Chapter 68 A Glimpse

Evelyn's mood worsened upon seeing Antonio. It seemed like today wasn't a good day.

The taxi driver kept staring at Evelyn. She had no choice but to smile. Then, the driver spoke, "Are you Evelyn? I can't believe it! I'm actually meeting you in person."

Evelyn was surprised. It had been five years—how was she still being recognized? "Hello."

"It's really you! Both of my kids love you so much! They've watched your two movies over and over again. Can't you release a new one? We have nothing left to watch." The taxi driver continued chattering.

In the backseat, Evelyn truly felt for the first time that her past efforts were worthwhile. This profession was like that—all the judgments ultimately came down to the audience's love. If she wasn't recognized by others, it truly wouldn't have any meaning.

Before getting off the taxi, Evelyn took a photo and left an autograph. As she made her way back, her mood seemed to have improved slightly. She went directly to Vivian's house.

As soon as Vivian saw Evelyn, she quickly ran over and asked, "How did it go?"

"How did what go?"

"Did you two talk?" Vivian couldn't contain her curiosity.

Evelyn walked past her and went inside the room, where she found her son watching TV. "Luis, we're going home. Come and thank Vivian."

Luis was engrossed in the TV program. He waved his hand at Evelyn and said, "Aunt is going to have a baby brother for me. Go and show some concern for Aunt!" He continued staring at the TV, paying no attention to Evelyn anymore.

Evelyn turned back to look at Vivian. "Vivian! You're finally having a baby!"

Vivian remained silent as Evelyn approached her. "Are you scared?" Vivian nodded obediently. "Don't be afraid. And what about that thing you used to say to me? Have you forgotten all those words? Life should be enjoyed to the fullest." Evelyn imitated Vivian's tone.

This made Vivian laugh. "I know! I'll try to have a little sister for Luis. It will be great for the two of them."

Before Evelyn could respond, Luis in the living room shouted, "I don't want a sister! I want a brother!"

Evelyn burst into laughter, and Vivian found it amusing as well. When Charles returned home, he saw the two of them laughing like idiots in the living room. Evelyn informed Vivian of her decision. "I have decided to make a comeback."

Charles happened to hear this. "If you have really made up your mind, I happen to have a gift for you."

Vivian looked at the two of them and felt unsure about this decision. She lowered her voice and said, "Evelyn, you have Luis now. If you make a comeback and the media finds out about him, this..."

"I know, so you all have to keep Luis's identity a secret for me."

Vivian was speechless. "How can we keep it a secret?"

"It will be fine. We'll deal with it later." Evelyn was surprisingly optimistic. She took the folder handed to her by Charles and opened it. It contained airport photos from the day they returned to the country. The tricky part was that Luis was also captured in the pictures. "These photos are actually quite good, but..."

Charles walked over and sat next to Luis. "I managed to intercept them. Since you have plans to make a comeback, we can release these photos. Just choose the ones you like and give them to me." After saying that, Charles started watching TV with Luis.

Vivian held Evelyn's hand and started picking out the photos. "This one is great! Fair-skinned, beautiful, slender waist, and long legs."

Evelyn looked at the picture and nodded in satisfaction.

The next day, all the entertainment headlines featured Evelyn's airport photos. The headlines and news were all overly exaggerated, praising Evelyn to the extreme.

Her beauty was praised to the heavens, with people commenting on how time seemed to have left no trace on her, as if she still possessed the same beauty as before, or even more charm.

Speculations started to arise, wondering whether this former powerhouse actress, who had hastily bid farewell to the entertainment industry, would be making a comeback. The outfits she wore in these airport photos had countless star-struck young girls scrambling to imitate them, as they were simple yet incredibly stylish and stunning, thanks to her supermodel-like aura.

A photo of her with a taxi driver also trended on Facebook, with comments praising Evelyn for being down-to-earth and adorable.

Evelyn was preparing breakfast in the kitchen while Luis held his phone, showing her the news one by one. "Mom, you're amazing!" Luis exclaimed. Evelyn was speechless. She was unsure of how to explain to her son that all of this was temporary and that she could never predict what would happen in the future. But she couldn't voice those thoughts.

"Vivian has already taken care of everything for your school. It starts the day after tomorrow. Shall I take you to school?" Evelyn was afraid that he wouldn't adjust well, so it would be better for him to start schooling early and have children his age to befriend. She just didn't know if he would be able to adapt to school either.

"Yeah, sure. Once I go to school, you can focus on your own things, mom." Luis nodded calmly. Evelyn couldn't do anything with a child like him. She didn't know whom he took after. He understood so much at such a young age and never caused her trouble. She felt at ease, worried, and slightly troubled, all at once.

"Luis, you know, I'm your mom. You don't have to take care of me like this, okay? If you need anything, you should tell me. Do you understand?" Evelyn squatted in front of Luis, looking into his eyes. Those beautiful eyes were reminiscent of that person...

Luis looked at Evelyn silently and said, "Mom, your soup is almost gone." It was then that Evelyn remembered she still had soup stewing on the stove, so she quickly rushed into the kitchen. Luis watched her receding figure and realized there was nothing he could do to change her.

Antonio called her. "Have you really made up your mind?"

"Hmm."

Antonio then asked, "Are you available right now?"

Evelyn glanced at Luis and gave Antonio the address. She then turned to Luis and said, "A gentleman will come to see me later. He's a very good person, and if it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. So, you need to behave later, okay?"

Luis nodded, his big eyes blinking as he asked Evelyn earnestly, "Is he my real dad?"

Evelyn caressed his head and replied, "I can't lie to you. He's not. If you were to find out who your biological father is in the future, would you not want me anymore?" Evelyn didn't understand why she was asking a child such a question.

Luis reached out and touched Evelyn's face. "I can't be without you, mom." After a pause, he continued, "Why can't I have both a mom and a dad?"

Evelyn almost cried. What was she doing?! How could she be instilling such thoughts into the child's mind?! It's just terrible. She reached out and held Luis in her arms. "I'm sorry, Luis. I was wrong. I shouldn't have asked you that."

Someone knocked on the door. Evelyn wiped away her tears as she went to open it. Antonio stood on the other side, imagining countless scenarios in his mind. Evelyn, along with her family of three, standing in front of him, or that man opening the door, asking who he was. How should he answer? Who was he? Who was Antonio to Evelyn?

But when the door opened, a child and an adult stood before him. Just by looking at the child's face, he realized something. So... this was the reason she had left five years ago.

Evelyn awkwardly pulled Luis, giving him a slight nudge. "Luis, introduce yourself."

Luis greeted him obediently. "Hello, uncle, I'm Luis Bennett."

Antonio looked at the little child, then at Evelyn. Finally, he crouched down, locking eyes with Luis. "Hello, I'm Antonio Adams." Luis liked Antonio very much because he introduced himself voluntarily, unlike other adults who only referred to him as a child.

Luis held Antonio's hand and led him into the room, introducing Antonio to his and Evelyn's home. Antonio listened to him attentively. However, Evelyn interrupted the two and said to Luis, "Luis, go play in your room for a while. Antonio and I need to talk."

Luis let go of Antonio's hand and went into his own room.

Antonio looked at Luis and said, "Five years old?"

Evelyn nodded. Just by looking at Luis's face, one could know everything. She asked him calmly, "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Give me a glass of water." Antonio sat on the sofa. The room had a warm ambiance. "You... How are you?" Antonio felt like he was losing his ability to express himself. He didn't know how to organize his words.

"I've thought it through." Evelyn handed Antonio a glass of water and glanced at him. One could see the determination and resolution in her eyes.

"I understand. I've also rested enough. Would you like to work with me?" Antonio smiled at Evelyn, as he always did. Evelyn wondered why someone like Antonio would take care of her. It was as if Antonio could read her thoughts with just one glance. "I'm doing it for myself."

Evelyn knew that she was just comforting herself, but somehow she felt slightly reassured. "I... I don't know..."

Antonio interrupted Evelyn before she could finish her sentence. "Don't overthink it. I also want to go back. The café is still there. Even if everything goes downhill, I'll still be able to support myself." Antonio tried to sound as relaxed as possible, almost like he was joking.

Evelyn nodded in agreement.

Then Antonio said, "You don't want Luis exposed, do you?"

"Yes, that's my bottom line."

"Okay, I understand." Antonio knew that Evelyn was his destiny, something he couldn't escape, and surprisingly, he didn't want to escape it either.

Evelyn didn't really know if what she was doing was right or wrong. How could she burden Antonio like this? But if she really wanted to make a comeback, she didn't know who else she could rely on.