Page 161 of The Bittersweet Bond

Evin took a deep breath.

Sergej was still at the catering stand, his profile sharp, his presence so effortless, as if he were just another guest and not the person who had once shattered her world.

But before she could take another step, a familiar voice appeared beside her.

“Oh, Evin!” Cat’s tone was light, dripping with sickly sweet arrogance.

Evin turned to face her, immediately noticing how Cat’s lips had curled into that perfect smile—a flawless mixture of friendliness and condescension.

“Cat.”

“Your dress!” Cat’s gaze glided down her figure slowly, like she was a judge at a fashion show. “Isn’t that last year’s collection? Yves Saint Laurent, right? It looks so… cute. Honestly, you make it shine.”

Evin forced herself to smile, raising her glass slightly.

“Thanks, Cat. Your dress is also… eye-catching.” Cat let out a quiet snort—not loud enough to be openly rude, but just enough for Evin to catch the underlying judgment.

“Eye-catching is exactly what I was going for.” She tilted her head slightly, blonde hair falling effortlessly over one shoulder. “You know how it is. You have to stand out, right? Especially at events like this.”

Her gaze briefly scanned the room before landing back on Evin.

“Oh, and… Bas looks fantastic, doesn’t he?”

There was a pause.

Then, the final blow: “You two together… just adorable.”

Evin didn’t blink and met Cat’s gaze head-on, keeping her voice smooth as glass.

“Yeah. He has great taste.”

A self-assured smile played on her lips as she looked over at Bas, watching him with an appreciation so casual that it made Cat’s attempt at unsettling her completely pointless.

Cat was searching for a crack in her composure.

Evin gave her nothing.

“Well,” Cat sighed, flipping her hair over her shoulder, “I’ll leave you to… whatever it was you were doing.”

She winked, then strutted off, her hips swaying with practiced confidence, as if she truly believed she had won.

Evin only watched her for a moment before turning back.

Back to him.

But—Sergej was gone.

Her stomach twisted.

Her eyes darted frantically across the room, scanning, searching—

Nothing.

He had vanished.

___________

The cold air hit her the moment she stepped outside, a sharp contrast to the warmth inside.

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