Chapter 352

"Absolutely not. Since we're here together, even as business partners, he should have included you. You're his wife—a Martin now," Victoria insisted.

Evelyn felt a warmth spread through her chest at her mother-in-law's words. She smiled, gratitude shining in her eyes.

But she still couldn't bring herself to believe Nathaniel had feelings for Cassandra. His heart belonged to someone else.

The thought weighed on her. She bit her lower lip lightly, murmuring, "Victoria, maybe we're misjudging him. He loves Isabella. He wouldn't just..."

Victoria fell silent.

As a mother, she knew the history between Nathaniel and Isabella. But she refused to accept that her son would chain himself to a woman who no longer had a future.

She squeezed Evelyn's hand firmly. "Listen to me. Nathaniel and Isabella ended things before your marriage. The only reason he still cares for her is out of guilt—because of what happened. But he doesn't love her. I know my son. That kind of love is gone."

Her certainty left Evelyn speechless. She didn’t want to argue, nor did she want Victoria confronting Nathaniel over this.

A brief silence settled between them—until Cassandra’s sharp voice cut through from the screen.

"Nathaniel, I never expected you to actually marry her. A complete stranger, no less. And yet here you are, a year later. Tell me—do you love her?"

Evelyn’s pulse jumped. Victoria instinctively glanced at her.

Meeting her gaze, Evelyn forced a smile. It only made Victoria’s heart ache more.

Before Nathaniel could respond, Victoria stood abruptly. "I thought I recognized that voice. Nathaniel, it really is you."

Both Nathaniel and Cassandra stiffened in surprise.

Recovering first, Nathaniel frowned slightly. "Mother? What are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Martin," Cassandra greeted smoothly, rising with practiced grace. "You used to bake for me during university. I haven’t forgotten."

Victoria’s expression cooled. Manners kept her from outright dismissal, but her tone was distant. "That was a long time ago. No need to dwell on it."

She turned back to Nathaniel, her face carefully blank. "Evelyn and I were out shopping. We happened to be nearby, so I brought her here."

"Is Evelyn here?" Nathaniel asked, his voice softening.

Then he was moving, stepping around the screen until he spotted her at the table. Their eyes locked—hers carefully neutral, his searching.

With Victoria’s presence revealed, the four of them ended up sharing the table.

Evelyn and Nathaniel sat side by side, while Victoria and Cassandra faced them.

Cassandra was striking—effortlessly elegant in minimalist designer wear, her long hair cascading over one shoulder. Unlike Isabella’s delicate fragility, she carried herself with a careless confidence.

When Evelyn met her gaze, Cassandra didn’t look away. She studied her openly, almost challengingly.

Under the table, Nathaniel’s fingers curled around Evelyn’s. "Where did you and Mother go today?" he asked, as if Cassandra weren’t even there.

Evelyn kept her expression composed.

But with both women watching, she answered evenly, "Just wandering. What about you?"

She glanced at him pointedly. She had texted him the same question earlier—during dinner.