The past month had been unlike any other in Augustus’s life. He had always been a man of calculated actions, someone who didn’t do things out of emotion or desperation. But for Evelyn, everything changed. He wasn’t just trying to fix things—he was trying to become the kind of man she deserved. And for Augustus, that meant pulling out all the stops.

It began with the small gestures. Every morning, Evelyn would walk into her office to find a cup of her favorite coffee waiting for her, always perfectly prepared—two sugars, no milk, just as she liked it. At first, she was surprised. Then she was annoyed. “Stop trying so hard,” she had told him one day, her tone stern but her eyes soft. But Augustus didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Each day, there was something new: a handwritten note wishing her a good day, a perfectly sharpened pencil on her desk for her to sketch out ideas, or a small potted plant because, “I thought it would brighten your office,” he’d said casually.

Evelyn didn’t want to admit it, but the gestures were starting to wear her down. There was a sincerity in his actions that was hard to ignore, even for someone as stubborn as her. And Augustus wasn’t just limiting his efforts to work.

At home—well, at Hazel’s home—Evelyn began receiving unexpected deliveries. A new set of books she’d been wanting to read, a box of chocolates that happened to be her favorite brand, or flowers that didn’t come with the typical cliched love notes but instead with practical messages like, “You deserve some color in your life today.” They weren’t overwhelming, but they were consistent. Steady. Unrelenting.

Then, one evening, Augustus showed up at Hazel’s doorstep with a casserole. Evelyn opened the door, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “What are you doing here?” she had asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

“You’ve been working late, and I thought you might not have eaten,” he replied simply, holding up the dish. Hazel had appeared behind Evelyn then, smirking like the Cheshire cat. “He’s a keeper,” she whispered loudly enough for Augustus to hear. Evelyn rolled her eyes but took the casserole. She didn’t say thank you, but Augustus noticed she didn’t close the door in his face either.

---

A month passed, and Augustus had made progress—not monumental, but enough to give him hope. The biggest victory came when Evelyn finally decided to move back into the mansion. It wasn’t an easy decision for her. She was still wary, still guarded. But Hazel had given her a knowing look one evening.

“You miss him,” Hazel had said bluntly, sipping her wine. Evelyn had scoffed, but the truth was, she did miss him—his presence, his awkward attempts at conversation, the way he made her feel seen even when she didn’t want to be.

When Evelyn returned to the mansion, Augustus didn’t make a big deal out of it. He acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world, even though inside, he was practically doing cartwheels. He offered to share the master bedroom again, but not once did he push her. He gave her space, letting her decide what felt right.

To his surprise—and delight—she agreed to share the room. It was awkward at first. Evelyn would stay on her side of the bed, keeping a pillow between them as a barrier. Augustus respected it, though every night, he found himself staring at her back, wondering if she’d ever let him close again.

---

One of the biggest changes Augustus made was to his schedule. He adjusted his morning routine so they could ride to work together. At first, Evelyn was annoyed by the gesture. “I can manage on my own,” she had told him. But Augustus had simply shrugged. “I like the company,” he had said, and that was that.

The rides to work were quiet at first, filled with awkward silences and polite small talk. But over time, they began to ease into a rhythm. Augustus would steal glances at her while driving, noticing the way she looked out the window, lost in thought. Sometimes, she’d catch him staring and roll her eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.

At the office, things were… complicated. Augustus was determined to keep Evelyn away from Justin, and he wasn’t above using underhanded tactics to do so. He would schedule back-to-back meetings with Evelyn, ensuring she had no time to meet with Justin alone. He conveniently "forgot" to inform her of important calls until the last minute, forcing her to cancel lunches with Justin.

And when all else failed, Augustus resorted to outright sabotage. One day, he sent Justin on a wild goose chase, assigning him a task that required him to visit three different departments on opposite sides of the building. By the time Justin returned, Evelyn was already tied up in a meeting.

---

Despite Augustus’s efforts, Justin wasn’t backing down. He was polite, charming, and—much to Augustus’s frustration—Evelyn seemed oblivious to his intentions. Justin would casually touch her arm during conversations, lean in just a little too close, or make jokes that had her laughing in a way that made Augustus’s blood boil.

Their interactions were anything but friendly on Augustus’s end. Justin would greet him with a smile, and Augustus would respond with a curt nod. “You’re very invested in this project,” Augustus had remarked dryly one day, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Justin had simply smiled, unfazed. “Evelyn’s an excellent collaborator,” he had replied, and Augustus had clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

---

Meanwhile, Evelyn seemed completely unaware of the tension. She was focused on the project, determined to make it a success. She appreciated Justin’s insights and valued his contributions, but to her, he was just a colleague. Augustus, however, saw through Justin’s facade. He recognized the way Justin looked at her—the same way he had started looking at her.

One evening, after a particularly long day, Evelyn found Augustus waiting for her by the car. “Ready to go?” he asked, his voice neutral.

Evelyn nodded, too tired to argue. As they drove home, she noticed Augustus’s jaw was clenched, his grip on the steering wheel tight. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Nothing,” he replied, but the tension in his voice said otherwise.

Evelyn sighed, leaning her head against the window. She didn’t press him further, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering him. Little did she know, Augustus was already plotting his next move. He wasn’t going to let Justin win—not when he had come so far, not when Evelyn was finally starting to let him in.

---

As the days went on, Augustus’s jealousy only grew. But amidst the chaos, something remarkable was happening. Evelyn was starting to see him—not just as the man she was married to, but as someone who genuinely cared for her. It was slow, subtle, but it was there. And for Augustus, that was all the encouragement he needed to keep fighting.