Chapter 273

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, casting golden patterns across her drafting table. She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she studied the blueprints spread before her. The project deadline loomed closer, and every minute counted.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Gabrielle, her assistant, peeked in with a tray of coffee. "Thought you could use this," she said, setting it down carefully.

Evelyn smiled gratefully. "You're a lifesaver."

Gabrielle hesitated. "Mr. Wilson called earlier. He said the client wants to move up the presentation by two days."

Evelyn's grip tightened around her pen. "Two days? That's impossible."

Gabrielle winced. "He said they're willing to pay extra for the rush."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Of course they were. Money solved everything—except for the fact that she hadn't slept properly in days.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Nathaniel: Dinner tonight?

She bit her lip. Between the project and the growing tension between them, she wasn't sure she had the energy. But ignoring him would only make things worse.

I'll try, she typed back.

Gabrielle cleared her throat. "There's one more thing."

Evelyn braced herself. "What?"

"Ms. Davis called. She wants to meet with you."

Evelyn's stomach twisted. Isabella. Nathaniel's ex. The woman who had reappeared out of nowhere, stirring up old memories and new insecurities.

"Why?" Evelyn asked, though she already knew the answer.

Gabrielle shrugged. "She didn't say. Just that it was important."

Evelyn stared at her coffee, the steam curling into the air. Important. Right.

She had a sinking feeling that whatever Isabella wanted, it wasn't good.

And she wasn't sure she was ready to face it.

Gregory's treatment of Danielle today felt like shards of glass piercing Evelyn's chest.

She refused to believe Nathaniel would deliberately smear Gregory's reputation, nor did she suspect Nathaniel was manipulating her to limit contact with Gregory. After turning these thoughts over in her mind, she couldn't find any justification to stop obsessing over Gregory's motives.

Her hesitation stretched too long. Nathaniel's gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous timbre. "Evelyn, answer me. Will you agree to this?"

"Yes," she murmured, knowing full well that regardless of the reason, maintaining distance was necessary.

She'd adhered to this principle since marrying Nathaniel. She wouldn't break any rules of their marital agreement.

More crucially, Danielle had arrived in Mayby. Keeping away from Gregory was as much for her own protection as anything else.

Danielle wasn't released until late afternoon the following day.

Her mood was foul. Gregory ushered her into his car and drove straight to his penthouse.

The ride passed in suffocating silence. Upon entering, Gregory commanded, "Shower first. I'll prepare dinner."

His cold demeanor grated on Danielle's nerves, and the humiliation of spending a night in custody erupted within her.

"Gregory, do you despise me now? Is my presence so unbearable? If that's true, why agree to let me come to Mayby? You could've refused! You could've told our parents not to let me follow you! Why this sudden iciness?"

Her voice climbed hysterically. Gregory clenched his jaw, suppressing his irritation for the sake of her fragile mental state.

His brow furrowed as he pinned her with a stern look. "Danielle, that's not what this is. If I truly wanted rid of you, would I have convinced Evelyn not to press charges? Do you think you'd be standing here shouting at me otherwise? Evelyn's husband is Nathaniel Martin. He wanted you behind bars. Does that sound like someone who doesn't care?"

Danielle's anger deflated.

Guilt washed over her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, fingers twisting together. "I never meant for this to happen. But seeing you with Evelyn... it makes my blood boil."

"Enough. Clean up and eat. You need rest. We'll discuss this tomorrow."

Tears streaked Danielle's face as an inexplicable dread coiled in her stomach.

After showering, she picked at her meal before accepting the warm milk Gregory offered. Within minutes, drowsiness overtook her.

Gregory guided her to bed. As he turned to leave, her hand shot out, clutching his wrist. "Promise me," she slurred, eyelids heavy, "promise you'll never abandon me."

Gregory's expression remained unreadable. He waited until her breathing evened out before extracting himself from her grasp.

On the balcony, cigarette smoke curled around Gregory as he dialed a familiar number. "Meet me at the café below headquarters tomorrow morning."

The woman's voice crackled with surprise through the receiver. "What's happened?"

His grip tightened on the phone. "Evelyn's pregnant. Are you truly content to let Nathaniel have his way?"

A bitter laugh answered him. "Don't play naive. What choice do I have when you refuse to act against Evelyn? She's expendable for our purposes. Unless..." Her tone turned sly, "unless she means more to you than you've admitted?"

The deliberate provocation hung between them like a challenge.