Chapter 20

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, casting golden patterns across her drafting table. She tapped her pen absently against the blueprint, her mind elsewhere. The meeting with Nathaniel last night had left her unsettled, his words replaying in her head like a broken record.

"I need you to trust me, Evelyn."

But trust wasn’t something she gave easily—not after everything.

A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Gabrielle, her assistant, stepped in, holding a sleek black envelope. "This just arrived for you," she said, placing it on the desk. "No return address."

Evelyn frowned, picking it up. The paper was thick, expensive. She slid her finger under the seal and pulled out an embossed invitation.

You are cordially invited to the reopening of the Grand Aurora Ballroom.

Hosted by Isabella Davis.

Her stomach twisted. Isabella—Nathaniel’s ex, the woman who had once held his heart. The same woman who had made it clear she wasn’t done with him.

Gabrielle hesitated. "Everything okay?"

Evelyn forced a smile. "Fine. Just an event invitation."

But it wasn’t just an event. It was a challenge.

Her phone buzzed—a message from Nathaniel.

Meeting ran late. Dinner tonight?

She stared at the screen, torn between suspicion and the desire to believe him. Was he hiding something? Or was she letting past wounds cloud her judgment?

Before she could reply, another notification popped up—this time from Gregory Wilson, her business partner.

Got a call from Summit Realty. They want to discuss a collaboration. Edward Wilson himself requested you.

Evelyn’s pulse quickened. Summit Realty was a major player, and Edward Wilson wasn’t someone who made personal calls unless it was important.

But why now?

She exhaled sharply, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she replied to Nathaniel.

Can’t make dinner. Work thing.

A lie. But she needed time to think.

Because between Isabella’s sudden reappearance and Edward’s unexpected interest, something didn’t add up.

And Evelyn Mitchell wasn’t one to walk into a storm unprepared.

Evelyn felt the warmth of Victoria's hand as the older woman gave her a knowing smile. "Because you're the only one we want," Victoria said softly.

The words settled heavily in Evelyn's chest. She understood this wasn't just empty reassurance. There was history here—something between the Martins and Isabella that Nathaniel remained oblivious to.

Before she could dwell on it further, Nathaniel and Richard entered the room.

Richard's gaze softened when it landed on Evelyn. "You should head to work, dear. Victoria and I will stay with Edward."

Evelyn hesitated, glancing at Nathaniel for confirmation.

His expression was unreadable. "Go. My parents have everything under control."

Reluctantly, Evelyn nodded. "Alright. We'll come back tonight."

Victoria squeezed her hand. "That's my girl. Now go."

The walk to the parking lot was silent, the weight of unspoken words pressing between them. Once inside the car, Nathaniel finally spoke.

"We need to delay the divorce." His voice was steady. "At least until Edward's condition stabilizes."

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. "Is that what Richard suggested?"

"Yes. And I agree." He turned to her, his dark eyes searching hers. "Unless you have objections?"

"Of course not," she said quickly. "Edward has been nothing but kind to me. I'd do anything for him." She paused, then added carefully, "But won’t this complicate things with Isabella?"

Nathaniel's jaw tightened, that familiar irritation flickering across his features. "Evelyn, how many times must I say it? This has nothing to do with her."

She pressed her lips together, swallowing the bitter taste of disbelief. Nothing to do with her? He was planning to marry the woman. Of course it mattered. But she knew better than to argue. He would never admit that he was shielding Isabella from scrutiny.

The rest of the drive passed in tense silence.

Nathaniel dropped Evelyn off at her office building. As she stepped out, she considered bringing up the alleged design theft—but the words died on her tongue. She didn’t know how to broach the subject without sounding accusatory. Worse, she refused to let him see her as weak.

So she stayed quiet, watching as his car disappeared down the street before turning toward the glass doors of her firm.

Inside, Gregory was already waiting, his expression grim.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He motioned for her to follow him into her office. Once the door was shut, he exhaled sharply. "Someone posted about plagiarism on Mayby's local forum. Several of our past clients are demanding answers. Summit Realty is threatening legal action if we don’t provide a satisfactory explanation by the end of the day."

If sued, Summit Realty would terminate their contract and demand compensation.

Though these consequences had been outlined before, Summit Realty preferred a private settlement—direct negotiations with the Martin Group. That way, the deal could still be salvaged. Even if it fell through, at least there’d be no lawsuit.

Evelyn’s stomach twisted. She pressed her fingers to her temples, thinking. "If other firms want an investigation, cooperate fully. Transparency is key." She met Gregory’s gaze. "Have you looked into our staff?"

Their company was small but elite, its rapid rise in the industry making them a target. Envy bred sabotage. They’d always known this day might come.

Gregory nodded. "We’re working on it. But whoever leaked this is careful. We can’t act recklessly—not without risking panic among the team."