The CEO's Secret Obsession-Chapter 157: Emotions of a Father

[Carter Mansion]

Evelyn stood near the mirror, adjusting the strap of her dress for the third time even though it was already perfect.

Patricia was by the door, checking her phone with keys dangling from her fingers.

"Okay," she said brightly. "The car is downstairs, the music playlist is elite and I have officially banned all wedding talk for the next four hours."

Evelyn smiled faintly. "You say that every time."

"And every time you ignore me," Patricia shot back.

Evelyn’s phone buzzed in her hand.

It was Alexander.

Her smile softened instantly as she answered the video call.

His face filled the screen looking handsome as always but something about him felt distant. It was not cold, just preoccupied.

"Hey," she said gently. "Are you ready for your big night?"

"Almost," he replied, lips curving into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Lucas is being unbearable already."

She laughed but her gaze lingered on him.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

He paused for half a second too long.

"Yeah," he said quickly. "Just tired, long day."

Evelyn’s brows knit together. "Are you sure?"

"I promise," he said, immediately shifting gears. "You look beautiful, by the way."

Her cheeks warmed. "You are changing the subject."

"Am I?" he teased lightly. "I thought I was being charming."

She studied him through the screen. "You are being—" She paused. "I don’t know, something."

He chuckled. "Go have fun. Don’t overthink everything, okay?"

That line ’Don’t overthink’ was exactly what made her uneasy.

"I will see you tomorrow at the altar," she said after a moment.

"And I cannot wait," he echoed. "Goodnight, Eve."

The call ended.

Evelyn stared at the dark screen longer than necessary.

Patricia watched her reflection in the mirror.

"Okay," she said slowly. "What was that look?"

Evelyn blinked. "What look?"

"That one," Patricia said, walking closer. "The one where you smile but your brain is clearly spiralling."

Evelyn exhaled and dropped onto the edge of the bed. "He seemed off."

Patricia frowned. "Off how?"

"I don’t know," Evelyn admitted. "Distracted, like he was somewhere else."

Patricia tilted her head. "Maybe something happened. Work stuff? Family stuff?"

"Maybe," Evelyn said, though the word didn’t settle her.

She twisted her fingers together. "What if he is having second thoughts?"

Patricia’s eyes widened. "About the wedding?"

Evelyn nodded, voice quieter now. "What if he realized this is too much? The timing, the pressure, everything that’s been happening—"

Patricia immediately sat beside her. "Evelyn."

She waited.

"So many things have happened in the last few weeks," Patricia said gently. "If anyone is allowed to be a little off right now, it’s him."

Evelyn swallowed. "I know. I just—"

"You love him and he definitely is head over heels for you," Patricia finished. "Which means your brain is inventing problems that don’t exist."

Evelyn managed a small smile. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is," Patricia said firmly. "If he had doubts, you would feel distance, real distance. Not this."

She stood and held out her hand. "Now come on. Tonight is about you letting go even just a little."

Evelyn hesitated, then took her hand.

As they headed toward the door, Evelyn glanced once more at her phone.

Tomorrow felt close, too close and yet, somewhere deep down, she knew whatever was weighing on Alexander, it wasn’t a lack of love.

It was something else entirely.

....

[Carter Mansion—Living Room]

The living room glowed softly under warm lamps, the kind of light that made everything feel slower and gentler.

Gregory sat on the armchair with his glasses perched low on his nose with a leather folder resting unopened on his lap.

Across from him, Melissa and Ursula occupied the couch, tea cups cooling in their hands as conversation drifted lazily between details that had already been checked and rechecked.

"All the relatives are settled in the hotel near the venue," Gregory said, glancing at his phone. "Rooms are confirmed, transportation has been arranged. Now let’s just hope there won’t be any last-minute chaos."

Ursula smiled. "It’s a Carter family event, chaos is unavoidable."

"Especially when aunt Karen is present." Gregory huffed softly. "She was already complaining about the weather being too cold for a wedding."

That earned a small laugh but it faded quickly.

"The gifts are ready," Melissa continued. "Clothes, jewellery, keepsakes and everything that goes with her tomorrow."

Gregory nodded but didn’t respond right away.

Ursula noticed.

She leaned back, studying her son with that sharp and affectionate gaze only a mother could have.

"You have gone quiet," she said. "That usually means you are thinking too much."

Gregory smiled faintly. "She is getting married tomorrow."

Melissa’s eyes softened immediately. "She is."

"I keep seeing her as a little girl," he said, voice rougher now. "Running through this house with scraped knees, refusing to sleep unless one of us stayed in the room."

Ursula chuckled softly. "She used to steal my scarves and declare them royal capes."

Melissa laughed through a breath. "And remember how she insisted on packing her own school bag? Everything ended up inside except her books."

Gregory’s smile trembled. "She always wanted to do things her own way."

Silence settled, not heavy, just full.

"I know she is happy," he said quietly. "And I trust Alexander. I really do."

Ursula reached for his hand. "Then what is hurting?"

Gregory swallowed. "It’s the letting go knowing she won’t come home the same way again."

Ursula nodded slowly. "Children don’t leave," she said. "They just expand their world and sometimes that feels like a loss."

Gregory looked down at his hands. "I won’t be able to protect her anymore. Not like before."

Ursula squeezed his fingers. "You raised her to protect herself and you raised her to choose well."

"And she did," she added firmly. "Alexander is a good man. Strong but gentle where it matters."

Gregory exhaled with his eyes glistening despite himself. "I never thought this day would come so fast."

Melissa smiled through her own emotion. "We say that because we wish we could freeze time but she is ready."

Ursula stood slowly, crossing the room to rest a hand on Gregory’s shoulder. "And so are you," she said softly. "Even if your heart hasn’t caught up yet."

Gregory blinked rapidly, then let out a quiet broken laugh.

"Don’t tell Evelyn I got sentimental," he said. "She will tease me forever."

Melissa leaned her head against his shoulder. "Too late, I already plan to."

They sat together like that for a moment, three generations bound by love, pride and the ache of change.

....