Chapter 234

The moment Evelyn stepped into the grand hall of the Martin estate, the air shifted. The chandeliers cast a golden glow over the marble floors, but the warmth didn’t reach her. Nathaniel stood by the fireplace, his expression unreadable, his broad shoulders tense beneath his tailored suit.

"You're late," he said, his voice low but sharp.

Evelyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Traffic," she replied smoothly, though they both knew that wasn’t the real reason.

Isabella’s sudden reappearance had thrown everything into chaos. The woman who had once held Nathaniel’s heart—and nearly destroyed it—was back, and the tension between them was palpable.

Edward Martin, Nathaniel’s grandfather, cleared his throat from his armchair. "We have matters to discuss," he said, his piercing gaze shifting between them. "The board is questioning Nathaniel’s leadership after the recent scandal."

Evelyn clenched her fists. The scandal—rumors of Nathaniel’s past with Isabella resurfacing, threatening to undermine everything they’d built.

"I’ll handle it," Nathaniel said firmly.

Evelyn arched a brow. "Will you?" She couldn’t keep the edge from her voice. "Because last time, you nearly lost everything."

His jaw tightened. "I won’t make the same mistake twice."

A knock interrupted them. Samuel Yates, Nathaniel’s secretary, stepped in. "Sir, the press has caught wind of Isabella’s return. They’re already speculating."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. "Perfect."

Nathaniel turned to her, his dark eyes burning with intensity. "Trust me."

She wanted to. But trust had been broken before.

As the meeting continued, Evelyn’s phone buzzed. A message from Gregory Wilson, her business partner: "We have a problem. The Summit Realty deal is falling apart. Sebastian Wilson is pulling out."

Her stomach dropped. That deal was crucial for her firm.

She excused herself, stepping into the hallway. The moment the door closed behind her, she dialed Gregory. "What happened?"

"Sebastian claims we breached contract terms," Gregory said, frustration lacing his words. "But we didn’t. He’s looking for an excuse."

Evelyn’s mind raced. Sebastian Wilson wasn’t just a client—he was a predator in a tailored suit, and he’d been circling her for months.

"I’ll handle it," she said, echoing Nathaniel’s words.

But as she ended the call, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was unraveling.

Back inside the room, Nathaniel’s gaze locked onto hers. "Problem?"

She forced a smile. "Nothing I can’t handle."

But the truth was, the walls were closing in. And this time, she wasn’t sure if they’d survive the fallout.

Thomas needed a cigarette desperately. He pushed himself up from the couch and strode toward the balcony, Nathaniel shadowing his every step. "What the hell happened?" Nathaniel demanded in a low, dangerous tone. "How could she vanish from the balcony at a time like this?"

"Don't ask me," Thomas snapped, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His usual composed demeanor had shattered completely.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "Did you lay a hand on her?"

"Of course not—"

"You'd better not have," Nathaniel cut him off, casting a glance at Evelyn who sat rigidly on the sofa, her face pale. "Because of you, she's blaming me now too."

Thomas exhaled sharply but remained silent, the weight of guilt pressing down on him. Two agonizing hours crawled by. The clock struck eleven.

A servant brought up a tray of food—Thomas hadn't eaten dinner. "Mr. Ellsworth, you should eat something."

Thomas didn't even look at it.

"Eat," Nathaniel ordered. "Starving yourself won't help."

Just as Thomas reached for the spoon, Evelyn's icy voice sliced through the tension. "If I were him, I wouldn't have an appetite. If anything happens to Charlotte, this meal would taste like ashes."

"Evelyn," Nathaniel warned.

"Going to defend him now? Worried I'm hurting his precious feelings?"

"That's not what I meant. He needs his strength to face whatever comes next when we find her."

Nathaniel's words made Thomas wish he'd never spoken at all.

Evelyn fell silent again, the quiet stretching until midnight. Exhaustion etched deep lines into their faces.

Then—Thomas's phone rang.

He answered immediately, putting it on speaker. "Mr. Ellsworth, we've reviewed the surveillance with the police. Ms. Bennett took a taxi after leaving the villa—"

"Where did she go?" Thomas interrupted, his voice raw.

The man on the line hesitated. "We... haven't located her yet. But we identified the taxi driver. He's a known predator."

Evelyn shot to her feet, snatching the phone. "What are you saying?" Her voice trembled.

A beat of silence. Then, grimly: "The police have records on him. Recently released. Multiple offenses—all involving young, vulnerable women..."

"What does that have to do with Charlotte? If you found him, where is she?" Evelyn's control shattered, her breaths coming too fast.

Thomas understood instantly. "Find him. Now. I want that bastard in front of me within the hour."

Nathaniel was already dialing Samuel. "Get your contacts on this. They'll cover ground faster than the police."

As Nathaniel barked orders, Thomas ended the call. Evelyn turned on him, her eyes blazing. "Thomas. Tell me—do you regret it yet?"