Part 2
The sudden chime of the doorbell sliced through the tense air, momentarily shattering the spotlight of judgment resting squarely on me. Every head turned toward the hall, eager for the distraction.
My mother glanced at my father in confusion. “Are we expecting anyone else?”
He shook his head and stood, muttering something about deliveries and the time of night. I watched him leave the dining room, grateful for the brief reprieve from my family’s well-meaning intervention. With their attention now directed elsewhere, I allowed myself a moment to breathe.
I could feel the weight of the printed job applications still draped across my lap, the thin pages heavy with implication. I knew this act was born from a place of care, misguided as it was, but it was impossible not to feel trapped by their expectations.
From the hall, I heard my father open the door, his voice muted but distinctive as he greeted whoever waited on the other side. There was a pause, and then his voice rose in sudden surprise.
“Evelyn, dear,” he called, his tone suddenly aflame with something I couldn’t quite name. “Could you come here for a moment?”
The room shifted as every eye turned back to me. I rose from my chair, feeling their gazes cling to me like static electricity. Vivien shot me a curious look, one brow arched in silent question.
As I walked away from the table, I noticed how my mother watched me with a sort of wary anticipation, like she was expecting me to stumble or falter at any moment. But I kept my back straight, my expression neutral, as I followed the path to the front door.
When I reached the hall, I found my father standing with the door wide open, a familiar figure backlit by the porch light.
It was James, my personal assistant, looking slightly uncomfortable in his sharp suit amidst the winter chill. His presence here was as unexpected as it was potentially disastrous.
“James?” I asked, carefully keeping my voice steady. “What are you doing here?”
James shifted slightly, glancing at my father nervously before meeting my eyes. “I apologize for the intrusion, Ms. Evelyn,” he began, using the formal address that made my father blink in surprise. “But we have an urgent matter that requires your attention.”
Given the circumstances, I doubted that. James was nothing if not efficient, and he would never disturb me unless it was truly necessary. He had picked up on the tension the moment he stepped inside and was trying to provide me with an escape route.
“Is everything alright?” my father asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice.
I nodded, holding James’ gaze. “Yes, just a minor issue with one of my… projects.”
My father frowned. “Projects?”
“Yes,” I replied, turning to face him fully. “I handle a few small projects on the side.”
James cleared his throat softly. “Actually, Ms. Evelyn, the board meeting you mentioned has been rescheduled, and they need your input on a crucial decision.”
My father’s brows knit together, confusion clouding his features. “Board meeting?”
“Yes,” I said, straightening. “For Apex Vault.”
Understanding flickered across his face, quickly masked by disbelief. “The financial firm?”
“Yes, the financial firm,” I confirmed, a small smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
Realization washed over him, and the color drained from his cheeks. I turned back to James, nodding. “Thank you for letting me know, James. I’ll join you shortly.”
As James retreated, I glanced back at my father, who stood rooted in place, his expression a mix of shock and a dawning realization of just how much he had underestimated me.
“Have a good evening, Dad,” I said softly, before heading back into the dining room.
As I returned, the room quieted, curiosity hanging in the air. This time, when I sat, I met my sister’s questioning gaze with a smile, feeling the shift in power like a breeze at my back.
Because I was no longer pretending. And they were starting to see the truth of who I really was.