Chapter 302

After a brief hesitation, Evelyn answered, "Mr. Whitmore is my cousin—a distant cousin!"

She could feel his piercing gaze, but she refused to meet his eyes. She had no clue what game he was playing.

Jonathan Reeves readily accepted her explanation. It made sense to him since he knew Evelyn was also connected to the Montgomery family in Nord City. Among the elite, close familial ties weren’t uncommon. His suspicions weren’t raised—instead, he was thrilled by Evelyn’s prestigious background.

If Evelyn ended up with him, he’d be closely linked to both the Montgomery and Whitmore families.

Overcome with excitement, he gestured eagerly. "Let’s not linger at the entrance. Mr. Whitmore, right this way."

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, casting Evelyn a meaningful glance before turning to follow them to the private dining room.

Evelyn trailed behind, her steps heavy. Her appetite had vanished.

Once seated, Jonathan quickly handed the menu to Nathaniel. "Mr. Whitmore, please order first."

Nathaniel took the menu—only to pass it directly to Evelyn.

"Evelyn, you go ahead."

The unexpected gesture nearly made her choke. Staring at the menu in front of her, she knew he was doing this on purpose.

Judith Reeves, seated beside her, nudged her impatiently. "Evelyn, don’t keep Mr. Whitmore waiting. It’s rude."

Swallowing hard, Evelyn took the menu from Nathaniel. Distracted, she barely skimmed it before selecting two dishes at random.

Judith immediately snatched the menu back.

"Evelyn, this won’t do! Mr. Whitmore is our honored guest—we should order something more luxurious. Escargots, for instance! Don’t worry about the cost. Jonathan can certainly afford it."

Evelyn cringed internally. She desperately wanted to disappear.

Judith proceeded to order an extravagant spread—most of it spicy. Knowing Nathaniel disliked heavily spiced food, Evelyn instinctively spoke up. "Mrs. Reeves, could we add some milder dishes? Mr. Whitmore prefers lighter flavors."

Silence fell over the table.

Only then did Evelyn realize her slip. She had blurted it out without thinking, realizing none of Judith’s choices suited Nathaniel’s tastes.

Both Nathaniel and Jonathan stared at her. Her heart skipped a beat before she hastily explained, "Mr. Whitmore is my cousin, so of course I know his preferences."

Nathaniel smirked, playing along. "How thoughtful of you, Evelyn. I didn’t realize you paid such close attention."

Her smile tightened. "Funny, isn’t it? I always remember my family’s preferences."

That infuriating man. She knew full well he was mocking her.

Without missing a beat, Judith linked arms with her, gushing, "Evelyn, I had no idea you were so attentive! That’s wonderful. Jonathan is always busy and doesn’t bother with such details. I’d feel much better knowing you’re looking after him."

An uncomfortable tension settled over the room. Evelyn could feel Nathaniel’s gaze burning into her.