Chapter 171

The moment Evelyn stepped into the grand hall of the Martin estate, she felt the weight of countless eyes on her. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made her fingers curl into fists at her sides. She had expected resistance, but the sheer hostility radiating from the assembled family members was almost suffocating.

Nathaniel stood beside her, his posture rigid, his jaw set. His grip on her hand was firm, an unspoken promise that he wouldn’t let go. Not now, not ever.

Edward Martin, the patriarch of the family, sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his piercing gaze locked onto Evelyn. "You expect us to accept this?" His voice was deceptively calm, but the undercurrent of disdain was unmistakable.

Evelyn lifted her chin. "I don’t expect anything, Mr. Martin. But I won’t apologize for loving your grandson."

A murmur rippled through the room. Victoria Martin, Nathaniel’s mother, let out a derisive scoff. "Love? Is that what you call it? Or is this just another scheme to get your hands on our fortune?"

Nathaniel’s grip tightened. "Enough." His voice was low, dangerous. "Evelyn isn’t here to defend herself against baseless accusations. If you have something to say, say it to me."

Isabella, standing near the window with her arms crossed, smirked. "Oh, how noble. But let’s not pretend this isn’t exactly what we all expected."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked. She had known this confrontation was inevitable, but facing Isabella’s smug expression made her blood boil. "You don’t know anything about us."

Isabella arched a brow. "Don’t I? Or are you forgetting who was here first?"

Nathaniel stepped forward, his expression darkening. "That’s enough, Isabella. This isn’t about you."

The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was almost tangible. Then, Edward leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Tell me, Evelyn. What exactly do you bring to this family?"

Evelyn met his gaze without flinching. "I bring myself. My work, my integrity, and my love for Nathaniel. That’s all I have to offer."

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Richard Martin—Nathaniel’s father—chuckled. "Well, she’s got spirit. I’ll give her that."

Victoria shot him a glare, but Edward merely studied Evelyn, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed. "We’ll see about that."

As the meeting dissolved into hushed arguments, Nathaniel pulled Evelyn aside. "I’m sorry," he murmured, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I didn’t expect it to be this bad."

Evelyn exhaled shakily. "Neither did I. But I’m not backing down."

He smiled faintly. "I know you’re not."

Across the room, Isabella watched them, her lips curling into a bitter smile. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

And Evelyn knew—this was only the beginning.

Evelyn met Nathaniel's gaze, but before she could respond, Charlotte swiftly shut the door in his face.

With a firm click, Charlotte locked Nathaniel out.

She called through the door, "Mr. Martin, you should leave now. If the paparazzi catch you here, Ms. Davis might face another wave of online backlash."

Evelyn couldn't help but chuckle.

Charlotte winked at her before dragging her back to the couch. "The rumors say you two are already divorced, yet he's still tangled up with Isabella. He won’t sign the papers but can’t seem to let her go either. Is he deliberately using her to provoke you?"

"Or is it the other way around?" Evelyn countered dryly. "Maybe he’s using me to make Isabella jealous."

If Nathaniel truly wanted to get under her skin, he wouldn’t need such childish tactics.

If he had even an ounce of affection for her, why would she be so determined to end things?

Evelyn exhaled, her smile tinged with resignation.

Charlotte sighed dramatically, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Go ahead, cry if you need to. Men are replaceable. Tomorrow’s a new day—you’ll bounce back stronger."

Evelyn burst into laughter.

"Are you trying to comfort me or roast me?"

Charlotte rested her head on Evelyn’s shoulder, grinning. "Just sharing some hard-earned wisdom!"

"So, are you ever going to tell me about this mystery man of yours?"

"Don’t ask. I’ll blush."

"Please."

Charlotte clamped her lips shut, and Evelyn didn’t push further.

If Charlotte wanted to share, she would—eventually.

But curiosity gnawed at Evelyn. Who was Charlotte’s secret boyfriend?

11:00 PM | Luxe Lounge

The private club’s VIP room glowed under dim chandeliers. Two men clinked glasses on the plush leather sofa.

Nathaniel swirled his whiskey, his jaw tight. "What’s her game? Is she really this indifferent just because I pulled out of the deal? And that friend of hers—full of nonsense. She wouldn’t even let me inside. What’s that supposed to mean?"

Thomas smirked over his wine. "Nathaniel, are you in love with Evelyn? You sound like a scorned lover."

"Don’t be absurd." Nathaniel shot him a glare.

He’d turned the question over in his mind endlessly.

Evelyn was his wife. As long as that remained true, whether he loved her or not was irrelevant.

So why did it gnaw at him?

Nathaniel’s grip tightened around his glass.

Thomas chuckled but didn’t press further.

They drank in silence until Nathaniel noticed Thomas’s brooding expression. "What’s eating you?"

Thomas set down his glass with a sigh. "She’s back."

"The one who ghosted you?"

"Must you phrase it like that?" Thomas groaned.

Nathaniel arched a brow. "What’s the plan?"

Thomas downed the rest of his wine in one gulp. "Lend me your men. Now that she’s resurfaced, I’m tracking her down. Because of her, I was humiliated in front of Theodore and Felix."