Chapter 295

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office, illuminating the blueprints spread across her desk. Her fingers traced the intricate lines of the new resort design, a project that had consumed her thoughts for weeks.

A soft knock interrupted her concentration. "Come in," she called, not looking up.

Gabrielle, her assistant, stepped inside with a tray of coffee. "You've been at it since dawn, Evelyn. Thought you could use this."

Evelyn finally glanced up, offering a tired but grateful smile. "Thanks, Gabrielle. I just want to make sure everything’s perfect before the client meeting."

Gabrielle hesitated, then added, "Nathaniel called earlier. He said he’d be late tonight—another board meeting."

Evelyn’s smile faltered slightly. Lately, Nathaniel had been buried under the weight of Martin Group’s expansion, their time together dwindling. "I figured," she murmured, taking a sip of the coffee.

Her phone buzzed—a message from Charlotte. "Girl, we need to talk. Coffee later?"

Evelyn exhaled. A distraction might be exactly what she needed.

Across town, Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as the board members argued over the latest acquisition. His father, Richard, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.

"We can’t afford delays," Richard stated coolly. "The investors are getting restless."

Nathaniel clenched his jaw. "Rushing this will only lead to mistakes. We need more time."

His father’s gaze sharpened. "Time is a luxury we don’t have."

A familiar tension settled in Nathaniel’s chest. The weight of expectations, the unspoken comparisons to his grandfather—Edward Martin’s legacy loomed large.

Samuel, his secretary, slipped him a note. "Evelyn called. She’s meeting Charlotte tonight."

Nathaniel frowned. He’d promised to be home early. Again, he’d failed.

At the café, Evelyn stirred her latte absently as Charlotte studied her. "You look exhausted," Charlotte remarked.

Evelyn sighed. "Just... a lot going on."

Charlotte leaned in. "Is it Nathaniel?"

Evelyn hesitated. "He’s just... busy. Always busy."

Charlotte’s expression softened. "You know, my dad always says—when work becomes the priority, relationships suffer."

Evelyn’s grip tightened around her cup. She knew Charlotte was right. But how could she ask Nathaniel to choose between his family’s empire and their marriage?

Her phone buzzed again—a message from Gregory. "Client moved the meeting to tomorrow. Get some rest."

Relief washed over her. Maybe she’d surprise Nathaniel at the office.

Nathaniel stood by the window, staring at the city lights. The board meeting had dragged on, leaving him drained.

The door creaked open. "Still here?"

He turned to find Evelyn leaning against the frame, a small smile playing on her lips.

His heart lifted. "What are you doing here?"

She stepped closer. "Thought you could use a break."

For the first time in weeks, Nathaniel felt the tension ease. He pulled her into his arms, breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume. "I’m sorry," he murmured.

Evelyn rested her head against his chest. "We’ll figure it out."

Outside, the city hummed with life, but in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Before Evelyn could unravel the mystery, Nathaniel arrived.

Samuel approached with his findings, delivering them with professional precision. "Mr. Martin, Mrs. Martin, I've confirmed that Rosalind's connection to Sophia stems from Sophia funding her son's master's degree."

Evelyn's brows furrowed. "So, this has no ties to the Mitchells?"

"Correct. I conducted a separate investigation into the Mitchell family's dealings with Rosalind. Aside from Sophia, there were no interactions."

Relief washed over Evelyn. The thought of her own family being involved had weighed heavily on her heart. She turned to Samuel, frustration lacing her voice. "If this isn't personal, and the Mitchells aren't involved, why would Rosalind target me?"

"Mrs. Martin," Samuel explained, "while the Mitchells aren't connected, Rosalind accepted payment to drug your meal and spread those lies deliberately."

The identity of the benefactor remained elusive. Transactions had been conducted through encrypted messages on WhatsApp, making tracing difficult. The only certainty? Whoever was behind this knew Evelyn and Nathaniel intimately.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have timed it so precisely—when Nathaniel was away on business.

Evelyn fell silent for a long moment before asking, "Where is Rosalind now?"

"In police custody. All evidence has been submitted."

Nathaniel dismissed Samuel with a gesture, then turned to Evelyn. "Don’t you want her to face consequences?"

Evelyn shook her head. "No. I just... I need to ask her why. As a mother, how could she do this knowing I was pregnant?"

But even as the words left her lips, she realized some people wore kindness as a mask while committing cruelty. She didn’t press further, leaving the matter in Nathaniel’s hands.

Rosalind would answer to the law. Meanwhile, Nathaniel ensured Sophia learned exactly what kind of person she had been supporting.

Two days in the hospital passed under Dr. Harrison’s watchful eye. Thankfully, both Evelyn and the baby were unharmed. Still, Dr. Harrison pulled Nathaniel aside before discharge.

"Schedule regular checkups. Everything looks good now, but we can’t afford complacency. No need to worry Evelyn unnecessarily."

Nathaniel agreed.

He stayed by Evelyn’s side throughout, tending to her with unwavering devotion, determined to restore her peace of mind.

Once home, the storm seemed to pass—yet Evelyn’s heart refused to settle.

She gripped Nathaniel’s hand, resolve hardening in her voice. "I need to know who did this. I have to."

Nathaniel cupped her face, his gaze steady. "I promise you, I won’t stop until we find them. Every lead, every shadow—I’ll chase them all."

A faint smile touched her lips.

To distract her, Nathaniel retrieved a file Samuel had prepared weeks prior and handed it to her. "Take a look. Might interest you."

Evelyn flipped it open. The rules for the upcoming architects’ competition, sponsored by Martin Group, stared back at her.

Nathaniel’s lips curved. "Your expertise. Care to give it a shot?"

Instead of admitting she’d already begun preparations, Evelyn arched a brow playfully. "Do you think I can?"