Chapter 230

With those words, she turned back to the couch and resumed reviewing her documents, her fingers tracing the lines of text with practiced ease.

Nathan watched her composed figure, his jaw tightening with unspoken frustration.

Even though he had been the one to reject Evelyn, an unsettling discomfort lingered in his chest, refusing to fade.

He reminded himself—again—that he had made the right choice.

Their divorce was inevitable. There was no reason to let their connection deepen any further.

Besides, he had already let her affect him far more than he should have these past few weeks.

Determined to regain control, Nathan strode into the bathroom, splashing icy water onto his face. The cold shock helped, if only a little.

Meanwhile, Evelyn sat alone, her long lashes casting delicate shadows as she stared blankly at the papers in her lap.

A wry smile curved her lips.

How foolish she had been.

She had actually invited Nathan to join her and Eleanor for dinner.

Were they even that close?

Their marriage was nothing more than a facade.

She shouldn’t have asked if he was free tomorrow.

Still, she knew Eleanor would be disappointed when she realized Nathan wouldn’t be coming.

That night, sleep eluded both of them.

The next morning, Evelyn took the day off.

When she arrived at Eleanor’s residence, her spirits lifted instantly at the sight of her grandmother.

Her face brightened, and she rushed forward without hesitation.

"Grandma!" she called, throwing her arms around the older woman.

"Easy there, darling," Eleanor laughed, gently patting Evelyn’s back.

"I missed you so much," Evelyn murmured, clinging like a child.

Eleanor’s warm smile melted the last of Evelyn’s lingering sadness.

At that moment, nothing else mattered.

"I missed you too, my dear," Eleanor said softly.

From the side, Grace sighed with amusement. "Alright, Evelyn, you’re not a little girl anymore. Let go of your grandmother before you suffocate her. She and Isabelle must be starving by now. Let’s eat."

Reluctantly, Evelyn pulled away and turned to the young woman standing beside Eleanor.

"Isabelle," she greeted warmly.

"Evelyn," Isabelle replied with a gentle smile. "You’re even lovelier in person."

Evelyn returned the smile but said nothing.

She and Isabelle went way back. Years ago, Isabelle had been her neighbor—a quiet girl whose parents’ constant fights often left her wandering the streets, searching for scraps of food.

Moved by pity, Eleanor had invited Isabelle to eat with them.

And when tragedy claimed Isabelle’s parents, Eleanor had taken her in without hesitation.