Chapter 240

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, casting golden patterns across her blueprints. She tapped her pen against the desk, lost in thought. The Martin Group project was nearing its final stages, but something felt off.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Nathaniel.

"Meeting in 20. Edward wants to discuss the final approval."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Edward Martin had been unusually involved in this project lately, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that his sudden interest wasn’t just about business.

She grabbed her tablet and headed toward the conference room. The hallway was unusually quiet, the usual hum of the office subdued. When she pushed open the door, Nathaniel was already there, his expression unreadable. Edward sat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze locking onto her the moment she entered.

"Ah, Evelyn. Right on time." His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it.

She forced a polite smile. "Of course. Wouldn’t miss it."

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

Edward leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "I’ve reviewed the latest designs. Impressive work, as always. However…" He paused, letting the word hang in the air. "There’s been a change in plans."

Evelyn’s grip on her tablet tightened. "What kind of change?"

"A rather significant one." Edward slid a folder toward her. "The client wants a complete redesign of the residential wing. More modern, more… exclusive."

She flipped open the folder, scanning the notes. Her stomach dropped. This wasn’t just a tweak—it was a complete overhaul. Weeks of work, gone.

Nathaniel finally spoke, his voice low. "When was this decided?"

Edward’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Last night. The client has very specific tastes."

Evelyn met Nathaniel’s gaze. There was something unspoken there, a silent understanding. This wasn’t just about the project.

She closed the folder. "I’ll need at least two weeks to revise everything."

Edward waved a hand dismissively. "You have one. The client is impatient."

The air in the room grew heavier. Evelyn clenched her teeth but nodded. "Understood."

As she turned to leave, Edward added, almost casually, "Oh, and Evelyn? Isabella will be joining the team as a consultant. Given her experience in luxury design, I’m sure she’ll be… invaluable."

Evelyn froze. Isabella. Nathaniel’s ex.

She didn’t look back, but she could feel Nathaniel’s tension radiating behind her.

This wasn’t just a change in plans.

This was a game.

And Edward had just made the first move.

"It doesn't matter whether there's another woman involved or not. If you have a problem with it, take it up with Thomas directly. But instead, you went after Charlotte and said things you had no right to say. Do you realize she’s missing because of you? It’s been an entire night. If anything happens to her, not only will I hold you accountable, but Thomas won’t let you walk away unscathed either."

Penelope stood frozen, her face drained of color.

She remembered her encounter with Charlotte—how she had lashed out, accusing her of chasing Thomas’s wealth and status. Charlotte had remained eerily calm, almost indifferent. Now, the weight of her actions pressed down on her.

Satisfied with Penelope’s silence, Evelyn released her grip on her collar, wiping her hands with a tissue from the nearby table as if brushing off something distasteful.

"Penelope, if you had fought for Thomas from the beginning instead of targeting her, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Wanting to save your relationship isn’t wrong, but you picked the wrong person. She doesn’t even care about being with Thomas." Evelyn’s voice was cold, detached, as she turned to leave.

Back in her car, Evelyn sat motionless, lost in thought.

All night, she had debated calling Alexander Prescott.

If she did, he would descend upon Mayby immediately to search for Charlotte. But it would also expose her presence to the Prescott family—something Charlotte would never want.

With a frustrated sigh, Evelyn dismissed the idea.

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office of Martin Group, Nathaniel received a call.

"Mr. Martin, your wife just left the Scarlet restaurant. Before that, she was at the company," Samuel reported.

"Did she go for lunch?"

"No. She came here to confront Ms. Penelope Fairchild—Thomas Ellsworth’s fiancée. There was an argument."

"Follow her. Make sure she’s safe."

Samuel suppressed a groan. He had been running around all night, and now he had to tail Evelyn first thing in the morning. Exhaustion was creeping in, but orders were orders.

After ensuring Evelyn returned to her apartment without incident, Samuel reported back to Nathaniel and was finally permitted to return to the office.

Evelyn visited her grandmother Beatrice for lunch, though her nerves left her appetite nonexistent.

Beatrice frowned, studying her granddaughter’s weary expression. "You’ve lost weight. Did you not sleep at all last night? You look exhausted."

"I’m fine," Evelyn replied smoothly. "The doctor said overeating isn’t good for the baby anyway."

"You’re pale. Something’s troubling you." Beatrice’s concern deepened.

Evelyn forced a smile. "Maybe the rain kept me up. What about you? Did you sleep well?"

"Like a log until dawn," Beatrice answered before gently pressing, "You need to take care of yourself, especially now. That child is growing every day. Even if you wanted to keep it from Nathaniel, you won’t be able to hide it much longer."