Chapter 398
The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Carter's path as she hurried toward campus. Her textbooks felt heavier than usual today, weighted with unspoken worries.
Her phone vibrated violently in her pocket.
"Evelyn Carter? This is Detective Morrison from the 12th precinct." The voice crackled through the receiver. "We need to discuss your involvement with Jonathan Reeves and Elite Studio. Come down to the station at your earliest convenience."
The call ended before she could respond. Evelyn's fingers trembled against her phone case. Why would the police want her? She'd only worked part-time at that damned studio - no benefits, no contracts, just minimum wage and empty promises.
Were Jonathan and his viper of a mother Judith setting her up?
The cab ride to the precinct passed in a blur of neon signs and honking cars. The interrogation room smelled of stale coffee and desperation.
"State your relationship to Jonathan Reeves." The detective's pen hovered over a notepad.
"We attended the same university. Later, I did part-time administrative work at his studio." Evelyn kept her voice steady despite the ice forming in her veins.
"Part-time?" The detective smirked. "Multiple witnesses claim you were romantically involved. Bank records show the studio used your identity for several loans. Care to explain?"
Evelyn's nails bit into her palms. "I never authorized any of that."
"Miss Carter," the detective leaned forward, "we don't bring people in without evidence. Lying will only make this worse."
"Everything Jonathan did was without my knowledge or consent." Evelyn met his gaze squarely. "Check my employment records - no bonuses, no stock options. Just hourly wages."
The detective flipped a page. "Then how do you explain paying off a $2.3 million mortgage last month? Jonathan claims he gave you that money under the table."
A cold realization slithered down Evelyn's spine. That bank encounter. Jonathan's sudden interest in her after years of indifference. Not attraction - reconnaissance. Nathaniel had been right all along.
"That money came from my cousin," Evelyn said.
"You're listed as having no living relatives." The detective's eyebrow arched.
A familiar baritone voice cut through the tension. "She forgot to mention me."
Evelyn whirled to see Nathaniel Whitmore silhouetted in the doorway, his tailored suit looking more like armor than business attire. Behind him, two attorneys materialized with briefcases full of legal artillery.
"What are you doing here?" Evelyn hissed as Nathaniel steered her into the hallway.
"Jonathan told the police I assaulted him during that kidnapping farce." Nathaniel's jaw tightened. "His lawyer suggested dropping charges... if I help bury his financial crimes."
Evelyn's stomach churned. "That spineless—"
"Now you understand why I warned you about wolves in sheep's clothing?" Nathaniel's gaze burned into hers.
"You said there was no evidence!"
"Because there wasn't." Nathaniel adjusted his cufflinks with sharp precision. "Until your statement connected us. Now they're building a conspiracy case."
Evelyn's breath hitched. "I'll tell them I lied—"
"Don't." Nathaniel's hand closed around her wrist. "Your 'help' nearly got me arrested yesterday. From now on, my legal team handles everything. Stay silent."
Before Evelyn could protest, another voice sliced through the tension. "Actually, Miss Carter has her own representation."
A silver-haired attorney stepped forward, business card extended. The game had just gotten more complicated.