Chapter 84

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bedroom. Evelyn stirred, blinking against the light as she turned to find Nathaniel already awake, his piercing gaze fixed on her.

"You're up early," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

Nathaniel's lips curved into a lazy smile. "Couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind."

Evelyn propped herself up on one elbow, studying him. "Anything you want to talk about?"

He exhaled, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Just work. The merger with Summit Realty is getting complicated. Sebastian Wilson is playing hardball."

Evelyn frowned. "I thought the terms were already agreed upon?"

"They were," Nathaniel said darkly. "Until he decided to change them last minute."

She reached out, brushing her fingers over his tense knuckles. "You'll handle it. You always do."

His expression softened at her touch, but before he could respond, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. Samuel Yates’ name flashed across the screen.

Nathaniel sighed, grabbing it. "Yates. What now?"

Evelyn watched as his jaw tightened, the muscles in his shoulders coiling like a spring. Something was wrong.

"Understood. I'll be there in twenty." He ended the call and stood abruptly.

"What happened?" Evelyn asked, sitting up fully now.

"Edward Martin just had a heart attack."

Her breath caught. "Is he—?"

"He's stable. But I need to go."

Evelyn scrambled out of bed. "I'm coming with you."

Nathaniel hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But hurry."

As they dressed in tense silence, Evelyn’s mind raced. Edward Martin wasn’t just Nathaniel’s grandfather—he was the backbone of the Martin empire. If anything happened to him…

She pushed the thought away. Now wasn’t the time for speculation.

The drive to the hospital was a blur of city streets and honking horns. When they arrived, the private wing was already swarming with family—Victoria Martin’s tear-streaked face, Richard Martin’s grim expression, and Winston, Edward’s loyal butler, standing stiffly by the door.

Dr. Harrison emerged from the room, his face unreadable. "He’s asking for Nathaniel."

Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. He strode forward, but Evelyn caught his wrist.

"Whatever happens in there," she whispered, "I’m with you."

His grip tightened briefly before he let go and disappeared behind the door.

Evelyn turned to the others, forcing calm into her voice. "He’ll be alright. He’s strong."

Victoria let out a shaky breath. "He has to be."

But as Evelyn stood there, surrounded by the Martin family’s silent dread, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a health scare.

Something was coming.

And it would change everything.

The call ended, leaving Evelyn in prolonged silence. Only when Nathaniel retreated to their bedroom did she finally regain her composure.

Meanwhile at the hospital, Gregory emerged clutching medication, his expression unreadable beneath the cold aura surrounding him.

"Mr. Wilson, shall I drive you home now?" his assistant inquired as Gregory slid into the backseat.

A curt nod.

Gregory leaned back, eyes closed, the remainder of the journey passing in heavy silence. Upon arriving at his penthouse, he tossed the untouched medication aside and headed straight for the shower.

Evelyn's words about establishing boundaries echoed relentlessly. Pretending they didn't affect him was impossible.

He'd always admired Evelyn's razor-sharp clarity about what she wanted - and didn't want. That very quality had drawn him to her years ago.

Even if she erected walls between them, his feelings wouldn't change.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have waited this long.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "Evelyn Mitchell, you're truly merciless," he murmured to the steamy bathroom tiles.

Stepping out wrapped in a towel, Gregory froze. A woman lounged on his sofa, scrolling through her phone.

His jaw tightened. "What are you doing here? I explicitly said no contact during this critical phase. Do you realize how close he is to discovering everything?"

Danielle looked up, unfazed. "I took three different cabs and circled the block twice. No one followed me."

Gregory's shoulders relaxed marginally. "You can't take these risks. One slip and everything we've worked for collapses. Understood?"

"Perfectly." She rose, fingertips brushing the bruise on his cheekbone. "How did this happen?"

"Nothing important."

Her eyes flashed. "Don't I deserve your trust?"

"A minor disagreement with Nathaniel."

Danielle's breath hitched. "Over what?" Before he could answer, she hissed, "It's Evelyn, isn't it?"

"This doesn't concern her."

"Everything concerns her lately! What else could make you two fight? I don't get your obsession. She's jeopardizing our entire—"

"Enough." Gregory's voice turned glacial. "I've made my position clear. Evelyn remains separate from our objectives. If you can't respect that, perhaps we should reconsider our arrangement."

The unyielding steel in his gaze made Danielle recoil. "Fine. I'll follow your lead."

"Good. Now leave - and don't return unless it's urgent."

After ensuring Danielle entered the elevator, Gregory double-locked his door. Still uneasy, he fired off a text:

[Remember - no more visits. I'll contact you when it's safe.]

Her reply came instantly: [Understood.] Only then did he exhale.

Perhaps provoked by Gregory's actions, Nathaniel began personally collecting Evelyn from work daily. When business detained him, Samuel or a chauffeur would appear instead.

Initially resistant, Evelyn protested, "This surveillance is unnecessary."

Nathaniel's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. "I won't risk anything threatening our marriage again."

The finality in his tone brooked no argument.

Gregory recognized the unspoken message in Nathaniel's new routine. Noting Evelyn's passive acceptance, he confronted her during lunch. "Is Mr. Martin marking his territory? Preventing some imagined transgression between us?"

Evelyn stirred her latte. "He's just... suddenly developed free time."

Weeks of her growing distance finally pushed Gregory to ask, "If he's forbidding our friendship, just say so. I'll step back to spare you trouble."

"You're misreading things."

"Then why the coldness?" Gregory leaned forward. "Evelyn, I know you. Did Nathaniel threaten you?"

Her spoon clinked against the porcelain. "Gregory, I'm a grown woman capable of setting boundaries. Our closeness was becoming... inappropriate. For both our sakes, especially future relationships, distance is wise."

A humorless smile twisted his lips. "Planning to play matchmaker now?"

Evelyn's expression sobered. "I said 'if.' Unless you plan to die alone?"

Gregory's eyes narrowed. "Have I made you uncomfortable?"

"Not at all." She forced a smile. "Friends don't pressure each other, right?"

That word - friends - landed like a guillotine between them.

Her ringing phone shattered the tension.

Nathaniel's baritone vibrated through the receiver: "I'm outside your office."

Evelyn's gaze flicked to Gregory. "I'll be right down."

Five minutes later, Nathaniel watched Evelyn exit the building, her silhouette backlit by sunset. From his eighteenth-floor window, Gregory observed her approach the waiting Bentley.

He imagined her smiling as Nathaniel opened the car door. The thought burned like acid.

"Early today," Evelyn remarked, buckling her seatbelt. "Playing hooky from the office?"

Nathaniel's hand covered hers. "Some things are more important than meetings."

As the car pulled away, Evelyn resisted glancing back at the building. Some goodbyes were better left unacknowledged.