The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot-Chapter 69: A Stolen Kiss

As Catherine’s smirk widened, Evelyn’s stomach churned with unease. This woman knew too much, and the casual way she spoke of the contract felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. Was Zevian truly so close to her that he’d confide in her about their marriage?

Evelyn straightened her spine, refusing to let her discomfort show. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let Catherine see her crack, not when this woman dared to insult her in front of the entire house staff.

"Seems like you might need some lessons on how to lie better, Ms. Mallor." Evelyn clicked her tongue, offering a small, cutting smile. "Given your fame, I’m sure a few reputable theaters would love to teach you how to act better."

Avery, standing by her side, let out a sigh of relief. Even Agatha and the other discreetly listening staff couldn’t help but beam with pride at how their madam countered the so-called home-wrecker with nothing but sharp words. They were proud to serve a woman with such strength and wit.

For a brief second, Catherine’s smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered. "The truth is always bitter, Ms. Evelyn. It would be better if you dropped the arrogant act and accepted—"

"It’s Mrs. Reign to you, Ms. Mallor," Evelyn cut her off sharply. "Even if, by your twisted logic, our marriage was fake, I’m still legally his wife. Not some desperate stranger desperate enough to get into his pants. So, address me properly."

Catherine’s eyes darkened with fury, and she stepped forward. "Watch your mouth!"

"And you better control yourself before I call my husband and inform him of how disgracefully his guest has been treating me. I’m sure you’d love to explain that to him," Evelyn shot back, her voice steely and unwavering.

Catherine flinched, her defiance cracking as Evelyn loomed over her, her intimidating growl raising the hairs on her back. She had assumed Evelyn would be an easy target, a pushover but the fierce glare she now faced told her she was on the verge of losing this battle.

"And maybe we should call an ambulance while we’re at it," Avery chimed in, her eyes flashing with irritation. "She seems to have lost her mind on her way here."

Catherine’s composure crumbled further, her voice trembling. "You... you both will regret this! I’ll tell Zevi that you two are bullying me!"

"Go ahead," Evelyn replied calmly, crossing her arms. "He’ll be back by sunset, so feel free to come up with sorts of lies, Ms. Mallor. I would be thrilled to see him throw you out of my house himself."

Catherine’s expression blanched, and the staff stifled their laughter. Without another word, Evelyn brushed past her and made her way upstairs. Avery snickered at Catherine’s face before quickly catching up with her best friend.

Clinging to Evelyn’s arm, Avery whispered, "She’s bluffing. There’s no way Zev would have shared the contract with her."

"If he did, I’m gonna crack open his head and toss that useless brain in the trash," Evelyn grumbled, her frustration still bubbling beneath the surface.

Avery giggled and nodded in agreement. "Let’s crack a few bones too. I’ll grab the hockey sticks. How dare he share something so personal with that woman?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. As they entered their room, she flopped down on the bed, still fuming. Avery handed her a glass of water, which she gulped down quickly.

She was definitely going to beat the shit out of him if he had done something so stupid!

---

Later that evening, Evelyn buried herself in her work, focusing on her new designs to keep her mind busy. The sound of the door clicking open behind her signaled Zevian’s return. She pretended not to notice, keeping her headphones on as if she was too absorbed in her task to acknowledge him.

But Zevian wasn’t one to be ignored. He slipped onto the couch beside her and casually pulled her headphones off. Evelyn scowled, attempting to snatch them back. "Give them back!"

Zevian placed the headphones over his ears, only to immediately wince. "Woah, it’s so loud. Are you trying to go deaf?"

"Yes!" Evelyn grumbled, tossing the headphones onto the table. "After all the crap I had to hear this morning, going deaf doesn’t sound like such a bad idea."

Zevian’s playful expression faded, replaced by a frown noticing the tension radiating from her. He glanced toward the door, recalling Avery’s warning that Evelyn wasn’t in the best mood. "What happened?"

Evelyn’s eyes flashed with frustration. "Why don’t you ask your beloved guest? I need to pick Kiana up from Reign mansion," she said, huffing out loud, and stood up from the couch. Rosalind wanted to spend some time with her granddaughter so she dropped Kiana at the Reign mansion, promising to keep her up by dinner.

Before she could make her escape, Zevian’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back in a swift motion. Evelyn gasped, losing her balance, and fell right on his lap. Their eyes locked in an intense gaze, and her heart raced wildly. She tried to wriggle free, but his grip on her waist tightened, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.

"I’d rather hear it from my angry wife," Zevian murmured, his voice calm but commanding. "What’s wrong?"

Evelyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her mind torn with worry. She has always been the kind of person to clear things out, leaving no more for misunderstandings and unwanted fights. But confronting him, and having this heart-to-heart conversation now felt daunting. What if Catherine was right? What if Zevian really had plans to end their marriage after a year?

Shaking her head, Evelyn pushed the thoughts aside and met his gaze. "Did you tell her about our marriage contract?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but laced with the fear that gnawed at her heart.

Zevian’s frown deepened at her questions. "No. Why would I do that?" He shook his head in response, instantly easing the knot in her chest.

"She kept going on about how well she knew you and how you’d toss me aside soon. Then she claimed you discussed our marriage contract with her, followed her advice, and married me out of pity," Evelyn explained, her frustration bubbling up. "I wanted to punch her so badly."

Zevian’s lips quirked into a small smirk, though his tone remained serious. "You should have. I would’ve handled the rest."

Evelyn raised a brow, surprised by his response. There was no humor in his eyes—just a fierce protectiveness that made her heart flutter.

"Well, Mr. Reign," she mumbled, adjusting his collar with a soft smile. "Next time, let me know if one of your admirers plans to barge into our house again. I will practice a few punches in advance."

Zevian chuckled, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Well, Mrs. Reign," he started, his voice soothing but serious. "Even if I have tonnes of such admirers, just know that there’s only one woman I have liked and still do. No one can replace her place, and she shouldn’t be worrying about them."

Evelyn’s heart fluttered at his words, relief spreading through her chest. The tenderness in his voice, the sincerity in his gaze, the way he held her, his hands resting at her waist as if she was something precious, sent a wave of emotions crashing through her. It melted away all her earlier doubts and fears, reminding her that he hadn’t changed at all. He was still her Idiot Ian, one who managed to make her feel secure, even without her needing to ask.

"And who’s this lucky woman?" Evelyn teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Zevian smiled at her goofiness. Tucking the strand of hair behind her ear, he replied, "Take a guess."

"Hmm," Evelyn pretended to think, tapping her chin. "Is it the woman who taught you some manners on your first blind date?"

Zevian chuckled softly, nodding. "She’s also the one who cheated in a car race, claimed she won, and stole my favorite car." He replied, reminiscing one of their special dates.

Evelyn laughed, the memory bringing back a rush of fondness. "And?" she asked, completely forgetting about the closeness between them, lost just in his world.

Zevian’s gaze softened, his grip on her waist tightening a little to draw her closer. In a serious tone, as if upset about it, he added with a small pout, "She’s also the one who stole my first kiss and conveniently forgot about it the next morning."

Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching as the memory flashed in her mind. Their gaze locked for a second, before her eyes fell to his lips, heat flooding her chest as a wild thought surged in her mind. Her hands curled around his collar, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Then allow her to make up for it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before Zevian could fully process her words, Evelyn suddenly yanked him closer and captured his lips in a sweet, sensual kiss.