Chapter 106

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bedroom. Evelyn stirred beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming with the memory of Nathaniel's touch from the night before. She turned her head, expecting to find him beside her, but the space was empty.

A note rested on his pillow.

"Early meeting. Didn’t want to wake you. I’ll be back by noon."

She traced the elegant script with her fingertips, a small smile playing on her lips. Even after all this time, he still left her notes.

Evelyn stretched, then reached for her phone. Three missed calls from Gregory. She frowned. He never called this early unless it was urgent.

She dialed him back.

"Gregory? What’s going on?"

His voice was tense. "Evelyn, we have a problem. The Summit Realty deal—Sebastian Wilson just pulled out. He cited 'creative differences.'"

Her stomach dropped. That project was their biggest commission this year. "What? We’ve been working on this for months!"

"I know. But he’s refusing to negotiate. Says he’s taking the contract elsewhere."

Evelyn clenched her jaw. "I’ll handle it. Set up a meeting with him. Today."

She hung up, already mentally rearranging her schedule.

Downstairs, Alfred had prepared her usual coffee—black with a hint of cinnamon. She took a sip, letting the warmth steady her nerves.

"Good morning, Mrs. Martin," he greeted. "Will you be needing the car?"

"Yes, please. And tell Rosalind I’ll skip breakfast."

She dressed quickly, opting for a sleek navy pantsuit—power attire. As she fastened her watch, her phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Isabella.

Evelyn hesitated. They hadn’t spoken since the gala incident.

She answered. "Isabella?"

"Evelyn." The other woman’s voice was cool. "We need to talk."

Evelyn’s grip tightened on her phone. "About?"

"Not over the phone. Meet me at The Velvet Lounge. One hour."

Before Evelyn could respond, the line went dead.

She exhaled sharply. First Sebastian, now Isabella.

Something was definitely wrong.

As she stepped outside, the sleek black town car was already waiting. She slid into the backseat, her mind racing.

One crisis at a time. First, Sebastian Wilson. Then, whatever game Isabella was playing.

But deep down, she knew—today was going to be a battlefield.

Nathaniel gave a slight nod. "Alright."

He passed the mashed potatoes to Evelyn and asked, "Would you like some?" Before she could respond, Edward cut in with disapproval, "What kind of husband are you? Evelyn doesn’t like mashed potatoes. She prefers the steamed lobster. Help her with the shell."

Evelyn’s brows knitted briefly. "Edward, I can have a little mashed potatoes. And I can handle the lobster myself."

"Evelyn, don’t be modest. You married Nathaniel, but he hasn’t treated you the way you deserve. Consider this him making up for it. Enjoy yourself."

She fell silent, her gaze flickering toward Nathaniel instinctively.

He met her eyes, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "What would you like?"

She pressed her lips together. "Anything is fine."

Without another word, Nathaniel placed several dishes in front of Evelyn, then meticulously peeled the lobster meat onto her plate.

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise. Edward and Victoria exchanged stunned glances, while Richard chuckled quietly into his napkin. Nathaniel leaned back slightly. "Try them. Let me know which one you prefer."

Truthfully, Evelyn was already full, but with Nathaniel serving her and everyone watching, refusing would only invite more scrutiny. She wasn’t worried about Nathaniel’s reaction—she just didn’t want to make Edward uncomfortable.

After dinner, Richard brought out his prized coffee blend, brewing a cup for Edward before offering one to Evelyn. She accepted it politely but didn’t take a sip—pregnancy meant cutting back on caffeine.

Nathaniel’s gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable, making her fingers tighten around the cup.

Then, abruptly, he spoke. "Grandfather, I’ve made a decision. Would you like to hear it?"

Edward raised an eyebrow. "What decision?"

All eyes turned to Nathaniel.

Calmly, he continued, "Now that Evelyn and I have gone public with our relationship, it’s time to address what you’ve been concerned about. We’ve been married for a year. It’s only natural to start planning for a child."

His tone was casual, as if discussing something mundane.

The declaration was so sudden that silence blanketed the room.

Edward’s gaze darted toward Evelyn, who sat motionless, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Edward frowned. "Why bring this up now? You two just went public."

"It’s not sudden. I simply believe it’s the right time. Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Or are you unhappy about it?"

"This isn’t about happiness, Nathaniel. This is a serious matter. Have you truly thought it through?"

Edward’s expression darkened, but Nathaniel only smiled faintly. "Grandfather, if I hadn’t considered it carefully, I wouldn’t have mentioned it. You know me better than that."

"I don’t want to."

Evelyn’s voice was soft but firm.

She met Nathaniel’s gaze squarely and repeated, "Nathaniel, I don’t want to."

Every word he’d said to Edward had been clear to her. He suggested having a child simply because it was time—not out of love or desire. It wasn’t so different from what Isabella had insinuated. Even if Isabella had exaggerated, the conclusion remained the same.

Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression betrayed nothing. "Give me a reason," he murmured, his voice low and rough.