Chapter 226

Nathan's expression darkened instantly at Dylan's words. His gaze shifted to Serena, lying motionless on the hospital bed, her fragile form barely visible beneath the stark white sheets. Dylan's voice was thick with exhaustion as he continued, "She's relapsed, Nathan. After all this time, I thought she had overcome it—that her depression was finally under control. But I was wrong..."

Nathan's jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.

Dylan's tone sharpened. "Nathan, you've been pulling away from her. You know how perceptive she is. She notices every slight change in your behavior, every moment of hesitation. And lately, you've been..." He trailed off, then exhaled sharply. "You've been focusing too much on Evelyn. Whether you realize it or not, you're tearing Serena apart. How do you expect her to handle that?"

Stepping closer, Dylan's frustration was palpable. "All Serena has ever wanted is to be with you—to be your wife. She's waited years for your divorce, for you to finally choose her. But what has she gotten? A version of you who's drifting further away, who's suddenly preoccupied with someone else. How could she not break?" Dylan's voice dropped to a near whisper. "So I need to ask you directly—are you still planning to divorce Evelyn? Will you marry Serena afterward?"

The question hung heavily between them, but Nathan remained silent, his brows drawn together in deep contemplation.

After a long pause, Nathan finally spoke, his voice low and controlled. "Go home, Dylan. I'll stay with Serena tonight."

Dylan's chest constricted at Nathan's evasion. A flicker of unease and anger burned in his gut. Had Nathan truly developed feelings for Evelyn?

Clenching his fists, Dylan forced himself to stay composed. He wasn't sure if his anger was for Serena's sake or his own. Knowing he wouldn't get a straight answer, he exhaled sharply and turned to leave.

But after a few steps, he stopped and glanced back. His eyes locked onto Nathan's, his voice laced with warning. "You made a promise to Serena. Don't forget that. She's sacrificed too much, waited too long. If you break her heart..." He swallowed hard. "I don't know if she'll survive it."

Without waiting for a response, Dylan strode out of the room.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Nathan stood still for a long moment, staring at the closed door. Then, slowly, he approached Serena's bedside and sat down. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow. He felt concern for her—the kind one might feel for a dear friend—but nothing more.

Dylan's words echoed in his mind. Serena's relapse, her pain, her years of devotion—it all pressed down on him. He had given her his word, and he intended to keep it.

Yet, beneath the surface, an unsettling truth gnawed at him. His thoughts had been straying toward Evelyn more often than they should. She had begun to occupy his mind in ways that unsettled him.

This had to stop. His divorce from Evelyn was inevitable, and afterward, he would marry Serena. Starting now, he resolved to put distance between himself and Evelyn. He couldn't let her disrupt his focus any longer.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his sharp eyes narrowing at the caller ID.

Evelyn.

After a brief hesitation, he answered. "Yes?"

"Nathan, it's late. Are you still at work?" Evelyn's voice, soft yet steady, carried through the phone.

The sound of it sent an unexpected ripple through him.

He exhaled slowly.

This was going to be harder than he thought.