Chapter 42

Nathan Evans lifted the lid of the insulated container with skepticism. The moment the first spoonful touched his tongue, the tension in his brow eased.

So much for cutting ties—she still couldn’t let go, could she?

He took another deliberate bite, his gaze flicking toward the door. "Where is she?"

"Who?" Dylan Lowell blinked, momentarily confused.

"This porridge—Evelyn made it, didn’t she? Had a change of heart? Decided to come back?"

Nathan scoffed. "What, does she think this place is a revolving door? Come and go as she pleases?"

Ethan Winston lounged on the sofa, watching Dylan’s flustered expression with mild amusement. "Don’t flatter yourself. Dylan lied and told her he wanted it. That’s the only reason Evelyn bothered. As for her showing up? Not a chance."

Nathan’s expression darkened instantly, his sharp glare pinning Dylan in place. "Who gave you permission to go to her?"

Dylan shrank back. "You haven’t eaten properly in days. If it weren’t for Evelyn’s porridge—"

Nathan said nothing, his silence icy.

"Oh, and the place she’s staying now? A dump. Seventh-floor walk-up in some crumbling old building." Dylan stole a glance at Nathan’s face.

Though the man muttered "Serves her right," the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

Still not over her.

Just as Dylan considered fanning the flames further, a sickly sweet voice trilled from the doorway—"Darling~"

Ethan and Dylan shuddered in unison.

That voice alone was enough to make spines crawl.

Chloe Valentine hadn’t been able to reach Nathan for days. It wasn’t until she pried the truth from Julian Roscente that she learned he’d been hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer.

Panic seized her.

She bolted from class mid-lecture and raced to the hospital.

The sight of Nathan pale and gaunt in his hospital gown made her eyes well up instantly. "Darling, why didn’t you tell me? Are you still in pain? Should I call the doctor?"

The rapid-fire questions grated on his nerves, but worse was the way she burst into tears the second she stepped inside. Nathan frowned. Even Dylan and Ethan found her theatrics exhausting.

"It’s handled. Stop crying."

He thought of Evelyn then. She would’ve stayed calm. She would’ve known exactly what to do.

Chloe, sharp as ever, caught his irritation and immediately stifled her sobs—though her eyes stayed red-rimmed.

Seeing her quiet down, Nathan’s tone softened marginally. "Just a flare-up. Go back to campus."

"Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I could make you some porridge—"

Dylan snorted before he could stop himself. They’d just pulled strings to get that porridge, and here was another volunteer.

Only then did Chloe notice the others in the room. At the sound of his laugh, she shot Dylan a glare, cheeks flushing with humiliation.

Nathan’s voice turned steely. "Not necessary. Leave."

Chloe didn’t dare argue. She obeyed without another word.

The moment the door shut, Ethan rose from the sofa. "So. Are you finishing that or not?"

Nathan opened his mouth to refuse—then scowled. "Who said I wasn’t?"