Chapter 251

Evelyn let out a weary sigh before responding, "It was Nathan. He just gave me a ride to work this morning."

The silence that followed was thick with tension.

"Evelyn," Isabelle finally spoke, her voice hesitant, "I've always thought you and Mr. Black had such good chemistry. That time at the gala, why did you—"

"It's getting late," Eleanor interrupted sharply. "You should head home and rest, Evelyn."

Nodding, Evelyn rose from her seat. "You're right. I'll be going now."

"Be careful on your way back," Eleanor said, her tone softening.

"Will do! See you both soon," Evelyn replied with a tired smile.

As soon as the door closed behind Evelyn, Eleanor turned to Isabelle with a stern expression. "From now on, avoid mentioning Nathan when Evelyn's around."

Isabelle pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded silently, though an unreadable glimmer flashed in her eyes.

By the time Evelyn arrived at the Black family estate, Nathan was already there.

She didn't acknowledge his presence.

Moving through her evening routine mechanically, she took a long shower before settling on the plush sofa with a book in hand.

Her gaze never once strayed toward where Nathan sat.

Nathan, however, kept stealing glances at Evelyn throughout the evening.

When it became painfully obvious she was deliberately ignoring him, his brows furrowed in frustration.

Her cold indifference stirred an unfamiliar discomfort in his chest.

Exhausted from her sleepless night, Evelyn retired to bed earlier than usual.

The next morning, as Nathan prepared to leave their shared bedroom, he noticed Evelyn still hadn't stirred.

This was unusual.

Her alarm had sounded multiple times already.

Concerned, Nathan approached Evelyn's side of the bed and immediately noticed the unnatural flush on her cheeks.

Frowning, he reached out to press the back of his hand against her forehead.

She was burning up.

Evelyn was running a high fever.

Nathan's expression darkened with worry. "Evelyn," he called urgently, gently shaking her shoulder. "Evelyn? Wake up..."

After several attempts, Evelyn finally blinked her eyes open, her gaze unfocused and glassy.

"What...?" she murmured weakly, squinting at her surroundings in confusion.

"You have a fever," Nathan said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.