Chapter 266

The moment Nathaniel stepped into the dimly lit study, the weight of his grandfather’s presence pressed down on him. Edward Martin sat behind the mahogany desk, his sharp gaze cutting through the silence like a blade.

"You're late," Edward remarked, his voice cool and measured.

Nathaniel clenched his jaw but didn’t offer an excuse. He knew better than to argue.

"I assume you’ve heard the news," Edward continued, tapping a stack of papers on the desk. "The board is questioning your leadership after the recent scandal."

Nathaniel’s fingers twitched at his side. The media had been relentless, dragging his past with Isabella into the spotlight again.

"I’ll handle it," he said, his tone firm.

Edward scoffed. "Handle it? You’ve let personal matters interfere with business one too many times."

Nathaniel met his grandfather’s gaze head-on. "I won’t let it affect the company."

Edward leaned back in his chair, studying him. "See that you don’t. The Martins don’t tolerate weakness."

The words stung, but Nathaniel refused to show it. He had spent his entire life proving himself, and he wasn’t about to let one mistake define him.

Meanwhile, Evelyn sat in her office, staring at the blueprints spread across her desk. The project was due soon, but her mind kept drifting back to Nathaniel. The tension between them had been unbearable since the scandal broke.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Evelyn?" Gregory stepped in, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"

She forced a smile. "Just tired."

Gregory hesitated before speaking. "Look, I know things are rough right now, but you can’t let it distract you. This project is important."

Evelyn sighed. "I know."

He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Hang in there."

As he left, Evelyn’s phone buzzed. A message from Isabella flashed on the screen.

"We need to talk."

Evelyn’s stomach twisted. She had avoided confronting Isabella, but it seemed fate had other plans.

Downstairs, Alfred intercepted Nathaniel as he stormed out of the study.

"Sir, a word?"

Nathaniel barely slowed his pace. "Not now."

Alfred persisted. "It’s about Miss Evelyn."

That stopped him cold. Nathaniel turned, his expression unreadable. "What about her?"

Alfred lowered his voice. "She received a message from Miss Isabella. I thought you should know."

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. He didn’t need this right now.

"Keep an eye on her," he ordered before striding away.

Back in her office, Evelyn stared at Isabella’s message, her fingers hovering over the screen.

She took a deep breath and typed a reply.

"Where and when?"

The response came instantly.

"Tonight. The old café by the river. 8 PM."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Whatever Isabella wanted, it couldn’t be good.

But she had to face this. For herself. For Nathaniel.

Even if it shattered everything.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice icy. "Evelyn, you're merciless."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

Evelyn was left bewildered. Merciless? How?

She sighed, pressing a hand to her temple. After last night's incident, she had to be cautious—for her own safety and the baby's.

Once Nathaniel left for the office, Evelyn remained alone in the penthouse. The faint bruise on her cheek made her hesitant to visit Beatrice next door, so she made an excuse to stay away.

Curled up on the sofa, she scrolled through her phone when Gabrielle suddenly sent her a series of screenshots on WhatsApp.

Before she could process them, Gabrielle's call came through.

"Ms. Mitchell, have you seen the news?" Gabrielle's voice crackled with excitement. "Summit Realty went bankrupt overnight! Their office was vandalized, and Sebastian got arrested. It's all over social media—the police confirmed he's being held for illegal activities!"

Evelyn knew exactly what this meant.

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips. "I'm not coming in today. Enjoy the gossip—no one will dock your pay."

Summit Realty and Sebastian had brought this upon themselves. She felt no sympathy.

Yet, Sebastian's words still echoed in her mind.

Was there a connection?

Maybe she was overthinking.

With a blank expression, she browsed Mayby's forums, skimming through the chaos surrounding Summit Realty. The employees were the only ones who truly suffered.

That afternoon, after a nap, her phone buzzed—Gregory was calling.

"Evelyn, I'm back," he said warmly. "Dinner tonight? Are you free?"

It had been weeks since they'd last met. She agreed without hesitation.

They chose a hotpot place near the office. When Evelyn arrived, Gregory was already seated, the table laden with her favorite dishes.

His gaze immediately zeroed in on her cheek. "What happened?" he demanded, brows furrowing.

"Just a minor accident." She deftly changed the subject. "Did you hear about Summit Realty?"

He nodded, taking a sip of water. "Sebastian's downfall—did it have anything to do with your injury?"

She didn’t hide it. She recounted the previous night’s events.

Gregory’s expression darkened. "He deserved worse. Rotting in prison is too good for him." His eyes scanned her worriedly. "Any other injuries?"

"Just this."

A waiter arrived with their food. Gregory silently began cooking the ingredients for her.

Noticing his subdued mood, Evelyn tilted her head. "Gregory, is something bothering you?"

He forced a faint smile. "Just tired."

"How’s Danielle? Any improvement?"

"She came back to Mayby with me." He exhaled heavily. "My parents insisted I look after her. She’ll be staying with me for a while."

The exhaustion in his voice was palpable. He’d clearly lost weight, his usual vibrancy dimmed.

Evelyn hesitated. Family matters were delicate.

A brief silence settled between them.