Chapter 296

Evelyn arched a perfectly sculpted brow as she watched Adrian step out of his car like a man walking to his execution.

The collision had left Nathan's understated yet exorbitant Cayenne with significant damage.

Oddly enough, Adrian's Jeep Grand Cherokee remained unscathed. He still couldn't wrap his head around how the accident had even happened.

In this situation, Adrian certainly looked guilty. Normally, such matters could be resolved with money—but the other party was Nathan Blackwood. This wouldn't be simple.

Nathan's dark gaze pinned Adrian in place, his voice laced with icy authority. "Legal proceedings or private settlement?"

Adrian pressed his lips together. "Do I even have a choice?"

"Legal it is, then." Nathan pulled out his phone with deliberate calm. "I'll call your father."

Adrian stiffened. "Wait—Uncle Nathan, let's settle this privately!"

Nathan pocketed his phone and tossed his keys at Adrian. "Get it fixed. Now."

"Now?" Adrian fumbled with the keys, torn between leaving and staying. Evelyn was still waiting in his car for their movie plans.

Nathan's expression darkened. "You're still here?"

Adrian swallowed hard. "I—I'll just apologize to Evelyn later!"

Evelyn frowned as Adrian sprinted toward Nathan's car. Before she could process it, Nathan straightened his suit jacket and slid into the driver's seat beside her.

She turned to him, voice frosty. "Mr. Blackwood, are you in the wrong car?"

Nathan's expression was smooth, all traces of earlier anger expertly masked. A hint of warmth softened his sharp features.

His voice was low, velvety—dangerously charming. "No. He insisted on repairing my car and asked me to accompany you."

"Didn't you want to see a movie?"

With that, he started the engine and drove toward the city's grandest theater as if there was nothing unusual about this arrangement.

In all their years together, they had never gone to the movies. Never done the ordinary things couples did.

The realization twisted something in Nathan's chest, leaving him breathless.

Evelyn studied him like he was a stranger. "Mr. Blackwood, what are you doing? Have you ever heard of divorced couples going on movie dates?"

The idea was absurd.

Nathan's smile didn't waver. "What's the problem? Divorced couples can always remarry."

He was testing the waters, phrasing it as an indisputable fact rather than a question.

Evelyn fell silent. Her eyes were unreadable, the air between them turning frigid.

Nathan kept his gaze forward, but he felt the weight of her detachment like a blade against his skin.

For the first time in his life, he was nervous around a woman—and he had no one to blame but himself.

"Stop the car." Evelyn's voice was glacial.

Nathan's jaw tightened, but his tone remained gentle. "We're not there yet."

Evelyn gave him one long, measured look. Then, without hesitation, she unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the door open.

Cold wind rushed in. Nathan's composure shattered.

"Evelyn—!"

The car screeched to a halt.

Nathan yanked her back just as she was halfway out, his heart hammering against his ribs. The bitterness in his chest swelled, drowning him in helpless frustration.

His grip on her arm trembled.

She’d rather throw herself out of a moving car than spend another minute with him.

The realization gutted him.

His carefully constructed calm collapsed. Pain flickered in his eyes, darker than midnight.

"Evelyn." His voice was rough, raw—pleading.