Chapter 429

"I genuinely prefer not sharing space with you, Mr. Black," Evelyn stated, her composure unshaken.

Nathan's expression turned stormy at her words.

"We're divorced now," she continued evenly. "A clean break is what I want."

She hesitated briefly, as if weighing her next words carefully, then added with deliberate emphasis, "I have no interest in keeping connections with exes."

Nathan's face darkened further, a tempest of emotions swirling in his piercing gaze.

The atmosphere around him crackled with barely restrained tension.

Abruptly, he let out a humorless chuckle and gave a curt nod.

"Good. That saves us both unnecessary complications."

Without waiting for her response, he spun on his heel and strode out, the door slamming shut with finality behind him.

Silence engulfed the hospital room.

Evelyn lowered her gaze, her features carefully blank.

This was necessary, she reminded herself. The divorce was final—lingering attachments would only complicate matters.

She exhaled deeply, sinking back against the pillows and closing her eyes.

Outside in the corridor, Nathan remained rooted by the door.

His jaw clenched as unfamiliar frustration burned through him. Logically, this outcome was ideal—exactly what he'd wanted.

Yet Evelyn's icy detachment, her effortless dismissal, ignited something primal within him.

Drawing a steadying breath, he pulled out his phone and dialed Eleanor.

Inside the room, Evelyn lay motionless, exhaustion weighing her down yet sleep remaining elusive.

The creak of the door interrupted her thoughts.

She turned toward the sound, her expression hardening instantly.

"What do you want?" she demanded coldly.

Serena smiled sweetly as she wheeled closer to the bed. "Just checking on my dear sister-in-law."

Though half her face was obscured by a mask, the angry red rashes covering Evelyn's skin were unmistakable.

Serena's eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction.