Chapter 284

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 30. Edward wants to see us."

Evelyn sighed. Edward Martin wasn’t just Nathaniel’s grandfather—he was the iron-willed patriarch of the Martin empire. Every meeting with him felt like walking into a lion’s den.

She grabbed her blazer and headed out.

The elevator ride to the executive floor was tense. When the doors slid open, Nathaniel was already waiting, his expression unreadable.

"You okay?" she asked.

He gave a tight nod. "Let’s just get this over with."

Edward’s office was as imposing as ever—dark wood, leather chairs, and the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air. The old man sat behind his desk, sharp eyes assessing them.

"I’ve reviewed the latest reports," Edward began without preamble. "The numbers are good. But I’m not convinced about the timeline."

Evelyn straightened. "We’re on track. The delays were unavoidable, but we’ve adjusted."

Edward’s gaze flicked to Nathaniel. "And you? What’s your take?"

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. "Evelyn’s right. The team’s handling it."

A beat of silence. Then Edward leaned back, fingers steepled. "Fine. But if this slips again, heads will roll."

Evelyn exhaled as they stepped out.

"That could’ve gone worse," Nathaniel muttered.

She shot him a look. "Barely."

Before he could reply, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression darkened.

Isabella.

Evelyn’s stomach twisted. She knew that name—Nathaniel’s ex, the woman who still had a way of slipping back into his life at the worst moments.

"I have to take this," he said, already walking away.

Evelyn watched him go, unease settling in her chest.

Something was coming. She could feel it.

Like a pristine canvas exposed to corrosive darkness for too long, even the purest soul would eventually be tainted.

Evelyn had stopped resenting Sophia long ago. She'd tried to erase her sister and the entire Mitchell family from her memory.

Yet the moment she succeeded, they dragged her back in.

How absurd.

She had never wronged the Mitchells. So why was Sophia accusing her of having a heart of stone?

Evelyn's faint smile made Sophia narrow her eyes, an uneasy sensation creeping up her spine.

But loyalty bound Sophia to the Mitchells. Without them, she'd be nothing.

"Listen," Sophia lowered her voice, frustration lacing her words. "I get why you're bitter about being sent away as a child. But we're still family. Would you really take pride in watching the Mitchell Group collapse? In seeing our parents ruined?"

Her tone turned pleading. "Isn't that right, Evelyn?"

"You've always been sheltered," Evelyn replied coolly. "I wasn't. If you're here to convince me to beg Nathaniel for mercy, save your breath. I won't. And he wouldn't agree even if I did."

Sophia's composure cracked. "How can you be so heartless? Mom and Dad begged you! Just because you're carrying Nathaniel's child, you think you're untouchable? You're about to be a mother yourself—how can you turn your back on your parents? Are you even fit to raise a child?"

Evelyn's silence was answer enough.

To Sophia, it was ice-cold indifference. She scoffed. "No matter how hard you try to cut ties, Evelyn, you'll always be a Mitchell. Their blood runs in your veins."

"Should I bleed it out and return it?" Evelyn's voice was dangerously soft. "Do you have any idea what I endured after they discarded me? How our mother treated me? Of course not. They poured all their love into you. So don't you dare stand there and preach to me about family."

The words left a bitter taste. She hadn’t wanted to say them.

But Sophia’s relentless pressure had scraped her patience raw.

If they all saw her as cruel, so be it.

Evelyn turned her attention back to the blueprint in her hands, but a thought struck her. She paused, then said calmly, "Charity won’t save the Mitchell Group. If you want to prevent bankruptcy, convince Father to restructure the company. Clean house. Change their entire business model."

Sophia didn’t hear advice—only mockery.

"Don’t get arrogant," she hissed. "Pregnancy won’t guarantee you a lifetime as Nathaniel’s wife."

With that, she stormed out.

Evelyn watched her go, a pang of disappointment cutting through her. She’d thought Sophia was smarter than their parents. That she might actually understand.

Guess I overestimated her.

Setting the blueprint aside, Evelyn exhaled slowly. The Mitchell Group’s downfall wasn’t sudden—it had been crumbling for years. Without drastic changes, their fate was sealed.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she sank into thought.