Chapter 2: A Rough Kiss

Evelyn awoke in the hospital surrounded by white walls, the pungent smell of disinfectant filling her nostrils.

Her lips were parched. As she tried to moisten them, a cup of water appeared at her lips.

Looking up, she met a pair of gentle eyes.

"Evelyn, it's been a long time."

The man wore a white coat, his smile familiar. It was Ethan, a year her junior from school.

"Ethan?" Evelyn was surprised.

Ethan carefully helped her drink. "You lost contact with everyone after dropping out. It's good to see you again."

His words made Evelyn lower her head in guilt.

Back then, Damian had just taken over his company. Concerned about his busy schedule, she had ignored her professors' advice and dropped out to be his supportive wife.

Looking back now, how foolish that seemed.

"The baby is fine. You just need plenty of rest. Was that your husband who brought you in? I should explain the precautions to him..."

"Don't tell him!" The words burst from Evelyn's lips.

Ethan looked at her pale face and finally nodded. "All right. Take care of yourself."

He couldn't help but gently hold her cold wrist. "Evelyn, whatever you're going through, don't forget how brilliant you once were. Professor Hays still regrets losing you..."

"What are you doing?!"

The hospital room door was thrust open.

Damian stood in the doorway, his face dark, eyes burning with anger.

Ethan released her hand.

Evelyn calmly said, "Ethan, please leave us."

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Damian's demeanor was frighteningly cold. "Care to explain?"

Looking at this man she had loved for eight years, Evelyn felt nothing but absurdity.

He wasn't concerned about her health, only his unfounded jealousy.

Fatigue washed over her like a tide. "Damian, let's get divorced."

Damian froze, then frowned with irritation. "What are you on about now? You're twenty eight. Can't you be more mature?"

"I'm serious." Evelyn blinked back tears. "I've already signed the divorce papers."

The air seemed to solidify.

After a long pause, Damian laughed coldly. "Because of this Ethan? Evelyn, who gave you the courage?!"

He grabbed her chin roughly and kissed her, clearly intending to punish her. "We promised to be together forever! How dare you fall for someone else?"

"What about you, Damian? Haven't you fallen for someone else?"

A flash of panic crossed Damian's face, quickly concealed.

"I only love you, Evelyn."

"I know you're upset about my secretary, but the company is at a critical stage before going public. We can't have negative news. If you're still unhappy, I'll have her transferred immediately."

So he would just hide his gilded canary completely? Evelyn felt nauseated.

How could he be so hypocritical?

She almost wanted to tear off his mask right there.

Just then, Damian's phone rang.

Evelyn glimpsed Sienna's name on the screen.

After taking the call, he looked apologetic. "There's an emergency at the company. Rest well."

He turned to leave.

"Damian." Evelyn called after him but only said, "Never mind. You can go."

Damian hesitated, feeling strangely empty inside, but still strode away, leaving only one last comment, "When I return, we'll celebrate our anniversary properly."

Evelyn closed her eyes, filled with self mockery.

This ending was for the best.

That afternoon, Evelyn checked herself out of the hospital, exchanged contact information with Ethan, and thanked him.

She returned to what was supposedly her home, looking around at the place she had meticulously decorated according to Damian's preferences. Now it all seemed ironic.

She calmly packed her belongings into a suitcase.

Then, taking a deep breath, she dialed a number she knew by heart.

The phone connected, and a serious, elderly voice answered. "Who is this?"

"Professor, I'm sorry. It's me, Evelyn." She gripped the phone tightly.

On the other end was her mentor, the design world titan, Professor Victoria Hays.

"Evelyn?" The professor's tone immediately darkened with anger. "So you remember you have a teacher after all?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Evelyn's eyes grew warm.

She bit her lip hard and said each word deliberately, "Professor, I want to pick up my pencil again."

For a man who wasn't worth it, she had wasted four years.

Now, she had awakened.

The other end of the line remained silent for a long time, so long that Evelyn almost despaired.

Finally, Professor Hays spoke slowly, "Evelyn, design is not a game. A four year gap means starting over. Are you sure you can recover your former level?"

The professor's question was like a needle, precisely bursting her last ridiculous fantasy.

Indeed, what right did she have?

A woman who abandoned her career for love, kept like a caged canary by her husband, someone who could barely recognize herself anymore, worthless.

"I... I know I've wasted too much time. But, Professor, I really..."

"Really what?"

Professor Hays's voice held no warmth. "You really have nowhere else to turn, so you remembered this old woman?"

"Evelyn, I taught you that a designer's backbone is more important than talent. Where is your backbone? Did that man Damian break it?"

Each sentence was like a merciless slap across Evelyn's face.

The sting was burning.

But this pain cleared her foggy mind with unprecedented clarity.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, any trace of moisture had been completely suppressed.

"It's not broken," she said each word quietly but with resolve. "It was just bent for four years. Now, I want to straighten it again."

The phone fell into a long silence.

Evelyn held the phone, her palm sweaty, quietly waiting for the final judgment.

Finally, Professor Hays's voice sounded again, still severe but with perhaps a barely perceptible softening.

"One week."

"What?" Evelyn didn't understand.

"One week, I want to see a design that will impress the Asia Pacific president of Nova Group. Theme and format unrestricted."

"I want to see your soul, to see what these four years have distilled in you, not what has rotted away."

"Nova Group?" Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

That was one of the top fashion empires in the world!

"What, scared? If what you produce can't move even me, don't foolishly dream it will catch their eye."

The professor snorted coldly. "If you fail, Evelyn, don't call me again, and don't tell anyone you were Victoria Hays's student."

"I..."

"Beep... Beep... Beep..."

The call had ended.

Evelyn stood motionless for a long time, holding the cold phone in her hand.