Chapter 27

"The divorce papers are signed. As far as I'm concerned, we're done. You can pretend your ex-wife no longer exists. Go ahead—pour all that love and devotion into Serena. I know you're dying to marry her, but for Leonard’s sake, you’ll have to wait a little longer. What’s another month after three years, right?"

Nathan’s eyes narrowed, his voice rough and low. "Good. That’s exactly how it should be. We’re nothing to each other now."

"Obviously!" Evelyn snapped, her tone icy before she abruptly hung up.

She collapsed onto the sofa, her expression stormy, her mood sour.

She never wanted to see or speak to Nathan again. If she could, she would’ve dragged him to the courthouse that very second to cut every last tie between them. Maybe then, she’d finally be free of the hold he still had on her heart.

But beneath the cold façade, Evelyn was anything but calm.

The sudden ringing of her phone shattered the silence.

Glancing at the caller ID, her breath hitched before she answered, "Mom."

"Evelyn, could you come home? I miss you," Grace’s voice was fragile, pleading.

"Of course. I’ll be there soon," Evelyn replied without hesitation.

Grace’s voice brightened instantly. "Wonderful! I’ll make all your favorite dishes for lunch."

After hanging up, Evelyn left the Black family estate and headed straight for Vera Vis.

Her father had bought the lavish property for Grace years ago.

Grace’s face lit up the moment Evelyn walked in. She hurried over, ushering her to the sofa, her expression a mix of relief and joy.

"Evelyn, you look absolutely stunning now. It makes me so happy. But… why didn’t you tell me about your transformation sooner?" Her voice dipped into melancholy.

Evelyn stayed silent.

The truth was, she’d only achieved her current figure three months ago.

When she first moved overseas, she used to call Grace every day. But those conversations always turned into pleas—Grace begging her to come home, lamenting how Victor was furious about her leaving, or worse, pressuring her to apologize to Lila.

Slowly, Evelyn stopped calling.

Between the grueling schedule her mentor and his wife had set for her, she barely had time to breathe, let alone dwell on family drama.