Chapter 198

The moment Evelyn stepped into the grand hall of the Martin estate, her breath caught in her throat. The chandeliers cast a soft golden glow over the marble floors, and the scent of fresh roses filled the air. But it wasn’t the opulence that unsettled her—it was the weight of the unspoken tension.

Nathaniel stood by the fireplace, his expression unreadable. His fingers tightened around the crystal glass in his hand, the amber liquid swirling as he turned to face her. "You're late," he remarked, his voice cool.

Evelyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Traffic was terrible," she replied, smoothing the fabric of her emerald-green dress. She had chosen it deliberately—bold, confident, a silent challenge.

Isabella, draped in a sleek black gown, smirked from her perch on the armchair. "How typical," she murmured, sipping her champagne. "Always keeping people waiting."

Evelyn ignored the jab. She had dealt with Isabella’s petty remarks for years, and tonight was no different. Instead, she focused on Nathaniel. "You said this was urgent. What’s going on?"

He exhaled sharply, setting his glass down. "Edward wants to see us. All of us."

A chill ran down Evelyn’s spine. Edward Martin rarely summoned the family without reason. The last time he had, it had been to announce Richard’s removal from the board.

Gregory, who had been quietly observing from the corner, stepped forward. "Do we know why?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "Not yet. But it’s not good."

The double doors at the end of the hall swung open, and Winston appeared, his posture rigid. "Mr. Martin is ready for you."

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Nathaniel. His jaw was clenched, his usual composure slipping just enough for her to notice. She reached out, her fingers brushing his wrist. "Whatever it is, we’ll handle it."

For a fleeting second, his gaze softened. Then, just as quickly, it hardened again. "Let’s go."

As they followed Winston down the corridor, Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that their lives were about to change—again. And this time, she wasn’t sure if even Nathaniel could control the fallout.

The door to Edward’s study loomed ahead, heavy and imposing.

Evelyn took a deep breath.

And stepped inside.

"I'm fine. I'll head back soon."

Evelyn didn't elaborate. Her car had only suffered minor damage, so she drove herself to the hospital.

On the way, she called Caroline and briefly explained what had happened. After a quick examination—though the official results wouldn’t be ready for another half hour—Caroline pulled some strings, and the doctor gave her the preliminary report immediately.

Everything was normal. The baby was healthy. Evelyn had just been shaken up a little. She needed to rest for the next few days, and if nothing unusual happened within seventy-two hours, she’d be in the clear.

Relief washed over her.

But who had been following her tonight?

Caroline frowned. "Why were you driving so recklessly?"

Evelyn forced a small smile and shook her head. "Maybe I missed you and wanted to drop by for a visit."

"Next time, just call me for dinner. Your treat."

Evelyn chuckled. "Deal."

Since Caroline still had work to finish, she only walked Evelyn to the parking lot before heading back inside.

Evelyn sat in her car, not in a hurry to leave. Instead, she replayed recent events in her mind. She hadn’t made enemies—at least, not many. Only a handful of people had any reason to target her.

Isabella was the first she dismissed. Though Isabella had schemed to drive a wedge between her and Nathaniel, spreading rumors and twisting facts, she wouldn’t dare something this extreme. If anything happened to Evelyn, Isabella would be the prime suspect.

That left Summit Realty.

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed slightly. She picked up her phone and dialed Sebastian directly.

She’d gotten his number during their last meeting. Now, it proved useful.

Sebastian answered, and Evelyn didn’t waste time. "Mr. Wilson, I know the project caused Summit Realty significant losses, but I suffered too. If you think threatening me will get the project restarted, you’re mistaken. I’m not that influential. Push this further, and instead of reviving the deal, you’ll be facing charges for deliberate harm."

Sebastian’s voice remained calm. "What are you implying?"

"You know exactly what I mean. My car nearly flipped tonight. Be grateful it was only nearly. Do you really think the Martins will let this slide?"

Without waiting for a reply, she hung up.

That was enough. Some things didn’t need over-explaining.

Her warning had its intended effect. Sebastian immediately called his subordinate. When he learned what had happened, he cursed under his breath. "Idiot! I told you to watch her, not run her off the road!"

He tried calling Evelyn back, but she ignored it. Eventually, she blocked his number entirely.

Only then did she exhale in relief.

At least she knew Sebastian’s motives. The worst scenarios were the ones where the enemy stayed hidden.

She fastened her seatbelt and started the car, but just as she pulled out, her phone rang again.

A quick glance at the screen made her freeze.

"Martin Manor."

She connected via Bluetooth. "Hello?"

"Evelyn? It’s Victoria."

Nathaniel’s mother.

Evelyn softened her tone. "Is everything all right, Victoria? Why are you calling so late?"

"Everything’s fine. Where are you now?" Victoria’s voice was warm but measured.

"On my way home."

"Did you just finish work?"

"Yes."

"Evelyn," Victoria said gently, "you’re lying."