Chapter 245

The moment Nathaniel stepped into the room, the air shifted. Evelyn could feel it—the tension, the unspoken words hanging between them like a storm waiting to break. His jaw was set, his dark eyes unreadable, but she knew him well enough to recognize the turmoil beneath that composed exterior.

She tightened her grip on the blueprints in her hands, the edges crumpling slightly under her fingers. "You're back early," she said, keeping her voice steady.

His gaze flickered to the papers in her grasp before meeting hers. "We need to talk."

A cold knot formed in her stomach. Those words never preceded anything good. Still, she forced a calm nod. "Alright."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I met with Isabella today."

Evelyn's breath hitched. Isabella—his ex, the woman who had once held his heart before Evelyn came into the picture. The woman who had never truly left the shadows of their relationship.

"And?" Evelyn prompted, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

"She’s in trouble," Nathaniel admitted, his voice low. "Serious trouble. Someone’s threatening her, and she has nowhere else to turn."

Evelyn’s fingers twitched. Part of her wanted to reach out, to reassure him, but another part—the part that still remembered the pain of his past with Isabella—held her back. "What does that have to do with us?"

Nathaniel’s expression darkened. "Because whoever is after her is connected to the Martin Group. To me."

The weight of his words settled over her. This wasn’t just about Isabella—it was about their family, their future. And if someone was bold enough to target someone from Nathaniel’s past, what did that mean for them now?

Evelyn swallowed hard. "What are you going to do?"

His eyes locked onto hers, fierce and determined. "I’m going to fix this. But I need to know—are you with me?"

The question hung between them, heavy with unspoken implications. Trust had always been their foundation, but this—this was testing it in ways they hadn’t faced before.

Evelyn took a deep breath. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Always."

Nathaniel’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but the tension in the room didn’t dissipate. Because they both knew—this was only the beginning.

And whatever storm was coming, it would change everything.

Nathaniel stood motionless beside the hospital bed, his piercing gaze locked onto Evelyn's pale face. His voice was barely above a whisper when he asked, "Is it just exhaustion?"

The doctor adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Yes, but given your wife's condition, she needs extra care. Mr. Martin, she shouldn't push herself too hard—it's risky for both her and the baby. Even though the first trimester is over, caution is still necessary."

Nathaniel froze.

His jaw tightened as he stared at the doctor, his voice rough with disbelief. "She's... pregnant?"

The doctor blinked in surprise. "Nearly four months along, though it's not visibly obvious yet. You... didn't know?"

Samuel, standing nearby, watched Nathaniel's reaction carefully. Nathaniel didn't respond. He simply thanked the doctor mechanically before the man left.

Left alone in the room, Nathaniel couldn't tear his eyes away from Evelyn.

Four months.

The realization hit him like a physical blow. How had he not noticed? How had she not told him?

His mind raced—was this why she had been so distant? Why she had insisted on divorce despite everything?

A bitter smirk twisted his lips.

If she knew, why keep it from me?

What game is she playing?

The thought of her walking away, carrying his child without a word, sent a dark shadow across his expression.

Samuel cleared his throat softly. "Mr. Martin, should I arrange for some food before Mrs. Martin wakes?"

Nathaniel barely registered the question. "Do that," he muttered, his mind still reeling.

As Samuel left, the room plunged into silence. Nathaniel turned toward the window, but his thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. He answered sharply. "What?"

Thomas's concerned voice came through. "I heard about Evelyn. Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Nathaniel replied curtly. Then, without preamble, he demanded, "Is Charlotte there? I need to speak with her."

Confused, Thomas handed the phone over.

Charlotte's voice was laced with worry. "How is Evelyn? Are you at the hospital?"

She knew. Nathaniel could hear it in her tone.

His grip on the phone tightened. "She's pregnant. Four months. You knew."

A heavy silence followed.

Finally, Charlotte exhaled. "If you're still planning to be with Isabella, then let Evelyn go. She doesn’t want her child caught in the middle of this."

Nathaniel's chest tightened. "So she'd rather hide my child from me?"

"I'm not here to argue, Mr. Martin. Just think carefully about what you really want. Evelyn won’t raise this child in a broken family."

Before Nathaniel could respond, a soft rustling came from the bed.

Evelyn was waking up.

Nathaniel ended the call abruptly.

He moved closer, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "How are you feeling?"