Chapter 427

Nathan's piercing gaze traveled over Evelyn's trembling hands before settling on the inflamed red welts peeking out from beneath her medical mask. The angry rash spread across her forehead and around her delicate eyes.

An unfamiliar tightness gripped his chest. Seeing Evelyn in such distress sent waves of discomfort through him. The sight was unbearable.

Suddenly, a realization struck him. "Did you know you're allergic to artichokes?" His deep voice cut through the sterile hospital air.

Evelyn's eyelashes fluttered at the sound of Nathan's voice. Since he and Leonard had entered her room, she'd deliberately avoided acknowledging his presence - not even granting him a single glance. Yet now, her traitorous heart skipped a beat at his familiar tone.

The meaning of his words finally registered. "Allergic to artichokes?" she repeated, her tired eyes lifting to meet his intense stare.

"Yes." Nathan's voice dropped to a gravelly murmur, his dark eyes locking onto hers with unsettling intensity.

Evelyn quickly averted her gaze, her fingers nervously twisting the hospital blanket. "I... I had no idea," she admitted softly.

Nathan's jaw tightened. "When did you consume artichokes? Who served them to you?" The edge in his voice betrayed his concern.

"This morning," Evelyn confessed. "My mother prepared breakfast for me."

Nathan's expression darkened instantly. The crease between his brows deepened into a harsh line. "What was your mother thinking? Doesn't she know about your allergy?" The words came out sharper than intended.

Leonard turned toward Nathan with a knowing look, a faint smirk playing on his lips though he remained silent.

Evelyn shook her head weakly. "She couldn't have known. I've never eaten artichokes before today. If she'd known, she never would have included them."

"Still, that's incredibly careless," Leonard muttered, unable to mask his disapproval.

After a weighted pause, Leonard cleared his throat. "Evelyn, your only focus right now should be recovery. I don't want to see you back at work until you're completely healed. Understood?"

Evelyn nodded obediently. "Understood. Please don't worry about me."

Leonard rolled his eyes dramatically. "You always make me worry," he huffed before turning to Nathan with sudden authority. "Nathan, I'm assigning you a task. You'll stay here and monitor Evelyn's recovery. Ensure she doesn't sneak back to work prematurely."

Before Nathan could respond, Evelyn's face paled. "That's completely unnecessary!" she protested. "I promise I'll behave. There's no need to inconvenience Nathan like this."