Chapter 405

The phone rang twice before a crisp female voice answered. "Who is this?"

"Ms. Sinclair? This is Teddy, the new butler at Highland Estates." His voice was sheepish. "I accidentally knocked over your skincare collection while cleaning your room. Mr. Blackwood insisted I discard everything and replace it, but... I can't read half the labels."

Evelyn's icy tone sliced through his rambling. "Don't you dare throw them out! I'm coming home right now. If a single bottle is missing, you're fired!"

In the study, Nathan's brow furrowed. He heard every word through the door.

That easy?

Evelyn wasn't just wealthy—she was particular. Her skincare regimen was custom-formulated for her complexion, each set costing more than most people's annual salaries. Where exactly did they plan to find replacements?

Idiots.

Her earlier resolve to never return to Highland Estates evaporated. Right now, all that mattered was salvaging her precious collection.

She grabbed her purse and stormed out with Marcus in tow.

At the estate's entrance, Evelyn hesitated.

The marble floor where Margaret had collapsed in a pool of blood hours earlier now gleamed spotlessly. As if the entire confrontation had never happened.

She wasn't about to reopen that wound. Nathan had saved her too many times to count. Pushing the matter further would only strain relations with the Blackwoods.

The door swung open before she could knock. A rotund man with flushed cheeks barreled out, panting.

"Ms. Sinclair!" His beady eyes crinkled with delight. "I'm Teddy! My word, you're even more stunning in person—like a goddess descended from Olympus! No magazine cover could do you justice—"

Evelyn froze. Years of etiquette training hadn't prepared her for this onslaught of unsolicited praise.

Behind her, Marcus cleared his throat pointedly.

"Oh! You must be the legendary bodyguard!" Teddy gushed, turning his admiration elsewhere. "That aura! Those shoulders! I heard you've won three national championships—absolute perfection!"

Marcus looked ready to strangle him.

Evelyn burst out laughing. "Where on earth did Nathan find you? You're... one of a kind."

She strode inside before Teddy could shower her with more compliments.

Nathan sat in the living room reviewing documents, his usual mask of calm indifference in place. At the sound of footsteps, his lashes lifted slightly. The ghost of a smile touched his lips.

"You're back."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. How could he act so nonchalant?

Before she could speak, Nathan continued smoothly, "The maid has been permanently dismissed. As for my mother..." His jaw tightened. "The doctors suspect underlying mental health issues. Once she's stabilized, she'll be transferred to a private facility. This won't happen again."

His voice was low, threaded with an apology he couldn't voice outright.

Margaret was still his mother. Blood ties bound him in ways ethics couldn't sever. The best he could offer was ensuring their paths never crossed again.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words.

Finally, Evelyn gave a soft, humorless laugh. "How pragmatic of you, Mr. Blackwood. Aren't you going to scold me for provoking her?"

Nathan's smile turned self-deprecating. "You only spoke the truth."

There was nothing to forgive.

Evelyn exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing. "Then let's consider the matter closed."

Nathan's head snapped up, disbelief flickering in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to concede so easily.

Behind them, Teddy clapped his hands in delight. "This calls for celebration! I've just prepared a divine low-calorie stew—would you care for a bowl?"

His exuberance shattered the tension like a hammer through glass.