The conference hall was filled with lights and applause.

Evelyn stood on stage, her smile calm, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. She had just received the Inspiring Woman of Asia award from an international organization.

Backstage, William stood watching, his expression unreadable. He was proud—of course he was. But somewhere along the way, that pride had started to sour. Maybe because Evelyn had been too busy for the past week. Maybe because he was no longer the first person she called when something good happened.

“She’s incredible, isn’t she?” said a staff member who had come up beside him with a smile. “Even Adrian said she deserves to be...