Chapter 1

Julian, my late husband’s younger brother, brought his girlfriend home for the first time. To welcome her, I cooked a lavish dinner myself.

At the dining table, the mood seemed great. Julian cut a slice of steak, placed it on her plate, and smiled.

"Try it, Chloe. Evelyn makes the absolute best steak."

The smile on Chloe Vance’s face vanished instantly.

She slammed her fork down with a sharp clatter. Her glare flickered between Julian and me like two poisoned daggers.

"The two of you living under the same roof... there isn't something going on, is there?"

The dining room went dead silent.

Seeing that both Julian and I were stunned, she curled her lips into a knowing smirk and waved her hand dismissively.

"Relax. It’s totally normal for young adults to have urges. You don’t have to act shy."

I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to slam the steak right into her face.

Young girls had wild imaginations. I decided to let it slide.

"I’m finished. Enjoy your dinner." I set down my napkin and stood up, heading toward my bedroom.

"Look at that! She’s guilty!" Chloe’s shrill voice echoed behind me.

"I touched a nerve, and now she’s running away with her tail between her legs!"

I couldn't be bothered with her and walked straight to my room.

Around midnight, I went downstairs for a glass of water. The moment I stepped into the living room, the lights flicked on with a loud click.

Chloe was standing by the switch in a skimpy silk slip dress, her arms crossed, eyeing me with pure contempt.

"Evelyn, dressing like a nun in the middle of the night—who are you trying to impress?"

She scanned my full-coverage cotton pajamas from collar to ankle and sneered.

"Cut the act. You knew Julian would come down for water, so you waited here to seduce him, didn't you?"

"Too bad. We just finished, and he’s sleeping like a rock. Your little scheme failed."

She deliberately pushed out her chest, flaunting the dark hickeys across her neck.

I looked at her with a blank expression.

"First, I have zero interest in your boyfriend. Second, if I actually wanted him, you wouldn't even have made it through my front door."

"You!" She trembled with rage. "You old hag, Julian would never look twice at you!"

Watching her fume with hollow bravado, I felt surprisingly relaxed. I went back upstairs and slept like a baby.

Early the next morning, Chloe’s shrieks and sobs woke the entire house.

"Julian! It’s either her or me today!

If you still want to be with me, throw this shameless woman out of the house right now!"

Julian sat on the sofa with heavy dark circles under his eyes, looking utterly exhausted and saying nothing.

The moment I walked downstairs, he dropped his head in shame, avoiding my gaze.

Right then, the doorbell rang.

Julian opened the door, and a loud group barged right in.

The middle-aged woman in the lead spotted me and immediately rushed over, grabbing my hand with fake warmth.

"Oh, you must be Julian’s sister-in-law! You really are stunning. No wonder our Chloe feels insecure."

"Hi, I’m Chloe’s mom, Margaret. You can just call me Aunt Margaret."

Behind her stood a greasy man in his late twenties, leering at me with an oily grin stretched ear to ear.

Seeing her backup arrive, Chloe puffed up her chest and stepped in front of me, pointing at the creep.

"Evelyn, this is my cousin, Brad. He’s still single.

My mom said as long as you agree to marry Brad, I’ll believe you and Julian are innocent!"

"Otherwise, I’ll blast your dirty laundry all over Oceanview University’s student forum!

I’ll let the entire campus see how Julian lusts after his own brother's widow!"