Chapter 236

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, casting golden streaks across her blueprints. She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. The final design for the Martin Group’s luxury resort was due today, and she had spent the entire night perfecting every detail.

Her phone buzzed—Nathaniel.

"Meeting in thirty. Don’t be late."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. As if she needed the reminder. She had been working on this project for months, pouring her heart into every sketch, every calculation. This wasn’t just another contract—it was her chance to prove herself, not just as Nathaniel’s wife, but as an architect in her own right.

She grabbed her portfolio and strode out of her office, nearly colliding with Gabrielle, her assistant.

"Whoa! Someone’s in a hurry," Gabrielle teased, steadying her coffee cup before it could spill.

"Thirty minutes," Evelyn muttered, adjusting the strap of her bag. "And I still need to print the final revisions."

Gabrielle waved a folder. "Already done. And I double-checked the measurements. Everything’s perfect."

Evelyn exhaled in relief. "You’re a lifesaver."

The elevator ride to the executive floor was agonizingly slow. Evelyn tapped her foot, mentally rehearsing her presentation. She knew the board would scrutinize every decision, every choice she had made. And with Isabella Davis lurking in the shadows, waiting for her to fail, she couldn’t afford a single misstep.

The doors slid open, revealing Nathaniel leaning against the wall, arms crossed. His sharp gaze flickered over her, lingering on the dark circles under her eyes.

"You look exhausted."

Evelyn straightened her blazer. "I’m fine."

He frowned but said nothing, pushing off the wall to walk beside her. "Just remember—this is your moment. Own it."

She swallowed hard. His words should have been comforting, but they only added to the weight pressing against her chest.

The conference room was already packed when they entered. Edward Martin sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. Richard and Victoria occupied the seats beside him, their polite smiles not quite reaching their eyes. And then there was Isabella, perched elegantly near the window, her lips curved into a smirk.

Evelyn clenched her jaw.

Showtime.

She set her portfolio on the table and began her presentation, her voice steady despite the storm of nerves inside her. The blueprints unfurled, revealing a breathtaking fusion of modern luxury and sustainable design.

Halfway through, Isabella interrupted.

"Interesting concept," she drawled, tilting her head. "But isn’t this a bit… ambitious for someone with so little experience?"

The room went still.

Evelyn met her gaze, unflinching. "Ambition is what drives innovation, Isabella. Or would you prefer mediocrity?"

A flicker of irritation crossed Isabella’s face, but before she could retort, Edward cleared his throat.

"Enough." His sharp tone silenced the room. "Evelyn, proceed."

She did, detailing every aspect with precision, her confidence growing with each passing minute. By the time she finished, even Richard looked impressed.

Edward studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Approved."

The tension in Evelyn’s shoulders eased—until she caught Nathaniel’s expression. His eyes were dark, his jaw tight. Something was wrong.

As the meeting adjourned, he pulled her aside.

"We need to talk."

Her stomach dropped.

Now what?

Nathaniel sensed the tension thickening the air and reached out to comfort Evelyn. "She'll be fine. I've already sent people to search for her. Just try to stay calm."

"Calm?" Evelyn's voice cracked with disbelief as she shot up from the couch. "How can you expect me to stay calm? Charlotte isn't your friend. She means nothing to you, so of course you don’t care!"

She couldn’t stand being in the same room with Nathaniel and Thomas any longer. Every second spent near them made her blood boil.

Before she could storm out, Nathaniel caught her wrist, his grip firm. "Where do you think you're going? It's pouring outside. Don’t make this worse."

Evelyn’s hollow, furious gaze locked onto his. "Nathaniel, do you even realize the danger Charlotte is in? All of this is because of your friend Thomas. And yet, you’re still protecting him?"

It was rare for Evelyn to lose control like this in front of him. Normally, she swallowed her anger, masking it behind forced composure. But not tonight. Tonight, the dam had broken.

Nathaniel’s eyes darkened as he lowered his voice. "I’m not protecting him. I’m telling you to think rationally. My men are already looking for her. What good will running out into the storm do? Do you think you’ll fare better than Charlotte?"

Evelyn fell silent, her chest heaving.

Nathaniel exhaled sharply. "No one wanted this to happen."

"Didn’t they?" Her bitter laugh was laced with accusation. "I begged for your help, Nathaniel. Over and over. But you refused. You’re just as guilty as Thomas. So tell me—what right do you have to ask me to calm down? Neither Charlotte nor I matter to you. Our safety means nothing."

"Is this really the time for this argument?" Nathaniel’s voice was dangerously quiet.

Evelyn yanked her arm free. "No. So let me go."

When he didn’t, she twisted away with enough force to stumble back. She couldn’t stay here—not another second. The walls were closing in, suffocating her.

But Nathaniel grabbed her again, fingers digging into her skin. That was the final straw.

Her palm cracked across his cheek before she could stop herself.

The sharp sound echoed in the room. Evelyn’s breath hitched as she stared at Nathaniel, his face turned slightly from the impact. The fire inside her hadn’t dimmed.

"Stay away from me."