Chapter 83

That night, she claimed a headache and moved into the guest room alone.

One more second in his presence, and she might have vomited in front of Nathan Evans.

Outside the window, the night was thick as ink.

Cold wind rattled the glass.

Tears soaked her pillowcase.

The next morning, she went straight to Massachusetts General Hospital for a full gynecological exam.

The results came back completely normal.

From that day on, she deliberately avoided Nathan's touch.

And he remained utterly oblivious.

Of course. Too busy feasting elsewhere to care about plain congee at home.

"You disgust me," Evelyn Langley took a step back. "Stay away from me."

Nathan stood frozen, his Adam's apple bobbing soundlessly.

So she'd known all along...

Raindrops suddenly thickened.

Icy wind hurled rain against their faces.

Nathan stood motionless in the downpour, watching Evelyn's retreating figure like a statue.

Chloe Valentine rushed into the rain, touching his chilled skin. "Nathan! You'll get sick!"

Drenched and shivering, she spat, "She doesn't care about you! Only I—"

"Get lost." He shook off her hand.

"Then I'll stay here with you!" Chloe planted herself stubbornly.

Nathan ignored her, staring fixedly down the street.

Evelyn never looked back.

Alcohol and cold finally overwhelmed him. He collapsed face-first into the flooded pavement.

"Nathan!" Chloe frantically pulled him up.

After flagging down a cab, the female driver helped load his limp body inside.

Back at the mansion, Chloe didn't bother changing, immediately tending to Nathan—wiping him down, changing his clothes.

Their family doctor arrived overnight for IV fluids, stabilizing him by dawn.

Half-asleep, Chloe heard him murmur "Evelyn."

His daytime dismissal—"We're done"—echoed in her ears.

She refused to accept this.

How could her carefully cultivated relationship end like this?

Chloe's expression darkened.

She changed into Evelyn's abandoned nightgown and pressed herself against Nathan's chest.

In his feverish haze, Nathan caught the familiar scent—and for a moment, saw Evelyn's face.