Chapter 325

"Evelyn, look at me," Ethan said firmly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. His voice carried an urgency that cut through her drunken haze. "It's Ethan. You know me."

Evelyn blinked slowly, her defiant expression melting into confusion. She rubbed her temples as if trying to clear fog from her mind. The alcohol made everything swim before her eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, she suddenly wailed, "I don't want you! Where's my husband? I need Nathan!"

She began stumbling around the lavish hotel suite, knocking over a vase in her frantic search. Her movements were erratic as she checked behind curtains and under tables, calling Nathan's name like a mantra.

The alcohol had clearly taken full control now.

When her desperate search proved fruitless, Evelyn collapsed onto the plush carpet with a dramatic sob. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks as she cried, "Why did he leave me? Doesn't he love me anymore?"

Ethan froze, taken aback by her raw emotion. He knelt beside her, careful not to touch. "Evelyn, listen to me," he said gently. "Nathan didn't leave you. He's just tied up with work."

"I don't care about work!" Evelyn shrieked, pounding her fists against the floor like a petulant child. "I want my husband here right now!"

Ethan ran his fingers through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. "Alright, alright," he conceded after a moment's thought. "I'll call Nathan for you, okay?"

Like magic, Evelyn's tears stopped. She looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, her tear-streaked face suddenly bright. "Promise?" she hiccuped.

"Yes," Ethan assured her, keeping his distance. "Just stay put. I'll call him to come get you."

"Really?" Evelyn clapped her hands together, her mood swinging to giddy excitement in an instant.

Ethan blinked, momentarily speechless at her rapid emotional shifts. The usually composed Evelyn was behaving like an entirely different person.

Standing, he pulled out his phone and dialed Nathan's number. After several rings, a deep voice answered amidst background noise.

"Ethan?" Nathan's voice came through, slightly distorted.

"Nathan," Ethan said evenly. "Evelyn's had too much to drink. She's in suite 3603 at the Grand Marquis. You should come get her."

He deliberately omitted Evelyn's emotional breakdown and constant pleas for her husband.

There was a brief silence before Nathan replied, "On my way." The line went dead.

Ethan pocketed his phone and turned back to Evelyn. "He's coming."

Evelyn's entire face lit up like the sunrise.

"Get off the floor," Ethan said, extending a hand. "You'll catch cold."

To his shock, Evelyn slapped his hand away with surprising force. "Don't touch me!" she snapped, her eyes blazing. "Nathan would be furious if you touched me!"

Ethan recoiled, momentarily stunned by her vehemence. He sighed deeply. "Fine. But can you at least get up?"