My Maternity Records Belong to Another Woman novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The early spring breeze carried a faint, unfamiliar floral scent across Evelyn’s cheeks.

She stood on the balcony of her apartment, gazing at the jagged outline of the city in the distance.

It was her seventh day in this country, and everything had gone surprisingly smoothly.

Her rented apartment was small but full of light. Morning sunlight poured through the floor–to–ceiling windows, gilding the beige sofa in a warm, golden hue.

The potted greenery she’d just bought yesterday sat on the coffee table, its leaves unfurling with vitality.

Her phone buzzed. It was a confirmation email from her new job.

Evelyn exhaled softly, a smile curling unconsciously at her lips.

Landing this design job had gone unexpectedly well. During the interview, the creative director had taken one look at her portfolio and made the decision on the spot.

“Ms. Winston’s style is unique,” he had said. “It’s both commercial and artistic, exactly what we’ve been looking for.”

She’d already swapped out her old SIM card and snapped the original in two before tossing it in the trash. None of her old contacts were saved, and all her social media accounts had been deleted.

Her new phone only held numbers for her landlord, a few coworkers, and some grocery and delivery services.

It was a clean slate, like she’d been reborn.

The fridge was stocked with fresh produce. Evelyn tied on an apron and awkwardly fried an egg. When the oil splattered on her hand, she hissed in pain, then laughed out loud.

Turns out, even a life not pampered by someone else’s care still hurt in vivid, honest ways.

That afternoon, when she went to the office to complete her onboarding, the receptionist gave her a friendly tour of the workspace.

Her new colleagues greeted her war nly. No one stared or pried. No one knew she had ever been “Mrs. Roscente.”

“This is your desk,” the receptionist said, pointing to a spot by the window. “There’s a project kickoff meeting at 3 PM. Bring your notebook.”

During the meeting, Evelyn sat quietly in the corner, taking careful notes on the project

Chapter 12

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requirements.

It was a luxury residential landscaping project. The client’s representative hadn’t arrived yet, and the creative director was presenting the background.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

“Apologies, got held up on the road.”

A warm, clear male voice rang out.

Evelyn looked up and saw a man in a light gray suit walk in.

“This is Simon Carter, the lead architect on this project,” the director introduced.

His gaze swept across the room and briefly paused when it landed on her. Then he gave her a polite

nod.

Though Evelyn was new, the director gave her a chance to present her preliminary concept. She was nervous, her fingers trembling slightly.

“This layout is clever.”

Simon’s voice interrupted gently. His tone wasn’t loud, but it made Evelyn freeze mid–sentence. He

adjusted his glasses and looked at her with professional appreciation.

“Ms. Winston, you’ve thought this through very thoroughly.”

Evelyn’s ears warmed. She gave a soft “thank you.”

After the meeting, while she was packing up, a cup of coffee appeared in front of her.

“Black, no sugar,” Simon said, standing beside her desk. His tone was casual. “It’s a little bitter, but I figured you might need the caffeine boost.”

“Thank you.”

There was a trace of a smile between his brows. He picked up the design draft she’d left on the desk

and handed it back to her.

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