Chapter 269

A wave of relief washed over Serena, and she offered a faint smile. "I'm so grateful you're here to help me, Dylan," she murmured sincerely.

Dylan returned her smile, his fingers gently tousling her hair. "You should rest now. You need it."

"Okay," Serena whispered, nodding as she settled back against the pillows. The dull throb in her temples made it difficult to focus, so she allowed herself to drift into much-needed sleep.

The Next Morning

The sharp trill of the alarm shattered the silence of the room.

Evelyn groaned softly before reaching out to silence it. She stretched languidly, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed, moving through her morning routine with practiced efficiency.

By the time she finished getting ready, the rich aroma of breakfast filled the air.

Eleanor had already prepared a warm meal for her.

"Thank you, Grandma," Evelyn said, her voice warm as she pulled Eleanor into a tight embrace.

"Enough of that," Eleanor chuckled, patting her back. "Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for work."

"Okay," Evelyn agreed with a nod, sliding into her seat.

She began eating, her mood light and carefree—until she pulled her phone from her pocket.

Absently, she scrolled through her notifications, first checking WhatsApp before moving to her text messages.

Her brows knitted together as she spotted new messages from Dylan.

Curious, she tapped the screen to open them.

Her eyes flickered over the two photos—and in an instant, her expression darkened. Shock and disbelief twisted her features as her grip on the phone turned white-knuckled.

The images were taken in a hospital.

The first showed Nathan seated on a hospital bed, Serena leaning weakly against him, her posture fragile and dependent. Nathan's arms were raised, as if he were about to pull her into an embrace.

The second photo was worse.

Serena pressing a kiss to Nathan’s cheek, her expression soft, intimate.

Evelyn's beautiful face turned to ice, her jaw tightening as fury coiled in her chest.

"Evelyn? What's wrong?" Eleanor's voice cut through the tension. She had just stepped out of the kitchen and immediately noticed the storm brewing in her granddaughter's eyes.