Chapter 95

The morning sun cast golden streaks across the bedroom as Evelyn stirred awake. Beside her, Nathaniel slept soundly, his breathing steady and deep. She traced the sharp line of his jaw with her fingertips, marveling at how peaceful he looked.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from Gregory.

"Emergency meeting at the office. Need you here ASAP."

Evelyn frowned. Gregory rarely sent urgent messages unless something was seriously wrong. She slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Nathaniel.

Downstairs, Alfred was already setting the breakfast table. "Good morning, Mrs. Martin," he greeted warmly. "Would you like your usual coffee?"

"Yes, please," Evelyn replied absently, scrolling through her emails. One from Summit Realty caught her eye—a project proposal she hadn’t approved yet.

Alfred handed her the coffee, his expression concerned. "Is everything alright?"

"I’m not sure," she admitted. "Gregory called an emergency meeting. I need to head to the office early."

Just then, Nathaniel appeared at the doorway, his shirt half-buttoned, hair still tousled from sleep. "What’s going on?"

Evelyn sighed. "Work crisis. I have to go in."

He stepped closer, his fingers brushing her arm. "Do you want me to come with you?"

She shook her head. "No, it’s probably just a client issue. I’ll handle it."

Nathaniel studied her for a moment before nodding. "Call me if you need anything."

The drive to the office was tense. Evelyn’s mind raced with possibilities—had Summit Realty backed out? Had there been a design flaw?

When she arrived, Gregory was pacing in the conference room, his usually composed demeanor frayed at the edges.

"Thank God you’re here," he said, handing her a folder. "Look at this."

Evelyn flipped it open. Inside was a contract—one she’d never seen before—with her signature forged at the bottom.

Her stomach dropped. "What the hell is this?"

Gregory’s jaw tightened. "That’s what I’d like to know. Someone used your name to authorize a deal with Sebastian Wilson."

Sebastian Wilson. The name sent a chill down her spine. He was ruthless in business, known for underhanded tactics.

Evelyn clenched her fists. "We need to find out who did this."

Gregory nodded grimly. "And fast. Because if this goes through, we’re screwed."

Just then, her phone buzzed again. An unknown number.

"Looking forward to our partnership, Evelyn. - S.W."

Her blood ran cold.

This wasn’t just a mistake.

It was a trap.

His piercing gaze narrowed slightly in warning, his expression unreadable.

Evelyn met his eyes calmly. "I haven't had the chance to tell him yet."

"Was it truly a matter of time, or did you simply not want him to know you're married?"

"Nathaniel, even if I tell Adrian about us, he's right about one thing. You're not my boyfriend."

"Then what am I?"

"You're my husband."

The husband who didn't love her. The one who wanted a divorce. The man in love with someone else.

Yet they were still legally bound, still husband and wife.

Her answer came naturally, and Nathaniel's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Good. Then go tell him about us. And cancel that dinner."

"Now isn't the right time."

"When is the right time? Were you ever planning to tell him? Did he call you spoiled? By whom—him?"

His tone was sharp, his displeasure evident as he glared at her.

Evelyn blinked, taken aback by his sudden shift in mood.

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing. I just think discussing this in someone else's home is inappropriate."

She lowered her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Or is it that you don’t want to discuss it?"

His voice dropped dangerously. In one swift motion, he lifted her onto the counter, blocking her escape.

Evelyn exhaled shakily. "If you've already decided I'm hiding it, why ask?"

"Are you?"

"If that's what you—"

Before she could finish, he closed the distance between them.

Her breath hitched as his lips claimed hers, fierce and possessive.

Panic flared—anyone could walk in. She shoved against his chest. "Are you insane? Someone could see us!"

"Afraid people will find out you're married to me?"

"It's not fear. We're getting divorced. What's the point in announcing a failed marriage? Nathaniel, you have Isabella. Why are you doing this? Are you jealous?"

A bitter laugh escaped her. She'd asked before, always receiving the same answer—his concern stemmed from obligation, not affection.

But this time, Nathaniel didn't deny it.

His fingers tightened around her waist as he murmured against her lips, "Yes. I am. So behave. Stay away from Gregory and Adrian. And don’t forget who your husband is."

Evelyn froze.

Had she heard correctly?

His jealousy shouldn’t exist—not for her.

Yet before she could process it, he kissed her again, softer now, almost tender.

Lost in the moment, neither noticed Isabella lurking outside the door, her fists clenched in silent fury.

The words "I'm jealous" echoed in her mind, twisting like a knife.

Nathaniel had promised to marry her. She wouldn’t let Evelyn steal him away.

With a final glare, Isabella slipped away, her mind already plotting revenge.

The kiss lasted minutes, leaving Evelyn breathless.

Nathaniel nipped at her ear, his voice rough. "Remember what I said, Evelyn."

Her pulse raced, her cheeks burning.

She couldn’t respond, his words looping in her mind like a spell.

The rest of the evening passed in a daze.

Later, driving Adrian back to his hotel, silence stretched between them.

Adrian, slightly tipsy, finally broke it. "Aren’t you going to explain what happened tonight?"

Evelyn kept her eyes on the road. "Explain what?"

"Don’t play dumb. We lived together for years—I know you. What’s going on with Nathaniel?"

Her grip tightened on the wheel. She’d planned to tell him eventually, but not like this.

After a pause, she whispered, "We’ve been married for a year."

Adrian didn’t react.

"But we’ll probably divorce soon," she added.

His brow furrowed. "Because of Isabella?"

"It doesn’t matter why."

"Do you love him?"

Her silence was answer enough.

Finally, she said, "No one knows about the marriage. Keep it that way?"

Adrian nodded.

The quiet returned, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Evelyn’s mind churned. Nathaniel’s jealousy—was it possessiveness? Or something more?

Impossible.

She shut down the hope before it could take root.

Then Adrian spoke again. "Nathaniel and Isabella dated a year ago, didn’t they? But I never sensed real love between them. I never thought he’d actually marry her."

Evelyn’s head snapped toward him.

"Why do you say that?"

Curiosity burned in her chest.