Chapter 88
Evelyn turned to leave, but Nathaniel's strong grip held her in place. His piercing gaze locked onto hers as he murmured, "We're not finished here."
Just as Evelyn's temper flared, Robert approached with an apologetic smile. "Mr. Whitmore, there's an urgent call for you. The phone has been ringing persistently."
Nathaniel shot Robert an icy glare. Couldn't his assistant see this was a private moment?
"Who is it?" Nathaniel demanded through clenched teeth.
"It's Ms. Sinclair."
At Robert's words, Evelyn felt Nathaniel's grip slacken. Seizing the opportunity, she slipped free from his embrace. Smoothing her dress with trembling hands, she said coolly, "I'll excuse myself so you can attend to your... appointment."
With her head held high, Evelyn strode from the café. A bitter smile touched her lips as she thought, "I need to remember my place. Our worlds could never truly intersect."
A fraction of Nathaniel's wealth could sustain an ordinary person for generations. Yet she wanted none of it.
Because Evelyn already possessed something far more valuable - Nathaniel's child growing within her.
Nathaniel glared at Robert, ignoring the ringing phone. "Who gave you permission to interrupt?"
"Sir, you instructed me to report all urgent matters immediately."
"And you consider this urgent?" Nathaniel growled.
Frustrated, he tugged at his constricting tie - a nervous habit he'd developed recently. But when he tried to loosen it, the knot refused to yield.
Looking down, he discovered Evelyn had tied an additional knot during their encounter. No matter how he struggled, the tie wouldn't come undone. He made a mental note: next time she played this trick, he wouldn't let her escape so easily.
His fingers brushed against the property settlement papers meant for Evelyn. Even now, he could recall the curve of her waist beneath his hands, a memory that refused to fade.
Robert cleared his throat nervously. "Mr. Whitmore, Ms. Sinclair mentioned it concerns Mrs. Whitmore Senior's surgical procedure."
Nathaniel snapped back to reality, accepting the phone. "Victoria," he answered tersely.
"Darling, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," came Victoria's honeyed voice.
"Not at all. Has your brother agreed to perform my grandmother's surgery?" Nathaniel cut straight to the point.
Victoria hesitated. The truth was Julian remained unwilling, but admitting this would eliminate her leverage. "He's become more receptive recently," she lied smoothly. "Remember three years ago when I wanted to marry you during your hospitalization? My brothers prevented it because they disapproved of you."
She continued quickly, "I'll persuade him further. Perhaps we could begin with preliminary examinations for your grandmother first?"
Nathaniel's voice remained controlled. "Excellent. Make the arrangements."
"Let's discuss the details over dinner tonight," Victoria suggested, pleased with his compliance.
"Very well."
Only Julian Montgomery, among the world's elite surgeons, possessed the skill to perform Eleanor Whitmore's delicate procedure. Nathaniel would move heaven and earth to ensure his grandmother's survival.
Meanwhile, Evelyn paced her apartment, unable to shake the memory of Nathaniel's touch. A peculiar warmth spread through her abdomen - surely just pregnancy hormones, she told herself.
That night, dreams of a broad-shouldered figure haunted her sleep. When she awoke flushed and breathless, she rushed to splash cold water on her face.
Arriving at work the next morning, Evelyn checked her phone and froze. A trending entertainment headline blared: "Socialite Victoria Sinclair's Romantic Dinner with Mystery Beau - Couple Returns Home Together."
Her stomach twisted as she recalled yesterday's interrupted phone call. Against her better judgment, she clicked the link - and found herself staring at damning photographic evidence.