Chapter 234

The moment they left, the hallway plunged into an eerie silence.

Nathan stood motionless for a heartbeat before turning to face Serena, his gaze as sharp as shattered glass.

Serena’s breath caught in her throat, a sudden wave of panic prickling her skin like icy needles.

Never before had Nathan looked at her with such frigid intensity!

Her voice trembled as she rushed to explain, "Nathan, I—I only wanted to clarify things earlier. I thought it would help if Mrs. Grant knew I was the one who invited you to dinner this time, not the other way around."

But Nathan’s expression only darkened, his displeasure radiating like a storm cloud.

To him, who had extended the invitation was irrelevant.

With a voice like winter frost, he said, "I have work to attend to. I’m leaving." Without another word, he turned and strode away.

"Nathan—" Serena called after him, but he didn’t so much as glance back.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as she watched his retreating figure.

After a moment, her lips pressed together—then twisted into a faint, satisfied smirk.

The fact that Evelyn had witnessed everything was enough to send a dark thrill through her.

The drive back to Sterling Manor was thick with tension.

Evelyn sat rigid behind the wheel, her knuckles bone-white against the leather steering wheel.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

Originally, she had purchased a separate estate for Eleanor in Oakridge, but Grace had insisted her mother stay with them at Sterling Manor.

Isabelle, seated in the back, hesitated before finally breaking the silence. "Evelyn… that woman with Nathan earlier. She’s his ex, isn’t she?"

Evelyn’s grip tightened briefly before she forced herself to relax.

After a pause, she answered softly, "Yes."

Isabelle bit her lip. "What’s their relationship like now—?"

Before the question could linger, Eleanor smoothly interjected, "Evelyn, that restaurant truly had exceptional cuisine. You must take me there again."

Evelyn glanced at her grandmother, gratitude flickering in her eyes.

She smiled. "Of course. Whenever you’d like."

Isabelle recognized the deliberate diversion but chose not to press further.

The remainder of the drive passed with light chatter, carefully skirting any mention of Nathan or Serena.

Upon arriving at Sterling Manor, Eleanor waited until she and Evelyn were alone in her suite before speaking.

Her expression was grave. "Evelyn. What’s really going on between you and Nathan?"

Evelyn’s lips parted, then closed.

Should she deflect? Or—