Chapter 319

Evelyn remained silent. Her gaze flickered to Nathaniel before she spoke. "I thought you were having dinner with Thomas and the others. Why are you back so soon?"

"I'm heading out now. Want to join me?"

"No."

The tension between Evelyn and Thomas over Charlotte still lingered. After such a long time apart, the idea of facing him made her uncomfortable.

Nathaniel smirked, seeing right through her. "Afraid of an awkward reunion?"

"Not at all. I just don't want to be reminded of what happened to Charlotte."

He didn’t push further, recognizing the excuse for what it was.

His eyes locked onto hers, intense and probing. "What happened at the Mitchell estate? Aren’t you going to tell me?"

Evelyn met his stare and finally confessed her unease—the suspicions gnawing at her.

"You think Victor is involved?" Nathaniel frowned. "And your father dismissed it entirely?"

She narrowed her eyes, avoiding a direct answer. "Would it be cruel of me to walk away from the Mitchell family’s problems now?"

Nathaniel studied her face—not conventionally beautiful, but striking in its own way. His voice softened, warm and steady. "You’ve done more than enough. Even if you let go completely, no one could blame you."

Evelyn smiled faintly, letting the topic drop. "It’s late. You should go meet Thomas."

He hesitated, searching her expression one last time before leaving.

The moment the door clicked shut, Evelyn sank into the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. A thought struck her—Isabella hadn’t reached out to Nathaniel in weeks.

Had they really cut ties?

Curious, she grabbed her phone and pulled up Isabella’s Twitter. The updates were sparse: training in isolation for an upcoming concert.

More surprising was the news that Isabella’s studio had dissolved. She was now signed under an entertainment company owned by the Martin Group.

Meaning Nathaniel controlled her career.

Evelyn scoffed at herself. With everything that had happened lately, she’d almost convinced herself that something between them had shifted. But this was proof—nothing had changed.

She was just another piece in his game.

"Evelyn," she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples. "What are you even thinking? This is reality. Fantasies don’t come true."

Then why had he been so attentive lately?

Was it really just for the baby?

No answers came. Only frustration.

From then on, she avoided him deliberately. She couldn’t risk falling for his kindness again, losing herself in his orbit. To minimize contact, she made excuses—declining rides to work, leaving before he could offer.

After a few days, Nathaniel noticed the distance. He couldn’t pinpoint what he’d done wrong.

That evening, he showed up unannounced at her office.

Inside, Evelyn and Gregory were reviewing design submissions from candidates vying for her assistant position.