched fingers slowly relaxing as he bit his lip softly.

Christian's mother stood up as well, her eyes glistening with tears. She took Evan's hands gently in hers. "Child... you must have suffered so much all these years..."

That single sentence pierced right through Evan's composure. He shook his head in a flurry, lowering his gaze and blinking rapidly to keep the Christian family from seeing his sudden loss of control.

This was the first time in all his years that he had heard a mother figure speak to him with such tender care.

Evan had thought he was long accustomed to unfairness and discrimination, that nothing of the sort could ever move his heart again. Yet he never expected that what brought tears to his eyes was not his past suffering, but this hard-won moment of genuine warmth.

In that very instant, a quiet thought surfaced in his mind—he almost wished he could stay in the Christian family forever.

Human beings were creatures that naturally gravitated toward warmth; no matter how stubborn or guarded one claimed to be on the surface, facing true tenderness and care would still undo them completely.

"Thank you..." Evan didn't know what other words could express his gratitude. Sniffling softly, his eyes reddened as he looked past everyone toward Christian.

Christian merely raised an eyebrow, deliberately avoiding Evan's gaze. Turning his head away, he leaned down and whispered something quietly into his father's ear.

Where Evan couldn't see, a fleeting look of deep relief crossed the bottom of Christian's eyes.

Chapter 6: The Christian Family's Terrifying Eldest Brother

Everyone in the Christian family was exceptionally warm and welcoming. Although Christian's father still held a slight hesitation regarding Evan being a man, his refined upbringing ensured that he treated Evan with grace and courtesy throughout their interactions.

Yet, for the entire afternoon, Evan didn't catch another sight of Christian.

When dinner time arrived, Evan was arranged to sit right next to the old master of the Christian family, with Christian seated at his right side.

"Here, try this. Christian mentioned you grew up in the south and love fish. This sweet and sour fish was prepared specially for you, Evan," Christian's mother said, using a pair of serving chopsticks to place a tender piece of fish belly onto the small plate in front of him.

The Christian family had originally built their fortune in the north through the textile trade, so almost none of them were fond of fish. Seeing them thoughtfully prepare a dish specifically tailored to his tastes made Evan's heart swell with warmth.

"Thank you, Mrs. Christian."

After thanking her, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite under everyone's eager gazes. The fish was delicate and melted in his mouth, filling his palate with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor. Evan looked up in delightful surprise, complimenting sincerely, "This dish is wonderful!"

Hearing Evan's praise, the rest of the family—who had been eagerly waiting for his evaluation—finally picked up their chopsticks to eat. Flustered by such attentive treatment, Evan repeatedly turned his head to check Christian's reaction, only to receive a look filled with deliberate "devotion."

*Mm... it really is a pity Mr. Christian didn't pursue an acting career,* Evan thought silently to himself.

Most of the family members were present for dinner, each occupying a designated seat. By now, Evan had shed the awkward stiffness he had felt during lunch. He raised his head and carefully scanned the table, noticing that the seat opposite him—which had been empty at noon—remained vacant.

"Evan, this beef stewed with potatoes is quite good. Want me to scoop some for you?" Serena's suggestion broke Evan's gaze away from the empty seat.

Perhaps noticing his curiosity, Serena walked over, picked up his small bowl, and served him some stew while teasing casually, "There's also an elusive older brother in our family. He doesn't come home for dinner often, and every time he does, he finds fault with everything and everyone... Pray he doesn't suddenly show up..."

Serena froze mid-motion, abruptly sensing an odd shift in the dining room's atmosphere. She blinked, her smile turning somewhat stiff. "W-Why did everyone stop talking..."

Looking past Christian's profile, Evan wasn't sure what expression to make toward the man currently pushing open the door and walking inside.

The man had his hair meticulously slicked back into an immaculate style, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses over a high-bridged nose. With sharp, cold facial features and a tall, commanding stature, his impeccably tailored suit highlighted every physical advantage he possessed.

Evan's eyes couldn't help but sweep up and down the man's frame as he tightened his grip on his chopsticks—*this man is absolute top-tier... way too handsome...*

Holding the small bowl in her hands, Serena turned around stiffly. Catching sight of the man's dark, stern face, she whirled back around in a flash, shoved the bowl into Evan's hands, and scurried back to her seat like a mouse fleeing a cat.

The man closed the door with an unhurried firmness. Instantly, the warm ambiance in the dining room dropped by several degrees, and silence fell over the table.

As the man took off his suit jacket, revealing a crisp white shirt underneath, Evan's eyes lingered on his slender waist for a few seconds. It wasn't until his foot was lightly tapped under the table that he snapped back to his senses, hurriedly looking down to pick at the beef chunks in his bowl with his chopsticks.

The old master, disliking such sudden awkward silence the most, glanced back and forth between Christian's couple and the solitary Vincent, letting out a soft sigh. "Vincent, this is Christian's partner. After dinner, make sure you get introduced."

Vincent pushed up his glasses, letting out a brief, cold "Mm."

Evan was left thoroughly embarrassed by the response, swallowing the introduction that had been at the tip of his tongue right back down along with a soft piece of potato.

Despite the minor episode, the dinner proceeded comfortably enough. It was the first full meal Evan had enjoyed in all the days since his rebirth—while staying at the hotel, he had been constantly consumed by anxiety about his uncertain future.

Quietly touching his slightly full stomach, Evan thought that if he agreed to Christian's proposal, his immediate quality of life would at least be secured. He wouldn't have to worry about basic necessities, nor would he have to live in fear of Julian's threats.

Just as he was contemplating, Evan's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, only for a string of unread messages on the screen to instantly drag him back to a harsh reality.

*Evan, where are you? Come back soon. I bought you a new dress.*

*Evan, I'm flying back from the resort tomorrow on the 5 PM flight.*

[Photo]

*Evan, are you mad? I never said I didn't want you, I mean it.*

*Evan, don't be so ungrateful.*

[Photo]

*Do you want everyone to see this photo? I'm giving you ten minutes to call me back.*

The last message was sent five minutes ago. Evan didn't tap into the chat interface—he really didn't want to open those hideous, degrading images with the entire Christian family present. Every second they served as a relentless reminder of how bizarre and tainted his body was.

Evan locked his screen, cold sweat sliding down his forehead. His fingers trembled as his gaze went blank, his mind falling into a chaotic, empty void.

He had no idea what to do to escape Julian's looming shadow, nor could he comprehend why Julian continued to torment him even after getting engaged to his fiancée.

"I don't owe you anything..." Evan muttered under his breath, his fingernails digging deeper into his palms as his thumb nervously traced the raised patterns on his phone case.

"What did you say?" Christian's voice suddenly sounded from his side. Evan shuddered violently, pulling his scattered thoughts back into his body in an instant.

He forced a weak smile, avoiding Christian's watchful gaze. "N-Nothing, I'm just a bit tired..."

Before Evan could finish his sentence, Christian's phone resting on the side table suddenly rang out loud. Evan's heart skipped a beat at the sound. Before Christian could reach for it, Evan instinctively stood up, picked up the phone from the table, and handed it to Christian.

However, the name flashing across the screen caused Evan's heart to leap back into his throat.

Julian... Julian again... Evan took a deep breath, trying to act calm as he sat back down beside Christian.

*Now is not the time to despair,* he told himself silently. Having been given a second chance at life, there was no way things could end up worse than his past life.

Evan picked up his water glass and took a small sip of warm water to hide the bitter smile on his face, though his attention remained fixed entirely on Christian's phone.

---

After dinner was the family chatting time. Serena sat among the elders, animatedly explaining how she had brought Evan over. Evan and Christian sat together on the small sofa, while Vincent sat alone on a single-seater armchair, holding a tablet computer and scribbling away with a stylus.

The cozy atmosphere had returned to how it was before Vincent entered. Noticing the old master's gaze falling upon him from time to time, Evan deliberately leaned his body closer toward Christian, putting on an act of cozy intimacy.

Christian lowered his voice to speak a few brief words to Julian before hanging up. With a swift movement of his long arm, he set his phone down on the table, casually wrapping an arm around Evan's shoulder to draw him closer into his chest.

"Evan, are you staying over tonight?"

Surprised by Christian's invitation, Evan froze slightly. Looking into Christian's eyes and sensing a clear affirmative signal from his gaze, Evan finally gathered his courage to say, "Sure."

A satisfied smile appeared on Christian's face. "Then... how about staying here permanently from now on?"

*Stay here permanently...*

Evan hesitated for a few seconds before looking up, asking tentatively, "You mean... living here together with you?"

"Of course," Christian leaned back against the sofa, his tone gentle. "Mom, Dad, and Grandpa all like you very much. What do you say to staying?"

"To let someone like him move into our home—Christian, is there something wrong with your head?" Before Evan could answer, a harsh, deep voice abruptly shattered their conversation like a sharp blade slicing through the warm air, causing Evan to gasp in cold air.

The elders chatting across the room turned their attention toward them at the same time. Sitting wrapped in Christian's arm, Evan felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

"Vincent, who I choose to be with is my freedom. You have neither the right nor the standing to dictate that." Christian's words were blunt and direct. Evan opened his mouth, anxiously stealing a glance at Vincent's expression, only to hear Christian continue: "Or are you saying, Vincent, that you not only want to control my career, but even want to meddle in my marriage?"

Evan acutely picked up on the tension in Christian's words. Having one's "career" controlled was a humiliating grievance for any adult man, especially for someone as proud and dignified as Christian.

Vincent set down his tablet, holding the white stylus loosely between his fingers. Standing elegant and tall, his gaze behind his glasses turned terrifyingly dark as he looked at Christian.

Evan even felt as though a heavy storm cloud had gathered over his and Christian's heads—a single crack of thunder, and a torrential downpour would come pouring down.

Vincent adjusted his glasses, raising his voice slightly. "Are you blaming your brother for caring too much?"

"How could I..." Christian's handsome almond eyes curved slightly, his tone losing its initial sharp edge. "I simply believe marriage is a personal matter. I don't treat it as a game, and I hope you can respect me and my partner."

Respect was mutual. Evan mustered up all his courage to meet Vincent's intimidating gaze, curling his lips into a polite smile. "Vincent, Christian and I truly love each other. You might not know much about me, but I've always admired you. In fact, you could say I indirectly received your charitable support growing up."

Evan's words made Christian knit his brows slightly. He didn't stop Evan, choosing instead to look down silently, curious as to how Evan intended to resolve this tense deadlock.

"...The orphanage I lived in as a child frequently received charitable donations from the Grand Horizon Estate. Later, when I studied design, I learned that Grand Horizon Estate is the largest silk production base in the country and a subsidiary of the Christian family—and coincidentally, an enterprise under your name."

When Evan was young, a group of enterprises would hold annual charity events at the orphanage. Grand Horizon Estate was always the lead donor, giving the most money, though none of those funds directly reached Evan.

They were meant for healthy children to attend school, or invested into the orphanage's development.

Evan, along with a group of children discarded due to physical flaws, would often secretly watch the charity events from behind the iron fence, dreaming that they might pick up a few leftover scraps of bread or fruit on the lawn after the event ended.

It was in such an environment that Evan learned how to navigate life smoothly to survive.

"...If Grand Horizon Estate hadn't initiated those charitable events that supported my education back then, I wouldn't have been able to meet Christian. Perhaps this is what they call destiny..."

At this exact moment, Evan turned to meet Christian's deep, dark eyes. He didn't catch much emotion in Christian's gaze, but pressed by the current situation, Evan reached up, wrapping both arms around Christian's neck. Raising his upper body, he leaned in and voluntarily kissed the corner of Christian's lips, catching a subtle whiff of leather and tobacco scent that was entirely distinct from Julian.

"Since it's destiny, there's no reason not to accept it."

Chapter 7: Wrong to Live, Unable to Die

No one can truly empathize with another person's plight; all Evan could do was try his best to close the distance between himself and the Christian family.

Vincent took a deep, searching look at Evan. Doubts still lingered behind his narrow, glass-framed eyes, but Christian's hostile and domineering stance forced back the words he had intended to say.

"Evan, are you tired? Should I carry you upstairs?"

Evan curled his lips into a light smile. "No need, I can walk up myself."

With Vincent falling silent, the atmosphere in the living room gradually softened. The others resumed their conversation, while Christian's phone lit up repeatedly as messages kept flooding in. Evan nudged Christian, gesturing for him to let go, but the hand around his waist only tightened.

Evan turned to meet Christian's gaze. Catching the playful tease glinting in the depths of his eyes, Evan froze and averted his face awkwardly.

Christian definitely knew something. Evan nervously picked at the dead skin on his fingers with his fingernails, his mind tangled in a chaotic mess.

Truth be told, Evan deeply repented being held in someone's lap.

Before his rebirth, Julian loved nothing more than forcing Evan's petite frame into Lolita dresses, flaunting ambiguous intimacy under everyone's watchful eyes. What Julian did most often was nestle Evan into his arms, feeding him fruits and wine.

The fresh scent of fruits blended with the rich aroma of fine wine had become Evan's ultimate nightmare. He used to wonder why such wonderful things could turn so repulsive, but when he was tossed high into the air and crashed onto the cold ground, Evan suddenly understood.

Beautiful things are only beautiful under the premise of freedom.

Without freedom, no matter how exquisite something is, it is nothing more than bait thrown into a cage.

A creature kept and fed in captivity is no longer a pure living being, but a plaything—you must do whatever your master demands of you.

Evan raised his head, taking in everyone in the living room. He knew crystal clear that every single person in this room was someone he couldn't afford to cross; before them, he was nothing more than an ant.

He didn't want to die at the age of twenty-five like he did in his past life.

"Mr. Christian, can we go upstairs?"

Christian, who was checking his phone, knit his brows slightly. "Evan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Evan lowered his eyes, glancing at the faint wrinkles on Christian's dress shirt before reaching out to gently smooth them for him. "I have something to tell you."

Seeing that Evan had made a request, Christian showed no intention of refusing. He finally released the arm that had been holding Evan captive. After bidding goodnight to the family, the two walked into the elevator, one after the other.

As they walked toward the elevator, a cold, piercing gaze remained fixed on Evan's back, sending a shiver down his spine. Yet when he turned around, that gaze had vanished without a trace.

*Perhaps someone in this family really doesn't want me to be with Christian.*

Evan shrugged internally—anyone would feel unwilling to see the young master they secretly admired stolen away by an unknown outsider like him.

---

The Christian family's grand mansion had five stories. The elevator came to a halt on the third floor. Christian gallantly held the elevator door open with his hand, allowing Evan to step out first.

Left alone with him, Evan still felt a lingering trace of fear. Scenes of them being "completely candid" that night kept flickering across his mind, yet Christian maintained an entirely composed expression as he led Evan straight into his bedroom.

The lights weren't on inside the bedroom. The moment Evan stepped in, Christian pinned him against the back of the door. The sound of the door shutting with a firm click made the color instantly drain from Evan's face.

In the dark, the distance between them was dangerously close—so close they could feel each other's warm breath.

"M-Mr. Christian... are you usually this frugal?" Evan tilted his head up, forcing a dry laugh. "Why didn't you even turn on the lights?"

Before his words fully faded, the pressure on Evan's arms tightened slightly, and Christian's breathing turned heavier.

Evan blinked. He figured Julian must be going completely insane by now—because the plaything that had always been submissive had finally betrayed him. Julian might leak all his nude photos to the public, or spread those secretly recorded videos across the internet.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Evan didn't struggle against Christian's grip. Instead, he offered a quiet warning out of kindness: "Mr. Christian, if we keep going, neither you nor I will be able to turn back."

Christian's eyes gleamed brightly, the soft contour of his gaze replaced by a sharp, ruthless glint.

"I know," he leaned down and gently kissed Evan's forehead, his tone unwavering. "Julian must become my stepping stone."

Evan didn't know what he meant by "stepping stone." He could only sense the surging hostility suppressed beneath Christian's calm exterior, yet he couldn't fathom where such intense malice originated from.

"What do you want to learn from me?"

"Everything about Julian's company."

Hearing this, Evan let out a bright, bitter laugh, his fingers trailing onto Christian's arm. "I don't know any trade secrets. Julian never allowed me to touch those."

Christian let out a soft chuckle, grabbing Evan's restless fingers and intertwining their hands, pinning Evan firmly against the door once more.

"Julian isn't surrounded entirely by useless fools. For you to stay by his side for so long, you must possess extraordinary abilities of your own."

Evan had thought Christian could truly locate Julian's weakness, never expecting him to offer a compliment in disguise.

Evan shook his head in self-deprecation. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Mr. Christian. I really don't have any extraordinary abilities. Bringing me along to meet those clients was purely to amuse himself at my expense."

Having his scars ripped open time and time again, Evan had long come to terms with this unalterable reality.

"The deal between the Julian family and the Golden family was secured by you, and you participated in the marketing for their overseas subsidiary as well," Christian raised his chin, locking eyes with Evan, who tried to look away. Unmoved, Christian stated flatly, "If it were purely for amusement, Julian had plenty of options—you weren't his only lover."

Christian had clearly conducted quite a bit of research. With his body resting entirely against the door, Evan's tense nerves finally relaxed, letting out a faint chuckle.

"What can Mr. Christian offer me in return?"

"A future," the intertwined fingers between them felt warm and dry, and Evan could feel the strength conveyed through those hands. He heard Christian pause briefly before continuing softly, "and freedom."

*A future and freedom...*

During his darkest hours, Evan had believed such things didn't even exist in this world, to the point that Christian's words sounded almost naive now.

"Could Mr. Christian be a bit more specific?"

"Alright."

Christian released Evan, his expression turning solemn. Raising his volume slightly while keeping his tone exceptionally low, he said, "Marry me, help me shut everyone's mouths, and I will hand you the Julian family as your bride price."

To receive the Julian family as a bride price—Evan didn't quite believe it. In his heart, he felt Mr. Christian was still too young; the Julian family's foundation wasn't much weaker than the Christians', and bringing them down would require immense effort.

He didn't ask Christian why he insisted on choosing him when there were countless others who could assist him in business. For now, he merely attributed Christian's actions to pity and sympathy.

"Since Mr. Christian has made up his mind, I have no objections."

Christian was satisfied with Evan's swift acceptance. As he looked down at Evan's face, the complex emotions in his eyes left Evan somewhat puzzled.

"I'll have my assistant bring over the contract tomorrow. During the contract period, you'll live here with me—you won't have to worry about Julian at all."

"Mm."

"Tomorrow, Julian and his fiancée will be coming over for a visit."

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

Christian shook his head. "Just stand by my side."

It was the first time anyone had ever told Evan, "Just stand by my side." Being treated as an equal—something so ordinary to others—left Evan feeling profoundly overwhelmed.

Too many pleasant surprises had come his way today. Evan even felt that, aside from the messages that scoundrel Julian had sent him, this was the warmest day he had experienced since his rebirth.

*BZZZ... BZZZ...*

The phone vibrated once more. Evan froze, his body—which had just warmed up—turning icy cold in an instant.

In Evan's contacts, only Julian's incoming calls carried a unique ringtone.

"Answer it."

Christian's voice broke through Evan's scattered thoughts. Not understanding what Christian intended, Evan could only watch helplessly as Christian took his phone away, swiped the screen, and answered the call.

"...Evan?" The familiar voice resonated through the speakerphone, sounding eerie and spine-chilling in the cold, empty room.

"Evan, speak! Hello? Evan, are you fucking looking to die? Talk to me!"

Julian roared into the phone like a rabid lion. Christian held the phone before Evan, his brow furrowing deeply as he watched Evan's face turn as pale as paper.

"...Evan, you've gotten pretty bold, haven't you?! Believe it or not, I'll fucking... when I get back! How dare you give me attitude—know your damn place..."

Julian had clearly been drinking; toward the end, his slurred, erratic ramblings dissolved into senseless cursing. Evan held his breath, pressing his back tightly against the door.

He was terrified Julian might burst right out of the phone. If Julian actually showed up, he would pull open the door and run without hesitation.

Yet in the very next second, before Evan could even process what was happening, a perfect arc flashed across his eyes—the phone he had used for years soared through the air and flew straight out the open window.

Carrying Julian's enraged curses with it, the phone vanished into the pitch-black night.

With Julian's noise abruptly silenced, the stillness of the night felt even deeper.

After minutes of paralyzed silence, Evan suddenly snapped awake from the nightmare named "Julian." He frantically wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling as though he had just died all over again.

—Julian was the very demon who had strangled him to death with his own hands.

Gasping for the chilly air, Evan looked up nervously, only to feel a chill run down his spine under Christian's scrutinizing gaze.

"...I never slept with him. He actually despised me, and my body... To him, I wasn't important at all," Evan paused, a single tear slipping from the corner of his eye and dissolving into the dark. "Compared to humiliating me, he preferred hitting me."

"Getting beaten at least made me realize I was still a man," Evan forced back his grief, a bitter smile curling on his lips as memories of his desperate struggles against Julian's touch surfaced in his mind, his voice trembling slightly. "If I had actually slept with him, I wouldn't even count as a man anymore."

*Anyone can humiliate me, but I will never humiliate myself*—that was Evan's final shred of dignity.

Yet his hatred and terror toward Julian were deeply etched into his heart. He felt fortunate to have a second chance at life and the power to make different choices.

Since his rebirth, Evan had recalled his past self more than once.

That young boy, coaxed by Julian's sweet-talk into wearing red dresses, heavy makeup, and posing for nude photos, was still crying endlessly in a dark corner.

In his nightmares, Julian would call out "Evan" again and again with affectionate warmth, his smile both gentle and hideous. Every call of "Evan" felt like a sharp blade, carving away his dignity piece by piece.

At every single waking moment, it felt wrong to live, yet he was unable to die.