Chapter 400

Evelyn hesitated. Nathan's unexpected proposition was too intriguing to dismiss outright. He must have uncovered something significant to seek her out like this.

She didn't respond immediately, instead glancing at Harrison for silent counsel.

After a beat, she finally said, "I'll text you the address."

"Understood."

As she ended the call, Evelyn opened her mouth to explain, but Harrison anticipated her thoughts.

"Do what feels right, Evie."

His unexpected support made her blink before nodding gratefully.

—

Within the hour, Nathan arrived. His eyes sparked with something unreadable when they landed on Evelyn.

Simon, trailing behind, greeted her first. "Ms. Carter!"

"Simon, long time." Her unchanged warmth surprised the assistant. Despite her elevated status now, she treated him with the same respect as before.

That simple decency touched him more than he'd admit.

Evelyn gestured politely. "Mr. Sterling, please sit." The formality created an invisible chasm between them.

Nathan's brows knitted at the sudden distance.

Cutting through the tension, Evelyn asked directly, "You didn't come all this way for pleasantries. State your business."

Nathan exhaled sharply before asking, "What have you discovered about Juliette in your investigation?"

Evelyn averted her gaze, letting silence stretch between them.

"Evelyn," Nathan continued, voice uncharacteristically soft, "I need you to stop digging into this."

Her head snapped up in disbelief.

"Are you hearing yourself?"

"I know you're innocent of copying her designs. But continuing this investigation will only hurt you. Let me help clear your name another way."

A humorless laugh escaped her lips. "Is that why you're here? To plead Juliette's case?"

"No, I just—"

She cut him off sharply. "Since when are you and Juliette so close that you'd intervene for her?"

The realization struck her suddenly—there were secrets between them. Perhaps Nathan knew more than he let on.

"Nathan," she pressed, "what aren't you telling me?"

With a sharp gesture, Nathan dismissed Simon, who retreated discreetly.

"Some truths are complicated, Evelyn. Just trust me on this—drop the investigation."

Her lips curled into a cold smile as she retreated into memories. After a weighted pause, she finally spoke. "Do you know why I clung to you all those years?"

Nathan leaned forward, eyes alight with desperate curiosity.

Evelyn studied her hands with bitter amusement. "The irony isn't lost on me. After everything, I'm back in this city. But you... you're not the man I remember."

Nathan's fists clenched silently at his sides.

After a beat, he managed a strained smile. "What was I like then?"