Chapter 133: Chapter 133: The Threat Behind the Smile
~Zayn’s POV~
In short, I hadn’t just come to ride horses, I had walked straight into Evans’ house.
When I got out of the car, he came toward me with that easy smile of his.
"Is this your house?" I asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes," he replied casually, as if it was nothing.
Damn. Forget about the horses, the mansion alone was enough to shut me up. The sheer size, the design, the way the grounds stretched with manicured perfection... this wasn’t just wealth, this was power.
"Wow," I muttered, unable to close my mouth. "This is beautiful."
He smirked. "So, you like it?"
"Not like," I corrected. "I love it."
"Good," he said, almost proudly. "That’s my taste in a house. So... welcome to my home and my horse venue."
"Thanks," I replied, shaking my head. "Wow... you could’ve just said you wanted to show off your mansion instead of hiding it behind ’come ride a horse.’"
Evans laughed, the sound deep and smooth, but the look in his eyes, it was familiar, almost haunting. I’d seen it somewhere before, but I couldn’t place it. Still, there was no denying the entrance, the surroundings, the atmosphere, it was stunning.
He invited me inside, and I followed. The moment I stepped in, I knew: Evans wasn’t just spending entertainment money. This... this was a different kind of wealth. Old money, smart money, something far beyond the screen.
He noticed my stare, and I could feel his eyes tracing my curiosity.
"Aren’t you an actor?" I finally asked.
"Yes," he said.
"And the industry pays this much?"
He tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because this house is... beautiful. Unique. I mean, I have to comment, it’s too much to ignore."
He gave me a small smile. "Thank you, Zayn."
He offered me something to eat or drink, saying he could call the maid to prepare it. I waved him off. "I’m fine. What I need is to get to the horse venue, take some snaps. My boyfriend will ask questions when we talk."
Evans chuckled. "You’re serious about him, aren’t you?"
"You mean Evric?" I asked.
"Yes. You carry him like he’s older than you. Aren’t you supposed to look at someone older that way?"
I smiled, shaking my head. "Evric is only younger than me by two years. Love doesn’t care who’s older or younger."
He leaned back, almost scoffing. "But he has nothing to offer you besides money."
"You can’t say that," I shot back, my voice firm. "He might look that way to you, but I love him as he is."
He studied me for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever thought of leaving him... and living a normal life?"
I didn’t even hesitate. "Since the day I said yes to him, whatever we share is my normal."
He chuckled again, almost mockingly. "Maybe you value him because of his money."
I shook my head. "No. I know it might look like that to outsiders, but I love him. Really."
He opened his mouth to ask something else, but I cut in before he could twist the knife any deeper.
"Wasn’t this supposed to be about horse riding?" I said, standing and brushing down my shirt. "Come on, let’s just go to the venue, I need to take some pictures."
He smiled and said, "I should tell you this..."
I cut him off with a firm shake of my head. "I don’t want to hear whatever you have to say anymore. You sound like you’ve got a personal beef with my boyfriend."
Evans chuckled. "Beef? What beef could I possibly have with Evric? If not for his money, he wouldn’t even be able to stand where I stand. Sure, he’ll be famous soon, after his project finally launches. But even then, he’ll never be more famous than me. He’s just a businessman, Zayn. I’m an actor and a businessman."
I frowned. "And what exactly is the point of this comparison?"
He only smiled, as if enjoying the game.
"That’s enough," I snapped. "I don’t care who you are or why you’re against him. Just know this, I love him, whether he’s young or old, rich or poor. I would never trade him, not even for a trillion."
Evans laughed lightly. "Okay, okay. But jokes apart, Zayn... you need someone more mature. Someone who could take care of you better."
"Stop," I snapped again, sharper this time. "If this conversation is going to keep going that way, then forget it. I’ll just head back to my restaurant."
He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. I won’t say anything against your boy again."
I leaned closer, my voice firm. "He’s not a boy. He’s a man. So please, respect him... for me."
With that, we finally headed to the horse venue. The place was wide and green, the sound of hooves echoing across the ground as a few stable hands led the horses around. Evans guided me toward one of the calmest-looking ones, a tall brown stallion with a glossy mane.
"Don’t worry," he said with a grin. "He’s gentle. Perfect for beginners."
I eyed the horse skeptically. "Gentle? He looks like he could throw me halfway across the field."
Evans laughed. "Only if you don’t listen to me." He showed me how to place my foot in the stirrup, how to swing myself onto the saddle. With his steady hand on my arm, I managed to get up, though not without wobbling like I was about to fall right off again.
"Sit straight," he instructed, adjusting the reins in my hands. "Don’t pull too hard, just guide him gently. Think of it like steering, not controlling."
I tried to follow, but the moment the horse moved, my body jerked forward. "Shit...Evans!" I grabbed at the reins, nearly losing my balance.
He chuckled, jogging alongside me. "Relax, Zayn. If you panic, the horse feels it. Just breathe. He’s not going to throw you."
Easier said than done. When the horse suddenly picked up speed, my heart shot into my throat, and I clung to the saddle like my life depended on it. "I swear if I fall..."
"You won’t," Evans cut in, his voice firm but amused. He held the reins near the bit to steady the horse, then looked up at me. "See? You’re already riding."
I let out a nervous laugh. "Riding? More like trying not to die."
He smiled, his eyes glinting. "Not bad for your first time. Give it a few more tries, and you might even start enjoying it."
I rolled my eyes, but deep down, a rush of adrenaline kicked through me. Almost falling wasn’t fun, but feeling the power of the horse beneath me, guided by my hands, was something else entirely.
After we finished the horse riding, Evans walked me back toward the stable, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. His expression softened, as he looked at me.
"You know," he said with a half-smile, "I really enjoyed your company today. Now I realize what that boy..." he paused, correcting himself with a faint smirk, "no... what that man is enjoying."
I stopped in my tracks and met his gaze firmly. "Too bad for you, Evans. I’m only for my man."
He tilted his head, studying me like he was searching for a crack in my words. Then, with a low chuckle, he dropped a line that made my chest tighten.
"People break up, you know."
For a moment, I froze, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. My jaw clenched, and I shook my head slowly.
"Not us," I said firmly. "You can wait for us to fall apart all you want, but that day will never come. Not for me. Not for Evric."
Evans smirked again, but there was something darker in his eyes now, something that made me uneasy. "We’ll see, Zayn. We’ll see."