Chapter 278

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, casting golden patterns across her blueprints. She adjusted her glasses, her fingers tracing the intricate lines of her latest design. The project was ambitious—a fusion of modern minimalism and classic elegance, something she knew Nathaniel would appreciate.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, not looking up.

Gabrielle, her assistant, stepped inside, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "Thought you might need this," she said, placing it on the desk. "You've been at it since dawn."

Evelyn smiled gratefully, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "Thanks. Just trying to perfect the final details before presenting it to the board."

Gabrielle hesitated, then added, "Mr. Martin called earlier. He said he’d be late for dinner tonight."

Evelyn’s grip tightened slightly around the cup. "Again?"

Gabrielle nodded sympathetically. "Something about an urgent meeting with Summit Realty."

Evelyn exhaled, forcing a smile. "Right. Of course."

She turned back to her work, but her focus had already splintered. Nathaniel had been distant lately, buried under the weight of his family’s expectations and the relentless demands of the Martin Group. She understood—she really did—but that didn’t make the loneliness any easier.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Charlotte:

"Girls’ night. My place. Wine and bad movies. You in?"

Evelyn chuckled, typing back: "Desperately needed. See you at 8."

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. Maybe a night away from the suffocating silence of their penthouse was exactly what she needed.

Meanwhile, across town, Nathaniel sat in a dimly lit conference room, his jaw clenched as Edward Martin—his grandfather—laid out the terms of their latest acquisition.

"This isn’t just business, Nathaniel," Edward said, his voice sharp. "This is about legacy. About securing the future of this family."

Nathaniel’s fingers tapped impatiently against the table. "I understand that. But pushing this deal through without proper due diligence is reckless."

Edward’s eyes narrowed. "Since when did you become so cautious?"

Nathaniel met his gaze evenly. "Since I realized not everything can be bought with the Martin name."

A tense silence settled over the room.

Samuel Yates, Nathaniel’s secretary, cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should reconvene after reviewing the latest reports?"

Edward waved a dismissive hand. "Fine. But don’t take too long. Time isn’t on our side."

As the meeting adjourned, Nathaniel loosened his tie, frustration simmering beneath his skin. He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over Evelyn’s contact. He wanted to call her, to hear her voice, but what would he even say?

"Sorry I’ve been absent. Sorry I keep choosing this empire over us."

With a sigh, he pocketed his phone.

Some things couldn’t be fixed with words.

Back at the office, Evelyn packed up her things, her mind already drifting to the comfort of Charlotte’s couch and the promise of mindless laughter.

But as she stepped into the elevator, her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She hesitated, then answered.

"Evelyn Mitchell?" A woman’s voice, smooth and unfamiliar.

"Yes?"

A pause. Then:

"I think we should talk. It’s about Nathaniel."

Evelyn’s breath caught.

The elevator doors slid shut.

The afternoon sun cast golden hues through the grand windows of Martin Manor as Evelyn stepped inside for the first time since her pregnancy had been announced. Victoria had instructed the staff to prepare an elaborate spread of Evelyn's favorite dishes, each carefully selected to suit her current condition.

At dinner, Edward produced a document—meticulously drafted by his lawyers earlier that day—and slid it across the table toward Evelyn. His eyes twinkled with warmth. "This is for you and the baby. I meant to give it to you when you married Nathaniel, but you refused then. This time, I won't take no for an answer."

It was an equity transfer agreement. Edward was gifting Evelyn and her unborn child two percent of his personal shares in Martin Group.

Two percent.

Enough to secure her a seat on the board—more than Nathaniel had held when he first joined the company.

Evelyn's breath caught.

Her fingers hovered over the document before she withdrew them. "Grandfather, I can't accept this."

Edward's expression turned firm. "It's yours, Evelyn. Take it."

Richard and Victoria nodded in agreement. "You're family now," Richard said gently. "There's no need to stand on ceremony."

Evelyn's chest tightened.

Accepting these shares would bind her even more tightly to Nathaniel—something she had deliberately avoided when they married. She had never wanted their relationship to be anchored by financial ties.

Her lips pressed together, hesitation flickering in her eyes.

Nathaniel noticed her silence. With a quiet exhale, he reached over and took the document. "I'll hold onto it for now," he said smoothly. "She can sign it when she's ready. Unless you'd rather keep a pregnant woman up all night debating legal paperwork?"

Edward chuckled, the tension dissolving. "Fine, you keep it. But remember—this is for Evelyn and the baby, not you."

Nathaniel arched a brow. "Afraid I'll steal it?"

"Wouldn't put it past you," Edward retorted, grinning.

The mood lightened, and Victoria turned her attention back to Evelyn, noting which dishes she favored and which she barely touched. Pregnancy came with unpredictable cravings and aversions—something Victoria understood well.

After dinner, Victoria hesitated before speaking. "Evelyn, you've lost weight. You're eating for two now—you mustn't neglect your nutrition. Should I arrange for a personal chef to assist you?"

Evelyn instinctively glanced at Nathaniel.

He caught her look and answered for them. "We'll hire someone. You and Grandfather are accustomed to the staff here—keep them."

Victoria relented, though she added, "Just make sure you find someone skilled—and trustworthy."

"Understood," Nathaniel said.

As they prepared to leave, Victoria hesitated again. "Evelyn, I ran into your mother today. I didn’t realize you hadn’t told the Mitchells about the pregnancy. I invited her to dinner and… well, it slipped out. She seemed upset. Perhaps you should call her later?"

Guilt flickered across Victoria's face. She had considered calling Evelyn immediately but decided to wait until tonight.

"I'm sorry," Victoria added softly. "I shouldn’t have said anything without asking you first."

Evelyn's stomach dropped.

She had been avoiding this conversation.

Now, she had no choice.