Chapter 247

"It's not an issue for me," Evelyn responded without missing a beat.

With that, she spun on her heel and strode away, her steps quick and determined, leaving no room for hesitation.

Nathan lingered by the car, his brow furrowing as he watched her retreating figure. His sharp gaze darkened slightly, unreadable and intense. For a long moment, he stood there, lost in thought.

By the time Evelyn reached the hospital, she was soaked to the bone, the relentless rain having seeped through every layer of her clothing. Time was of the essence, so she swiftly towel-dried her hair, secured a wig in place, changed into fresh scrubs, and threw on her white coat before hurrying to her office to prepare for rounds.

Once her duties were completed, she finally allowed herself a brief respite, retreating to the break room for a much-needed hot shower.

As she stood blow-drying her damp hair, her phone buzzed on the counter. A slight crease formed between her brows when she recognized the caller ID.

With a quiet exhale, she answered. "Hello?"

"Are you free right now?" Alexander's familiar voice came through, casual but laced with curiosity.

"Not particularly busy. What is it?" Evelyn kept her tone even.

"I wanted to tell you about something that happened last night. It's important," Alexander said, his voice shifting to something more serious.

He recounted the events in vivid detail, describing Nathan's reactions—his clenched jaw, the way his gaze had darkened, the barely restrained tension in his posture.

When he finished, Alexander paused before adding, "Evelyn... I think Nathan cares about you. More than he lets on."

Evelyn stilled, her fingers tightening slightly around the phone. For a brief moment, surprise flickered in her eyes.

Then, just as quickly, she let out a soft, dismissive laugh. "Didn’t you hear him say it himself? He wasn’t angry because he cared about me. He was angry because he thought my actions would reflect poorly on the Black family’s reputation. That’s all there is to it."

Alexander sighed audibly, his tone tinged with resignation. "Nathan has always been like this—too stubborn to admit what he really feels. Do you honestly believe that’s the only reason?"

Evelyn’s voice remained steady, betraying nothing. "Yes. I’m certain he doesn’t care about me at all."

By refusing to read into it, she could maintain her composure, her heart fortified against foolish hope.

Alexander exhaled again, his voice quieter this time. "Alright. If that’s how you see it, I won’t push the matter further."

Evelyn drew in a slow breath, forcing a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Alexander... thank you for testing the waters for me."