Exit the Catfights Enter the Empire novel Chapter 9

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. So long, in fact, that Xavier thought she had hung up.

He pulled the phone away from his ear; the screen showed the call was still connected.

He frowned, about to speak, when Evelyn's voice finally came through. It was incredibly quiet, almost hollow.

"When he called earlier, he coughed twice. I was worried, so I picked up some medicine and brought it over. That's all."

Without giving him a chance to reply, the line went dead.

Xavier stared blankly at his phone. Was his grandpa feeling sick? He hadn't noticed.

When he walked into the living room later, Evelyn was sitting across from Karl, playing a game of chess.

"...That doesn't count! I put it in the wrong spot. I meant to move here."

"Karl, taking back moves isn't very gentlemanly."

Karl shamelessly brushed it off. "I'm an old man! I'm no gentleman. Besides, my hand just slipped."

Evelyn sighed in mock defeat. "You've said that three times now."

"Sir, the young master is back."

At the maid's announcement, Evelyn instinctively turned her head. Xavier was standing tall a few feet away, watching them quietly.

Her fingers slipped. With a sharp clack, the chess piece fell onto the board, instantly ruining the unresolved match.

She looked thoroughly apologetic. "I'm sorry. I ruined the board."

Karl secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though he waved it off magnanimously. "It's fine, it's fine! You can just play a few more rounds with me another day."

Xavier walked over. "How are you feeling? Anything bothering you?"

"Just a little cough. It's just that Evelyn here is too good to me. The second she hears me sniffle, she drops everything, even ditching your rare date night to check on me."

Karl grabbed Xavier's hand, his tone turning dead serious. "She's an incredibly loyal girl. Do not let some trashy women on the outside ruin what you have with her, you hear me?"

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