Trapped in Love

Chapter 55 Family Portrait
As Caroline’s gaze fixated on Evan’s cold and elegant face, disturbing images of him and Daniella having sex flashed through
her mind. The mixture of heartache and disgust overwhelmed her.
She swiftly raised her hand, slapping away his outstretched hand, unable to contain her mocking
tone. “What on earth did I do to provoke you, Evan?!”
Evan scoffed in response. “You presented me with a gift as soon as I returned from my trip.”
A gift... Caroline panicked. Daniella shouldn’t have divulged her pregnancy to him. It wouldn’t
bring her any advantage, after all. I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
She turned her gaze away, unable to meet his cold eyes.
Feeling guilty, are we?” Evan’s eyes turned even colder as he noticed the fear lingering deep
within her eyes. “You brought a man home and flirted with him, didn’t you?!”
Caroline couldn’t help but scoff at the recollection of Scott’s behavior outside Villa Rossa.
That was flirting?
What about what he did?
Anger surged within her, and she suddenly looked up, her voice rising. “Evan, is everyone, apart
from Daniella, repulsive to you?!”
“What about you? You touched me after sleeping with her. What was that about?!
“I can stay, but that doesn’t mean I can tolerate the disgust of sharing a man with another woman!
“And why can’t I do what you did? Is it because you gave me money?”
Taking a deep breath, Caroline held back the tears welling up in her eyes as she continued. “What

about the three years of my youth that I wasted on you, Evan Jordan?! You’re the most selfish
person I’ve ever met! I never asked for anything from you, but I hoped for the most basic fairness
and respect!”
After screaming while struggling to hold back her emotions, she pushed the man standing in
front of her and turned to run out of the room.
Evan stood frozen, disbelief etched onto his handsome face. He had never witnessed such an
expression from her before.
Disgust, repulsion, and most of all, disappointment.
For someone who was usually strong and stubborn, her tears, now visible, struck a chord deep
within his heart.
+15 BONUS
What was happening to him? She had merely been a backup plan all this time, so why was he
feeling this way now?
Caroline aimlessly wandered the streets after leaving Villa Rossa, watching as the sky gradually darkened. She soon realized
she had nowhere to go. She couldn’t bear to return to Villa Rosa and face Evan’s mocking presence.
After careful consideration, she concluded that Paige was the only person she could turn to.
Feeling her pocket for her phone, she realized she hadn’t brought anything with her.
Helpless sighs escaped her lips as she continued walking, burying her face in her hands.
Suddenly, a car came to a halt in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing Neil’s face. “Ms.
Shenton?”
Stunned, she managed to offer a smile in response. “Mr. Xander.”

He modestly smiled back. “What a coincidence to run into you on the streets again.”
She was left speechless. It felt too coincidental, as if she were being tracked.
“Where are you headed?”
Caroline looked at him cautiously. “Just say what’s on your mind, Mr. Xander.”
Neil felt helpless. “I noticed it’s about to rain, and it’s unsafe to be in the suburbs at night.”
Caroline hadn’t even noticed the approaching rain until he mentioned it. She looked up, realizing
the area was secluded indeed. She wanted to refuse, but just as she contemplated, raindrops
began to fall.
Neil opened the car door and stepped out. Smiling, he looked at her and said, “Shall we go?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, she got into the car.
He fastened his seatbelt and asked, “Where to?”
Caroline pursed her lips, realizing she had no particular destination in mind. It would be pointless
to go to Paige’s place if she wasn’t home.
Observing her silence, Neil refrained from asking further.
After driving for half an hour, they arrived at a villa
Neil parked the car and turned to Caroline, explaining, “Don’t worry, this used to be my mother’s
house.”
2/3
+15 BONUS
Doubt filled her eyes as she looked at him. “Why have you brought me here?”

He smiled gently and replied, “I couldn’t let you wander the streets
She was left speechless.
could I?”
He led her into the villa, which, while not luxurious, had a warm and well–maintained interior.
The old furniture exuded a sense of charm and one could tell at a glance that it was well
maintained.
Caroline’s eyes fixated on a photo frame on a shelf. Approaching it, she was stunned to find a family portrait of four. The woman
in the photo bore a striking resemblance to herself, in both expression and eyes.
“This is my family portrait,” Neil said, his eyes filled with sadness
Quickly averting her gaze, Caroline apologized, “I’m sorry, I thought your mother...”
Neil interrupted, asking, “She looks like you, doesn’t she?”
Her cheeks flushed as she replied, “Perhaps a little.”
He picked up the photo frame and looked down at it, his tone resolute. “Not just a little, you
resemble her greatly.”