Chapter 159

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bedroom. Evelyn stirred, blinking against the light. Beside her, Nathaniel slept soundly, his breathing steady.

She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him. The events of last night still lingered in her mind—the gala, the whispers, the way Isabella had looked at Nathaniel with that familiar, possessive gleam.

Evelyn padded to the window, gazing at the manicured gardens below. The estate was quiet, save for the distant hum of the staff preparing for the day.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she murmured.

The door creaked open, and Alfred stepped inside, carrying a silver tray. "Good morning, Mrs. Martin. Your coffee, as requested."

"Thank you, Alfred." She accepted the cup, savoring the rich aroma.

"Is there anything else you require?"

She hesitated. "Actually, yes. Could you arrange for a car? I need to visit the office early."

Alfred nodded. "Of course. Shall I inform Mr. Martin?"

"No, let him sleep." She took another sip, the warmth spreading through her. "He had a long night."

As Alfred retreated, Evelyn turned back to the window. The peace of the morning was deceptive. Beneath the surface, tension simmered.

Isabella was back.

And Evelyn wasn’t naive enough to think it was a coincidence.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Gregory: Emergency meeting at 9. Summit Realty is making moves.

She exhaled sharply. Just what she needed—another crisis.

Nathaniel shifted in bed, his voice rough with sleep. "Everything okay?"

She forced a smile. "Just work. Go back to sleep."

But as she dressed, her mind raced. Between Isabella’s sudden reappearance and Summit Realty’s scheming, the day promised chaos.

And Evelyn was ready for it.

The clock had long struck midnight.

Nathaniel's expression was icy, sending chills down Evelyn's spine. Their gazes locked, his narrowed eyes burning with barely restrained fury. "You're seriously locking me out?"

Evelyn crossed her arms, her voice cool. "It's late. You should leave."

"So that's how it is?" His jaw tightened. "Evelyn, need I remind you? We're still married."

"Funny," she countered, tilting her head. "This morning, you made it perfectly clear you wanted nothing to do with me. Changed your mind already?"

His voice dropped dangerously low. "Last chance. Are you letting me in or not?"

Nathaniel stood unmoving in the doorway, his presence dominating the space. His eyes—dark, unreadable—were like a storm brewing beneath calm waters.

Evelyn held his gaze without flinching. "And if I refuse? Will you destroy my company by dawn?"

"Why would I?" A bitter smirk twisted his lips. "With my grandfather and parents backing you, what power do I even have?"

The sarcasm in his tone was sharp enough to cut. Then, almost lazily, he added, "But others… might not be so generous."

With that, Nathaniel turned on his heel and stepped into the elevator, vanishing from sight.

The air still crackled with tension long after he left. Evelyn remained rooted in place, replaying his words.

One thing was certain—when Nathaniel Martin made a threat, he meant it.

Was this about dragging Edward into their mess? she wondered.

But what choice did she have? She could endure his wrath, but she wouldn’t let others suffer because of her.

Evelyn didn’t regret her decision.

Sleep never came that night.

At dawn, her phone buzzed.

"Gregory," she answered, rubbing her temples.

"Tell me it's not true." His voice was tense, edged with something she couldn’t place. "You and Nathaniel—are you divorced?"

Evelyn froze. "What?"

"It's all over the news. Headlines claiming you two have split. No statement from Nathaniel’s side yet."

She immediately pulled up the articles. The rumors had exploded overnight, painting their marriage as over.

So this was his warning.

Her expression remained unreadable. "Ignore the gossip."

Gregory exhaled. "Alright. But Evelyn… are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don’t sound fine." His concern was palpable. "Take the day off if you need to."

"I said I'm fine." She forced steadiness into her voice. "Just focus on Summit Realty. I spoke with Edward last night. He’ll talk to Nathaniel. Even if I’m out, the company shouldn’t pay for my mistakes."

Gregory sighed. "You always put others first. But Summit Realty’s taking hits too. Why should we suffer when we’ve done nothing wrong?"

"Drop it," she said firmly. "I won’t have anyone else caught in the crossfire."

For her, a clear conscience was non-negotiable.

By midday, the rumors had spiraled into a full-blown scandal. Neither Evelyn nor Nathaniel had addressed them.

Their silence spoke louder than words.