Chapter 158

The moment Evelyn stepped into the grand hall of the Martin estate, her breath caught in her throat. The chandeliers cast a golden glow over the marble floors, illuminating the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Among them stood Nathaniel, his tall frame commanding attention even in the crowded room.

She adjusted the strap of her emerald-green gown, her fingers trembling slightly. The last time she had seen him was at the office, where their argument had left a bitter taste in her mouth. Now, here they were, forced to play the perfect couple for his grandfather’s birthday celebration.

"Evelyn." His voice was low, smooth, and laced with something unreadable as he approached her.

"Nathaniel," she replied, forcing a polite smile. "The party looks magnificent."

His gaze flickered over her, lingering just a second too long on the delicate necklace resting against her collarbone—the one he had gifted her on their first anniversary. "You look stunning," he murmured.

Before she could respond, a familiar laugh cut through the air. Isabella Davis, dressed in a sleek silver gown, glided toward them with a glass of champagne in hand. "There you are," she purred, her eyes locked onto Nathaniel. "I was wondering when you'd finally grace us with your presence."

Evelyn’s grip tightened around her clutch. She had known Isabella would be here—after all, she was still close with the Martin family—but that didn’t make it any easier.

Nathaniel’s jaw tensed. "Isabella," he acknowledged coolly.

Isabella turned her attention to Evelyn, her smile sharp. "Evelyn, darling, how lovely to see you again. I heard about the trouble with your latest project. Such a shame."

Evelyn’s pulse quickened. The project in question had been sabotaged—mysteriously—just days after Isabella had visited the construction site. Coincidence? She doubted it.

"Every project has its challenges," Evelyn replied smoothly. "But we always find a way to overcome them."

Isabella’s smirk faltered slightly.

Just then, Edward Martin, Nathaniel’s grandfather, appeared beside them, his sharp eyes missing nothing. "Ah, my favorite trio," he said, though his tone held a hint of warning. "Nathaniel, I need you for a moment. The investors from Tokyo have arrived."

Nathaniel hesitated, glancing at Evelyn.

"Go ahead," she said softly. "I’ll be fine."

As he walked away, Isabella leaned in, her voice a whisper. "You don’t belong here, Evelyn. You never did."

Evelyn met her gaze evenly. "Funny. Nathaniel seems to think otherwise."

Isabella’s eyes flashed with irritation before she forced another laugh and sauntered off.

Evelyn exhaled slowly, her mind racing. The night was far from over, and she had a feeling the real battle was just beginning.

Nathaniel's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. There was no room for negotiation in his tone.

As he finished speaking, a series of coughs wracked his chest, his agitation impossible to miss. Richard quickly handed him a glass of water, concern etched on his face. "Father, calm down. Now that he's back, you can deal with him properly."

Evelyn stood frozen at the entrance of the dining room, her expression a mix of confusion and hesitation. She didn’t know whether to step forward or retreat. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she greeted them. "Edward, Richard, Victoria..."

Victoria was the first to notice Evelyn’s presence, her eyes widening slightly before she rushed over. Taking Evelyn’s hand, she said gently, "Edward, it’s Evelyn."

Then, turning back to Evelyn, she reassured her, "Edward thought you were Nathaniel. He wasn’t talking about you. Don’t take it to heart."

Evelyn gave a small nod, forcing a faint smile. "I understand."

Edward seemed momentarily taken aback when he saw Evelyn, but his expression softened almost instantly. He motioned for her to sit beside him, murmuring, "My dear, you’ve endured so much."

Evelyn shook her head slightly. "Edward, please don’t say that. It’s really nothing."

But the more Evelyn downplayed it, the heavier Edward’s heart grew.

He sighed. "I know exactly what kind of despicable things he’s done. Don’t worry—I’ll have a word with him. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Martin Group and settle this once and for all."

"Edward, that’s actually why I came back today. If Nathaniel thinks I’m not the right fit for this project, I can step aside. But Summit Realty shouldn’t suffer because of me. If they’re cut out, they’ll struggle to survive in this industry."

Edward understood her concern and nodded in agreement.

Then, he shot Richard a meaningful look. "Call him back. This needs to be resolved—now!"

Evelyn bit her lip lightly before speaking again. "Edward, please don’t be angry. Maybe he’s doing this for the good of the Martin Group. My company and I might not be significant enough to partner with you, but Summit Realty is different. They’re an established enterprise. So, I just want you to talk to him—give them a chance."

"So, you’re advocating for Summit Realty. What about yourself?" Edward asked, his voice laced with concern.

Evelyn simply smiled. "I’m still young. There’s plenty of time for me to grow."

Richard and Victoria nodded in agreement, but Edward remained silent, lost in thought.

Evelyn didn’t stay much longer—it was getting late.

Edward insisted on walking her to her car. As they strolled side by side, he spoke softly. "Evelyn, my dear. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all this."

"Edward, please don’t apologize. I’m happy now."

With a slow nod, Edward changed the subject. "How have you been feeling? And how’s the baby?"

"We’re both doing well. No need to worry," Evelyn reassured him, resting a hand on her abdomen. Every day, she could feel the subtle changes, the deepening bond between them.

After a few more words of advice, Edward watched as Evelyn drove off into the night.

As Evelyn left Martin Manor, she passed Nathaniel’s car at a nearby intersection. Their windows were down, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. Neither stopped. Neither spoke.

What Evelyn didn’t know was that Nathaniel would later appear at her doorstep, knocking insistently.

She had already fallen asleep when the sound roused her. Seeing him standing there, she didn’t invite him in, simply asking, "What do you want at this hour?"