Chapter 370

Nathan rose swiftly to help her, but Evelyn brushed his hand aside without hesitation. She propped herself up against the headboard, deliberately avoiding his gaze the entire time.

His hand hovered awkwardly in the air before dropping to his side.

Evelyn reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, drinking thirstily until it was empty.

Nathan studied her carefully, his lips parting as he began, "About yesterday—I—"

She cut him off sharply. "Mr. Black, don't bother apologizing. You did nothing wrong from your perspective."

Her voice was disturbingly calm, as if discussing someone else's affairs. The detachment made Nathan's stomach twist uncomfortably.

After speaking, Evelyn lay back down and turned away from him, her tone turning icy. "I'm going back to sleep. You can leave now, Mr. Black."

Nathan stared at her rigid back, the weight of her dismissal pressing down on him. His jaw tightened as shadows crossed his face. That invisible wall between them had never felt taller.

After a long pause, he turned and left. Only when the door clicked shut did Evelyn reopen her eyes. Tears welled up, her nose burning with suppressed emotion. She didn't understand why this hurt so much. Not when she'd nearly drowned yesterday, nor during the feverish night wracked with pain—yet seeing Nathan sitting vigil by her bed had unleashed this unbearable ache. She'd wanted to sob openly then, but refused to give him that satisfaction.

Her tears weren't for someone who cared so little. So she'd swallowed them down, perfected her mask of indifference. Now they fell silently, soaking into the pillow. She told herself this was just residual shock from yesterday's trauma. It had nothing to do with Nathan. Nothing at all.

The door creaked open unexpectedly. Evelyn hastily wiped her face and steadied her breathing just as Nathan's rough whisper reached her: "Eat something first. Then take your medicine. You can sleep after."

She stiffened, not expecting his return. After a beat, she sat up obediently.

Her stomach growled as she accepted the tray, eating mechanically under his watchful gaze. Nathan continued speaking, undeterred by her silence. "Yesterday, Serena was kidnapped by a business rival targeting me. They intended to assault her. My team intervened just in time. While physically unharmed, the psychological damage..." His voice thickened. "She was targeted because of me. I couldn't abandon her in that state."

Evelyn's expression remained neutral, but turmoil churned beneath. So Serena's ordeal traced back to Nathan. The revelation only tangled their complicated dynamic further. A bitter laugh bubbled inside her—how tragically ironic.

Meeting his eyes, she gave a curt nod. "Thank you for explaining, Mr. Black. Since I'm eating now, you may go."

Her detached tone made Nathan frown. He mistook her calm for lingering anger, but the truth was far worse—Evelyn wasn't angry. She was profoundly disappointed. In him. In herself. In whatever fragile connection they'd almost built.