Chapter 308

Evelyn had always been the careful type, meticulously planning for every possible risk and contingency.

Gabrielle nodded in agreement before turning to enter the building. Evelyn drove straight to Martin Group headquarters.

She didn’t call Nathaniel. Instead, she took the elevator up unannounced.

The receptionist recognized Evelyn immediately, greeting her warmly.

When Evelyn reached Nathaniel’s office floor, she nearly collided with Samuel stepping out. "Mr. Yates, is Nathaniel in?"

Samuel nodded politely. "Yes, Mrs. Martin." He held the door open and announced, "Sir, your wife is here."

Nathaniel’s gaze snapped up, locking onto Evelyn.

The door clicked shut behind Samuel, leaving them alone.

Evelyn hesitated under his intense stare. "Am I interrupting?"

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Nathaniel’s face. His voice dropped. "Did you need something?"

She moved to the sofa, sitting gracefully. Nathaniel followed, his steps deliberate.

"I was at the hospital earlier," she admitted.

"Visiting your father?"

"No." She shook her head. "The employees who jumped—I went to see them."

His frown deepened. "Alone? Why didn’t you tell me? Those people are desperate for compensation targets. It wasn’t safe." The rapid-fire questions left her momentarily speechless.

Evelyn pressed her lips together. "I kept my identity hidden. Just a friend visiting another friend. They never knew I was there."

Some tension left Nathaniel’s shoulders.

"Learn anything useful?"

"Yes." She relayed the hospital conversations verbatim.

Nathaniel studied her. "So you don’t buy the layoff suicide narrative?"

"Of course not. If it were just termination grief, their families wouldn’t be organizing like this," Evelyn countered.

A faint smirk touched his lips. "You’ve gotten good at reading people."

"Isn’t that basic logic, Mr. Martin?" She arched a brow.

The exchange revealed something new—layers of Evelyn he’d never noticed before.

"I could assign Samuel to assist you temporarily," he offered.

"Would you really?" Her eyes lit up.

Nathaniel chuckled. "Had that thought already, didn’t you?"

"Absolutely not," she lied.

"Sure about that?"

"Fine, maybe I considered it. But I didn’t expect you to volunteer him. No take-backs." The words came out unexpectedly playful, almost commanding.

Nathaniel’s gaze darkened as he watched her. The negotiation ended with Evelyn trading a dinner date for Samuel’s temporary services.

When leaving time came, Nathaniel dismissed Samuel, choosing to drive them home personally.

During the ride, he asked quietly, "Why such personal interest in Mitchell Corp’s mess?"

Evelyn stiffened slightly. "Just... helping where I can."

She turned toward the window. Nathaniel kept his eyes on the road but pressed, "Or is my wife softer-hearted than she admits?"