Chapter 157

Evelyn Sinclair arched a brow, her lips curling into a dangerous smirk. "Mr. Blackwood, are you attempting to leverage this situation to negotiate with me?" Her gaze burned like molten gold, sharp enough to cut glass.

It wasn’t a question—it was a warning.

Nathan Blackwood exhaled sharply, tearing his eyes away before starting the engine. The thought had crossed his mind, but now? He couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He still owed her.

He had no right to demand anything.

Forgiveness? After everything? Impossible.

When they arrived at the research facility, Evelyn practically launched herself out of the car before it fully stopped.

And there he was—Donovan Sterling, waiting at the entrance like a silent sentinel.

Evelyn sprinted toward him, leaping into his arms with a force that nearly knocked him back. "It worked?" she gasped, clinging to him like a koala.

Donovan chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Mm."

His eyes flickered past her to Nathan, who was approaching with a storm brewing in his expression.

Not that Donovan cared.

Evelyn buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of antiseptic and faint cologne. "Why were you waiting outside?"

"For you," he said simply, nudging her toward the building.

To an outsider, they looked like lovers.

Nathan’s jaw clenched.

The sight of them twisted something inside him, a slow, suffocating burn spreading through his chest.

Inside, Dominic Kingsley was practically vibrating with excitement. "Evelyn! Where did you find this guy? He’s a goddamn prodigy!"

Evelyn blinked. "What?"

"Our most complex project—the one we’ve been stuck on for years—he solved it in one afternoon with a few formulas. No errors. No revisions. Just… perfection." Dominic raked a hand through his hair, awestruck. "He just saved us a decade of research and billions in funding."

His gaze swung to Donovan, reverence dripping from his voice. "Name your price. Ten times market rate. A hundred. Hell, I’ll give you equity in the company—just stay."

Donovan didn’t even glance up. "Not interested."

Evelyn shot Dominic a sympathetic look.

Money meant nothing to Donovan.

"You can break your contract—we’ll cover the penalties!" Dominic insisted desperately.

"National Laboratories," Evelyn said flatly.

Dominic froze.

"What?"

Evelyn tugged Donovan’s arm, steering him deeper into the facility. Behind them, Nathan lingered just long enough to deliver the final blow.

"Sunner is Donovan Sterling. If you value your company, drop this. You really think you can poach a national treasure?" He clapped Dominic on the shoulder, leaving him gaping in shock.

Sunner is Donovan Sterling?!

The 17-year-old who won the Breakthrough Prize?

The intern who had been quietly working here for a month?

Dominic stumbled after them. "What’s his relationship with Evelyn?"

Nathan’s voice was ice. "None."

Dominic scoffed. Bullshit.

Inside the lab, Emily Whitaker was practically bouncing as she presented a palm-sized, irregular sphere to Evelyn. "This is a microscopic bio-carrier. No blood tests needed—just three seconds of contact, and it scans your entire body."

Evelyn’s eyes widened. "You’re joking."

But with Donovan around, nothing was impossible.

Hesitantly, she pressed her palm against the sphere.

Warmth.

A soft blue glow pulsed beneath her fingertips.

One… Two… Three…

Ding!

"Abnormal condition detected," chirped a robotic voice. "Laceration on left inner arm: 9.9 cm in length, 4 mm depth. Clotting normal. Mild bacterial infection present. Recommended treatment: antiseptic and anti-inflammatory medication. Expected healing time: three to four days."

Silence.

Then chaos.

Emily gaped. "It detected that through your sleeve?"

Before she or Donovan could react, Nathan lunged forward, gripping Evelyn’s wrist. His voice was lethal.

"You said you weren’t hurt."