Chapter 160

Before Nathan could utter a word, Evelyn, still tipsy and brimming with mischief, blurted out, "Hey, mister! That beard of yours is epic! Is it even real?"

With a playful smirk, she reached out and gave Leonard's beard a firm tug.

"Ow!" Leonard yelped, jerking back in surprise.

Rubbing his chin, he stared at Evelyn with wide, incredulous eyes. His expression was a perfect mix of shock and discomfort.

"It hurts? That means it's real! This is hilarious!" Evelyn giggled, clapping her hands in delight.

Leonard's face twisted between pain and bewilderment, drawing a faint smirk from Nathan. Evelyn was the first person audacious enough to yank Leonard’s beard—and live to tell the tale.

"Is she drunk?" Winston asked, his eyebrows nearly disappearing into his hairline.

"Extremely," Nathan replied, his voice rough.

"Let’s get her upstairs to rest. I’ll have someone prepare some sobering soup," Leonard said, cautiously stepping back to maintain a safe distance from Evelyn.

Nathan nodded silently before scooping Evelyn into his arms and carrying her to her room.

Once inside, he unceremoniously dropped her onto the bed.

"Oof!" Evelyn groaned as she rolled across the mattress, momentarily dazed. But the second the room stopped spinning, her chaotic energy returned. She snatched a bedsheet, draped it dramatically over her shoulders, and wobbled toward the desk.

Using her hands and feet, she clambered onto the desk, standing tall like a triumphant superhero. "Fear not, citizens! For I am... the Spectacular Spider Queen!" she declared, swaying slightly.

Nathan watched her antics with a mix of exasperation and reluctant amusement—Evelyn was undeniably entertaining in this state.

"Woo-hoo! Time to fly!" she cheered, wobbling dangerously at the edge of the desk.

Nathan’s eyes widened in alarm when he realized she was about to jump. "Evelyn!" he barked sharply.

Startled by his tone, she froze mid-motion and blinked at him owlishly.

Nathan strode forward. "Get down. Slowly."

"No jumping," he warned, his voice firm but laced with concern.

Evelyn grinned dopily at him. "Watch me soar!" she declared before launching herself off the desk.

Nathan moved faster than thought, lunging forward to catch her mid-air. She crashed into his arms, immediately wrapping herself around him like an overenthusiastic koala.

"Evelyn! What the hell were you thinking? That was reckless!" Nathan snapped, his jaw tight with frustration.

Just as he spoke, a sharp pain flared at his neck. Nathan hissed, his brows knitting together.

Evelyn had bitten him.

Hard.

"Evelyn," he growled, irritation simmering in his voice as he deposited her onto the sofa. "You’re going to regret that."

Evelyn merely giggled, thoroughly pleased with herself.