Chapter 243

The moment Evelyn stepped into the grand hall of the Martin estate, the weight of the past weeks pressed down on her shoulders. The air was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that made her fingers curl into fists at her sides.

Nathaniel stood by the fireplace, his expression unreadable. The flickering flames cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look more like a statue than the man she had fallen in love with.

"You're late," he said, his voice low but edged with something she couldn’t quite place.

Evelyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Traffic," she replied, keeping her tone even. She wasn’t about to let him dictate the mood of this conversation.

Isabella, standing near the window, turned to face them. The sunlight streaming in behind her made her look almost ethereal, but Evelyn knew better. There was nothing angelic about the woman who had once held Nathaniel’s heart—and, if rumors were to be believed, still did.

"I didn’t realize this was a family meeting," Isabella said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Evelyn forced a smile. "Neither did I."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "We need to talk. All of us."

Evelyn’s stomach twisted. She had known this was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of secrets, half-truths, and betrayals. And now, it seemed, they were finally going to address the elephant in the room.

She crossed her arms. "Fine. Let’s talk."

Nathaniel hesitated, his gaze flickering between her and Isabella. For a moment, Evelyn wondered if he would back down. But then he straightened, his jaw set.

"There’s something you both need to know," he began, his voice steady despite the storm brewing in his eyes.

Evelyn braced herself. Whatever he was about to say, she had a feeling it would change everything.

And she was right.

The words that left his lips shattered the fragile peace they had been clinging to, leaving behind a silence so heavy it was suffocating.

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat.

This wasn’t just a conversation.

This was the beginning of the end.

Evelyn studied Charlotte's face carefully. "Is that what you really think? Do you want to see him?"

For a long moment, Charlotte remained silent, her expression unreadable. Then, with a strained smile, she finally spoke. "It's not about wanting or not wanting. Thomas and I... we need to talk. If we don't clear things up now, he might pull the same stunt again. I've spent the last two days running from the truth, but hiding won't change anything."

She had tried to soften the blow, to make excuses—but in the end, reality couldn’t be avoided.

Running was just a temporary escape, not a solution.

Evelyn nodded in understanding. "Eat first. I'll go let him in."

Charlotte picked up her fork, though her appetite had long vanished. Her thoughts were heavy, tangled in a mess she wasn’t sure how to unravel.

Outside, Nathaniel stepped out of the elevator just as Evelyn reached the hallway. His face was drawn, exhaustion evident in the tightness of his jaw.

The moment their eyes met, Nathaniel demanded, voice rough with worry, "How is she?"

Evelyn didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her tone turned icy. "Thomas, if you ever lock someone up against their will again, I will make sure you pay for it. No matter what it takes."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, nodding. "I know. I won’t."

Evelyn’s gaze remained hard. "Do you understand why she ran? Why she didn’t ask for help, even when she was in danger?" Nathaniel met her eyes, his own dark with realization. "Because of Penelope. If you can’t control your fiancée, then stay the hell away from Charlotte."

With that, Evelyn walked past him, leaving Nathaniel standing there, the weight of her words pressing down on him.

He hesitated outside the door, his hand hovering over the handle.

All this time, he had assumed Charlotte left because she didn’t want him anymore. But he had never considered Penelope’s role in this.

Swallowing hard, he finally pushed the door open.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Evelyn found Nathaniel sitting on the couch, his posture tense.

The moment he saw her, he stood. "Is Charlotte alright?"

Evelyn crossed her arms, her voice cool. "Are you actually concerned, or are you just here to make excuses for Thomas?"

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. "Evelyn, I won’t defend what he did. I know you’re angry I didn’t step in sooner. I’m sorry for making you worry. But even if we interfere, do you really think it’ll fix anything between them?"

Evelyn knew he was right—some wounds couldn’t be healed by outsiders. But that didn’t make it any easier to watch someone she cared about suffer.

Her reply was clipped. "You don’t need to apologize. Charlotte’s safety isn’t your responsibility. There’s nothing wrong with staying out of it."

Nathaniel studied her, his voice dropping. "Is that really how you feel, Evelyn?"