Chapter 192
Nathan had hoped this incident might ease the tension between them.
Instead, Evelyn reached into her pocket and produced a check.
His expression darkened instantly. "What's this supposed to mean?"
She arched one perfect eyebrow. "A new Bentley costs five million. The rest is my gratitude, Mr. Sterling."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
Twenty million dollars?
Was she seriously trying to pay him off?
He'd acted on pure instinct to protect her. Nothing more.
Why did she have to twist it into something transactional?
Her silence stretched as she watched his stormy expression.
"If twenty isn't enough," Evelyn continued coolly, "name your price."
"Nathan! What kind of man do you take me for?" His voice vibrated with barely contained fury.
He was still her patient, for God's sake.
Did their connection mean nothing to her?
Eleanor and Vanessa gaped from the sidelines. Was twenty million mere pocket change to Evelyn?
Envy flickered in their eyes. The Carter fortune truly knew no bounds.
Since Nathan had frozen their accounts, scraping together two million had become impossible. Their fingers itched to snatch that check.
"Evelyn, darling, what are you doing?" Eleanor purred, slinking forward.
Her covetous gaze locked onto the check like a predator spotting prey.
With deliberate slowness, Evelyn extended it toward her. "Take it, Mrs. Blackwell."
Eleanor's greedy fingers twitched, but Nathan's command froze her mid-reach. "Mother. Step. Back."
The older woman's face fell. Twenty million slipping through her fingers! What madness was this?
Nathan's anger burned white-hot. Who did Evelyn think he was?
Reading Eleanor's thoughts perfectly, Evelyn tucked the check into the woman's pocket. "Since you're Nathan's mother, consider this a gift."
Without another word, she turned on her heel.
Twenty million would settle her debt. They'd be square.
Fate had other plans. Gregory materialized in the doorway, having rushed over upon hearing the news.
"Well, well, Ms. Carter. Fancy meeting you here."
His usual lazy drawl held an edge of mockery.
Who would've thought Nathan Sterling would risk his life for a woman? How positively romantic.
"Is Nathan alright?" Gregory prodded.
Evelyn had zero interest in this conversation. "See for yourself."
Gregory's lips curled. "Judging by your stormy exit, I'll assume he's fine. Though I must say, his heroic rescue was rather touching. He—"
She cut him off with an eye roll.
"Should I swoon over one decent act and forget years of torment?"
Gregory scratched his nose awkwardly. "That's not what I—"
"I mean," he backpedaled, "surely you see his sincerity now? Why not give the man another chance?"
They were equals now. A perfect match.
If Evelyn would just bend,
They'd be Manhattan's ultimate power couple.
Her expression turned arctic. "Are you out of your mind?"
Did he think her some kind of glutton for punishment?