Chapter 416

"At this point, I'm afraid we can't proceed with our plan," Julian murmured, his voice laced with hesitation. The mere thought of crossing Nathan's wife sent a chill down his spine.

Cassandra clenched her fists, frustration twisting her features. "Damn it, this is infuriating! We had the perfect opportunity! Why did Evelyn have to be Mr. Black's wife?"

After a tense pause, she added through gritted teeth, "Now, convincing Evelyn to marry you and securing an alliance with the head of the Caldwell family is impossible. But we shouldn't abandon all efforts to get close to her."

"Building a favorable relationship with her could still benefit us."

Julian was about to agree when realization struck. "However, given our last encounter, Evelyn is wary of us now. It won't be easy to arrange private meetings with her anymore."

Cassandra's eyes darkened as she lowered her voice. "We'll find a way."

Julian fell silent, the weight of her words settling heavily between them.

In the grand living room of the Caldwell residence, Olivia's voice was thick with disbelief. "You're serious? The two of you divorced?"

Beside her, Ethan frowned, his concern evident.

"Was this your decision or Nathan's?" Olivia pressed, her tone sharp. The answer mattered more than she let on.

"It was mine," Evelyn replied, her voice steady.

Olivia's expression softened slightly. "That's somewhat better."

"Did the recent incident push you to end things with Nathan?" Ethan asked, his gaze searching.

Evelyn shook her head gently. "No, it wasn't just one event. There were too many unresolved issues that slowly drained my hope for our relationship. That's why I chose to walk away."

She paused briefly before continuing, her tone composed. "It was a well-considered choice." Her face betrayed no sorrow, though her fingers tightened imperceptibly around her teacup.

Evelyn pressed her lips together, then met Olivia's gaze. "Olivia, do you remember our phone conversation that day?"

Caught off guard, Olivia hesitated before offering a small smile. "So, you felt being with Nathan brought you more pain than happiness? Is that what led to this?"

"Yes." Evelyn nodded. "I won't deny that I haven't fully let go of him. His words and actions still affect me more than they should. But with time, I believe that influence will fade, and I'll move on completely."

Despite her calm delivery, a dull ache settled in her chest, and the back of her throat burned.

Olivia and Ethan exchanged glances after Evelyn's confession.

After a beat, Olivia spoke up. "You've made your choice, and we support you. Nathan is just one man—there are plenty of others out there! Someone far better suited for you will come along."

Ethan nodded firmly. "Absolutely! With Evelyn's qualities, she’ll have no trouble finding someone who treats her right."

Olivia's eyes gleamed with sudden determination. "Now that Evelyn is single, we should arrange some introductions for her. I'll have a list prepared by tomorrow."